Medical Narration Voice Over

Medical Narration is its own animal. It's a VO genre that presents unique challenges, but also offers great rewards.

One of the greatest rewards in Medical Narration is repeat business. Once a client finds a talent who can confidently and competently rise to the challenge, he usually comes back time and time again. It's not easy for clients to find someone who can do medical narration well. In fact, I've noticed that even many seasoned voice actors and actresses--not to mention some prominent voice coaches who have decades of experience--do not do a very good job with medical narration!

Why? Perhaps because they focus too much on pronouncing difficult terminology correctly-- as if that were the only challenge of medical narration. It's not. Sure, pronunciation can literally be a mouthful, but that's easy to remedy. Find out how to say the words and practice saying them until they roll off your tongue like a fluent language.

The real challenge in medical narration is telling the story. And for good reason. In many medical narrations the terminology is so difficult, and the subject matter so foreign, that even the narrator can't see the story! How can a voice actor tell a story you don't know? Yet if the words are spoken in such a manner that the story is not told, the voice actor loses the credibility in the eyes of the most important listener, the audience for whom the script was written. Whether it be doctors learning about a disease, students exploring biological processes, or patients being instructed on how to use a medical device, presumably, the audience will understand what is being said--even if the voice actor doesn't! And to that audience the voice actor is supposed to be the expert! He or she is the one teaching the information!

So, how can you know the story? There are a number of techniques you can practice. But for starters, don't let the words get in the way. Don't get so wrapped up in the medical mumbo that you can't see past it to the underlying message--the story.

Written by Julie2
Listen to Julie2's demo here
www.VoicesOnlineNow.com

Directing Voice Talent II

Director prep: First, you need to understand the script and what you want the voice talent to accomplish. A way of clarifying this for yourself is to listen to a performance from a commercial, film, video or TV show that you'd like your actors to emulate in feel, tone and attitude. That gives you a target to aim at. Determine in advance how you'll direct them to achieve that. This will vary depending on your actors' skill, experience and your relationship with them.

Secondly, make sure the voice talent understands what needs to be accomplished. Let your actors in on those little secrets: who is the audience? Are they eavesdropping on a conversation? Listening to a voicemail message? Are they being spoken to directly? How do we want the listener to feel?

Don't ask the actor to produce a feeling or you'll get something forced. Tell them what you'd expect the listener's reaction to be - to cry, to laugh, to reminisce, to be energized, etc.

What thought do we want to leave the listener with? What action do we want them to take? What's the underlying attitude and agenda of the person speaking? Often it's in contrast to spoken words and can add great interest to the spot.

Describe the character(s) physically, psycho graphically and sociologically. Give your voice actors information, so they can understand where each character is coming from.

If you're directing dialogue, explain the "back story" - the relationship and history to the participants. Are they coming into this scene after a fight, or after making love? After a life-threatening experience or a spiritually uplifting one? Have the voice talent emotionally experience the moments before we enter the scene, either by imagining themselves there, or by pulling the appropriate emotions from their own experience, so they're in character from their first breath. Have them ad lib or "read into" the scene. Even the tag reader should hear what's gone before to understand how to read the tag.

If the final commercial will be produced with sounds in the background, often it's helpful to play those sounds over their headsets while they record. If they hear the traffic, or the sounds of a mountain stream, or the fireworks, or the loud music at the club, it will help put the voice talents "on location" so they'll speak with the appropriate volume, projection or intimacy.

Remember that you're doing radio. The audience will only see the characters your actors are creating in their mind's eye. Try doing the same thing. Close your eyes and listen to your talents' delivery. That way you won't base your direction on the way they look, their facial expressions or physical movements. It's kind of like listening to... the radio.

Written by Jeffrey1
Listen to Jeffrey1's Demo
www.VoicesOnlineNow.com

New Building

Directing Voice Talent

Whether you're a writer, producer, actor, or director, developing directing skills will make a world of difference in your commercials.

Directing is...inspiring, coaching, encouraging, cheerleading, getting inside the psyche of a voice actor and planting seeds so that that voice actor will bring to life words on a page. Good directing not only improves the final production, but it improves the skills of the voice talent being directed.

The result is a more believable commercial. The audience, the client and the station will are the beneficiaries.

Listen to how people speak. The pitch changes that occur when they're happy or depressed, the audible tension when they're under stress, the sound of an angry person speaking with a tight jaw, are all reference points for a good director to have. As your voice talent moves through the commercial, keep asking yourself, "Is this how a person in this situation would sound?" That's the mark you should be aiming for and nudging your voice talent toward.

A common mistake is to ask the voice talent or voice actor to emphasize too many words. This can make it should too much like a pitch or announcer voice and not like a conversation. Sometimes just a small rise in the pitch of a word will make it stand out. Remember, your listener is participating in the conversation. Involve their imagination by not having the voice actor give it all away in the delivery.

Believability starts with the casting. Find the best voice actors you can afford. This will make your job much easier. Instead of telling them how to read the script, tell them why you wrote it the way you did. Let them bring their experience to it. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Be confidant of the performance you're anticipating, so you don't confuse and frustrate your talent by changing direction after each take. However, you may also get interpretations you hadn't planned for. Be open to changing your preconceptions and going with the new direction if it works better than what you had in mind.

Try to make the session fun and keep your voice talent relaxed, even if you and the client may not be.

Written by Jeffrey1
Listen to Jeffrey1's Demo
www.VoicesOnlineNow.com

ESPN College GameDay Comes to Utah

ESPN's "College Football GameDay" is coming to Salt Lake City this week and fans are encouraged to attend all of its shows in Rice-Eccles Stadium.

On Friday, Nov. 5, the ESPN "GameDay" crew of Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Erin Andrews will broadcast segments for "SportsCenter," "College Football Live" and other ESPN shows from the set in Rice-Eccles Stadium from 10 a.m. until around noon.

On Saturday, "College Football GameDay" will begin airing before a live crowd a 7 a.m. The show last for three hours (until 10 a.m. MT), with the first hour on ESPNU and the remaining two hours on ESPN.

Written by Robert Jackson
For full article visit www.DeseretNews.com

Halloween Voice Over

Voiceover Audition Success

The real work in voiceover is crafting a flawless audition. I spend a lot of time on my auditions, which, these days are more numerous than ever. While you'll never known for sure what the client has in his/her mind for "the voice", you can certainly improve your chances in landing the voice over gig and try to synch up with the client's vision by preparing each audition carefully. This is not about script breakdown, which is another fundamental aspect of the voice over audition and delivery process. This article is about freeing the vocal instrument to achieve a successful performance.

I've been frequently doing a workout routine each day to improve my voiceover delivery. The routine includes breathing and relaxation techniques, body and neck stretches, yawns, lip and tongue trills, resonance and articulator drills. Of course each day when I wake up, I read the newspaper, and select several stories to read aloud, in order to get my brain to mouth engagement into motion early on way before I head into the booth. Coffee helps me in the wake up process.

1. In any performance situation, the voice actor must have poise and confidence. This is a challenge, especially to the voice actor who auditions alone in the confines of his/her home studio. Remember that confidence grows with every rehearsal and script preparation, whether or not you book the job. I look at each audition as a chance to keep "my chops well-oiled".
2. The successful performer is one who is able to control tension so it will not interfere with performance.
3. Relaxation is paramount! Keep practicing warm-ups. When you are warmed up, thoroughly prepared and relaxed, you'll gain self-confidence.
   
4. Psych yourself up for the audition performance and use breathing exercises, or use some type of physical or vocal release.
   
5. The more experience you gain through recording auditions and listening to and critiquing your playback, the easier it is to lose your apprehension over the process. Think of "owning" the delivery.
   

Whether it is the audition, or a booked session, a successful performer prepares, concentrates intently and executes swiftly with creativity and professional distinction.

The primary tool of the voice actor is the voice that is free of tension and anxiety, and one that is freely expressive. Think of your warm-ups as a massage to your resonators and articulators. A voice that is tuned up and warmed up through regular workouts and vocal exercises that will help you explore your range accurately and creatively. The more you relax, the more natural the delivery and that just might book you the job!

Written by Bobbin
Listen to Bobbin's Demo
www.VoicesOnlineNow.com

Growing Film Industry

Utah film industry leaders are hoping to lure the production of more blockbuster movies to the state by offering a larger tax incentive.

The Governor's Office of Economic Development is set to present a proposal to state lawmakers Wednesday calling for an increase in the state's rebate for motion picture expenditures, from 20 percent to as much as 30 percent.

The larger incentive is intended to make the state more competitive with nearby New Mexico, a longtime rival because it offers similar geography and a 25 percent rebate, among other incentives.

In the past year, New Mexico beat out Utah for productions of the films "Cowboys & Aliens," starring Harrison Ford, and the remake of "True Grit," featuring Jeff Bridges. Those productions have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in New Mexico.

"At 20 percent, we're just not getting the looks that we'd like right now," said Marshall Moore, director of the Utah Film Commission.

Utah is one of a dozen states that currently offers a 20 percent rebate or tax credit. Another 11 states offer a 25 percent incentive, while eight states offer a 30 percent incentive. Several other states offer incentives between 35 percent and 44 percent.


To read the rest of this article visit www.KSL.com
Written by Brock Vergakis, Associated Press Writer

Voice Over Talent on Twitter

The social networking giant, Twitter, continues to mystify some and make money for others. Heck, even the money-makers are mystified. Yet the ones who have tackled the site head-on continue to bring in revenue in their desired fields - and voice-over talent is no exception. Are you on Twitter? Have you signed up and then abandons the account after two "tweets" citing an excuse of something like, "I just don't get it" or "it's a waste of time"?

STOP!

The Internet is an amazing thing, and some voice talents still don't grasp the plethora of knowledge just waiting to be found ... when you ask the right questions. All of the social networking sites are connected. We're only going to talk about Twitter in this article, but by using once you will learn how to use the others!

Spend just one hour on Twitter and you'll begin to see the enormous potential. Don't know what to talk about? Just be yourself! Make jokes, ask questions, and talk about your everyday life -- both personal and business.

As voice talent, we're not always selling our voices - we're selling ourselves, as people. When we're real and interactive, people will respond, and will want to "follow" you in the Twitter world. Even if you don't have a lot of followers, you can still find jobs - again, just use the search engine for the site! If you're searching for VO jobs anywhere else, you already know how to use a search engine. Step outside your comfort zone for one hour and see what happens.

Visit our twitter at : http://www.twitter.com/VoicesOnlineNow

Written by Trish1

Listen to Trish1's demo here

http://www.voicesonlinenow.com/

Voice Over Industry

Great VO Industry Story:

A professional VO walked in the studio and laid down the perfect read in the first take. The client exclaimed, "We paid him $400 for one take?!" To which the producer replied, "That's why you paid him $400.

New Update for Voices Online Now's New Building

Metropolis Integrated Media, a full service media production company, recently began construction on a new facility at 352 South 500 East. This decision to relocate comes after Salt Lake City officials chose the block between 400 and 500 South as the location of the new Public Safety and Emergency Operations center.

While a number of businesses are veing uprooted by this deal, the owner of Metropolis is making lemonade out of the situation. They're using this as an opportunity to expand into a larger, state-of-the art audio and video production center complete with a film and TV sound stage as well as additional recording studios and post production equipment.

The building that Metropolis has occupied for th epast 22 years (445 South 500 East) is around 9,400 square feet which has always been an ample size for their operation. Now that they're moving into a 16,500 square-foot building with 18-foot ceilings, they will be able to move ahead with expansion ideas that were once just "what-if's" because of space limitations.

Read the whole article at http://www.saltlakedigs.com/2010/public-safety-center-means-new-home-for-metropolis/

Voice Overs

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning." ~Maya Angelou

Right Personality, Right Voice

Multiple personalities on a stick - that's what I call it! Being a voice over artist is all about bringing in different personalities or as others like to refer to them as - characters to each voice over job you do.

In a recent voice coaching session I went over my usual information regarding creating personalities and came to the realization that readers/voice talent may be very confused as to what type of personality or character to create. Do they mean over the top and cartoony, realistic, stylized? With all these choices how do you know what to do?

My method for creating personalities or characters is adapted through a variety of coaches, but James Alburgers' method; with his crafty character breakdown sheet is one of my favorites. This sheet is an in-depth look into a voice artist's character and can be a life-saver for many reasons; the most important, consistency and continuity.

This worksheet is incredible when creating in-depth stock characters (characters you will draw from several times in your career). Did you know that many professional voice talents only have about 10 solid characters and they manipulate those characters into several variations, making hundreds? This gives them several characters to choose from. If you haven't started creating characters to choose from. If you haven't started creating characters or personalities then this is something you can begin doing now. Learn everything about these characters inside and out so that you can read any script in their personality (notice I don't say VOICE - there is a huge difference between creating character personalities and creating character voices - that's what training is all about - learning the differences)!

Written by Debbie4
Listen to Debbie4's Demo

The Man of 100 Voices

Authentic Voice Over

Good radio commercials are stories which all take place somehwere - in a car, by a lake, at a breakfast table, in a bathroom, kitchen, field, forest - so go there. The sound will be more natural. It'll stand out on the air because it won't have that dry "studio" sound.

Your voice actors will sound more authentic. The ambiance of the location will affect their performances.

Whether your voice talent is in a shower stall, sitting on a couch or standing on a step ladder pretending they're painting - each position places the diaphragm in a different position, so the voice will sound different.

If the place has background noise, you'll have to monitor your takes carefully, so the ambient sound doesn't overpower the voices.


Written by Jeffrey1
Listen to Jeffrey1's Demo HERE

New Building for Voices Online Now

Be on the look out for pictures of the construction of our new building. The building should be completed at the end of the year!

Bob8 Wins "Best Male VO" at Promax Awards

Bob8 recently one the title of "Best Male VO" at the 2010 Promax Awards. Congratulations Bob8!

Listen to Bob8's demo HERE

Growth of the Utah Film Industry

Figures obtained by The Associated Press in advance of their official release Thursday show the number of jobs created by film productions increased to 1,255 during the fiscal year that ended June 30, up from 520 jobs in the previous year.

The economic impact of those production sis valued at $53 million, compared with $11.3 million a year earlier.

Utah's film industry got a mojor boost from the production of feature films such as "John Carter of mars," the first live-action film from Disney/Pixar Animation. The state offered $5.5 million in incentives to land the film.

Read the whole article at ksl.com

Sign Language Voice

10 Tips for Effective Voice Over

1. First, know this...Your own voice is your biggest asset. Before you develop other characters, get to know your own vocal uniqueness. Experts advise to make yourself fit the script. So, unless and/or until you can pull it off with total believability, don't try to be what you're not.
2. Remember your second most important asset...your ears. Listen and learn. Get to know a natural read from a retail rea. Learn what's in vogue now and what's in retrograde. Listen to the copywriter, producer, and mixing engineer (he's a secret expert witness. He works with every producer in town). Listen and you'll develop the ability to give your clients what they want quickly. Giving them what they want will get you invited back again.
3. Visualize real people you actually know when you read teh script. Ask who am I and whom as I talking to. Imagine their reaction as though you're speaking face-to-face. Do you know more than the person you're talking to or do you know less? What is your attitude toward them and theirs toward you? Is the object of your frame of reference smart or a buffoon? Is he or she a close trusted friend or disinterested in part? The more clearly you emotionally understand the attitudes in the spot the more real the impact of your read will be. Remember there are no monologues in real life, even if you are the only speaker.
4. Read carefully and understand your copy. Ask, "what's the message of the writer". Read the entire script to make sure that you're living the intent of the spot as you're recording it. There is almost always an implied setting or ambience surrounding the message. When you understand where the script is going, you can follow the evolution of the situation and adjust accordingly as it develops. It's important that you're always acting in the moment throughout the spot.
5. Remember your voice lives in a physical world so use your physicality to convey a sense of reality in your delivery. If you're presenting in a formal attitude, stand straight and your delivery will reflect your posture, naturally. To sound relaxed, slouch or sit down. For warmth, smile and think of the mike intimately as an ear. The more real it feels, the more real it will sound.
6. Connect. Be emotional. Be more than just another copyreader. It's a common announcer foible and can be tough to overcome. Don't telegraph the message. Let the ideas in the copy act upon you. More than speak the words, act it out.
7. Don't...be... predictable in your pacing. Pause...in an unusual place, tumble some less important words and s-p-r-e-a-d others. Sometimes unusual pacing and pausing can catch the ears of the listener, and more importantly, the casting agent.
8. When appropriate try a little vocal shrick in your read. Sometimes it's the reactions or imperfections like adding an occasional "uh" and "ah" or "youknow", tha tcan lend uniqueness and believability to a dialogue spot. Ad-libbing can ease tension in a session and help make the psot better as well, as long as it doesn't get in the way of the work.
9. In dialogue spots, have fun with the interplay and environment to help create a connection between the characters. To keep it real and interesting make sure you keep the pacing of the spot crisp. Like real people, you can interrupt each other cautiously to give the spot a feeling of spontaneity (without being too sloppy about it in case the client needs to edit later).
10. Once you establish your character, stay in character. Don't morph into somebody else. Learn how the character feels. You can remember your character by choosing a vocal cue, musical pattern, accent, tempo, or attitude as a reference. If you pay attention to the character and don't allow yourself to be distracted or insecure, you'll stay where you need to be.

Finally remember the unwritten rule: Have fun with your craft. The more you play at your craft, the more comfortable you will become with your process, and the faster your skills will grow. Good luck! Now go out there and VO-wow 'em!

Listen to the author of the article, Snaz at www.VoicesOnlineNow.com

Photo by simplykaty

Postive Encouragement for Voice Talents

A little encouragement from one of our voice talents, Liz2...

After four call-backs for an audition for an animated feature film, I learned I didn't make the cut. While I had already picked out my Oscar dress, I chose to see the disappointment as an opportunity for growth. I began asking, "What can I learn," "What can I do differently next time." "was I acting out of ego, rather than connecting with the purpose of my character, the film?" And, of course, the bigger question, "How can I remain connected to my mission of using my talent to help others in the midst of such disappointment?"

While the answers to these questions are vital, most important for me is just the asking-- keeping my thoughts on the right path of self-discovery, searching for the answers. Today, I trust that higher thinking, envisioning success and believing in myself no-matter-what will propel me to the next level in my voice over career and in my life.

Listen to Liz2 HERE

Your True Character Voice

Some "character" voices actually come from somewhere inside you and don't require you to change your voice at all. If there is a mothering side to you, or you already are a mother, then you probably have a "Mom Voice". You may have a dry, droning, monotone voice you use when you are tired or bored with life at the moment. Used with the right copy, this voice could be funny. Maybe you use a funny voice when you talk to the dog, or when you are talking to yourself while driving.

A good idea might be for you to carry a notebook or recording device with you and make note of the voices that come out of you naturally. Sometimes the voices that sound like real, true characters are really just voice artists being themselves, and having a conversation as they normally would as a husband, wife, Mom or Dad.


Provided by: Christina
Listen to Christina's demo at VoicesOnlineNow.com

Voices Online Now Word Games

Can you figure out what these four boxes are actually saying?

Voices Online Now Breaking Ground

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Exciting changes are ahead for Metropolis and their sister company Voices Online Now. We're moving locations and we couldn't be more excited! Check out this article from UtahBusinesses.com to find out more about our new facility.

Click Here

Finding that Perfect Voice

So your client needs a Voice Over for your upcoming project and you really want to make a great impression. Choosing a talent can be a tricky and stressful process. Professional voice over artist, Justin2 on VoicesOnlineNow.com, shared with us his list of top 10 things you should ask yourself before hiring your next voice over talent. Listen to Justin2's demo here.

1. Decide where to hold your recording session
2. Determine your time constraints
3. Determine the gender and age of your target audience
4. Determine the gender and age of the Voice Over artist
5. Consider the style and range
6. Decide if a voice attribute or accent is required
7. Listening to prospective Voice Over artist demos
8. Audition prospects and ask for resume and references
9. Be sure the client signs off on the artist
10. What is the preferred rate

Now do you want to make hiring your next voice over talent even easier than following these 10 steps? This is where Voices Online Now comes in.

Because all of our talent are hand picked we only provide the best of the best in the industry. You tell us exactly what voice you're looking for and we’ll find it!

We can even send MP3 auditions to make your decision easier. And when it’s time to record you’re the director during the session so you know you’re getting exactly what you want.

Social Media: Here for the Long Run!

Social Media has become a huge part of our society. Don't believe me? Think it's just a fad like those short shorts your dad use to wear in gym class? (Lets hope those never come back in style!) Check out this video and it just might change your mind...