The Voiceover Gym Class

Maya Kuper
The Voiceover Gym Class

Listen in as pro voiceover coach Maya Kuper directs students of all levels through real commercial scripts, in a real recording studio. The Voiceover Gym Class is now free for anyone, anywhere to listen to. Follow along with the scripts on http://thevoiceovergymclass.blogspot.com

  1. 11/05/2011

    Freschetta Pizza :30 TV

    Even an announcer role has conflict and a problem to solve. When you get a commercial script, look for the line where the "lightbulb" comes on. It'll usually be when you hear the product name, or when we first see the product on-screen and realize what the commercial is actually for. It's where we go from thinking-out-loud about a problem, to knowing and sharing the solution to that problem. In this Freschetta Pizza spot, for example, we get several questions right at the top. Ask these questions as if you know there's only one possible answer. Make your listener want to know what's coming next. The answer to those questions is the product. Everything from the product on down to the end of the spot is the answer that only YOU have, so we want to hear you letting us in on a secret. Once that lightbulb is on, it remains on and lends its energy to the rest of the spot. The podcast episode for this spot is rather a marathon at 25 minutes, with both Mike and Heather discovering a lot of new things. Stick with me. As always, you can click the title of this blog post to get to the "real" spot on YouTube. VO: Who makes a better-tasting pizza? Who uses real tomatoes, and all real cheeses, Dough that rises naturally, with no chemical leaveners? Who uses only premium meats? Who makes it taste fresh? Freschetta Naturally Rising Crust Pizza. No other pizza tastes like Freschetta, Because no other pizza is made like Freschetta. And for a crispy, fire-baked crust, try our Brick Oven pizza.

  2. 10/22/2011

    Wolf Brand Chili :30 TV

    Because the vast majority of voiceover work out there doesn't require character voices, I typically avoid training my students on any spot that calls for a dialect or accent. I'll make an exception for Wolf Brand Chili. Although I did applaud Mike's choice to do not an out-and-out caricature Texan, but a voice that was really just a slight twist on the Mike we know and love. Mike's reads felt a bit rushed as he tried to shoehorn all this imagery-heavy copy into 30 seconds, but 4:07 he delivered a read that was at a much better pace. This led to my discussion at 4:45 about how never to deliver an audition that sounds rushed, unless the agent specifically tells you that it needs to come in under :30 or :60. Script-wise, this copy is about as formulaic as they come. You've gotta love the non sequitur when we go from talking about broad concepts of "work is work" and "play is play" to something as mundane as a mass-manufactured can of chili. On this spot, we "shot out" the MKH 416T shotgun microphone, vs. the Neumann U87ai large-diaphragm condenser. Both sound excellent...which do you prefer? The U87 sounds more natural and less colored to my ear, but the 416 is wonderfully punchy. Love it! Deep in the heart of Texas, everything's real. Our work is work. Our play is play. And every night, the stars come out. Especially on Fridays. So it stands to reason that chili's gotta be real too. That's Wolf Brand Chili. A Lone Star favorite since 1895. Bold, fiesty, seasoned up like it was born with spurs on. So whether's it's mixed in, heaped on, or straight up, you're getting the genuine article. Wolf Brand Chili. Open up a big old can of Texas.

  3. 10/22/2011

    Disney Parks :30 TV Campaign

    There are two announcer VOs on this campaign. The female (AVO 1) gets most of the imagery to play with, while the male (AVO 2) is doing most of the heavy lifting on the escalation in the second beat. Disney Parks "Something for Everyone" :30 TV AVO 1: What will your Disney memory be? Will it be squeals and giggles, or screams and shouts? Evil queens, or mischievous grandpas? A moment you'll always remember, or a vacation you'll never forget? AVO 2: You can make your Disney memories happen right now At a price that's right for you. Like 7-day vacations starting as low as $68 dollars a day per person, for a family of four. AVO 1: So let the memories begin At the place where dreams come true.Heather tried the second spot, and got a little tripped up on the last line. When you get stuck on your tenth take of a line, step back and ask yourself, What am I talking about? Picture something...there's obviously plenty to choose from, imagery-wise, when your topic is Disney World, of all things. And Heather scores a nice little breakthrough at the end when she figures this out. Disney Parks "No Worries" :30 TV AVO 1: What will your Disney memory be? Will it be smiles that magically appear...or bags that magically appear? Meeting an enchanted princess, or being treated like one? Doing it all? Or doing absolutely nothing? AVO 2: You can make your Disney memories happen right now With room, ticket, and a dining plan that saves you money All for as low as $93 dollars a day per person, for 7 days. AVO 1: So let the memories begin At the place where dreams come true.

4.9
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Listen in as pro voiceover coach Maya Kuper directs students of all levels through real commercial scripts, in a real recording studio. The Voiceover Gym Class is now free for anyone, anywhere to listen to. Follow along with the scripts on http://thevoiceovergymclass.blogspot.com

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