A network of video production professionals and enthusiasts.
WHY HIRE A VOICE-OVER?
That was the 64,000 dollar question I asked when I introduced myself to this network. In all fairness I should tell you that I am a voice-over professional, and as you can imagine, I am not totally impartial to this issue.
But in order to get a broader perspective, I wanted to take this discussion away from my personal intro. Ultimately, it's not about me, but about whether or not you think it is worthwhile to pay a pro to do your narration, especially when you're on a tight budget.
Take real estate videos. First we had the stills. Then came the slide shows. Now we have slick productions that sometimes rival what we see on HGTV. There's an ongoing debate in this community whether or not to use voice-overs.
Watching these "home movies" can be a painful experience. Every producer seems to have made a secret pact that these videos have to have elevator music to showcase a property. It doesn't matter how annoying or repetitive it gets; muzak is a must. But when it comes to voice-overs, it's a different story. Quite often, there's no narration, just information.
Some of these house tours are nothing but moving pictures with floating titles like "marble counter top"... as the camera zooms in on..... a "marble counter top". There's no attempt to make an emotional connection, even though for many, buying a house is a very emotional experience. In my opinion, a great voice-over narration would add some heart to the home. Every neighborhood and every house has a story to tell, but you need someone to tell that story. There are exceptions, though.
I have watched quite a few of these open houses on video that did use voice-over narration. It wasn't all good. Some real estate video producers were either trying to save money by doing it themselves, or they got a Craigslist talent with no training, no experience and cheap recording equipment. In both cases, the result was often very, very mixed, and I was glad my computer had a mute button.
If there is a serious disconnect between the quality of the film and the quality of the voice-over, it brings the entire production down. To me, it just doesn't make sense to sell a million dollar home using an amateur voice.
We all have our strengths. I would never attempt to take an expensive camera on the road and start shooting. I don't think the result would be anything my clients would be willing to pay for. But it seems that there are quite a few videographers out there, who really know how to handle a camera, but who aren't nearly as good with a microphone. It's nothing personal. It's purely professional.
One last thing, I strongly suspect that some people don't think it's worth hiring a voice-over professional because it's easy to underestimate what it takes to do this well. Or they might have experimented with a few voices in the past, and weren't pleased with the quality of the talent or the price tag. Some of my best friends still wonder why I get paid for reading a few words off a piece of paper. Until they give it a go....
So, what has been your experience? Where do you stand? Is this even an issue? I look forward to your responses!
Paul Strikwerda
Views: 15
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Nancy Fleming on -
INCREDIBLE video. neat! questions arise however on the use of copyrighted music and scenes. do you think that is an issue at all? I mean, it's just a 'save the date' video after all and only going to friends and family.
nice!
Shaw Productions Inc. said:I am looking for someone with this type of voice that is in this video SAVE THE DATE
I am going to be doing a video like this soon and need a VO like this.
Joan
Shaw Productions Inc.
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on -
I'm no expert on copyright, but as we speak, it has 989,827 YouTube hits.... I think it has gone well beyond their circle of family and friends (unless they've invited as many people to the party).
-
Permalink Reply by Bill Mecca on -
cool video. I'm sure they've violated Copyright, but apparently haven't gotten caught, but.... has anyone heard from Jeff and Erin or are they in deep cover? ;-)
-
Permalink Reply by Charlton Chars on -
Finding the right voiceover can be a daunting task. You may feel that it would better to enlist professional help and hire a marketing firm or talent agency when searching for voice talent. There are also times when you may want to manage a talent search on your own. In either case, by following these simple steps as you begin your search for that perfect VO will make the process much more efficient, increase the effectiveness of your project and contribute to its overall success.
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on
-
Hi Charlton:
Most agents will be able to give you five names of professional talent that will all be able to give you the read you need. You just pick the voice you like best.
Thanks to the internet and the rise in home studios, it has become very easy to shop for voices. Simply post a project for free on one of the online voice casting services, and within minutes you'll see the auditions coming in. Be prepared to have to weed through 100+ contenders. Some of them may be good. Some will sound absolutely terrible.
Once you have found a voice talent you like to work with, you can negotiate a good rate in exchange for return business.
Good luck to you!
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
Sign in
Member Photos on DVProfessionals!
Upload Module
+ Upload Photos
========================
Who's Online Now?
Click Here! Members Online Will Scroll By.
Videos
Resources
Free Stock Footage Clip of the Week
Created by Joel Holland Aug 30, 2008 at 3:03pm. Last updated by Joel Holland Mar 24, 2010.
Video Editing Tutorials on VideoBlocks.com
Video Blocks (videoblocks.com) has a brand new content section of their website, offering daily video editing tips and tutorials, and free stock footage clips:
Free Stock Footage and Video Editing Tutorials from Video Blocks
The blog articles cover tips for all types of editing systems, from Final Cut Pro to Premier to Vegas, down to Movie Maker and iMovie. Topics…
ContinueCreated by Joel Holland Jul 7, 2011 at 1:58am. Last updated by Joel Holland Jul 7, 2011.
Free Stock Footage DVDs
Free Video Production Elements!
Birthdays
Birthdays Today
Birthdays Tomorrow
© 2012 Created by Joel Holland.
