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VOICE ACTING Do You Jump Right Into A Voice Over Script - Or Think Before You Speak?  By Dan FriedmanVoice Actor, Coach, Director, Sound Engineer For over 20 years I've been directing and coaching voice actors.
If asked,
I would
say,
There is a reason certain phrases stand the test of time. When it
comes to script analysis, this is one area where people tend to rush it and not
put in the time to really understand what the script is meant to communicate. They do not … think before they speak.
WHAT DO YOU DO? Think for a moment, how often do you perform a script the
instant you receive it? You see the first few words and immediately launch into
a delivery. By doing so, you are making assumptions rather than connections. This leads to deliveries that sound "wishy-washy" at best. Furthermore, it
inhibits you from looking and seeing other possibilities. You get locked into a
belief about how the script should sound.
UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION Even the most seemingly simple scripts can often be heavy on
emotional intent. To communicate effectively, voice actors must understand the
script on an emotional level themselves, before they will be able to connect to
the listener. This begins with understanding:
... and asking all the other questions we should be asking
ourselves but often don't take the time to thoughtfully answer.
WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS? Scripts have meaning. The words themselves are a voice actor's
road map to connection. Taking the time to analyze the script and identify the
highlights and hurdles, before performing it, will allow you to make better,
more informed choices when it is time to perform. This preparation allows you
to feel more free during your performance. You know what you need to
communicate, and you do it more naturally and conversationally.
IT GETS EASIER
Script analysis and/or doing the thinking first, can be
tedious. It's why beginners don't like doing it, and why seasoned voice actors
can get complacent about it. The good news is that it does get easier and
faster with practice. Experience is the best teacher.
I challenge everyone reading this to spend the next week putting
in a little extra time toward analyzing your scripts before you perform
them. Understand the intentions and feel the connections. I hope you
discover that you feel more thoughtful, connected and better about your
performances and audition submissions. Good luck! ----------------- ABOUT DAN Dan Friedman lives in
the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC and is a husband and father of two boys.
With nearly two decades in the voice over industry and 25 years as a
professional audio engineer, he has produced, directed or provided his voice to
thousands of audio productions.
In 2010 he
published SOUND ADVICE-Voiceover From An Audio Engineer's Perspective. A first
of its kind in the industry, the book covers audio engineering and studio
session etiquette as it relates directly to voice over talent. He continues to
write a popular blog at his website, SOUND4VO.com. Also, Dan was chosen to be
among the top 10 "Most Influential Voice-Over Writers in 2011" in a Voice123
online survey. His ability to simplify often complex recording and audio
concepts is recognized throughout the voice over industry. Email: dan@sound4vo.com Web: www.sound4vo.com |
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Comments (2)
Mike Harrison
1/12/2022 at 9:43 AM
This is excellent advice, Dan. Without studying a script to at least try to grasp the context, we literally don't know what we are talking about; we are simply dictating words from a page... which anyone can do. This is especially true in eLearning. Not understanding context can cause us to not put proper emphasis (importance) where it belongs, and put it instead where it doesn't belong.
Patricia M Smith
12/30/2021 at 4:23 PM
Good to know the advice my father offered so many years ago is relevant now and forever! Thanks, Dan.
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