Voice over production techniques are used in a host of television, film and radio dramas, for a variety of reasons. But it is often unclear as to what people actually mean when they use the term. This article will help to explain what the term actually means, and why artists and film makers of various kinds use the technique in their works.
Sometimes, critics or commentators will describe the technique as 'off camera commentary', a term which helps to clarify what voice over techniques actually are. The term usually refers to spoken narration which is not delivered by an on-screen or on-stage actor, but which is not part of the world of the film. It is a 'non-diagetic' sound, to use the correct film terminology.
Of course, the technique is not limited to films, or to television productions. The technique is used frequently in live theatre productions, where the voice over can be spoken by an actor who is off-stage. It is even possible to use some off-stage narration of this kind in radio productions, if the director is skilled enough to make it sound like it is not part of the events of the play.
This kind of narration is often used at the beginning of movies, often to establish some kind of narrative structure that enables the audience to understand the events that they are likely to see soon. In genres such as 'film noir', the voice over often occurs throughout, with the main character in the film narrating certain passages to add colour and detail to the story. The narration in this sort of example often recalls the first person narrative of a hard-boiled crime story.
Sometimes, the technique is used to help bring context to a flashback in a film, where a character's thoughts about something which happened in the past are voiced while the action unfolds. The actor who plays a character in the film often provides the vocals for this, though sometimes it can be voiced by an older actor. This is often the case when a film is looking back to events which occurred in a character's childhood.
The usual way in which this technique is utilised is for the voice over to be recorded and added to the film during the production process. Obviously, this cannot be done with theatre or live radio performance though. Some producers in live theatre may pre-record some off-stage narration though, simply to be expedient.
Perhaps the most common place to hear this type of technique is on the television though, especially with documentaries. An additional voice is often used in this type of programme, to help inform the audience and to keep the programme flowing. Animal documentaries are a particularly common example of programmes where this technique is utilised.
Voice over production is therefore used extensively throughout the entertainment industry. You are most likely to encounter it while watching television or at the movies, though you may also hear it on radio or at the theatre. It can be used to inform, or as an artistic device.
Sometimes, critics or commentators will describe the technique as 'off camera commentary', a term which helps to clarify what voice over techniques actually are. The term usually refers to spoken narration which is not delivered by an on-screen or on-stage actor, but which is not part of the world of the film. It is a 'non-diagetic' sound, to use the correct film terminology.
Of course, the technique is not limited to films, or to television productions. The technique is used frequently in live theatre productions, where the voice over can be spoken by an actor who is off-stage. It is even possible to use some off-stage narration of this kind in radio productions, if the director is skilled enough to make it sound like it is not part of the events of the play.
This kind of narration is often used at the beginning of movies, often to establish some kind of narrative structure that enables the audience to understand the events that they are likely to see soon. In genres such as 'film noir', the voice over often occurs throughout, with the main character in the film narrating certain passages to add colour and detail to the story. The narration in this sort of example often recalls the first person narrative of a hard-boiled crime story.
Sometimes, the technique is used to help bring context to a flashback in a film, where a character's thoughts about something which happened in the past are voiced while the action unfolds. The actor who plays a character in the film often provides the vocals for this, though sometimes it can be voiced by an older actor. This is often the case when a film is looking back to events which occurred in a character's childhood.
The usual way in which this technique is utilised is for the voice over to be recorded and added to the film during the production process. Obviously, this cannot be done with theatre or live radio performance though. Some producers in live theatre may pre-record some off-stage narration though, simply to be expedient.
Perhaps the most common place to hear this type of technique is on the television though, especially with documentaries. An additional voice is often used in this type of programme, to help inform the audience and to keep the programme flowing. Animal documentaries are a particularly common example of programmes where this technique is utilised.
Voice over production is therefore used extensively throughout the entertainment industry. You are most likely to encounter it while watching television or at the movies, though you may also hear it on radio or at the theatre. It can be used to inform, or as an artistic device.
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