Voiceover Script Success Series #8

Back to the heart of what matters – KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

I had a student a few weeks ago who read a script for me.  I asked him, after he finished, to tell me what it’s about.  He said he had no idea.  I had another student just yesterday who said he knows NOW (after a few intensive sessions together) that he just had a “read” and he just “did it” on whatever script he was presented with.  He never knew what he was reading.  He thought the goal was to give this good “read” that he perfected.  But we all know, unequivocally, the “read” is 100% dependent on the SCRIPT!  Okay, I’ll stop with the broken record….but let’s say it’s a very thoughtfully executed song on that record, when it plays right.  To be fair 😉

We’re looking at a Jaguar script today.  Check it out:

There are Machines that can do things for us.
Machines that can make things for us.
Machines that can see right through us.
And Machines that want to be us.  Want to replace us.  But they are not us.
There is one machine that makes us greater.
A machine that’s so instinctive, So seductive, It’s as alive as we are.
It doesn’t click….Or buzz.
(Engine starts) It roars.
Jaguar.

So, what are you saying HERE?  Your “best guess” will be as close as possible to what the writer seems to be inferring, so don’t project . . . LOOK, SEE, UNDERSTAND.  This writer starts off listing all the ways machines are helpful, efficient, effective, almost insightful.  He makes it clear that machines are not BETTER than us humans, but that there is one machine that is not only on par, but that can MAKE US GREATER.  He is dancing on a fine line here – flattering both the audience (aka humans) and also the possibilities of a machine, in this case, the Jaguar, to be precise.  That’s it.  Now, to stray for a quick moment, I will hear some students get distracted with the “target market” during their voiceover script analysis.  Not only will they make a (possibly incorrect) assumption (a rich guy, a man going through a middle-aged crisis, etc), but how will that help them even if they are right?  How would their tone change?  How do you speak to a man in middle-aged crisis?  Would it not be more clear and effective to use the words and their intentions as a vessel to represent themselves?  What do I mean exactly?  Well, you’re talking about the incredible capabilities of machines?  How would your tone sound doing THAT?  Much easier than how do you sound “speaking to a man in the midst of a middle-aged crisis”, yes?  Your tone would be prideful, deeply confident.  Why?  Because not only are you speaking about how amazing machines can be, but you go on to discuss the most amazing one of all…..the product you’re speaking on behalf of.  That’s all.  No more.  No less.  No projecting.  Just understanding the intention of the written words.  Now that you’ve made sure to represent the tonal intention properly, make sure to review the rest of your responsibilities for insuring the most authentic read possible in this blog on voiceover technique using your pen.  Remember those things?