Everyone has heard a voiceover at one time or another. From the voice of Mickey Mouse to the voice selling you shampoo or insurance on the radio, voiceovers provide an effective way to evoke emotion or convey important information to an audience. In fact, without voiceover, the media would not have the same impact and the entertainment industry would be very lost. The importance of voiceover can be seen every day in a variety of techniques.

What is voiceover?

Voiceover is a production technique where a voice that is not part of the production is used to speak a particular part. Voiceovers are common on radio, television, film, and even the theater. Voice actors are often hired specifically to do voiceovers and have no other role in the production.

Techniques

character voices

One of the most popular uses of voiceover is to give an animated character a voice or personality. Think of Shrek or any other popular Disney movie. Each character is actually someone behind the scenes with a microphone that makes the voice come to life. As animated films become more popular, well-known celebrities are seeking voice-over roles, hoping to add a little variety to their acting portfolio.

movie narration

Another popular use of voiceover is to provide narration for a movie. This kind of voiceover is so common in movies that you probably don’t even realize it’s happening. In general, the narrator of a film has intimate details about the characters on the screen and provides information to the audience about their thoughts or emotions. In this sense, voiceover is a critical part of many films and is necessary to keep the audience informed. blockbuster movies like fight club Y Shawshank Redemption use voiceover to provide context.

Non-fiction television and news reporting

Voiceover is often used to report the news. In fact, most television news broadcasts use voiceovers as well as live anchors to report previously recorded news or previously edited segments. Other nonfiction television that relies on voiceover includes outlets like the History Channel or the Discovery Channel. Particularly when the focus is educational, the voiceover provides a guide for viewers to understand what they are seeing. Additionally, game shows have used voiceovers for decades to announce contestants and prizes. Just about everyone is familiar with the popular 1970s voiceover that exclaimed, “Come down, you’re the next Price is Right contestant!”

commercial

Advertising is another very common use for voiceover. In fact, the radio is completely voiceover and you never see any actors. In fact, voiceover is so useful for radio advertising that certain product manufacturers have entered into long-term contracts with voiceover actors to “brand” their products. When consumers hear the same familiar voice that a product represents, it builds instant trust and credibility. Even on television, where actors can be seen, a product is more likely to be presented with a voiceover and without an actor. Also, a strong voiceover highlights the sale rather than the actor seen with the product.

Voiceover is an important part of our film and television experience. In many cases, the voiceover represents more than just information, it has become part of a product, generating trust and credibility among consumers.