The Screenplay in Translation: Translating the screenplay ELIOS as an approach to specialisation via collaboration with a local production company

Although screenplay translation is a growing area of AVT, it has not received the same focus as other important areas in AVT like subtitling or media accessibility. Because of this, it is difficult for translators to be trained effectively and therefore specialise in this area without previous working experience. This paper briefly outlines some of the unique characteristics of the English language screenplay and what effect they may have on translation strategies. The screenplay and screenplay translation are also discussed within the context translation studies in general and AVT specifically. This discussion begins with an important reflection on whether or not the screenplay can be considered an audiovisual text. The second half of the paper focuses on a collaboration between the author and an independent Italian production company that requested a translation of their screenplay, ELIOS. There is an explanation of the project itself as well as specific examples of translation issues and how they were resolved in the final translation. This paper can be seen as the description of an approach to specialisation in an area where there is no substantial training program in academia (aside from screenwriting courses not focused on translation) available to beginning translators.