VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[JBarrett]

I just read an interesting post on Karen Commins' blog regarding the importance of following instructions. In the interest of getting a more broad response, I'm copying my reply here, and would greatly appreciate your input. I searched the forum archives, and didn't find anything along this line. Apologies if this is a repeat of an older question.

Should a voice actor follow instructions even when the instructions are to do something that is clearly wrong?

For example, I was voicing a scratch track for a commercial at work not long ago, and there were a couple different takes on the copy. One version had the phrase "muscles cause," but the other had a typo, and read "muscles causes." I caught this error before I read it, and read the second the same as the first, but after a few takes, I was asked to read it as written. At the time, I didn't question the request, and did as I was instructed, but I keep wondering if I should have pointed out the error so that the final read (which, oddly enough, was chosen for the final edit of that version) would have been correct.

Is it not the voice actor's job to provide the best product, including spotting and correcting obvious errors like I encountered, or is unquestioning obedience to instructions more important?
_________________
Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/

[tackerman]

I think it varies by client. I'm working on a script that's grammatically challenged (translated from French) and I'm not correcting a thing. So far the client hasn't said a word. I've had some clients thank me and a few get testy with me when I correct their copy.

[billelder]

Usually I'll record the line twice. Once the way they have it and the other the way I believe to be correct. Most of my "out of country" clients all tell me to make the grammar correct. And always keep the dates the way they have them. Like "30th June, 2007" for the UK, etc. I've only had one (local) client tell me they don't like it when I do a line twice, so the final product has to be all the way through with no multiple takes.

[KaraEdwards]

I always love Karen's blogs- I'm a frequent reader.

I almost always point out the error if I'm working with the director/writer in the room. Being a girl, I can almost play it off as 'dumb' as to not insult the writer. (come on ladies, don't look at me that way- we all do it occasionally)

"Should I say ___ or ___?" --said sweetly. If they want it wrong, I read it wrong. It isn't my job to edit the script, just offer friendly suggestions.

I've also called a producer if I'm recording on my own to double check. A few times, I just changed the grammer and sent the file. Only once was I called back and told I didn't read the script as is...again, I play dumb and re-do the line.

Dumb is obviously an easy place for me to go
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Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[bobsouer]

Kara,

So what you're saying is that sometimes it's smart to be dumb?
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Dave]

When I run into issues with copy I think is in error I always contact the producer and let them know "I'm confused" about a particular line or section and ask them to help me "understand the context." Invariably, the conversation moves to "how do you (me) think it should read?" Taa daaa!

I even apply this rule to highly technical reads for narrations. There have been many times I've sparked quite a discussion within an engineering department... but I believe in being pro-active and so far I've never been called on the carpet or lost a client for doing so... rather "Thanks Dave... you saved our bacon on that one!"
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. If at first you don't succeed, then bomb disposal probably isn't for you.

[KaraEdwards]

[bobsouer]

And Kara,

I often don't understand what I mean...so that makes 2 of us!
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Bill]

Long time ago I did an instruction cassette for one of those body builder vitamin supplement things, and pointed out a couple of things that might have brought legal action against them. "do they really want to say Perrier? Budweiser???" The studio got the client on the phone, they made some changes and we completed the track.

I got a callback about a week later they needed to have me come in and re-cut some more of it after the client made some more changes... cha-ching.

all you can do is point it out.

[ConnieTerwilliger]

[JBarrett]

[CWToo]

Correcting grammar is a weird area of what we do. One group I work for constantly uses phrases like, "There's three good reasons...". If you change it to, "There are..." they may go for it.

But my favorite is, "You need to choose between A, B and C." If you change it to, "You need to choose among..." or, "You need to choose A, B or C," they may go for it.

Then they either make you read it as written ("it was approved") or thank you for the correction. Whichever, you can't predict it.

[Doc]

The thought that comes to mind when I'm offered grammatically incorrect copy is that, no matter what, it's MY voice saying those words. Unless it's grammatically incorrect in the context of a character, I'm one of those that will refuse to put out a voiceover that is grammatically incorrect. I won't argue with the producer/writer/creator, but I explain my position exactly that way. When absolutely necessary, I'll go so far as to bow out of a project that is just poorly conceived.

Usually, when I explain my reasoning, they seem to perceive that I'm a true pro and know what I'm doing.

While I'm not exclusively rigid, phrases like "...to choose from..." drive me absolutely nuts. However, because this is the way "Americans" speak, I'll leave it alone.

YMMV

[CWToo]

[cackerman]

I recently did a v.o. for a Washington D.C. tour bus CD. The parent company (French) hired a Swedish company to produce the CD audio by an American v.o. (me). Follow me so far? Anyhoo, the original script had been written in French, translated into Swedish and then translated into English...all by non-native English speakers. As you might imagine, the copy was pretty strangely worded in places. I explained this to client. He said, "Just make it work". When we did "make it work" the client was happy enough to give us a little bonus. Pretty nifty, eh? We all came out smelling like roses. And isn't what doing v.o. is all about...making everyone look (and sound) good?
Hmmmm. That reminds me...that client hasn't called me for another job lately. O.K. tell you what: just forget everything I said.