DZ-110: Voiceover
Notes de l’épisode
Listen to explore how voiceover can set tone, reveal character, enhance empathy, and create tension.
How can you use Voiceover without it feeling like a cheat?
In this episode, we finally delve into the world of VOICEOVERS (as part of our larger series exploring craft tools that allow characters & storytellers to talk directly to the audience). Chas, Stu and Mel deep dive into the VERONICA MARS pilot, Disney’s THE EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE, and the Michael Bay epic PAIN & GAIN.
In exploring what makes these particular examples of Voiceover great (and not feel like a cheat or a well-worn trope), we apply the four levers identified in our Part 1 (in particular ‘when in time is the Voiceover coming from’). In this episode we discover how Voiceover can set tone, reveal character motivations, enhance viewer empathy, or even create tension.
Don’t forget to check out the Backmatter (to this episode) answering Patreon Abigail’s question —
"I'm currently writing a screenplay where the twist relies on the audience believing the narrator is a different character until Act III. Thus, have been thinking a lot about casting and audience voice recognition, etc. Would be interested in hearing thoughts on this."
Thanks to Chris Walker for his excellent editing this episode.
As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.
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→ Read the transcript for this episode.
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"The tone is huge in a noir show in particular. This is like a noir show set in high school. And the voiceover kicks that off and keeps it consistent all the way throughout." — Mel Killingsworth @ 00:10:33
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CHAPTERS
- 00:00:00 – Cold Open
- 00:00:23 – Voiceover craft levers to pull
- 00:03:48 – VERONICA MARS (Pilot)
- 00:07:15 – › How voiceover compresses narrative and sets tone
- 00:12:34 – › Who Veronica talks to and what she wants from the audience
- 00:19:41 – › Voiceover as a tool for revealing character motivation and lies
- 00:27:23 – › Cumulative effect of voiceover choices on tone and empathy
- 00:32:43 – THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE
- 00:36:36 – › Voiceover as unreliable narrator and the low-point frame
- 00:40:27 – › Temporal origin of voiceover and its effect on character
- 00:44:08 – › Voiceover tense, omniscience, and empathy maintenance
- 00:49:53 – › Consistent voiceover strategy across the whole screenplay
- 00:54:11 – PAIN & GAIN
- 00:57:29 – › Multiple voiceover characters and their introduction pattern
- 01:02:29 – › Temporal origin of voiceovers and the court case frame
- 01:09:50 – › Voiceover as dramatic irony and audience positioning
- 01:24:28 – › Cumulative thematic effect of collective voiceover
- 01:31:30 – Key Learnings & Wrap Up
- 01:33:19 – › Temporal origin of voiceover as the master lever
- 01:39:34 – Thanks Patreons!
FILMS
- THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE (2000) — (w) David Reynolds, Mark Dindal, Chris Williams, Mark Walton (d) Mark Dindal
- PAIN & GAIN (2013) — (w) Christopher Markus, Stephen Mcfeely (d) Michael Bay
SHOWS
- VERONICA MARS 1x1 "Pilot" — Mark Piznarski (d), Rob Thomas (w)
LINKS
- Listen: Backmatter for DZ-110: Voiceover
EPISODES IN THE TALKING DIRECTLY TO THE AUDIENCE SERIES
- DZ-109: Talking DIRECTLY to your audience
- DZ-110: Voiceover
- DZ-111: Unreliable Narrators and FIGHT CLUB
- DZ-112: Breaking the 4th wall
- DZ-113: Tools For Filmmakers To Talk To The Audience
RELATED EPISODES
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Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2024/dz-110/
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