What Are the Qualities A Voice Over Needs To Be Successful?

For those of you undecided about what a voice over actually is (see Great British voice over), officially it's referred to as a narrative approach in which an actor's (who remains invisible) lines are heard over visual elements, like a movie or an advertisement. For example, the announcer of your most popular talk show, could be classed as a voice over artist. Voice overs are commonly used at the beginning of a film to help set the scene.

How Long Does an Expert Voice Over's Career Last?

For a accomplished voice over artist, you can expect to have a career that may last for years. For many, the occupation of a voice over is an extremely profitable career. Yet, as with any jobs within the performing arts sector, the role of a voice is extremely competitive. For those voice overs with particularly distinctive voices, this will go in their favour and are usually highly in demand for commercial voice over work. Patrick Stewart is a prime example of this.

What Type of Script Can A Voice Over Be Given?

Scripts can vary greatly from one project to another however a typical voice over script for a commercial is broken down into several different parts. Each section of the script is timed down to the last millisecond. It has to be precise to work.

How Should A Script Be Interpreted?

A professional voice over (see UK voiceovers) will sometimes be allowed to make their own interpretation of a script, but the majority of the time, the director of the advert or film will suggest ways to read the lines. By doing so they can gain a style that suits the client or audience. Working as a voice over can take a lot of patience, especially when spending hours in the recording studio re-reading individual lines until the director is satisfied.

Lines can be amended to suit the voice over on many occasions if it proves too difficult to read. Certain words may require emphasis within a commercial, where a voice over artist may be expected to make a unique sound in order for it to stand out.

How Do You Find Voice Over Work?

Voice over roles are generally found via open auditions, as well as through talent agencies. Often the voice over's best work may be represented on a voice reel and presented to agencies. There are certified schools that provide training for voice over artists. Classes include those designed to improve interpretive skills and strengthen the voice.

For further information about professional voice over artists, see http://GreatBritishvoices.co.uk/.