Volker Hagemeier, you are one of TITELBILD’s Managing Directors. What made you interested in this sector?

My involvement in the sector was sheer chance. Initially I was only supposed to bring my business acumen and technical know-how to the company. I assumed that the technical side wouldn’t take up much time. I was wrong. Since TITELBILD functions as an interface between film, TV and DVD and the language side of things, heavy demands are placed on our technical expertise. Technology develops fast and we must always be at least a year ahead of our clients in order to provide them with the optimal solution for their specific needs.

What is it about this sector that intrigues you?

For one I get to work with film, a field I love. The work we do is never boring and I find it personally enriching. This also applies to our translations. We cover so many interesting subjects that this area is also far from dull. Besides, I enjoy doing business with the people in this industry. Since it is a very creative field, it is populated by fascinating characters who share a passion for film. Being part of this world is very different to working in finance, for example.

What is TITELBILD’s approach to technology and innovation?

Technological innovations are tremendously important to us. We need to be well-informed about them so that we can give our clients intelligent, objective advice on the various systems. Our customers have very diverse needs. Each requires a tailored solution. The technology we use is constantly upgraded, enabling our efficiency and quality to keep pace. If a film is saved as a digital file on a hard drive, we can produce subtitles more quickly than is possible with a video recorder, and customized glossaries in our electronic translation management system allow us to furnish our clients with a translation ten years from now which is consistent with the one done today, even if a different translator has produced it.

TITELBILD developed its own system for screening subtitles at film festivals. Can you briefly explain what BeamTitling® is?

BeamTitling® is a non-invasive subtitling system that can be used in cinemas or at film festivals. It has the advantage that the subtitles are projected onto the film print automatically without marking the film in any way. It is an ideal solution.

How can BeamTitling® benefit the cinema industry?

BeamTitling® technology gives cinemas the option of screening one and the same film with or without subtitles. This means that cinemas can carve a new niche for themselves. For example, they can target the hearing-impaired, who make up a significant proportion of the population, and in this way increase their audience numbers. Cinemas which pride themselves on showing films in the original language will no longer have to wait for one of the scarce prints with subtitles; they will be able to plan their schedules freely and show all films with or without subtitles as they see fit. And film festivals can increase their audience numbers by having screenings with subtitles.

Can you tell us in a few words what makes TITELBILD so special and what distinguishes it from other companies?

TITELBILD is different from other companies in the subtitling sector because it is primarily a language company, as opposed to a technical one, and we cover the full spectrum of translation and subtitling demands. We work exclusively with professional translators working into their mother tongue, who are well-versed in a wide range of fields. This is how we continue to ensure consistently high standards. Our team of high performers are justifiably proud of the work we do here. That is one of the reasons for the outstanding atmosphere in our offices.