Week 4:
1. Re-record your news script: At this stage you have recorded your news script and reflected upon your own recording, listened to it in its professional form, and highlighted the points of emphasis made by the news reader. Now, having read about performance and heard the professional version of the script, I would like you to re-record the script. In doing this, you will need to ‘perform’ as a news reader, and make an effort to sound ‘professional’. Post the link to your blog.
2. Reflect upon your new recording: Is there a difference from the original, and if so how? Write a short reflection on your blog, making specific references to performative techniques you used.
3. Watch In a World (2013). Write a review of this movie with the future voice-over artist in mind. In particular, consider the importance of performance and technique as experienced by some of the movie’s characters. What are some of the techniques used to alter the sound of a voice-over, and what impact does this have (technically, and more broadly)? Record your response on your blog. (Yes, we know it’s fiction, but it’s very close to the bone in terms of how it reflects the reality of an industry).
Task one –
Task two –
The difference between the two recordings is most notably evident in the re-working of punctuation throughout the piece. Allowing myself to breath made for a more natural sounding recording and allowed more time to see the words coming on the page before I was forced to stumble them out of my mouth. Unfortunately, I am sick so breathing wasn’t the piece of cake I had hoped for.
Task three –
The film’s trailer is available to view here.
In a world is a left of Hollywood comedy film hit that has unsurprisingly garnered rave reviews since its release. While on the surface the film’s behind the scenes look at the world of movie and television voiceovers is its general premise, a harder look reveals the films questioning of society’s view on gender stereotyping and voice. Lake Bell stars as the film’s protagonist ‘Carol’, in a role she both wrote for the screen and directed. With the passing of the late, great, voiceover artist Don Fontaine, Carol’s father Sam Sotto (Fred Melamed), is the most senior and well respected talent available. Sam feels it is time to step out of the limelight, and with the next big Hollywood ‘quadrilogy’ coming up Sam pushes the younger Gustav (Ken Marino), to go for the role. While Carol has aspirations of becoming a great voice over artist herself, she is offered few commercials and typically uses her skills as a voice coach and is a distant overthought for the part.
Long story short (spoiler alert), the audience is privy to their gender misconceptions, Carol gets the part, her troubled with her relationship with her father is mended, and Gustav is kind of an asshole. For the purpose of education in speech and script however, an array of vocal warmups and eloquent voice performances are displayed throughout. Some of the techniques shown in the film for vocal preparation include:
- Mouth stretching.
- Rolling of the tongue.
- Drinking hot water with lemon.
- Being well rested.
- Repetition of vowel sounds.
- Exercises involving both extremes of the vocal range from start to finish.
- Slow and clear annunciation of words.
- Loosening the diaphragm.
In discussing these and other similar vocal exercises, Toastmasters (2011) states, ‘the purpose of these exercises is to improve your voice quality by bringing your voice “out of the throat” and focusing it forward where it belongs’.
References:
In a world…, 2013, [DVD] Lake Bell, USA, Roadside Attractions.
Toastmasters 2011, your speaking voice, viewed 15 May 2016, http://www.toastmasters.org/~/media/B7D5C3F93FC3439589BCBF5DBF521132.ashx.
Anthony Norris CQU Student Blog 