How Do Voice Overs Work For Business?

By: Terry Daniel


There are many different kinds of voice overs that everyone hears each and every day. They are saturate the media with the information that makes our modern world turn.

A voice-over talent is an actor or actress who lends his or her voice in order to give a voice to a cartoon character or to be utilized in a commercial to name a few. The voice over can be presented live and in person or by a specialist voice actor someone who the audience will not see. There are many devices to employ a voice-over with. These can be used in building character, creative influences in film, education, or in sales and marketing.

One of the most common ways to use vocalization is in TV and movies. For instance, cartoon characters (such as the children from the show ‘South Park’) are animated. They require voice talent in order to give them personalities and to make the show work. There are times where well movie stars are used as the voice actors, such as Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, who played key rolls in the ‘Shrek’ movies, or, it is a specialized voice actor, not a movie-star who portrays the characters. Obviously, using an actor’s voice is critical to building the animated character and making them seem believeable.

In other examples, there are no cartoon characters, but the need for off screen articulation is still there. A voice-over can be used to create an ironic counterpoint, or to make a statement in the film. This is the creative device. It can be a member of the cast narrating, or miss-matched voices speaking and the speaking does not match the characters on screen. This creates a sense of imbalance and lends to the movies’ originality, such as the film ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’, where this technique is applied.

Moving away from film usage, voice-overs can also be used for educational or descriptive purposes. Our television news is presented with video clips and commentary by the reporters, who are describing and explaining the significance of the images being shown. Sportscasts also have spoken comments, particularly when played over the radio. There are also voice-overs that are used as commentary by a critic or historian, possibly even production personnel about when a new movie or DVD will be released.

Sometimes, instead of just commentary or news programs, voices are also used for advertising and marketing applications. We don’t the artist that is speaking in the advertising or marketing ad, but we hear it on televison, radio, in stores and the mall, to name a few places. Voice-overs were primarily used on radio, but since the development of the TV, this practice has crossed over into TV as well.

Some prominent and iconic voice-over artists are Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Hal Douglas, & James Earl Jones. These artists and the utilization of their voice over talents are very useful in many different facets of our daily lives. It is not just for showbiz. It can be used creatively and commercially, and almost all people come into contact with it daily.


Voice Talent Terry Daniel Provides Voice Overs for Every Type Of Media.