Improvisation isn't just great for your performance skills - it can transform your career!

Today I'm sharing the 6 rules of improv that are worth remembering:

1. Yes, and...
2. Keep listening
3. Tell stories
4. Be open and genuine
5. Be supportive
6. And remember - nothing is perfect

Find out more in this short episode.

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Voiceovers talk over stuff. The clue is in the title. 

And anyone can talk, right? That's not really an actual job, surely?

Well, yes - and no.

In this episode of Talking Creative, we look at why being a voiceover isn't quite as straightforward as it might sound.

And why - when it matters - it's always a good idea to get the professionals in!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

One Hot Music Thing that you can implement today

Music can be a crucial part of any creative project.

It sets the tone, the pace and the emotional context.

In this short episode, find out why sending the music to your voice talent along with the script is so important.

If you've enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and today's gift is the intro to the Christmas film "Love Actually".

There's an awful lot we can learn from the opening to this film - and you can listen to it here:

https://youtu.be/rl44pV2-9R8

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Audiobooks are perfect for long car journeys or keeping kids entertained when you're busy creating Christmas!

Here is a roundup of seasonal audiobooks for kids of all ages - even big kids!

The audiobook list:

• Spectacular Stories for the Very Young by David Walliams
• The Snail and the Whale and Other Stories by Julia Donaldson
• The Detective Dog and Other Stories by Julia Donaldson
• Mermaid School by Lucy Courtney
• The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
• The Christmas Pig by JK Rowling
• The Book That No One Wanted by Richard Ayoade
• The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
• The HogFather by Terry Pratchett (the Bill Nighy/Peter Serafinowicz version)
• Lost Christmas by David Logan
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (the Laura Dern version)
• And UK Listeners, don't forget that BBC Sounds has some amazing stuff for kids

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

How to give your brand the right voice

In this episode we are talking about the brand voice - the literal Brand Voiceover of your company, business, product or service.

We cover the following:

• What is a brand voice?
• Why you need one
• What to look for in your brand voice
• How they can benefit your business or product
• How to work with them effectively

Do follow or connect with me on LinkedIn for more creative chat about working with voice actors and more!

And you can subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Winning awards can elevate your career, open new doors and impress your boss.

With an eye on PromaxUK - this week, Talking Creative looks at what makes a winning promo and how important is the Voiceover in the mix?

This episode was recorded in November 2020 - in the week of the historic US Presidential Elections and the annual PromaxUK Awards Ceremony.

We discuss

• Why winning awards is not just a bit of industry fun - it can really make a difference
• Current Trends in UK Promos and how voiceovers fit in
• Do professional voices really make a big difference?

Useful Episodes:

02 - Where to Find the Perfect Voiceover Artist

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/02-where-to-find-the-perfect-voiceover-artist/

05 - Voice Artists, Commercials and How to Make Your Message Heard

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/05-talking-creative-podcast-voice-artists-commercials-and-how-to-make-your-message-heard/

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

TV promos are small but perfectly formed. 

• Definitely: short and simple.

So how tricky can it be to direct a voiceover to picture, get them to interpret the script, take on board the nuances you've built into the promo, voice to the music and up- sound, voice to time, make every syllable count, create intrigue and excitement and land your message - all in 30 seconds (or less)?

•  Er... easy, right?

In this episode of Talking Creative - I run through a typical promo session.

We cover:

• What happens right at the start of the session
• Directing the main part of the script
• Timing
• Performance
• Finding the clues in the script
• Directing the tags
• Selling - but not selling

As promised - here is my website: https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/

Plus you can get hold of me by email: sam@samanthaboffin.co.uk

And you can follow me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and today's gift is a little bit of inspiration to be more innovative, brave and bold.

What links

• Inspector Morse
• Pixar
• BBC audio drama Home Front
• Apple’s Voice Memo App 

Find out behind today's festive mic!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

'Tis (nearly) the season to be jolly. But have you thought about your Christmas voice yet?

Well, now is the time and this week's episode should help you get in the festive mood.

Plus hopefully give you some Christmassy ideas.

• Character voices
• Kids voices
• Parent voices
• Singers
• Is there even a "Christmas" voice?

There were a lot of people who made this episode extra-special...

Santa was the excellent Mark Ryes:

https://markryes.com/

As well as live Santa voiceover and TV and radio commercials, shopping centres and websites, Mark also provides Santa messages for parents (which is pretty fabulous!) - do find out more here:

 https://voiceover6.wixsite.com/santamessages

And Mrs Santa, the elves and all the other Christmassy wonders were played by:

• Ally Murphy https://www.allymurphy.co.uk/
• Dianne Weller https://dianneweller.com/
• Jo Ashe https://joashe.uk/
• Karis Pentecost https://www.karispentecost.com/
• Lisa Graydon https://www.lisagraydon.com/
• Liz Drury https://lizdrury.com/
• Menna Bonsels https://mennabonsels.com/
• Margaret Ashley http://margaretashley.com
• Natalie Chisholm https://www.redheadvoiceover.com/

And here are some other episodes that might help you find voice actors:

Episode 43 - How to Find the Right Voiceover Quickly:

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/how-to-find-the-right-voiceover-quickly/

Episode 2 - Where to Find the Perfect Voiceover Artist

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/02-where-to-find-the-perfect-voiceover-artist/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It’s one of those days when everything’s gone wrong.

The client is having second thoughts about the kind of voice they want...

Or the voice who was coming in for 2pm has called in sick...

Or the voice you booked wasn't great, or their studio was pants and you need to recast...  

Or maybe you just forgot to book a voice.

Whatever it is  - you have to get this done today.

So what do you do?

In this episode, I discuss 4 great ways to find the right voice for your project when you're really up against it.

Links:

Episode 2: Where to Find the Perfect Voice Artist.

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/02-where-to-find-the-perfect-voiceover-artist/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

In today's episode we're going to be looking at why you need the right voiceover - and not just any voiceover.

And we also chat about who you are really making your audiobook or narration or museum guide for. 

Clue: it's not you or your client.

We'll be chatting about:

• How professional voice actors make your business or product literally sound better - and make you or your client more sales.
• How to work out who is the right voiceover for you.
• Why getting inside your audience's head is so important.
• And why generic voices often end up speaking to no one in particular.

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative" on Apple Podcasts.

Or go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series to date.

In this episode, we're looking at Remote Recording Sessions and how to approach them as a voice director.

We'll be chatting about:

• Why remote directing is so important right now
• Setting up and running a successful and creative remote directed session
• How to link up with your voice with remote connection software like SourceConnect, Cleanfeed, SessionLink Pro, etc

Helpful Links:

Link to episode 01 - Why you need the right Voiceover:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/11db5122-9c51-4402-b743-edc25f946923

Link to episode 03 - How to Brief your Voiceover Artist:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f945370c-8b58-43a7-bdf1-b64ca3a2b066

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

One Hot Communication Thing that you can do today!

Feedback - it seems so simple, doesn't it? But it doesn't always happen.

Voice Actors are adaptable and versatile. If they don't seem to "get" what you were hoping for - simply pick up the phone and talk to them.

They can almost certainly change their delivery to make it pitch perfect.

They want to give you exactly what you need (and they love a bit of direction!).

If you've enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas

It's December 8th - and today on the podcast, it's all a bit meta because we're talking about... podcasts!

If you've ever thought about launching your own pod - this is a little nudge to get you thinking about it even more.

And do get in touch if you need any help with creating a podcast or anything else in the world of voiceovers - just drop me a line at sam@samanthaboffin.co.uk

And do tune in tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This week’s One Hot Voiceover Thing - make your first line count.

It is National Book Lover’s Day today.

The perfect time to celebrate the art of the opening line.

But why are they so important and how are they connected to Voiceovers?

In this short episode we find out why - with a bit of help from Stephen King!

Incidentally - in case you're burning to know - The Catcher in The Rye's opening line is:

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This is the final episode in The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas!

And I've saved a fun little treat especially for Christmas Eve... keep listening to find out about the 4 Santas!

I promised you a special link and here it is (it's from a film, so it's only the song - but it's a good one!):

https://youtu.be/w2WUYyppXlU

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Talking Creative podcast is a whole year old!

To celebrate, I've looked back at all the great ideas and interviews in a year of podcasting - and pulled together the top 10 pieces of advice.

Here's the list:

1. The listener is King - or Queen (Amber Bates and Sean Pratt)
2. Be an ace planner (Verity Panter)
3. Do your homework (Tanya Rich)
4. Be authentic (Elinor Hamilton)
5. Make your voice talent feel confident (Sean Pratt and Nic Redman)
6. Write scripts to be read out loud (Nic Redman)
7. Be clear, be specific (Katie Flamman and Stephane Cornicard)
8. Be playful (Lisa Graydon)
9. Don’t take yourself too seriously (Garrett Neal)
10. Be a director - not a dictator (me - and pretty much everyone else!)

And here are the links to the episodes mentioned:

https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeTanyaRich

https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeSeanPratt

https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeAmberBates

https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeNicRedman

https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeWorldVoiceDay

https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeGarrettNeal

https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeVerityPanter

https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeElinorHamilton

And here's to another year of Talking Creative!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and I've got a quick win for you.

All sound files are equal but some are more equal than others.

So how can you tell if your voice actor can deliver professional quality files BEFORE you book them?

Find out in this quick episode.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The episode about all kinds of warm ups!

Voiceover warm ups aren't just for our voices and bodies - if we're going to perform at our best, we also need to warm up our mindset. 

So today I’m talking about quick little ways to warm-up, well, everything!

And this episode is great for voiceovers, podcasters AND people who work with voice actors on the other side of the mic.

As promised - here is the link to Nic Redman's excellent podcast The Voice Coach:

https://nicolaredman.com/the-voice-coach-podcast/

Do come back tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This week’s One Hot Voiceover Thing - be decisive.

Yesterday I had the fun of performing in the Overnight Plays.

7 Plays devised, written, directed, tech-ed and performed in 24 hours.

Like most creative projects - each play needed a director at the heart of it, making the decisions and shaping each one.

So that's what I'm talking about today - another hot creative thing for you to remember and take into your week.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The audiobook industry is booming.

Listening to books has never been more popular - fact or fiction, we all love a good listen. But finding the right narrator is a complex art.

In this episode, I'm talking to Amber Bates from Orion Books about the part she plays in getting a book from a manuscript and into our ears.

We cover all kinds of stuff, including

• Casting - and who is involved in the process
• What to look for in your audiobook narrator
• The listener and why they're so important
• How to work with the author
• Studios vs home studios
• Directing your narrator

We also look specifically at The Six Tales of Christmas (also available from your independent bookseller), narrated by Karen Cass and written by Anne Marie Ryan. Yes - it's a bit late/ridiculously early - but it's always Christmas in my heart ;-D

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

December 21st. The shortest day - and the longest night...

The perfect time to talk about live storytelling.

In this episode we look at how you can get involved in live storytelling gigs that will get you out of the booth and better known locally.

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas

It's December 2nd - and the second episode in the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas!

Today is part 2 to yesterday's 'do your homework' episode.

In this episode I'm sharing 3 ways to be more strategic when you're looking for work and why it's important - whether you're a voiceover or a voice director.

Tune in tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and time for a Christmas Audiobook special.

Christmas Audiobooks are a little like Christmas movies and music for me - a bit traditional, a bit of an indulgence in the run up to Christmas Day to get me in the mood.

Here are my top 3 but perhaps they'll inspire you to think of your own list.

I also talk about narrators and what they bring to the festive audio party1

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

After a little break - Talking Creative is back for a Summer Mini Series.

Find out what's happening here!

This Christmas - Talking Creative brings you a Voiceover Advent Calendar.

The Talking Creative "Countdown to Christmas"!

Every day on the run up to Christmas - instead of a treat behind a door, you'll get a treat from behind the mic.

A voiceover gift to inspire, help or just entertain you - who knows what each day will bring!

Today is December the 1st...

...the perfect day to talk about only having one director in a session - not a variety of people, all saying different things!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

You've done all the prep. The session is in full swing. But how do you actually direct your voice artist?

Here are 3 techniques to help - which don't involve line reading or being too prescriptive:

1. Be specific and clear
2. Tap into their imagination 
3. Relax and create some space

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

How do you keep your content - and your projects - feeling fresh and new?

This week's Talking Creative is looking at 4 ways you can do that.

We cover:

1. Keep learning new stuff
2. Keep meeting new people
3. Watch what’s happening in your niche
4. Be aware of new trends

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas

It's December 1st - the start of the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas!

This is a fun little season packed with audio gifts to inspire you to make voiceovers better.

During this run up to December the 25th - I'll be sharing something useful, interesting or just a little bit Christmassy all about voiceovers - a daily surprise behind the festive mic so we can end 2022 on a brighter note!

Today we're looking at why doing your homework will help you in your career - whether you're a voiceover actor or a voice director.

Let's start Talking Creative!

As always, do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Sending an easy-to-read script to your Voiceover is a no-brainer, right?

And yet so many scripts arrive on spreadsheets or embedded into a storyboard.

In this short episode, find out why sending over a word document can make everyone's life easier!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This is the episode that isn't really an episode...

...it's an update!

A slightly new approach to the Talking Creative podcast is about to happen - and here's the skinny.

But more importantly - I want to know what YOU want to hear about in terms of voice directing.

Are there any questions you want answered?

Any topics you'd love to see covered that would give you more insights or info into working with professional voices?

Do let me know - no matter how small.

You can:

Contact me at sam@samanthaboffin.co.uk

DM me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

Or check out my website at https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/contact/

Thank you - and see you next week :)

If you've enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This is part 2 of the Talking Creative and Voiceover Social workshop: “How to Direct and Be Directed”.

This is the live, in-the-moment directing section of the workshop

Here I direct two voice actors Leonie and Leonor voicing an advert and a TV promo (but don't worry, it isn't a prerequisite to have a name that starts with "Leon"!)

Both the ad and the promo are fictitious - but they're fully written with ideas behind them so just like real-world projects.

In this 30 minute episode we cover all kinds of practical stuff, including:

• The importance of music
• How a remote recording session feels
• Working with voices live and in-the-moment
• The relationship between a director and a voiceover

Plus you'll hear that there is no perfect recording session!

Useful links:

• The scripts: https://bit.ly/TalkingCreativeScripts
• Leonie Schiesling voiced the commercial and her details are here: https://leoniedoesthings.com/
• Leonor Lemée voiced the promo and her details are here: https://leonorlemee.com/en/
• Part 1 can be found here: https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/63-how-to-voice-direct-and-be-directed-part-1/

This directing workshop was originally part of an event hosted with the Voiceover Social podcast.

You can find Nic and Leah here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-voiceover-social/id1354490031?i=1000549602270

As always, do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This episode of Talking Creative is less about "how" and more about "why".

A more inspirational episode perhaps!

I can sometimes struggle to explain exactly why voiceover work feels important.  

And when I talk to people about what I do for a living - I tend to fall back on the lighter weight stuff because it’s an easier “in”.  Still, in comparison to midwives, accountants or firefighters - it can feel a little, well, frivolous.

But in this episode we look at how voiceover is used in more serious ways.

So settle back for this short burst of Talking Creative and hopefully it will make you think about different ways that you can use voices in your work.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

How to write a killer Casting Brief in 5 simple steps

If you need to find voice actors for your projects - you need to know how to write an effective casting brief. One that can be used on a casting site or even sent to an agent or a casting director.

A great brief will enable you to find the kind of voiceover you really need - not the 50 or 500 voice actors that you don't need!

This episode talks you through a laser-sharp approach that will take you from a blank page to a full-on killer brief.

Find out:

Why this is important.

The 5 simple steps you need to consider.

What you need to include...

What you need to avoid...

And how many words there are in a 30 second commercial - very useful!

If you like the podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Storytelling is big right now.

Stories are relatable and they connect us - so it makes sense to create a natural, easy storytelling feel from your voiceover artist.

That's quite straightforward when it’s an audiobook, a game or an audiodrama.  But how do you achieve it with corporate work?

This week's episode has got you covered!

We look at 5 things to consider when you're tackling corporate work:

1. Casting
2. The script
3. Briefing
4. Directing
5. Post production

New ideas about how to make your videos, commercials and e-learning modules really connect with your listeners.

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This is the stuff that has helped me to build a voiceover career.

Hopefully it will offer a few ideas that might help you.

It includes:

• Coaching
• Building a home studio
• My logo and branding
• Website
• Conferences - and not just voiceover ones
• Getting out and meeting people
• and all kinds of mindset stuff...

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Museum and Audio Guides are big business right now.

The heady combination of Summer holidays, rain and the lifting of Lockdown means that people are visiting more galleries, exhibitions and museums.

Which has got me thinking about Museum Guides and how to find the right voice to tell your story.

If you create Audio Guides and you want some inspiration... this is the episode for you!

If you enjoyed this episode - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

In this episode of the Talking Creative Summer Series, we’re looking at three things your voice actor needs so that they can get the job done brilliantly.

So - what are they?

• A Script
• Context
• Confidence

We dig deep into why these are so important whether you're directing your voice or getting them to self-direct themselves.

The Talking Creative Summer Series - short, sweet episodes to help us all make voiceovers better.

Do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Have you ever wanted to book a professional voice for a project and thought - "I haven’t got the faintest idea how much a voice artist costs. And I don’t know where to start."

Then How Much Does a Professional Voice Artist Really Cost is the episode for you.

We're looking at professional voiceover rates in 4 key areas - and talking real costs:

Audiobooks, Corporate narration, E-learning and Telephone Messaging/IVR.

There's also a ton of information that will help you calculate costs in other voiceover genres too - as well as useful online guide to voiceover rates Worldwide:

The Gravy for the Brain Rate Card

https://rates.gravyforthebrain.com

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This episode of Talking Creative is all about getting your voiceover to feel confident.

But why is this so important - surely they just need to bob into the booth and deliver?

Well - yes - this is true. But confident, relaxed people generally perform better when they're feeling good - they're braver and bolder - which is great for creative work.

In this episode we cover 10 practical ways for you to get the best performance out of your voice actor during a directing session, including:

• Direct, but don't act for them
• How to perfect the art of saying "I love that, now let's also try this..."
• Creating a collaborative atmosphere

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

I love a good television ad - and this week, that's what I've been thinking about!

In this episode I'm looking at TV advertising and commercials - why the ad industry is struggling and discussing how voiceovers can help with their messaging and cut-through.

I also look at current trends in voiceover delivery - and consider why reassuring, caring voices are popular right now as well as the conversational voice.

Here are the links to the adverts:

John Lewis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5_0Jl_tKOQ

IKEA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQSgf3_5KBk&t=23s

Yorkshire Tea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iehQIDBKu0I

Carex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VoRPaXJXP0

Apple Watch Series 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCMnrssX1NE

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

In this episode of the Talking Creative Summer Series, we're looking at 3 important things to remember when you're writing scripts for voiceovers:

• Get personal
• Keep it simple
• Always read your script out loud yourself (before you get it signed off)

As promised, here is the link to The Drum's 100 Best Ads of All Time:

https://www.thedrum.com/the-worlds-best-ads-all-time

And the link to the Masterclass waitlist:

How to become a professional voice artist (even if you haven't been to drama school).

https://subscribepage.io/professionalvoiceover

The Talking Creative Summer Series - short, sweet episodes to help us all make voiceovers better.

Do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and today we are talking Explainer Videos.

Is there a perfect length for an explainer video?

Well, it depends - and you can find out why in today's episode.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

We all know about the concept of finding the "right" voice artist for a project.

But what does that really mean?

The right voiceover for who - or what?

In this first episode of the Talking Creative Summer Series, we consider what we need to think about when we're looking for the right voice.

The Talking Creative Summer Series - short, sweet episodes to help us all make voiceovers better.

And if you've ever thought about becoming a professional voice actor - or know someone who has - do get on the waitlist for my new Masterclass:

How to become a professional voice artist (even if you haven't been to drama school).

Here is the link:

https://subscribepage.io/professionalvoiceover

Do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Today on the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas, we're talking about Santa's favourite Christmas film: "Love Actually".

Whether you're a voiceover or a director, there's a lot to be learnt from the opening to this film - and you can listen to it here:

https://youtu.be/rl44pV2-9R8

And do come back tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

What does it take to make an Audio Drama?

Well, there are five important elements:

1. The Team
2. The Tech
3. The Rehearsals
4. The Recording
5. The Post-Production

But - what if you want to do it all remotely?

This is the story of how I worked with Questors Theatre Company during lockdown to set up an audio drama department - and what was really involved.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

How do you get the right person to audition for your latest project?

By writing a short, focussed casting brief.

And in this episode, I've got 5 easy ways to write one.

A good brief should cover:

1. The type of project: commercial, gaming, e-learning
2. The kind of actor you're looking for - gender, vocal age, language or accent
3. The energy or tone you want to capture. Or even the kind of role the voiceover is playing.
4. The script and any character sides. 
5. Details about the practicalities: the timing, the studio, the fee.

Here are the links I promised too:

• The link to the Masterclass waitlist:

How to become a professional voice artist (even if you haven't been to drama school).

https://subscribepage.io/professionalvoiceover

• The podcast episode "Where to find the perfect voiceover artist":

 https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/02-where-to-find-the-perfect-voiceover-artist/

• Gravy for the Brain Rate Card:

https://rates.gravyforthebrain.com/

• GVAA Rate Card:

https://globalvoiceacademy.com/gvaa-rate-guide-2/

The Talking Creative Summer Series - short, sweet episodes to help us all make voiceovers better.

Do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Getting your voice actor to sound conversational isn't a new idea.

But it is surprisingly difficult to achieve.

In this episode of "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" we look at 7 ways to get a conversational read:

1. The script
2. The story
3. The golden 10 mins at the top of a session
4. What the voice actor's role is - and who they’re talking to
5. Subjectivity
6. Discovering the heart of the script
7. Posture and stance

Here is the link that will hopefully explain "It's all Gone a Bit Pete Tong"

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Voiceover narration isn't always as smooth as it could be.

One thing.

I hear a lot of.

Is voiceovers talking in. 

Short sentences.

And it can be very irritating.

Once you notice it.

So how can we stop that happening - as voices, directors and podcasters?

Find out in this short episode of the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas.

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and today we're talking about why the first line of your script is so important.

With a little help from Charles Dickens and a certain Christmas story!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

A confident voice actor will give you a better performance. Fact.

In this episode we cover:

• What to do at the start of a session
• Being in-the-moment
• Creating a bridge into your project
• Create the right creative atmosphere
• Directing, not acting for your voice
• Giving helpful, imaginative feedback
• How to perfect the art of saying - "I love that and let’s also try this..."
• Ending the session on a high

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Auditioning for work. Whether you use pay to play sites, have an agent or are going solo - auditioning is part of every voice actor's life. We all have to do it.

But how can we do it well?

In this episode of Talking Creative, the Summer Series - I've got 6 hot tips to help you do just that.

We cover:

1. Auditioning for jobs that you're the right fit for.
2. Starting with a bang.
3. Being clear about who you are, who you're talking to and why.
4. Investigating the brief. 
5. Being brave.
6. Some practical tips and tricks.

Here is the Audition Director link:

https://www.auditiondirector.com/

The Talking Creative Summer Series - short, sweet episodes to help us all make voiceovers better.

Do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

April 16th 2021 is World Voice Day.

And this episode is a Talking Creative Special.

World Voice Day is all about celebrating the phenomenon of the voice so in this episode I bring you many voices from across the World - all celebrating one thing: Working with Voice Directors.

I asked voice actors for their thoughts and stories about working with voice directors from their side of the glass - and I got back some amazing stuff.

This episode is packed with actionable insights, likes and dislikes and a warning of drug abuse. 

Many thanks to all these incredible voice actors who got behind this and sent in their stories and insights:

• Angela Colville - https://voicebyangela.com
• Ally Murphy - https://www.allymurphy.co.uk
• Bhav Parmar - https://www.voiceofbhavnisha.com
• Katie Flamman - https://www.katieflamman.co.uk
• Laura Doman - https://www.lauradoman.com
• Lisa Graydon - https://www.lisagraydon.com
• Liz Drury - https://lizdrury.com
• Lynne Nash - https://www.lynnenashmusic.co.uk
• Maggie Turner - https://www.spotlight.com/9252-1202-4489
• Margaret Ashley - http://margaretashley.com
• Menna Bonsels - https://mennabonsels.com
• Mitch Howell - https://www.mitchhowellvoiceover.co.uk
• Nano Nagle - https://www.nanovoiceartist.co.uk
• Rory Barnett - https://rorybarnett.com
• Sarah Borges - http://www.sarahborges.co.uk
• Stephane Cornicard - http://www.thevoicelikechocolate.com
• Tanya Rich - https://www.tanyarich.co.uk
• Zuleika Deciga - https://zuleikadeciga.com

I also mention episode 9 of Talking Creative "How to make your Voiceover feel confident" - here's the link to that:

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/09-how-to-make-your-voiceover-feel-confident/

And if you like the podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas

We're All Stories in the End...

That Doctor Who quote is the inspiration behind today's podcast: this Christmas, record a few stories with your friends and family.

Find out why in this short episode :)

You can tune in tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Every director wants to work with professional voiceovers who are fully trained, understand what’s needed and can reproduce what they promise on their reels.

So in this episode - I’m talking about the importance of voice coaching this week with British voiceover and coach Tanya Rich. 

We look at:

• Why voice coaching is increasingly important for all pro voiceovers
• How to spot a trained voice artist
• How to get the most out of your voice actor
• What makes a good voice director

Tanya is the voice coach behind the Rich List and RichCraft Voice Training - here are the details:

The Rich List

https://richcraft.biz/the-rich-list/

RichCraft

https://richcraft.biz/

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Are you feeling Christmassy yet?

It's the final weekend before Christmas so if you aren't in a festive mood yet - you better get started!

Here is my round up of fun festive audiobooks - perfect whether you're shopping, cooking, Xmas decorating or just on the couch...

Audiobooks are perfect for multi-tasking plus they're all available in a trice on Audible (other audio platforms are available!)

• The Secret History of Christmas - by Bill Bryson, narrated by Bill Bryson
• The Best of Me - by David Sedaris, narrated by David Sedaris
• Whisked Away at Christmas - by Mahi Cheshire, narrated by Ritu Arya and Jeremy Irvine
• E.F. Benson's Ghost Stories - narrated by Mark Gatiss
• Three Hours - by Rosamund Lupton - narrated by Gemma Whelan
• Midwinter Murder - by Agatha Christie, narrated by Fenella Woolgar
• In The Midst of Winter - by Isabel Allende, narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris, Almaa Cuervo, Jasmine Cephas Jones
• I also mention Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Stephen King's Misery and Rosamund Lupton's The Quality of Silence

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas

It's December 5th - and time for a special interview with The Voiceover Social: Nic Redman and Leah Marks!

This episode is all about How to Plan for your Best Voiceover Year yet.

Proper planning starts with the right mindset and the right tools to help you reach your goals.

And that's where the VO Career Planner comes in.

You can get your hands on this amazing piece of kit here:

https://www.thevosocial.com/the-voiceover-career-planner

And if you'd like to book a 1-2-1 Career Planning Session with me (as mentioned in the episode) - do email me at sam@samanthaboffin.co.uk for all the details and remember, there's a 20% discount offer running from now until the end of December 2022.

Get the New Year sorted!

You can tune in tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The One Hot Thing for this episode is simple: Know Your Audience BEFORE you look for a Voiceover.

You need to know who your voice is speaking to.

In this short episode - we look at why this is so important and why niching is a help not a hindrance.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This is a quick but game-changing episode - all about Voiceover Demos

We cover:

• What to listen out for in your demos
• Why it matters
• What directors are looking for
• How to focus on YOUR reels
• And if you'd like more details about your own 1-2-1 Voiceover Demo Audit - just email me at sam@samanthaboffin.co.uk or DM me on LinkedIn. There's a 20% discount offer running from now until December 31st 2022.

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Authentic Voice - the new Hot Topic in the World of Voiceover

I only managed to get to hear 4 talks at the One Voice Conference 2021 but they all had something in common: discussing authenticity.

In this episode, we look briefly at this One Hot Thing and see what it means for you as a director.

As promised too - here are the links to last Friday's episode 38 about conferences and why they're useful:

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/38-why-the-one-voice-conference-is-useful-even-if-youre-not-a-voice-actor/

and also episode 28 - 7 ways to get your Voiceover to sound conversational:

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/28-seven-ways-to-get-your-voiceover-to-sound-conversational/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and today's gift is all about the number 3!

Think Harry Potter, Superman's mantra and the BBC's mission statement: inform, educate and entertain.

The power of 3 is all around us.

So why is this important to voice directors, voice actors and content producers?

You can find out in today's episode.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

As a voiceover director, getting the best out of your voice actor is at the heart of what you do. 

Being able to adapt in the moment and pull some solutions out of your voice directing box of tricks can be very useful.

This week - I'm talking to Nic Redman, Voice Actor and Vocal Coach - who has got some brilliant ideas to support and enhance the average studio session.

There are many different reasons why a voice artist might need extra support:

• Perhaps they're an author who’s narrating their own book
• An actor who is new to voice work
• An established voice who’s new to that particular genre
• Or perhaps they’re simply nervous or mastering an accent for the first time.

Nic is all about the idea that little, simple things can make a huge difference to our voices - and in this podcast, she's sharing some of those things with you!

We cover:

• How to relax an anxious or nervous voiceover - and why that matters
• Why breath is so important
• The physicality of voiceover delivery
• Interpreting copy and how it can help with delivery
• Working with different accents and why being specific really works

Oh and so much more!

Nic's new podcast "The Voice Coach Podcast" is on all the usual podcast platforms - this is just the Apple link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-voice-coach-podcast/id1551530536

And if you'd like to work with her, you can find her here:

https://nicolaredman.com

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and today we're talking about pronunciation and why it matters.

We're looking at

• Tricky words that trip you up
• How to deal with foreign words in scripts
• Why you need to do your homework - as directors and as voiceovers
• Making decisions
• And lots of other stuff

Here are the useful apps and websites I mentioned:

https://howjsay.com/

Oxford Dictionary of English app

https://forvo.com/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Music and Voiceover are a well established double act.

From commercials and corporate films to dramas and video games - it's a rare voiceover project that doesn't have music somewhere, even if it's just a sting or mnemonic at the start and end.

In this episode of Talking Creative, I talk to US Composer and Speakeasy Producer Garrett Neal all about music and voiceover.

We look at questions like:

• Why are music and voiceover such a compelling combination?
• Does the voiceover affect your music choices - or vice versa?
• Do all projects need music?
• When you're shaping a project - which comes first: the music or the voiceover?
• Remote recording and working with voice actors

Garrett is a composer, producer and audio engineer based in the US.

He offers professional sound solutions for Musicians, Filmmakers, and Marketing/Ad Agencies - and also writes and produces voice reels.

Garrett can write, record, produce, mix and master music for television, radio, streaming, film, and video games. His work has been featured on MTV, VH1, HBO, Disney, NBC and NPR among many others.

His website is here: https://www.gnealmusic.com/

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and today's gift is the recipe for my favourite cocktail.

Why? (You may be asking.)

Well - because this is a calendar with surprises behind the festive mic.

Because it's a mini how-to audio guide.

And because it's the weekend - and you don't always have to make stuff that's work-useful.

So, enjoy the recipe - and even give it a try.

It's super-simple and there's a Christmassy twist too!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Yes, I know it isn't Twelfth Night - it's December 12th. Which is totally different.

But it's a great excuse to talk about one of the most Christmassy days of the year:

So here's a whistlestop tour of Twelfth Night, including:

• Tree Spirits
• 3 Wise Men
• King Cake (and the bean)
• Shakespeare
• The Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Basically - everything you've ever wanted to know...

Do come back tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

A Talking Creative and Voiceover Social Podcast Special

In January 2022, Talking Creative and The Voiceover Social hosted a workshop: “How to Direct and Be Directed”.

A live event with an audience of voice actors, directors and producers.

This is the podcast from that workshop - part 1 anyway!

And the title says it all.

The original event was a panel discussion with audience Q&A about voice directing and how to get the best out of your voice actors, followed by a live directing session and breakout rooms.

This is part 1: the panel discussion - with added commentary from me, post event.

In this 50 minute episode we cover all kinds of practical stuff, including:

• How pre-planning makes the recording session run more smoothly
• Why music is such a brilliant addition
• How space can be your friend
• Active listening and how to layer a performance
• Finding alternatives to line reads

So if you've ever shied away from directing or thought - well what can I bring to the party, this is the episode for you.

You can find the Voiceover Social podcast with Nic Redman and Leah Marks here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-voiceover-social/id1354490031?i=1000549602270

As always, do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas

It's December 3rd - and today we're talking about How to Find the Right Christmas Voiceover!

'Tis the season to be jolly.

And if you're not yet sorted with your Christmas voiceover - now is the time.

Plus this episode should help you get in the festive mood and hopefully give you some Christmassy ideas.

• Character voices
• Kids voices
• Parent voices
• Singers
• Is there even a "Christmas" voice?

There were a lot of people who made this episode extra-special...

Santa was the excellent Mark Ryes:

https://britishvoiceover.co.uk/

As well as live Santa voiceover and TV and radio commercials, shopping centres and websites, Mark also provides Santa messages for parents (which is pretty fabulous!) - do find out more here:

 https://www.santamessages.uk/

And Mrs Santa, the elves and all the other Christmassy wonders were played by:

• Ally Murphy https://www.allymurphy.co.uk/
• Dianne Weller https://dianneweller.com/
• Jo Ashe https://joashe.uk/
• Karis Pentecost https://www.karispentecost.com/
• Lisa Graydon https://www.lisagraydon.com/
• Liz Drury https://lizdrury.com/
• Menna Bonsels https://mennabonsels.com/
• Margaret Ashley http://margaretashley.com
• Natalie Chisholm https://www.redheadvoiceover.com/

And here are some other episodes that might help you find voice actors:

Episode 43 - How to Find the Right Voiceover Quickly:

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/how-to-find-the-right-voiceover-quickly/

Episode 2 - Where to Find the Perfect Voiceover Artist

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/02-where-to-find-the-perfect-voiceover-artist/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

December the 6th is St Nicholas' Day...

And we have a very special guest on Talking Creative: Father Christmas himself!

We asked children for their questions for Santa and this is an episode just for them (there are no spoilers - so do share it!)

So if you or your children want to know what where he goes on holiday, how he gets into houses with no fireplaces and what his favourite Christmas film is (and much, much more) - this is the episode for you!

Your audience matters - everything you make is with them in mind. And Santa definitely knows who he's talking to!

Santa always has time for children everywhere, so do get in touch with him at https://www.santamessages.uk/ if you want the big guy in the red suit to send someone you love a personal message.

And do tune in tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

......and today we ask the question: do you always need a voiceover for your videos and commercials?

With people increasingly watching on mobile with their phones on mute - is there any point?

Find out in today's episode!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

So here are 4 ideas that could help you.

In this episode of Talking Creative we look at 4 ways of approaching radio ads that go beyond the “grab them in the first 5 seconds” rule:

1. Be relatable
2. Be funny
3. Talk to your audience directly
4. The power of silence

There are lots of other things you could think about - but this is just the start.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This weekend it's the start of the UK One Voice Conference.

A 4-day conference that’s totally focussed on the voiceover industry.

And so what?

Unless you’re a voice actor, why should you be excited about - or even vaguely interested in - a Voiceover Conference?  

In this episode of Talking Creative, we talk about

• The changing landscape of the media industry
• Community
• Learning and inspiration
• And why conferences are greater than the sum of their parts

You can find the interview I did with Tanya Rich here:

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-voice-artist-with-tanya-rich/

And the episode about Awards and why they matter is here:

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative/24-voiceover-awards-and-why-they-matter/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Do Voice Actors Need Experienced Directors?

At first glance, this seems a surprising statement to even be debating - but with budgets being increasingly squeezed across the creative industries, voice actors are finding that they're being directed by all kinds of people from production teams - not necessarily experienced directors.

Voice Directors have a unique and precious skillset.

So - along with the insights and comments from a number of voice actors and industry professionals - this is the subject that I'm tackling this week on Talking Creative.

There were 4 main themes that emerged:

1. Directors are the bridge between the actor and the client;
2. Directors have the creative overview of the whole piece;
3. Directors improve the quality of an actor’s performance through collaboration;
4. Experienced directors know how to work with actors to build the layers of a nuanced, engaging performance quickly and efficiently - producing brilliant results AND saving time and money.

Many thanks to everyone who got involved and helped me to create this New Year Special despite lockdown, New Year celebrations and birthdays - I couldn't do it without you!

With special thanks to:

Margaret Ashley, Curt Bonnem, Natalie Chisholm, Stephane Cornicard, Adam Dergiman, Katie Flamman, Kirsty Gillmore, John Grayson, Will Harrison-Wallace, Anthony Hewson, Dave Jones, Lanessa VO, Ally Murphy, Joel Pettigrew, Tanya Rich, Lisa Stokke Jolly and Susie Valerio.

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far :)

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and it's Christmas Card Day.

There were so many things I could have talked about but the History of the Christmas Card seemed like a fun topic.

So here it is! A (brief) history of the Christmas Card.

As promised - here is the link to Mark Ryes and his personalised Santa messages:

https://markryes.com/

And you can see the very first Christmas Card here:

https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-first-christmas-card

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Well - of course not. It's how they sound that's important.

But is that the whole story?

In this short episode of Talking Creative, we look at:

• Vocal Age vs Actual Age
• Whether Voice Actors need photos
• Diversity
• Authenticity
• And why listening with your eyes shut is useful but not the whole picture

If you enjoyed this episode - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

In this first short trailer episode you'll find out what the podcast is all about, who Samantha Boffin is - and why you should be listening.

The clue is in the title - Talking Creative is all about the art of voiceover directing.

If you're a creative, a voice director or you work with voice actors or you simply want to know more about the world of voiceovers and how it all works - then this podcast is for you.

We'll be looking across the industry at everything from corporate, commercial and e-learning to audiobooks, radio drama, gaming and animation.

And we'll also be looking at the world of voiceover from a creative angle - talking to directors, voices and creatives who work in the industry every day to find out what works for them.

You'll also find out who I am, my background at the BBC as a Creative Head and what I bring to the voiceover party.

Talking Creative is going to grow to be a mix of solo and guest interviews - and it's focussed on helping you to get the most value out of every. single. booking.

I definitely don't know everything about this amazing industry but hopefully I know enough to ask the right questions to help you find the right answers.

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative" on Apple Podcasts.

Or go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series to date.

What is a 'chocolatey voice'?

Why is it so sought after for certain kinds of Voiceover work?

And can you develop your own smooth seductive voice?

Find out in today's short festive episode.

Do come back tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's the Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas...

...and today is National Cocoa Day.

So why should you never feed dogs or voiceovers chocolate?

Find out in this episode!

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Verity Panter is The Queen of Queensberry - Britain's only female boxing MC

And on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics, Talking Creative caught up with Verity to chat about live sports voiceovers - and what makes them unique.

If you work with live voices for TV, radio, events or podcasts - this is full of fascinating and useful insights.

How do directors work with live voices and what do they need to think about when they're booking them?

We look at topics like planning, being reactive and storytelling - and we also tackle diversity and why it's important right now to be hearing different voices across the sports industry.

As promised, you can get in contact with Verity here: https://www.veritypanter.com

If you enjoyed this episode - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

One Hot Timing Thing that you can implement today

It's often not so much what you say - but how you say it.

So allowing your Voice Actor enough time in the script to land your message with impact just makes sense.

In this short episode, find out why leaving pauses in your script and not making it wall-to-wall information is so important.

If you've enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The start of a new academic year is the perfect time to talk about eLearning voices.

Scratch that.

Anytime is the perfect time.

We are all learning online more than ever before - and as a consequence, the eLearning industry is booming.

In this interview with Elinor Hamilton from eLearning Voices, we talk about (amongst other things):

• How the eLearning industry is changing
• Why finding the right voice is important
• What listeners are looking for in eLearning voices
• Audio Description
• And lots more voiceover gold!

You can find eLearning Voices here:

https://elearningvoices.co.uk/

And you can get in touch with Elinor here: hello@elearningvoices.co.uk

And you can follow me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Casting the right narrator for your audiobook is important - but should you be thinking beyond the obvious if you want to reach new audiences?

For instance - would The Great Gatsby still work if the audiobook narrator was neither American nor male? ⁣

Audiobooks are booming during 2020. Whether that’s because we need entertainment, escapism or comfort right now… whatever the reason: audio is big news. 

Audiobooks are finding new audiences – young audio-fans, listeners who don’t usually buy books and readers listening to titles that they wouldn’t pick up in print.

So should we be thinking beyond the conventional when it comes to casting for audiobooks? And if so - what does that really mean?

That's what I'm talking about in this episode of Talking Creative.

The Guardian Article:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/14/pandemic-drives-ebook-and-audiobook-sales-by-uk-publishers-to-all-time-high-covid

The National Literary Trust Report 2020:

https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/children-young-people-and-audiobooks-lockdown/

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

In this episode we're looking at where to find your perfect voice actor.

We'll be chatting about the main ways of finding voice talent including:

• Agents
• Specialist agencies
• Pay to Play sites
• Casting Directors
• Google
• Social Media
• And Word of Mouth

Being really clear on your project, timeline, budget and the kind of voice you're looking for will really help you.  

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative" on Apple Podcasts.

Or go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series to date.

Today it is all about the mics!

You may or may not be a voiceover but if you do any online meetings, social media videos or if you host or ever guest on podcasts - do listen as I'm doing an audio comparison in the episode between:

• An internal computer mic
• A USB mic
• A dynamic mic
• A phone mic
• and a valve condenser booth mic

This episode will help you get a feel for how you could sound, depending on the mic you pick.

The mics mentioned are:

• RODE Mini https://rode.com/en/microphones/usb/nt-usb-mini?gclid=CjwKCAiAheacBhB8EiwAItVO217_HdizJa9ghBG1m0e-n8PKSuqrsdF3OYoMzj2c9UXNYB-UHm7YKBoC3RkQAvD_BwE
• Heil PR40 https://heilsound.com/product/pr-40/
• Sontronics Aria https://www.sontronics.com/aria

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The One Voice Awards Nominations were announced this week.

So why should you care?

It's all a lot of self-congratulatory hoohah, isn't it?

Well - not necessarily...

This week Talking Creative is looking into why awards in any industry are important and why the One Voice Awards might be useful for you!

And here is the link to the One Voice Awards 2021:

https://www.onevoiceconference.com/one-voice-awards-uk-2021/

Do follow or connect with me on LinkedIn for more creative chat about working with voice actors and more!

And you can subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Today is National Tell a Joke Day. The perfect excuse to talk about funny voiceovers. 

In this episode we look briefly at the 9 different types of humour - and why being aware of them is crucial when you're attracting an audience.

1. Physical
2. Self deprecating
3. Surreal
4. Improvisational
5. Word-play or being witty
6. Topical
7. Observational
8. Bodily
9. Dark

And we also look at why it's less about finding a "funny" voice actor - and more about finding the right voice actor.

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

This week's One Hot Thing is an odd one for a Voice Actor to mention:

How captions can help your content to get heard.

It's true - if you want to your visual content to reach more people, a great voiceover AND captions are the way forward.

In this short episode, we look at 3 reasons why you should include captions with your content.

And here are the caption companies I mention:

https://www.rev.com/

https://www.headliner.app/

https://www.happyscribe.com/

https://www.quicc.io/

https://www.kapwing.com/

If you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

Writing for podcasts.

One of the questions I'm often asked is how do you create a podcast and make it sound natural?  

It's time to find out the answer!

In this episode we cover:

• Do you need a script?
• How to plan (instead of a script)
• What kinds of scripts are useful
• How to make reading aloud sound natural

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

It's that time of the week where I bring you One Hot Creative Thing...

Today, it's an insight rather than a Voiceover tip.

I'm often asked what the difference is between a Voiceover, a Voice Artist or a Voice Actor.

Well, this is the short, sharp episode where I give you the answer.

If you enjoy this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas

It's December 7th - and don't worry, there's still time to book a voiceover before Christmas (even though there's only a couple of weeks left!)

It's very easy - just listen to this episode and you'll be sorted...

You can tune in tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

In this first Talking Creative episode of 2022 - rather later than planned - we are looking at telling stories, and how to tell them well.

Storytelling - it's a really simple idea - the concept of putting a story at the heart of all the content you're creating.

But finding the storyline is just the start - it's also important to tell stories in the right way: with the right words, the right tone, the right voice.

Amongst other things in this episode, I'm going to be looking at 4 examples of storytelling that have inspired me recently - in the hopes that you will also find them useful.

• A cinema commercial
• An audiobook narrated by the writer
• A series of 5" break bumpers
• And an epic audiodrama

As always, do follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

The Talking Creative Countdown to Christmas

It's December 4th - Santa's List Day!

This episode is more nice than naughty though.

We're looking at how TO DO lists can really help you to reach your goals.

So if you've got to the end of this year and you feel you haven't accomplished quite as much as you'd hoped - this is the episode for you!

And you can tune in tomorrow for more gifts from behind the festive mic!

As always, you can follow me on LinkedIn for more voiceover related chat - you can find me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-boffin/

And if you enjoyed this podcast - please do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

and

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.

In this episode, we're looking at how to creatively brief your voiceover artist - and why it makes such a difference.

We'll be chatting about:

The reasons for briefing your voice actor before the recording session and what a good creative brief needs to cover - including 6 key steps:

1. Who is your Listener?  Why is your voice talking to them and what do you want them to do or feel?  
2. What role is your voiceover playing? 
3. How do you want your voiceover to sound?
4. Make sure your script is really ready.
5. Useful assets - music, animatics and rough cuts, references.
6. Timelines or deliverables.

Useful apps and websites for pronouncations:

https://forvo.com

https://howjsay.com

Also the Oxford English Dictionary plus audio - OED App

Useful adjectives:

A list of useful words that might help in the briefing process:

Warm, friendly, concerned, emotionless, comic, serious, quirky, hip, sassy, trustworthy, calm, slapstick, cool, booming , sassy, movie-trailer, compassionate, soothing, confident, light-hearted, concerned, dry, emotionless, authoritative, straight-forward, sultry, not sultry, quirky, believable, engaging, clear, bright, mature, young, classy, excited.

Do subscribe rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts.

Or go to:

https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series to date.

Audiobooks are incredible. 

Fact or fiction - great storytelling is an art.

But what is it about a really good narrator that works and how do they learn how to pull the listener into their story?

The answer - as with most things in life - is because they’ve worked at it: they’ve learnt their craft.

Which is where a great audiobook coach comes in. 

In this episode, I’m talking to Sean Pratt - multi-award-winning narrator, actor and coach - who has voiced over 1000 Audiobooks for companies including Penguin, Blackstone, Tantor and Harper Collins.

There’s not much Sean doesn’t know about the craft of the audiobook.

If you want to find out how to get the most out of your audiobook narrators - this is an amazing Masterclass.

Amongst other things, we look at:

• Actors and audio narration
• The challenges of narrating non-fiction;
• Coaching professional voices and why it matters;
• How to work with inexperienced voices;
• Top tips for voice directors to help their narrators to really shine;
• And you'll discover why he's called The Ginger Yoda :)  

You can find out more about Sean here: https://www.seanprattpresents.com

Do subscribe, rate and review "Talking Creative - the Art of Voiceover Directing" on Apple Podcasts

or

Go to https://samanthaboffin.co.uk/talkingcreative for the whole series so far.