Voice over production techniques are used in a host of television, film and radio dramas, for a variety of reasons. But it is often unclear as to what people actually mean when they use the term. This article will help to explain what the term actually means, and why artists and film makers of various kinds use the technique in their works.
'Off camera commentary' is another term which is often synonymous with voice over, and it is certainly a phrase which helps to add clarity to any definition of the term. Voice over production basically refers to any voice which the audience hears which is not part of the film world, a 'non-diagetic' sound, to give it an accurate description. So it is a voiced narrative which comes from off-screen, which is separate to the sounds and dialogue of the action itself which occurs in the film.
Of course, the technique is not limited to films, or to television productions. The technique is used frequently in live theatre productions, where the voice over can be spoken by an actor who is off-stage. It is even possible to use some off-stage narration of this kind in radio productions, if the director is skilled enough to make it sound like it is not part of the events of the play.
A off-screen narration of this kind is often encountered at the start of film, where the director is trying to establish some kind of context for the audience which cannot be established simply by the action on the screen. One genre in which the technique has been used extensively is in 'film noir'. Here, this kind of narration will often continue throughout a film, reflecting the way in which hard-boiled crime authors use first person narratives in their novels.
On other occasions, the technique may be used as a means of flashback, with a character looking back on events which might have occurred years before, but are set to take place in the film. If the technique is used in this way, it often gives the audience greater insight into the motivations of characters. It can be voiced by the same actor as plays the character in the film, or is sometimes voiced by a different actor, helping with the sense of looking back at events which took place in the past, in a different context.
This kind of voicing over is usually pre-recorded and then dubbed over the top of the movie or television programme. This is not usually done with theatre productions though, with an actor reading lines from off-stage being preferred. Some directors may prefer a pre-recorded track for off-stage narration, but this can create technical problems.
Perhaps the most common place to hear this type of technique is on the television though, especially with documentaries. An additional voice is often used in this type of programme, to help inform the audience and to keep the programme flowing. Animal documentaries are a particularly common example of programmes where this technique is utilised.
Voice over production is therefore something which anyone who consumes any kind of media or artistic materials will have come across. Common in the cinema and on television, it is also found in live theatre and even radio from time to time. Many actors have become specialists at this kind of work.
'Off camera commentary' is another term which is often synonymous with voice over, and it is certainly a phrase which helps to add clarity to any definition of the term. Voice over production basically refers to any voice which the audience hears which is not part of the film world, a 'non-diagetic' sound, to give it an accurate description. So it is a voiced narrative which comes from off-screen, which is separate to the sounds and dialogue of the action itself which occurs in the film.
Of course, the technique is not limited to films, or to television productions. The technique is used frequently in live theatre productions, where the voice over can be spoken by an actor who is off-stage. It is even possible to use some off-stage narration of this kind in radio productions, if the director is skilled enough to make it sound like it is not part of the events of the play.
A off-screen narration of this kind is often encountered at the start of film, where the director is trying to establish some kind of context for the audience which cannot be established simply by the action on the screen. One genre in which the technique has been used extensively is in 'film noir'. Here, this kind of narration will often continue throughout a film, reflecting the way in which hard-boiled crime authors use first person narratives in their novels.
On other occasions, the technique may be used as a means of flashback, with a character looking back on events which might have occurred years before, but are set to take place in the film. If the technique is used in this way, it often gives the audience greater insight into the motivations of characters. It can be voiced by the same actor as plays the character in the film, or is sometimes voiced by a different actor, helping with the sense of looking back at events which took place in the past, in a different context.
This kind of voicing over is usually pre-recorded and then dubbed over the top of the movie or television programme. This is not usually done with theatre productions though, with an actor reading lines from off-stage being preferred. Some directors may prefer a pre-recorded track for off-stage narration, but this can create technical problems.
Perhaps the most common place to hear this type of technique is on the television though, especially with documentaries. An additional voice is often used in this type of programme, to help inform the audience and to keep the programme flowing. Animal documentaries are a particularly common example of programmes where this technique is utilised.
Voice over production is therefore something which anyone who consumes any kind of media or artistic materials will have come across. Common in the cinema and on television, it is also found in live theatre and even radio from time to time. Many actors have become specialists at this kind of work.
About the Author:
You can visit the website ronreidvo.com for more helpful information about What Exactly Is Voice Over Production And Where Is It Used
The Communication Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment