Public Speaking Information


Directing Voiceovers: Dont Be, Do!


Directing a voice-over talent you've hired to read a spot for, say, dog food is pretty much the same as directing a great actor in a scene in a major film production. Well, almost the same. Go with me here.

It's all about action. The end result of the performers action in both situations is a reaction from the audience. A successful performance in the dog food commercial gets the listener to buy the product. The well-acted movie gets the viewer to buy into the world it creates. Independent filmmaker, Steve Pak, writes: "...the goal is to tell a story dramatically rather than didactically, which means characters do things rather than explain things."

To get listeners to buy your product or service, you need to get the voice actor to actually do something with the copy, not think about what they're doing with the copy. Mr. Pak observes: "The challenge for directors is to stop talking about results and start talking about process." In other words, it's what happens during the journey, not just arriving at the destination, that's most important to the story.

Mr. Pak's key to talking about process is the use of action verbs, not adjectives. How does this work with a piece of commercial copy? Let's take our example of dog food. We'll call our brand "Stinkalicious." It's a wet, canned food. Now, Stinkalicious' unique selling proposition is that it only stinks to dogs! Yes, when you open a can of new, genetically altered Stinkalicious dog food, only your dog can smell the disgusting aromas that always appeal best to dogs. It's these non-aromatic aromas that cause Rover to come a-running.

Next, let's say your research into the most effective copy approach leads you to a discovery: people don't find stinky things humorous. Surprisingly, the best choice is straight copy, delivered with an authoritative demeanor, written to convey the sense of relief from stinkiness the purchaser feels every time he or she opens a can of Stinkalicious.

Now here's where action verbs come into your direction to the voice talent. Instead of saying to the actor, "When you get to the line about relief from stinkiness be happy that people will be relieved," say, "When you get to that line, convince, Jane, the listener, to really agree with you." By using action verbs instead of adjectives, the voice actor doesn't have to think, "Now I'm supposed to be getting happy." Instead, the talent can concentrate completely on actually convincing the listener of the happiness to be found with stink-free Stinkalicious. That's motivation and that's what the talent needs to make a piece of copy come alive and be persuasive.

In the words of Steve Pak, "Action verbs lead to specific action through which actors discover and experience emotions -- resulting in compelling performances." Not just in feature films, but voiceovers, too.

©Peter Drew

Peter Drew, a freelance voice-over talent and copywriter/producer with decades of experience, is heard on radio and television stations, corporate presentations, web sites, and messages-on-hold across America and countries around the world. To send an email regarding this article, please visit http://www.peterdrewvo.com/


MORE RESOURCES:

Toastmasters: Here to help you quash your fear of public speaking
Moody County Enterprise, SD - Nov 18, 2008
BY RYAN WOODARD Jerry Doyle has started a local chapter of the public speaking club Toastmasters International, which has members all over the world. ...


Public Speaking Is Not Worse Than Death
dBusinessNews Triangle (press release), NC - Nov 19, 2008
DURHAM, NC November 20, 2008 — Many people fear public speaking, yet it can be an extremely effective method for marketing your business’s services. ...


CBC.ca

A Complex Knot of Conflicts
Washington Post, United States - 2 hours ago
Those familiar with the talks said they covered a range of concerns, including the former president's profitable public speaking, his global investment work ...
Video: Hillary Will Get SOS Nom Soon CBS
Hillary Clinton weighing secretary of state post The Associated Press
Bill reveals files to move Hillary closer to top job This is London
guardian.co.uk - Deseret News
all 5,091 news articles


Cheyne is Toastmaster champ
Burlington Union, MA - 18 hours ago
Have you ever wanted to develop your public speaking skills? Mary Cheyne, a Somerville resident and member of The Last Word Toastmasters Club in Burlington, ...


Reviving a Novel-Worthy Tale of War and Religion
New York Times, United States - 3 hours ago
At home and away, the young boy was also trained in horseback riding, public speaking and fighting skills. All would prove crucial. ...


Community calendar
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 14 hours ago
Hosted meetings to help people improve their public speaking, critical thinking and leadership skills. East Hills Community Church, 12000 Campus Drive. ...


The Boss Inspired by Mom
New York Times, United States - 2 hours ago
When I was 16, my mother said the biggest thing that had helped her in her life was when her mother and father asked her to take a public speaking class. ...


Program to focus on public speaking
The Reporter, WI - Nov 14, 2008
RIPON — Jody Roy, professor and chair of the communication department at Ripon College, will present a program on public speaking and perfecting ...


Carlisle, Davidson tops in Poetry Out Loud
Gulf Coast Newspapers, AL - 9 minutes ago
Davidson said she loves public speaking so she didn’t have a problem reciting before the judges—particularly because she “practiced it constantly. ...


Public speaking course essential for repertoire
Kaleidoscope Online, AL - Nov 10, 2008
Cecil Betros, professor of communication studies at UAB, believes it is important for students to take part in a public speaking course. ...

Public-Speaking - Google News

home | site map
© 2007