If you are new to the voiceover industry, then there are
undoubtedly many terms and phrases being thrown at you that are not at all
familiar. Some of those, you will learn
as you go, and will be fine to do so.
However, ‘slate’ is a word that should be readily familiar to you from
the start, as it is one of the most important ways to build your brand and
increase recognition of your name.
Slate: The announcing of a name or assigned number at the start of a
recording. Often includes the name of
the character being portrayed as well.
The slate is helpful for the casting- or directing teams, as
it helps them stay organized throughout the process, and ensures that they are
crediting a work to the right actor or actress. However, it can also be very beneficial for
the voiceover talent. This provides the
perfect opportunity to put your name (your brand) in the mind of the casting
director. This also ensures that it is
clear which part you are reading for or what type of reading you’re are
performing. Finally, it is a great way
to ensure that a potential employer has a sample of your natural voice.
It's obvious that slating is good practice, so be sure that
you are doing it correctly. Here are a
few things to consider:
Keep it Light This is just an introduction. It shouldn’t be long, wordy, or stiff. But, you should also sound professional.
Don’t Speak in Any Voice But Your Own The slate should
absolutely be spoken in your own, natural voice. This applies, regardless of what type of
voiceover you will be performing in the recording.
Leave a Pause It is great that you can change your voice, tone,
and pitch at a moment’s notice, but you should still leave enough of a pause
for the person listening to process what you said. Therefore, take a breath before you begin the
actual take.
Practice There is nothing wrong with practicing slating. It is important and the first thing the
director will hear, so you want it to sound professional. Give it a take or two (or more) before you do
the actual recording.
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