Why I don't do narration

[Jacob Ekstroem]

I just saw a National Geographic Channel doumentary about leopards. It was narrated by... Jeremy Irons.

That's why. Gawd, he's good! Man, I suck.

I really WANT to do narration, but.... I really suck. First of all, I truly feel my voice is all wrong for narration. Secondly, I can't get that feeling into it, even how hard I try.
How do you learn that stuf!!!????

[Diane Havens]

Jeremy Irons is a superb actor.

Have you an acting background at all, Jacob?

[Jacob Ekstroem]

Me??? An acting background???








Uhm, no. None at all.

[Diane Havens]

There's your answer.

[Jacob Ekstroem]

You're a cruel woman, Diane.

No seriously, I knew that already (not that you're cruel, but that it's all about acting). Actually I was talking to a friend of mine just the other day about the exact same thing. He' s an old colleague of mine from radio, and he's slowly starting out with VO, mostly IVR-stuff. We talked about how so many start out totally clueless, you know the old story: "hey, you got a great voice, you should do VO!" or "Hey, I've been in radio for years, why shouldn't I do VO aswell". I told him, that when you begin to understand the business, it's really a totally different ballgame.

And you're absolutely right; acting is such a big part of VO. I haven't been pursuing that part of VO yet, and I'm beginning to realize that I can't ignore the fact, that it would be a great asset, or even a neccessity, to my VO "education".
Sure, I do okay, doing what I do right now, which is 99,6% commercial stuff. The gigs I've had that included at least some portion of acting, well... it's been quite obvious, it's not my thing.

You know, this is exactly the reason I love being a part of these communities! Two years ago, if someone had said to me: "Jacob, you need to take acting lessons", I would've looked at the person, rolled my eyes and wen't "yeah, sure.... whatever". But now I'm so much wiser and clarified. Now I know my strengths and weaknesses, and there's absolutely no doubt I need to take acting lessons to get from where I am now to where I really want to be.

I know I'll never be Jeremy Irons, but the day I have just a tiny little clue about what makes him and others so good at narration, then I think I've come a long way... and that day won't come until I start taking acting lessons.

Again, thanks for opening my eyes, and for being such a great inspiration to me.

[Diane Havens]

Oh, I didn't mean to be flippant, Jacob.

Acting experience is helpful in so many ways -- and in so many careers, really. I found it enormously helpful when I was teaching. It opens you up creatively, give you an extra edge of confidence, and especially with improv, helps you think on your feet. Those traits can hep you in so many situations in life, not just VO. (In politics, perhaps? You betcha!)

I think everyone should study acting at some point in their lives -- but then, I taught it, so I'm passionate about it. All the arts, really -- they should be required as part of a well rounded education.

Inspiring? Me? Well, maybe in an a-MUSE-ing way.

[Jacob Ekstroem]

Originally Posted by Diane Havens

Oh, I didn't mean to be flippant, Jacob..

I had to look "flippant" up, but having done that, I know you weren't, Diane. In fact, you were pretty spot-on.

[Scott Pollak]

Since this thread has migrated into my favorite pastime - acting - I'll jump in.

Obviously it's becoming apparent to most of us that acting skills can only help a voice 'actor' (ahem), and for most, it's a crucial element to success. No doubt there are the rare few who are inherently so good they can make it with no acting background or training, but they surely must be the rare exceptions.

Let's face it, taking a dry, printed word on a sheet of paper and making it become real and meaningful and having life to it is a challenge. Training in acting helps a person to be able to interpret and feel and know when and where and how to add the right emphasis, even on something as normally straightforward as narration. Listen to Sigourney Weaver's narration of "Planet Earth". There's nothing fancy going on there, but there truly is a real sense of feeling, with very subtle emphasis and timing and the right pauses here and there.

Beyond that, acting is something that benefits just about everyone and something you can do til the day one foot is in the grave.

I love what our local theatre's artistic director told an audience before a children's show recently. She said that the odds were that none of these children would probably end up going to Hollywood down the road and becoming the next big star. Not because they were bad, but because that's just the real world. But being on stage meant they were allowing themselves to become vulnerable to unknown people, seeking and working for acceptance. Additionally, she stated that EVERY ONE of these kids WOULD eventually have to get up and make a presentation in their lives... in school, work, community. And this gave them some background and confidence in doing that.

I'm 53 years old and I did my first community theatre play when I was 12. Today I still act and direct and my wife and son are both actively involved in the theatre. It's something our whole family loves and shares. I've been in several shows where I played opposite my wife and I can't tell you what a delight that was. We both plan to continue with theatre until we're physically (or mentally!) unable to do so anymore. I'd encourage everyone - but ESPECIALLY those in this line of work - to get involved, get trained, and have fun doing it.

[Diane Havens]

My point exactly, Scott.

[Emorgan_Voiceovers]

I have taken some acting/improv here locally and it helped. I still suck at narration, but I suck less than I did before the classes. I am with you Jacob, in that I absolutely love narration and wish I was really good at it, but i am not. Aside from acting, if I am being totally honest with myself, I try too hard. I want it so bad, I freak out when I sit down and get started. All of the great ones like Beau Weaver, Max Raphael(Modern Marvels) and so many more, start going through my head. I psych myself into thinking, "man, I can never narrate like those guys". Then I do a really bad job. There have been a few occasions when I can sit down and not think about anything other than the script and the story behind it. Then I can relax and do a better job. Not great, but better. So, what does all of this rambling mean? Aside from acting, practice, practice, practice and don't psych yourself out.