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craigsvoicetalent · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:37 am Post subject: Corporate read advice

I enjoy reading and bringing life to story passages and narration scripts. I am new and still finding it difficult to get into any corporate/educational script. All of the advice is "to be conversational". What is the best advice you can give to provide a good read that stands out?
Thanks

Bish · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:59 am Post subject:

I usually only ask one question when I'm faced with an educational script... am I in front of the class, or on a break, standing around the water-cooler with the class. 99% of the time, they like the water-cooler thing. The big trick is to get out of any performance mode and just decided who you are, who you are talking to, and where the conversation is taking place. Get comfortable with the script style and language, and just go for it.

... and here's a silly little trick that also works for me if I'm stuck. On my copy stand I have two plastic ducks... one is judgmental duck, and the other is supportive duck. I know it's bloody silly, but if I'm having trouble, I just talk to one of them... a more formal address for that judgmental bastard, and friendlier to my little buddy.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 11:03 am Post subject:

I have the little duck, but my other motivational trinket is a "homie" I got in the Rolberto's one time while I was picking up a carnitas burrito.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 11:26 am Post subject:

1 - I'm the guy in the know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O_6xjYAtwU

2 - Be the Prophet, the Herald!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jb8itaoJVc

3 - Be the College Lecturer who says "Look, this isn't captivating but you NEED to know this for the finals so listen up"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2440tkFAt8

Each one is YOU only the mood is adjusted.

That'll be $8.47 please.

craigsvoicetalent · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 12:01 pm Post subject: I love this place already!

Just want to say thanks for the replies. I am enjoying the honest answers and the sense of humour that is obviously very present on the forum!
I will be asking many more questions over the next few weeks! I apologize in advance Wink

Philip - do you want your money in pounds or dollars! Laugh

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 12:09 pm Post subject:

melissa eX · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2016 7:24 pm Post subject:

For me what works may sound counter-intuitive but I find when I look past the words, I see the pictures that allow me to "converse" as opposed to "sound conversational". I don't know if I'm making much sense, but when I say "look past the words" I mean that literally. My eyes pick up the words I have to read but I'm looking just over the top of, or to the side of, the page and that's where I see the pictures my mind creates from the words on the page - even when I'm looking at the words I see the pictures superimposed - so I just talk about what I see, which of course is created by the words I'm saying. But since I'm not focusing on the "page" and the "words" it's far easier to just have a conversation.

GAH!!!!!!! That sounds absurd. I'm very visual so it works for me but probably sounds ridic.

Just talk to the duck.
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Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

When I was new it was easy to focus too much on each word, making sure that I pronounced it correctly. This does not make for a good read.

When I "got "the concept of reading in phrases, and not individual words, it helped immensely. Depending on the script, it also helps at times to include non-vocal utterances.....for example, if the script calls for you to express, say, frustration.....an exhaled breath of frustration in the right place to punctuate that expression can make it seem more authentic and real.

Mike Harrison · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 6:10 am Post subject:

craigsvoicetalent · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 7:11 am Post subject:

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am truly touched by the openness and support offered by this forum. It is very humbling to me that experienced professionals will take time out of there day to provide nurturing and guidance to new talent.
I am using all of the information provided and I have already noted improvement in my reads.
Now - where can I find a judgmental duck and a supportive duck? Amazon seem to be sold out!!!!!!!!!

Bish · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 7:39 am Post subject:

For the most part, when dealing with corporate narration, the words on the page are sacrosanct, especially when dealing with medical or pharma where teams of lawyers have approved the copy... or maybe the author considers them as high art not to be sullied by narrator. We have to work with what we have in front of us... usually.

Sometimes it's fairly obvious that no one has read the script out loud ("She grasped at the clasp"... aaarrrggghhh!) and some sentences can be ungainly and interrupt the flow. At that point it can become reading the words instead of interpreting the concept. The abstraction and interpretive flow is broken, and although, as professionals, we take it in our stride and do our best, at what point and under what circumstances do we bring our skills and expertise to bear on the wording of the script?

For example (probably a bad one but it's still morning and I'm not firing on all cylinders yet!): In the middle of a script that deals with the housing market, you find the sentence, "The housing market, over the last ten years, has been extremely volatile." There is no need to have "the housing market" up front, the subject has already been established and you just know that the simpler, "Over the past ten years the housing market has been extremely volatile." would serve the script far better. This issue is particularly relevant when dealing with scripts written by someone who doesn't have English as a first language.

For me, if it's a direct job (no audition), I'll record verbatim and send a second "corrected" copy of the offending paragraph. Sometimes (depending on the dialogue with the client) I'll suggest the change prior to recording. I have never (yet) had a suggestion turned down. For auditions, the simple answer is a second take, but more often than not, I'll send a single take with my own correction, noting on the response that I changed some of their wording. Again, I've never had kickback and if I get the job, they've always gone with my suggestion. Of course, I have no way of telling what jobs I didn't get because I did this Smile

I guess it all boils down to how the narrator is regarded in any particular situation... as a functionary, or as a part of the creative process.
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Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

Bish · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 7:49 am Post subject:

The culprits.

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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

iannyc · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 9:21 am Post subject:

Thankyou everybody this is GOLD!!

Foog · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 1:56 pm Post subject:

Peter, you can't post those without telling us which one is judgmental duck!

(I'm guessing the one on the left. He looks mildly displeased with me.)
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