An experienced voice actor can almost direct themselves, but they still need a good director to nail it. That’s where you come in. You have a clear idea of what your client wants, but here comes the important part; conveying that clearly and concisely to the voice actor. That way, you’ll get the best possible read in the least amount of time. After all – time is money and professional studios are not cheap. Here are are five quick tips for directing voice actors effectively.
Tell them who your audience is
An experienced voice actor will be able to read the script and have a pretty clear idea who you are talking to. But before you start the session, tell them who your audience is just in case. This will save you time and give the voice actor a focus.
The voice actors role
It’s very important to make sure the voice actor’s role is clearly stated. What function are they performing? Are they an announcer conveying the details of an offer, or are they supposed to be the audience’s friend. Maybe they are the knowledgeable expert. The script may naturally suggest a role, but it’s best to tell the voice actor just in case.
Moods and emotions
Next, tell the voice actor the moods and emotions you’re looking for. How do you want to audience to feel when they see and hear the spot. Should they feel “Inspired” and “excited”? Or, perhaps the mood of the spot is a “relaxed confidence”. Think of adjectives that describe the feeling you are trying to evoke.
You’re recording a political spot and the script begins: “their candidate says they want to help seniors, but they just voted to cut Medicaid…” There are many ways to approach this line, so be clear about what you want the audience to feel. Try telling the voice actor to be “angry” about it. Then ask them to feel “disappointed” when they read it. How about “snarky”? A good voice actor will give you three very different reads. Also, show them the video or play the cut of music that will be on the spot. A picture is worth a thousand words.
Ask the engineer
If you’re having trouble communicating with the voice talent, ask the engineer for advice. Chances are, the engineer will have a suggestion. But, unless they have a working relationship with you, they may not feel it’s their place to speak up. If you’re not getting the read and you’re out of ideas, go ahead and ask them. They’ve been in hundreds if not thousands of sessions and worked with good and bad directors. They should be able to suggest ways to get that winning read. Don’t worry, you’ll get all the credit.
The last resort
It’s take ten and you still haven’t gotten the right read so its time for the last resort. You’ve tried everything else, but now it’s time to do a line read. This is when the director shows the talent what they are looking for by reading the script, line by line, with the tone, pace, and inflection they want while the voice actor mimic’s them. It will get the job done but In my experience it never gets great results. If you can communicate what you want clearly and concisely, you’ll always get the read you need in the least amount of takes.