Slide 1: The Seven Secrets of VO Production Chris Borders, Interplay Matt Case, Blindlight
Slide 2: Getting the best from voice-over production Why is it so important? – High-quality audio is now a necessity • Platform technologies have paved the way • Gamers have an expectation of cinematic quality • Your competition is constantly raising the bar – If your voice-over quality isn’t up to par • Your VO will stick out like a sore thumb • The illusion will be lost • The effectiveness of your non-audio elements will be diluted
Slide 3: Getting the best from voice-over production What are the challenges? - There’s a money challenge - Build a budget and stick to it - There’s a time challenge - Build a schedule and avoid overruns and redo’s - There’s a quality challenge - Use the best resources and get the most from them - There’s a process challenge - Understand what to do, and when
Slide 4: Getting the best from voice-over production What you’ll get from this presentation: - Strategies and tips for Higher quality Greater efficiency Cost savings Time savings Assured results …through the Seven Secrets of VO Production
Slide 5: Issue #1 Where does good VO begin? SCRIPT WRITING The Script – The single most important and overlooked aspect of VO production – Nothing causes more blown schedules – Nothing causes more blown budgets – No amount of acting or post-production magic can compensate for a poorly written script
Slide 6: Two weeks before going gold… -----Original Message----From: joeproducer4982@gamepublisher.com Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2003 12:12 PM To: help@makemyVO.com Subject: More Changes, Part 14 “We’ve got another rewrite underway… Lord Draconus needs to be recast because he’s now a she… we’ve added 400 more lines and 963½ more grunts and groans… the angel is gone now, but we need 3 more devils… so bring the actors back in…” Waste on a redo like this: $50,000-$100,000
Slide 7: Worse yet is when your audience is saying… “Overall the audio production quality was fine… too bad it was ruined by a script that no one spent any time on…” Total cost to the property from word-of-mouth like this?
Slide 8: Secret #1 It all starts with a good script. SCRIPT WRITING Make it a priority. – Make the time and cost investment upfront • It’ll save multiples later on – Dialogue writing is a complex craft • Professional writers can add value to any script
Slide 9: Issue #2 How do you prevent pitfalls in VO production? PRE-CASTING PREPARATION SCRIPT WRITING Pre-Casting Preparation – Inadequate preparation is a common cause of • • • • Problems Disappointments Overruns And redo’s
Slide 10: Your responsibilities – Finalize the script – Break down the script, including • • • • • • • • • # of characters # of actors Lines per character Types of VO (dialogue, ADR, fight sounds, walla…) Readings: single or group… Extremely detailed and thorough character descriptions Celebrity archetypes Voice descriptions Cutting sides – Prepare effective auditioning materials – Build a timeline – Have your resources ready and online
Slide 11: Secret #2 Prepare, prepare, prepare. PRE-CASTING PREPARATION SCRIPT WRITING Spending a little time upfront to assemble materials and create a clear and concise plan will prevent many problems down the road.
Slide 12: Issue #3 Union versus non-union? PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING SCRIPT WRITING Let’s look at the pros and cons…
Slide 13: Union versus non-union? Non-Union + + + Cheaper rates Simple WFH contract Unrestricted rights Not as experienced Often requires recasting Smaller talent pool More expensive to cast More time to cast More errors in recording More time in recording More time in editing Lower quality in the end Union + + + + + + + + + Higher fees Union contracts Restrictions on usage More experienced Adept at multiple roles Greater variety to choose form Less expensive to cast Quicker to cast Comfortable in front of the mike Faster in recording Less editing required Higher quality in the end result
Slide 14: But can you get in bed with the unions without getting screwed? You don’t have to deal with the unions at all. You can outsource that job to a VO producer who will do that for you.
Slide 15: Don’t shy away from union actors. SCRIPT WRITING PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING Secret #3 Union actors provide the best overall value. – Less time and costs in casting, recording and editing – More range, depth, emotion, options… – Better quality.
Slide 16: Issue #4 And wouldn’t it be great if…? PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING SCRIPT WRITING
Slide 17: How do you know if celebrity is worth buying? Consider the return on your investment in celebrity… ROI = P–C C Where: ROI = the Return On Investment for the celebrity placement P = Additional profits due to celebrity usage C = Cost of celebrity
Slide 18: Other issues with celebrity Celebrity talent: Won’t audition Doesn’t take direction Tends to be bad at VO Will be very restrictive on rights Will require pampering Will be more expensive than you think
Slide 19: Oh, yeah, and by the way… Are they right for the role?
Slide 20: Secret #4 If you’re considering celebrity, do the proper analysis. SCRIPT WRITING PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING Get a great deal, or question why you’re doing it. Keep in mind: - Celebrity actors in games do not draw consumers like they do in TV and film - Professional VO actors can deliver a better performance for a fraction of the cost
Slide 21: Issue #5 What can make a good actor even better? PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING SCRIPT WRITING Sometimes, when you get in the studio… – They don’t understand the character or the situation – They’re linear thinkers, and they just don’t get interactive – They’re just not delivering what you want
Slide 22: Secret #5 Make sure your talent is well directed. PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING SCRIPT WRITING A solid, professional Voice Director can make a big difference. – In quality – In performance – In efficiency
Slide 23: Issue #6 How do you stay organized at the end? PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING ASSET INTEGRATION SCRIPT WRITING Integration can be a nightmare if you end up with problems like… – – – – Errors in filenames Poor planning in naming conventions Lack of version control Unorganized directories
Slide 24: Secret #6 Employ good asset management practices from the beginning. SCRIPT WRITING PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING ASSET INTEGRATION You have to start here… And follow through here… Then things will come out OK here.
Slide 25: Issue #7 How do you ensure success throughout VO production? PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING ASSET INTEGRATION SCRIPT WRITING Writers, casting directors, actors, voice directors… These are specialists from the world of traditional entertainment. To match this level of expertise: A. You can try to recreate the immense knowledge and capabilities of Hollywood in a game studio, or B. You can tap that expertise where it currently is.
Slide 26: Secret #7 Take advantage of Hollywood expertise. PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING ASSET INTEGRATION SCRIPT WRITING Hollywood is a great place to look for help in any phase of VO production – The experts in all aspects of VO are there – They are accessible, since most are freelancers – There is good value available, since the industry attracts more qualified people than it can employ
Slide 27: The Seven Secrets SCRIPT WRITING PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING ASSET INTEGRATION (1) It all starts with a good script (2) Prepare, prepare, prepare (3) Don’t shy away from union actors (4) Do the analysis on celebrities (5) Make sure talent is well directed (6) Employ good asset management… From the beginning (7) Take advantage of Hollywood expertise throughout
Slide 28: A final thought SCRIPT WRITING PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING ASSET INTEGRATION To preserve the investment you make in any phase of the VO production process… Make sure there is an effective level of quality built into every other phase. Or all your other investments may sink into that hole
Slide 29: A final final thought SCRIPT WRITING PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING ASSET INTEGRATION The investments you make in the early phases of the process… Will give you the greatest return later on.
Slide 30: Q&A SCRIPT WRITING PRE-CASTING PREPARATION CASTING RECORDING ASSET INTEGRATION (1) It all starts with a good script (2) Prepare, prepare, prepare (3) Don’t shy away from union actors (4) Do the analysis on celebrities (5) Make sure talent is well directed (6) Employ good asset management… From the beginning (7) Take advantage of Hollywood expertise throughout