VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Don G.]

...until after the VO is done!?

Had a session today for three local TV spots, which I auditioned for last week. Two producers in the studio, along with the engineer, and the client(s) piped in via telephone to listen in. No real "direction" per se, other than "what you did on the audition was great. Just do it like that." Fine by me. First spot, first take was :30.5. Okay, next take was :29 and the client loved it.

That's when the fun started. The engineer says "Let me drop it against picture." And you can guess the rest. First two sentences line up great. Half of the middle section needs to be sped up to hit anything right, and then the other half of the middle needs to be spaced out unnaturally. And then race through the last two lines to be out on time. Repeat this process for the other two spots. And I can't even b!tch about it because one of the clients in the studio is the video editor. Yes, there was a scratch track that the picture was cut to, but as is often the case, the words were just spoken flat and emotionless.

Oh well. Bottom line: client on the phone is thrilled (although they haven't seen it locked to pic yet...), and the invoice has been sent out.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[BenWils]

I competely understand your pain Don. I had the same thing happen not too long ago on one for a restaurant spot for TV. They had the words appearing on screen with the VO.....cutting back to other action shots in the restaurant.....and the editor did not allow enough time for the text on the screen to match the voice.....the audio dudes get the finished VO and start speeding up the VO to match the text in and outs on the video and making it very unnatural with the calm relaxed tone of the rest of it.

Being a freelance video producer and VO (undercover)...I really have to bite hard on my tongue when stuff like that happens. A 5 minute re-edit with some extra freezed frame with the text graphics would smooth the whole thing out...but no. They would rather slaughter the VO and make it sound stupid. Oh well, as long as the checks cash okay....
_________________
Ben


"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

[CWToo]

I've run into similar situations... the music was created to fit the scratch track, then the video was edited to fit the music and the scratch track, then they bring in a profesional talent (or me) to fit a decent read into it. Or even better: the client changes the copy and there is no budget left for a reedit of the video and the resulting voice over sounds like crap.

But the resulting check spends well.

[Dave]

Yep... happens to me as well. Unfortunately, as long as we remain the last link in the chain, the massacre of our work will continue. Whadda shame.
_________________
. If at first you don't succeed, then bomb disposal probably isn't for you.

[KaraEdwards]

I had one recently in which the lines had to fit in a certain time frame...no big deal...but the times were 3.4 seconds, 47.6 seconds, etc, etc. Great! Again, the check cashed- so I worked with a smile!
_________________
Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[JimRon]

[todd ellis]

WoW - i did this all day yesterday! back & forth. here's a small sample:

Hi Todd, putting my name forward for the dumbass of the year award, I did not realise I had done more editing from an EVEN SLOWER version of the CTA that I thought, and failed to track those changes in the script…

Here is the FINAL CTA script – which should fit for timing…

he's still working on it. double the trouble because he's in the U.K.

btw: banksey, david and others in the UK can hear me if you stay up late enough! "How much would you expect to pay??? But wait, don't answer yet ..."
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Philip Banks]

Oh Oh Oh ! Please Sir, I know the answer to this one. It's because you work for them not the other way around. You say please and thank you *then smile and take their money.

*The above was taught to me by Big Morag who does favours for sailors at Cluny Harbour Buckie. Knows a thing or two and still has all her own teeth, keeps them in an empty Zam-Buk tin ..... Now that's class!

[BenWils]

Billboard:

This episode of "Banksey Learns You A Real Good Lesson" brought to you by Tickety-Boo Tea...."the tea that will not only wake you up but make you more saucey and sassy." For all your tea needs, try a box of Tickety Boo.... or two.




_________________
Ben


"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

[bobbinbeamo]

Banksey...you're a born again comedian, as well!
_________________
Bobbin Beam
www.bobbinbeam.com
blog.bobbinbeam.com

[davidmonteath]

[Jowillie]

Strange ways you are describing for TV production.

The simplest and cheapest .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" /> way to produce video is to get the VO and soundtrack right first. Then it's easier to match up..and run.

In higher scale production, each segment is timed and the vo is done to match that segment. That's if no changes are needed. If you know what you are doing, properly prepare the sequence needed, and have the right budget, you knock it out.

Hopefully, you are getting paid for those retakes.

We're laying out a production now that involves matching a Voice Actor to the Screen Actor to "dub-in" a different voice. It's a hoot.

[davidmonteath]

Ah, the many splendoured world of lip syncing, have fun!!!!
_________________
www.davidmonteath.com

Sponsor of Voice APpreciation Indulgence Day 2010

Proud member of Self Appointed Voice-Over Experts Discussion Group - overenthusiastic pontification a speciality.