Voice-over tips needed

May 5, 2009 3:43 AM

Does anyone have tips for transforming a boring text written in book-report style to a dynamic and interesting script which could be used as a voice-over for a corporate video?

So, being a native English speaker living abroad, I've been asked to do a voice-over for a corporate presentation video. This entails two interesting complications:

1) The text they gave me is a decent article, but reads like a report. I will rewrite it, to make it sound more natural and suitable for this sort of media. Are there any good resources for this? Or, does anyone have any tips?

E.g. The original text said:
"ABC was once relevant, but now XYZ is pushing us to find alternatives"

My change:
As XYZ become increasingly important, it is time for a new outlook, it is time for [PRODUCT]

In other words, I used the sort of repetition [it is time for ... it is time for...] that seems typical of infomercials and similar media. Any other suggestions? I obviously can't use this construction more than a couple times in a 10 minute video. Sure would like a tip or two.

2) I've done some voice-work before, but nothing like this. Any suggestions for doing this best are much appreciated!

Thanks a lot!

posted by mateuslee to media & arts (6 comments total)

Replace the passive voice with the active voice.
posted by caddis at 4:07 AM on May 5

Hmmm, your change doesn't sound so different than the original text. Depending on what you're going for, you might need to do another draft.
posted by Rykey at 5:12 AM on May 5

A more concrete suggestion:
"Once upon a time, ABC was the thing. Then XYZ came along!"
posted by Rykey at 5:16 AM on May 5

If you have an interesting voice, then you make the most boring copy seem interesting. I wouldn't rewrite the text, so much as practice your drama voice. Take the VO in beer commercials for example. The droll stuff they have to say is overshadowed by the excellent narrator's voice.
posted by JJ86 at 5:56 AM on May 5

To build on JJ86, the correct voice to be use is, "Hi! I'm Troy McClure..."
posted by maxpower at 6:16 AM on May 5

We recently had a corporate meeting where a message was read one way with no punctuation, then each line was read in reverse with the entirely opposite meaning... it was pretty impressive.
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:00 PM on May 5