When Robin Williams passed away, I, like everyone else I’m sure, was heartbroken. I think by his sheer versatility as an actor, he was one of the greatest. So I decided to do a bit of research to learn more about his acting “method.” It turns out, Williams secret to great acting can be put very simply; he said: “You have to be personal, and you have to be specific; that way the audience can relate to you.”
Ever since I read Robin Williams quote I have been giddy with specificity. And what I’ve found is that, the more specific I am in every aspect of my approach to voicing a script, the better my read becomes. What’s more, when I press voice-over students to become highly specific about who they are, who they are talking to, and how they feel about that person…as well as where they are and what they are wearing, feeling, etcetera, even beginning voice-actors make unimaginable leaps in their delivery.
Specificity is powerful. When we are specific about how we feel, we connect with the listener. On the flip side, being vague creates distance between us and the listener. When specificity is used to the fullest, we help the listener create a vibrant, living pictures in the theatre of their mind.
One of the greatest side benefits to being personal and specific in your choices is that your delivery becomes uniquely yours. This is because no one feels exactly the way you do!
In order to be specific, we need to have a process; a set way we approach each script.
To make sure I’m being specific, I’ve created my own process, or pre-audition checklist, below.
(Feel free to change it around to make it work for you):
- What are you talking about? It may sound strange, but many voice actors don’t really know what they are saying when they voice a script. When you first get a script, read through it, then put it down, and see if you can put the main sharing points of the script in your own words – without looking. When you are able to tell the script as a story in your own words, and know why you are saying each and every word – you are then ready to do the next points of script analysis.
- Research: Google the client/agency/casting director you are about to audition for, and learn as much as you can in the time you have to prepare. Next, research any words or terms you don’t understand.
- Mine for the writer’s intent: Before you decide who you are, “listen” for what the writer is trying to tell you. A good actor will dig deep to discover the writer’s emotional intention. The clues are in the words the writer chose – discover the emotions in those words, and begin building your character from there.
- Who are you? Always decide “who” you are in the spot, even if you think the spot just calls for a spokesperson. The more specific you are the better. Even if you decide to be a spokesperson or rep for the company, be detailed in who you are. How long have you been with the company? What is your position? Why do you love working for them? You get the idea; the more specific choices you make, the more real your character becomes to you.
- Who are you speaking to? Always choose one, specific person who means something to you. When you choose someone to speak to with whom you have a close personal relationship, this close feeling is taken on by each individual listener.
- How do you feel about the person you are speaking to? Put into two, specific emotional words, how you feel about the person you are speaking to, as it relates to the circumstance of the script. Ask yourself: how do I want to affect this person. Don’t say, “I want to sell them on this product;” decide how you want to make them feel.
*Remember, it’s the job of the advertising agency and marketing department to sell the product. Your job as the voice actor is to create a believable and compelling character within the circumstance of the script that the audience can relate to on a personal and emotional level! The selling will then take care of itself.
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SAV Coach, Nancy Wilson has been a part of the Los Angeles broadcasting scene for a large part of her career. She began in radio at KFWB News 980, moved to ABC Talkradio, then landed at KTWV FM The Wave for ten years as a staff announcer. She trained with The Groundlings and is now a busy voice actor. Nancy was recently cast as Mrs. Harriet Reynard in the SAG/AFTRA Radio Play, The Fat Man.
