Committee for Cleaner Elections
Voice Direction:
This simulated audition requires a strong voice that will cut through the noise out there, will resonate with the public, and will make a statement.
Script:
Smear campaigns…mud slinging…twisting the truth.
Why do politicians resort to such underhanded tactics?
Hey you want our vote?
Well then it’s time to level the playing field.
This election season, advocate for a clean election process.
Paid for by the Committee for Cleaner Elections.
Congratulations to Tony Beltran, Hollie Parker, and Greg Beastrom. In this simulated voice acting audition about political behavior, they showed they understand the norms and staked out fresh positions. Here are some tips to help you get clients’ votes in your future auditions.
But first, a note: You should review the recording of Chief Edge Officer David Goldberg’s January 4, 2024 live session, where he – and a wide range of voice actors – review a random selection of this contest’s entries. It gives special insight into the casting review process – a look (and listen) into how a casting person quickly moves through hundreds of submissions to create their shortlist. But — unlike real casting projects — David explains what casting teams listen for and how their decisions are made.
Here it is!
EDGE STUDIO TIP 1: Before you record, read the direction. It’s like the opening remark we often hear on self home improvement shows: “Read and understand the instructions, and always wear your safety glasses.” Understanding is key. Sometimes the direction doesn’t clearly tell you exactly what the client wants to hear. It’s up to you to sort it out. For example, the voice direction in this audition asks only for a “strong voice that will cut through the noise out there.” What noise? Literally background noise? Or figurative political “noise”? Or commercial clutter? What? There are some further clues: “resonate with the public” and “make a statement.” But those, too, could mean many things. As the VO talent, you need to decide if it calls for you to be confident, authoritative, personal, trustworthy, angry, having an attitude, imposing and forceful, empathetic, whatever. Thinking about such things will help you focus your performance to make it on-target yet distinctive. More generally, the thought process will help develop your acting sensibilities. With experience, you’ll gain insight into what choices most people would make, potentially helping you to avoid or build on those choices and make the script your own.
As for the safety glasses, see the next tip.
EDGE STUDIO TIP 2: Learn and follow VO fundamentals. All Voice Over genres share a range of fundamental performance requirements. For example …
- Enunciate.
- Flow your speech, don’t be choppy; don’t pause too much, and avoid glottal stops (momentary closing of your throat before a vowel).
- Speak naturally — not like you’re reading, not theatrically, not announcery.
- Be technically correct — for example, don’t distort, don’t have too low a volume, do record on both speakers but not stereo.
- Don’t go too fast.
These and other VO fundamentals are more important in some genres than others, and there are exceptions (certain character roles, for example), but in any genre, if you don’t have these basic performance qualities, you’ll will be heard as a non-professional within seconds. A good VO coach will teach you these and other fundamentals early in your training.
EDGE STUDIO TIP 3: Use body language to help express emotion. Any physical movement comes out in your voice. You should maintain a consistent distance to the mic, and shouldn’t rustle your clothing, but otherwise, anything goes.
For example, in this script consider the words, “Hey you want our vote?” Do you want to punch up your energy on the word, “Hey”? There are various ways to do that. One would be to poke with your finger, as you would impolitely poke in the chest someone you’re talking to. You might even poke yourself in the chest. It’s unusual, but that poke will go straight to your mind, affecting your emotional expression and even physiologically.
Poking yourself is a more extreme movement than you would usually use. Usually, your body language may be as simple as a wave of your hand. Or pointing at bullet points in the air as you go through a list. Of course, don’t hurt yourself, don’t overdo it, and if a self-poke or thump is audible, edit it out.
EDGE STUDIO TIP 4: Understand how audition screening works. Listen to the Contest Review session we’ve linked to above. David Goldberg (Founder and Chief Edge Officer) explains how and why an audition screener typically listens to just the first few seconds before moving on. So, while all of the script is important, the first word is especially so. (It’s important in the final production, too!) The opening needs to be clearly understood (not rushed) and should convey appropriate energy.
By the way, if you submit two takes, mention it at the outset (simply say, “Two takes”), and be sure they are significantly different from each other. (If they’re essentially the same, you’ll have wasted the screener’s time and will be thought a poor judge of your work, with limited range of talent.) If one version takes liberties with the Direction, put it second; the first take should be the one that the client expects.
1st place winner: Tony Beltran
Judge's Comments
Very good. He totally nailed the requested emotion, has good variety, and great pacing. However, his speech is a teeny bit slurred at times, and the word “field” sounds like “feel.” the last sentence is too fast. As for technical quality, it’s good, but perhaps a bit muddy.
2nd place winner: Hollie Parker
Judge's Comments
Overall, she’s terrific. We think she could have a bit more anger in her voice. Also, the whole spot comes across a bit too slow, especially the part about “mud slinging…twisting the truth.” It’s much too slow. Oddly, “cleaner elections” is too fast. Technically, her sound is a little bit muddy, but not so much that a coach can’t help her fix it. Also, we hear some noise, which is probably electronic, rather than an appliance or ventilation.
3rd place winner: Greg Beastrom
Judge's Comments
His performance is good, but he should have paused after the first phrase — the script has an ellipse there. (The pause could be because visuals change, or maybe the client wants viewers to have time to absorb the statement before going onto the next thought.) And we’d like to hear him being more upset as he says, “Why do politicians resort to such underhanded tactics? Hey you want our vote?” The technical quality is very good.
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