The Art of Voice Acting: the art and business of performing for voice over (33 page)
Read The Art of Voice Acting: the art and business of performing for voice over Online
Authors: James Alburger
Find a suitable voice and delivery for each of the following characters. Use
Pitch, Pitch Characteristics, Tempo, Rhythm, Placement, and Mouth Work
to create a believable voice. Do a quick “A-B-C” (
Audience, Back Story, Character, Desires
, and
Energy
) for each line of copy to discover clues about your character. Explore any relationships that may exist in the copy or in the drawing. Experiment with different voice possibilities and add layers of
emotion, attitude
, and
physical movement
.
Character Name:
Scotty Snowboots
Description:
He’s pure, innocent and full of wonder!
Copy:
Momma… I think God has a bad case of dandruff!
Copy:
How much more does it have to snow before I can make snow angels?
Character Name: “
Sergeant” Snyder
Description:
He’s a gym teacher. Wasn’t a jock in high school and never will be. Makes up for his physical limitations with an overly aggressive attitude and a small amount of power.
Copy:
So it’s a joke in this class that my glasses are so thick, I can see into the future! You think that’s funny, do you? Well, you little maggots! I can definitely see into YOUR FUTURE! Now drop and give me 20!
Copy:
What’s with all this whining… 20 laps around the track is nothing… ya want 30?
Character Name:
Buzzer D. Kill (Buzz for short)
Description:
Crotchety, ornery, angry and fed up with the injustices dealt him in life. Southern drawl.
Copy:
I’m gettin’ me somethin’ to eat this time fer sure! I’m downright sick-n tired of eatin’ carrots! I want me some meat!
Copy:
So I says to him, I says, “Just how am I supposed to fly without wings – huh? Just how is that suppose to happen? You give me these long legs and a huge nose – but no wings! Great design… bud!”
Character Name:
Captain Raltoon
Description:
Captain of the King’s Battalion. He is loyal and steadfast. He puts honor above all else – even his personal safety.
Copy:
Meaning no disrespect, Sire, I shall not leave the palace. My place is at your side. My men will guard our borders. I will allow no harm to come to you.
Copy:
I beg of you, Princess, do not take these threats lightly. You must take great care and be on guard. There are those among us who would prefer you do not see tomorrow.
Character Name:
Buck E. Beaver
Description:
He’s a cocky, arrogant and extremely confident space marauder with a heart of gold.
Copy:
Well now, honey, you’d better listen up. Either you lend a hand with the chores while you’re on board my ship, or I’ll push your cute little toosh out the airlock and never look back. Are we clear, sweetheart?
Copy:
So… You say you’ve got a… few minutes? That could work for me…
Character Name:
E.T.A.
Description:
He’s an alien lost on Earth and has given up any hope at all of ever being rescued.
Copy:
If I’m stuck on this lousy planet – I might as well take advantage of all its vices… until they kill me! Pass me that red meat, butter and undercooked chicken!
COPY:
I wonder if Viagra works on antenna?
COPY:
I can’t feel my right arm – oh well, who needs it?
Character Name:
Trinity T’Ovoli
Description:
Half woman, half feline from the planet K’Aķis. Confident, but somewhat fragile – being forced into adulthood and leadership following the assassination of her parents.
Copy:
N’Dar, my wise advisor, our kingdom is in grave danger. Rebel forces are losing ground on the battle field. Our world will end if I cannot find a way to unite these opposing factions. It is up to me.
Copy:
Ahhh… at last a glimmer of hope. If only the Alliance will agree, this could all end tomorrow.
Character sketches © Tim Abshire.
Used by permission. All rights reserved
Production:
Beginning Animation Class Exercise—CD/22
Title:
Game Pilots
Writer/Producer/Director:
MJ Lallo
This script and the recording on track 22 of the CD are the end result of a beginning animation voiceover class. Students were assigned a role and given only a very short time to find the voice and attitude for their character. The recording includes the first take of all lines, followed by MJ’s direction, and finally the produced version of the audio.
| CAPTAIN | Eagle 1 we’ve spotted more drones. They’re flying in fast at 11 o’clock . |
| EAGLE 1 | Copy that Captain! I got ’em on my radar. OK guys prepare for another assault. |
| CHEETHA GIRL | Ohh MY GOD… 6 planes are coming in at 1 o’clock. |
| EAGLE 1 | Oh hell, they sure are… those S.O.B.s! |
| CAPTAIN | They’re coming at us head on. Cheetah lay down some screening fire. |
| CHEETAH GIRL | Freaking A! They’re starting another pass! I’m flying right into ’em… cover me. |
| CAPTAIN | I’ve got bullet holes my left wing. Keep those jerks off our backs! |
| EAGLE 1 | Cheetah... They’re divin’ hard. Keep firing on ‘em. Blast’em back. |
| CHEETHA GIRL | AHHHHH yeeeeeeeeesssss… two of ’em down. Way to go. Captain… they’re dropping like flies now! Eagle 1… come in Eagle 1… Do you copy… |
| EAGLE I | Copy that… Ahhhhh… I’m losing oil pressure in engine 2. 0h no that last plane is coming at me… 2 o’clock. Hit his tail! Damn Hit him again! |
| CAPTAIN | It’s like playing a game of ENDWARS! Hitting him hard… bingo he’s down! |
| EAGLE 1 | Man that was close. You guys are awesome! |
| CHEETAH GIRL &CAPTAIN & EAGLE 1 (victory improv) | We’re clear… ohhhhh yeah… way to go… nailed it… owe ya brewski. (improv) |
Copyright © MJ Lallo. All rights reserved
Imaging, Promo, Trailer
Voiceover for the broadcasting and film industries
The term
imaging
refers to the niche area of voiceover work that specifically promotes a radio station’s sound or marketing image. The best imaging voice actors come from radio station production departments where they learn first-hand what station imaging is all about. An imaging production is usually fast-paced with lots of rapid-fire, short liners, station call letters, station slogan or USP, punchy music cues, catchy sound effects, and processed voice tracks that define a station’s “sound” within its format.
An imaging voice talent will be voicing a station’s IDs, promos, sweepers, and liners, and in some cases may even be handling the production. If you don’t know what those are, imaging may not be for you.
If imaging is something you are interested in, you’ll need to know how radio stations promote themselves, and how your voice will be used as an identifiable part of that promotion process. You’ll also need to understand the differences between the various radio formats, and you’ll most likely need to produce a separate demo for each format. Imaging formats include: Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR), formerly Top Forty; Adult Contemporary (AC); Hot AC; Urban Contemporary; Alternative; Modern; Jazz; Oldies; Classic Rock; Country; and News/Talk. Each format has its unique style.
www.VOCareer.com
&
www.VoiceHunter.com
Vice President of VOCareer.com, Gabby is a coach, author, voice actor and producer. Her career began in radio at the age of 14 and moved to VO very quickly. She found her niche is radio imaging. Today she is the voice of dozens of radio & TV stations across the country and a leading expert on radio imaging.
Many VO talent, upon hearing the phrase Radio Imaging for the first time immediately think; “This isn’t for me. I have no experience in radio.” It likely is “for you” and your lack of broadcasting knowledge is not a problem. If fact, in might be a plus.
Yes, to become a great radio imaging talent there is a necessary amount of radio knowledge you must absorb. However imaging is not part of the DJ job description. Radio stations want skilled voiceover actors and rarely, if ever, consider radio personalities for their imaging. So “Radio voices” need not apply. Few if any stations still use big, old-timey, phony, unnatural voices for their imaging. That sound is made fun of – profusely!
Imaging is all the pre-recorded, produced, station identifiers that you hear
between
songs on the radio. Identifying imaging from other station elements is easy. Listen for a distinct voice that stands out from the other station elements. That voice will usually be heavily effected and surrounded by lots of sound effects and noises.
Imaging also promotes, brands and enforces the overall message of the station. Stations invest a lot of time and money into their own marketing efforts and try to personify a listener’s lifestyle. Imaging completes the total radio experience by creating a more personal relationship for the listener.
For most stations, imaging is an effective way to quickly deliver station related information, powerfully. Everything from new artists to events and concerts are publicized via a station’s imaging. Imaging is aired so frequently that it acts almost like an audio ticker for the station.
This is the future of radio! Traditional, terrestrial radio still has a lot of life left and new forms of broadcasting like satellite and Internet are in their infancy. Voiceover talent are an essential part of the broadcasting experience and as DJs fall more and more out of fashion, forms of VO like imaging will take their place.
Imaging offers a freedom not found in other types of VO. Not only can you
change
the copy a station sends you; you can ad-lib, embellish and re-write all or part of it whenever you want!
Station’s LOVE creative input from their VO talent and they welcome the copy suggestions we make.
I have a serious potty mouth, a twisted sense of humor and a pretty unconventional outlook on life. Most of the rock, country and CHR stations I work for hire me for those very reasons. It’s not just my voice they are interested in, it’s my personality too. That never happens—everyone else wants you to “stick to the script.” Screw that—imaging breaks all the rules. It’s voiceover anarchy!