- Voice-over sessions are fun and easy when you step into
a booth and everyone loves what comes out of your mouth
on the first try.
But it doesn't always work out that way.
It's important to provide the reading
the way the director wants it.
Far too often in a recording session,
we end up as voice actors reading the same line
over and over, the exact same way.
Sometimes it's hard to get out of a rut,
it just happens at times.
So one of the things, if you're having a real hard time
with it, you can always suggest, y'know, can we come back
to this line, let me just sit on that a little bit.
And they're generally going to be happy to help you out,
because they want the best takes as possible too.
Now, you as the actor, if you keep getting the same note,
that means that you're not giving them a different read,
so just try something different.
Sometimes it sounds like it's different in our head,
but it's not, so try going a different direction,
try emphasizing a different way, just do something different
than what you've been doing, because obviously,
what you've been doing isn't good enough for what they want.
In a session, feel free to experiment
and really push your voice.
In a session, we're going to record lots of takes,
lots of different versions of it,
so why not have a lot of fun with some?
Because some might really kill it.
You never know what might come out.
Now, if you've already got a very specific pattern going
and everyone's really happy, stick with that.
But it's great to try different things at times.
So you could try different emotions or even
different movements, physically, during your read.
So, generally, the way it works is when you go to do a take,
you should give your director three slight variations
with every take.
They'll give you a little bit of notes,
and then you do three more variations of the line again.
Now, if you're an established character,
like someone on The Simpsons, then you pretty much know
what you're doing and you're going to go in in one or two takes
and you're going to nail it.
Just stay in character and do your thing.
So here's a couple examples of what a director
might ask for in a session.
They might say, a little bit quicker, or, pick up the pace.
So, maybe you're just reading a little bit like this,
but they want you to sound a little bit more like this.
So, that adds some energy to it, or maybe they've got
certain timing, especially for commercials, they need to hit
within a certain time period.
They might ask you to emphasize a different word.
Saying, I'm going to go fly my kite, that has one meaning,
but if you say, I'm going to go fly my kite,
that has a totally different feel to it,
just because I either emphasize kite or fly.
It's a real easy way to get a different read.
They might ask you to be more angry.
They adds some intensity and probably
lowers your voice a little bit.
They might say, you know, it should sound a little happier.
Well, that's an easy one, just smile.
When you smile when you read, it changes the quality
of your voice, it sounds happier and it's a bit softer.
They might ask you, make it sound like you're pleading
a little bit more.
You kind of tense up in your upper chest,
so it's going to add that extra bit of tenseness in your voice.
They could just say, quicker, or pace it up,
which we talked about earlier.
On the other side, they could say, don't rush it.
So that means slow down, or they might even say,
let it breathe.
Let it breathe means when you say something,
take a breath and continue, give it a little bit of room
in between words, you don't need to rush through it.
Many directors will not give you a line reading,
because they've learned that actors consider that rude.
At least, if you're a seasoned actor.
Younger actors or less experienced will often get
a line reading, just go with it.
If it helps you get the gig and get through it, fantastic.
But even as a seasoned voice actor, if you're having
a hard time getting something or it doesn't seem like
the director is getting what they want,
you could always ask for a line reading.
That's completely up to you.
Every once in awhile, I have an actor ask me
to give them a line reading, and I'm happy to do it,
but I always try to avoid it unless they're okay with it.
So one of the biggest things in a session?
Just have fun, 'cause the more fun you have in it,
the better your session'll sound
and the happier everyone's going to be.