Voice acting scripts form the structure and add color to your production. Writing a great script can imbue your project with nuances and emotions that allow your message to bleed through to the audience. Let's take a look at what makes a great voice acting script.
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Writing Awesome Scripts for Videos, Games and Apps
Even if you're a great writer, it takes a while to adjust to writing voice over scripts. If you write for television or live production, the actors can convey emotion through facial expression and body language. However, when you write an audio script, you have to cue the actor in the script and use plainer language to describe what's going on.
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Just as voice scripts differ from television and movie scripts, they also differ from novels and blogs. The audience can't see the script, so the pacing, flow and cadence become important. Your voice actor has to convey every emotion and nuance to the audience. Therefore, the more direction you can give them, the better they can understand their role.
Points to Keep in Mind as You Write
Although voice scripts sometimes include fantastic elements or dramatic moments, they also need to sound natural and conversational. Here are some tips to help you balance your work:
- Write it like you say it. The best scripts sound natural when you read them aloud —which you should always do by the way. Does your piece have a nice flow to it? The smoother you write the script, the faster the voice actor can fall into the role, adding their own inflections to engage the audience.
- Keep your sentences short and vary the structure. This may seem like a long-winded way of saying write concisely. However, it's more than that. Writing short sentences helps the voice actor or announcer read quickly without rushing. Focus on the most important points first and add in details further down the script. Here are a few pointers on how to do this:
- Convey one idea per sentence.
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- Delete nonessential words.
- Break up long sentences into two or more shorter ones.
- Use short transition words — plus, yet, also — to vary the sentence pattern.
- Convey one idea per sentence.
- Maintain the tone throughout the script. Consistency helps you create a cohesive script. This includes style issues such as using contractions. it also includes maintaining continuity every time you come back to the copy. It may take days or weeks to perfect a script, and you won't always come back to the work in the same mood. However, you can smooth over inconsistencies during the edit process.
- Read everything aloud. You can also have someone familiar with the project read through the script to highlight problem areas. Left unaddressed, flow and tone problems can trip up the voice actor or audience.
Finding the Right Voice
There are some wonderfully talented actors who can do voices of every age, gender and background. So, finding the right voice for your scripts may involve working with a few preferred voice actors with a wide range of vocal identities.
Finding a voice actor goes much more smoothly if you know what you want the script to sound like. Here are a few questions that can help you identify the voice of your script:
- Do you want a male or female voice?
- Is the target audience old or young?
- Do you want a neutral accent or regional flair?
- Would a polished narrative, sultry actress or natural-sounding newcomer best serve your needs?
Take the time to explain the backstory to the actor. This will help them get into character and decide whether this is the right job for them.
Remember that the actors need to fit the script. Can your voice talent convey the authority of an executive for a corporate video or express the frustration of a busy mother to promote a home product?
Different Types of Scripts
From radio commercials to audio books, every type of script requires a unique set of skills from the writer and voice actor. Whether you have one or more actors reading through the script together or several actors recording their parts separately, the end result has to be a cohesive, seamless production. This starts with the script. So, grab a friend or coworker and read through the different parts with them to spot any inconsistencies or awkward transitions.
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Here are several script types that it’s important to nail down:
- Explainer videos
- Animated short films
- Advertorials
- Video games
- Real estate videos
- Documentaries
- Audio books
- Radio commercials
- Educational videos
- E-learning courses
- Tours and travel video brochures
When to Give More and When to Give Less
When you write a script, you may not be present during the actual recording. That's why it's essential to give the voice actor clues and directions in the script. Giving more directions helps ensure that the recorded project meets the demands of the client.
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When it comes to dialogue or narrative, less is more. Concise, concrete descriptions and punchy dialogue maintain the interest of the audience far better than wordy scripts that take too long to get to the point. Include helpful detail, leave enough room for the actors to breathe and create a fun script that the audience will enjoy. Taking these factors into account can help you create the ideal script for your project.
Reach Out to Andovar Today
For the best voiceover and dubbing services, reach out to our team of voice artists. We can translate your script into multiple languages and ensure that the original message isn't lost. Our voiceover and dubbing services can help you expand your educational content to a global market.
Get in touch with Andovar when you need insight on local language nuances or for a quality check of the voiceover in your video game, app, and audio translations.
