Description
Voice-over artists perform the dialogues of animated television or movie characters. They empathise with their characters and make them come alive with their voice.
Duties
Here are some typical duties of voice-over artists:
- Interpret scripts and understand the context, tone, and style of the project to deliver a compelling performance that aligns with the production’s requirements.
- Provide voice-over narration for documentaries, educational videos, and corporate presentations to convey information clearly and engagingly.
- Portray characters in animations and video games by using different vocal tones, accents, and emotions to match the character’s personality and traits.
- Record voice-overs in a professional recording studio or at home with high-quality audio equipment to ensure clear and crisp sound.
- Take direction from directors or clients and make adjustments to vocal delivery based on their feedback and preferences.
- Perform voice-overs for radio and television commercials, bringing out the brand’s message and promoting products or services effectively.
- Narrate audiobooks, captivating listeners with expressive storytelling and engaging vocal inflections.
- Create unique voices for animated characters, including animal sounds or imaginary creatures, using creativity and imagination.
- Collaborate with sound engineers and producers to synchronize voice recordings with visuals in films, animations, or video games.
- Maintain vocal health by practicing proper voice care and warm-up exercises to avoid strain or fatigue during long recording sessions.
- Keep up with industry trends and adapt vocal techniques to suit evolving media and audience preferences.
- Work with clients and production teams to meet project deadlines and deliver high-quality voice-over recordings.
- Record multiple takes of a script to provide options for editing and post-production purposes.
- Self-direct voice-over work when recording remotely, ensuring that the final product meets the client’s expectations.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to voice-over artist:
male voice-over artist
voice actress
storyteller
voice artist
female voice-over artist
voice-over actor
voice over actress
voice over actor
voice-over actress
voice over artist
voice actor
narrator
Working conditions
Voice-over artists may work in recording studios, sound booths, or home studios, depending on the project’s requirements. They often collaborate with directors, producers, and clients remotely, using online communication tools. The schedule can be flexible, depending on project timelines and deadlines. Some voice-over artists work on a freelance basis, while others may be part of talent agencies or production companies.
Minimum qualifications
While there are no strict educational requirements for becoming a voice-over artist, many professionals undergo training and workshops to develop their vocal skills and techniques. A background in acting, theater, or public speaking can be advantageous. Some voice-over artists may have formal education in communications, broadcasting, or performing arts.
Experience is crucial in the voice-over industry, as it helps artists develop their vocal range, control, and versatility. Building a diverse portfolio of work and continuously honing vocal skills is essential for success in this competitive field.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Voice-over artist is a Skill level 4 occupation.
Voice-over artist career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to voice-over artist.
actor/actress
audio describer
weather forecaster
presenter
stop-motion animator
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of voice-over artist.
- Rehearse role: Study lines and actions. Practise them before recording or shooting to find the best way to perform them.
- Follow work schedule: Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.
- Study roles from scripts: Study and rehearse roles from scripts; interpret, learn and memorise lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
- Analyse the original actor’s way of speaking: Analyse the intonation, modulation, timbre, and other features of the original actor’s way of speaking in a specific scene.
- Synchronise with mouth movements: Synchronise sound recording with the mouth movements of the original actor.
- Adapt to type of media: Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.
- Analyse a script: Break down a script by analysing the dramaturgy, form, themes and structure of a script. Conduct relevant research if necessary.
- Study relationships between characters: Study characters in scripts and their relationships to each other.
- Memorise lines: Memorise your role in a performance or broadcast, whether it is text, movement, or music.
- Follow directions of the artistic director: Follow the instructions of the director while understanding his creative vision.
- Study media sources: Study various media sources such as broadcasts, print media, and online media in order to gather inspiration for the development of creative concepts.
- Perform scripted dialogue: Perform the lines, as written in the script, with animation. Make the character come to life.
- Work with an artistic team: Work closely with directors, fellow actors and playwrights to find the ideal interpretation to a role.
- Adapt to different roles: Adapt to different roles in a play, regarding the styles, ways of acting and aesthetics.
- Perform for multiple takes: Perform the same scene several times in a row independently from the plot until the shot is deemed satisfactory.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of voice-over artist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Film production process: The various development stages of making a film, such as scriptwriting, financing, shooting, editing, and distribution.
- Breathing techniques: The various techniques to control the voice, body, and nerves by breathing.
- Acting techniques: The different acting techniques for developing lifelike performances, such as method acting, classical acting, and Meisner technique.
- Vocal techniques: The various techniques for using your voice correctly without exhausting or damaging it when changing voice in tone and volume.
- Pronunciation techniques: The pronunciation techniques to properly and understandably pronounce words.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of voice-over artist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Use dialect: Perform lines using a specific dialect as required.
- Perform improvisation: Perform dialogues or actions spontaneously or without preparation.
- Attend read-through: Attend the organised reading of the script, where the actors, director, producers, and scriptwriters read the script thoroughly.
- Rehearse with fellow actors: Rehearse lines and acting with fellow actors to be attuned to each other.
- Interact with fellow actors: Perform together with other actors. Anticipate their moves. React to their actions.
- Promote yourself: Market one’s own strengths in terms of skills and knowledge.
- Participate in music studio recordings: Take part in recording sessions in music studios.
- Sing: Use the voice to produce musical sounds, marked by tone and rhythm.
- Practise singing: Study and practise lyrics, melody, and rhythm of songs.
- Work with a voice coach: Receive advice and training from a voice coach. Learn how to use one’s voice correctly, how to properly pronounce and articulate words, and use the right intonation. Get trained in breathing techniques.
ISCO group and title
2655 – Actors
References
- Voice-over artist – ESCO
- How To Become A Voice-Over Artist? – Indeed.com
- Featured image: Image by Roaring Creations Private Limited from Pixabay