Work with professional voice talent?
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:55 am
I've never worked with professional voice talent, and I hope you can give me some advice in recording my short script (of 180 words).
I am using an incomplete fragment of the script to solicit auditions online, and I have now received a few auditions from some accomplished character talents.
The auditions which come back to me from the various character voices show that I can get the baseline professional quality I need: fine timbre, fine diction, fine recording quality, and fine (smooth, narrow) dynamic range.
What I'm not getting in the samples is any of the emotional content of the script, even if I try to be clear about the requirements.
The readings are pleasant and businesslike; they do not convey the meaning of the words.
I don't want to micromanage the performance, nor do I want to ask for the all the subtleties of a Rolls Royce performance if I can only afford a motorcycle .
I get the impression that the job ought to be a flat fee... is that correct?
I don't know how I'm supposed to move ahead on this.
Do I ask the talent for some more free "takes?"
Do I simply assume the talent can deliver if I pay enough to develop the right outcome?
Or do I assume these voices, even though they do characters professionally, would have already given me the emotion reading I've asked for if they could?
If the acting is this important, do I need to look for an actor rather than a voice-over professional?
I want to be a great client--reasonable, clear, supportive, and abiding by all the standard practices for developing this kind of performance.
But how?
I am using an incomplete fragment of the script to solicit auditions online, and I have now received a few auditions from some accomplished character talents.
The auditions which come back to me from the various character voices show that I can get the baseline professional quality I need: fine timbre, fine diction, fine recording quality, and fine (smooth, narrow) dynamic range.
What I'm not getting in the samples is any of the emotional content of the script, even if I try to be clear about the requirements.
The readings are pleasant and businesslike; they do not convey the meaning of the words.
I don't want to micromanage the performance, nor do I want to ask for the all the subtleties of a Rolls Royce performance if I can only afford a motorcycle .
I get the impression that the job ought to be a flat fee... is that correct?
I don't know how I'm supposed to move ahead on this.
Do I ask the talent for some more free "takes?"
Do I simply assume the talent can deliver if I pay enough to develop the right outcome?
Or do I assume these voices, even though they do characters professionally, would have already given me the emotion reading I've asked for if they could?
If the acting is this important, do I need to look for an actor rather than a voice-over professional?
I want to be a great client--reasonable, clear, supportive, and abiding by all the standard practices for developing this kind of performance.
But how?