ABSTRACT
As you have no doubt figured out by now, voiceover has very little to do with the sound of your voice and everything to do with your acting ability or, in other words, how you play your instrument. Acting, at its essence, is defined as “playing the role of another character,” but the reality is that there is much more to it than that. A good actor doesn’t merely “play” the role of another character. A good actor “becomes” the other character, resulting in a sense of believability and authenticity in the mind of the audience. Creating a believable and authentic character requires certain performing skills and a working knowledge of techniques and processes that are designed to help the actor step outside their own reality and into that of the character they are playing. As you begin to master these techniques, you will find your voiceover delivery becoming increasingly effective. You will also discover that you will become better able to handle a wider range of delivery styles, emotions, and attitudes. It is important to understand that the techniques you use are not your performance. The techniques you will learn in this and the next few chapters are there to support and assist you in achieving the objectives of your performance. It’s much like building a house: the hammer, saw, nails, and boards are only tools and components that are used to build the house. Acting techniques and processes are the tools and component parts of your performance. They are the tools you use as you play your instrument.
