VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[patfraley]

Where does the term come from? Anyone know? I have always assumed it came from either the procedure in marrying newsreel (late 20's) footage, with a voice, OR it referred to the sound of a VOICE coming OVER film in a theatre, even though I am assuming the speaker was BEHIND the screen. All guess work.

Also, when was term first used?

Thanks so much, Pat Fraley

[Diane Maggipinto]

here's something relevant, though not a direct answer to your query, from the museum of broadcast communications:

clickity-click
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[TheVoiceOfBob]

Pat,
Interesting question! I never really thought about it before, but I'm also interested in where it originated.

For fun I searched on Wikipedia using the term "voice over" and got a chuckle out of the definition.

"The term voice-over refers to a production technique where a disembodied voice is broadcast live or pre-recorded in radio, television, film, theater and/or presentation."

Makes this job sound almost creepy!
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The Voice of Bob

[Lance Blair]

Here is a great essay on the history of voiceovers in film:

http://www.criterion.com/asp/in_focus_essay.asp?id=14&eid=354

While this article supposes the origin of the word "documentary"

http://pov.imv.au.dk/Issue_22/section_1/artc1A.html
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and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[Bailey]

I believe it all started with Edgar Bergen. He was always being questioned about his skills as a ventriloquist. They couldn't understand how Edgar's voice got from his mouth to the dummy.
His classic answer..." I just throw my voice over."

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Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
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AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
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[Lizden]

..and how do you say "Voice Over" in other languages?

In French (I found out from a French talent @ VOICE) it's:
"La Voix-Off" - The Off-Voice

Anyone know what it is in Spanish? German? Italian? Japanese (Maiku?)

Just wondering!

Liz
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[melissa eX]

Spanish is like French - "Voz en off" - literally "Voice in off" as in off screen. Doblaje (the word for Dub) is also used as we use dub, although on occasion they're used interchangeably.

[Bruce]

I'm sure it came from some early German film director(s), the ones who spoke half English half German and came up with other film terms like MOS ("mit out sound" = no audio recorded). It probably came out "Hans, put der voice ofer dis part of der film, ja?" and later Hans says "Herr Director, here is der voice ofer ting you ask for".

Gesundheit,

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[bobbinbeamo]

Great question, Pat. I have no clue to offer. It makes me wonder, too.
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[paddyo]

That is a great question, Pat. But I don't know. But I do know I like that first name of yours.

Paddyo
www.radiotheatrenyc.com

[robert jadah]

After much research, it seems that it dates all the way back to Marconi's first transmission.
His assistant, Voy, (who, by the way, is our own Bob Souer's grandfather) was asked to simply broadcast his name.

He did.
(Think of lemons.)

[bobsouer]

Robert,

You are a funny, funny man. Thanks for the good chuckle this evening.
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Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
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