Writers in the Recording Studio - Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing - page 104

11.5 Working with a Voice Director
If the developer/publisher hires a professional voice director, there's still an impor-
tant place for the writer in the recording studio. Some developers, publishers, and
voice directors prefer not to have the writer present. They're afraid the writer will
complain and ask endless questions and request useless takes and basically slow the
whole process down. Don't be one of those writers. If you do your job correctly,
the recording process will go smoothly and quickly, and the quality will improve
exponentially.
First, remember that you are not the voice director. If you have a note or a
concern or a suggestion, give it the director. The director should be the only one
who talks to the actors. It's confusing for actors to hear notes from multiple sources.
Let the director do the directing. You should be making notes on each take and
marking your favorites.
So, if you're not doing any directing, why are you even there?
Because you are the guardian of the truth, the tone, and the story.
Ernest Hemingway said, “The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-
in, shock-proof shit detector.� As a writer, you need to know when your writing
isn't good enough or rings false. You need that same internal compass when you're
listening to actors deliver your lines. Academy Award-winning actor James Cagney
once offered a nervous young actor the following advice. “Walk in, plant yourself,
look the other fellow in the eye, and tell the truth.�
Acting is about truth. Whether the actor is playing an alien from another planet,
a dwarf with a battle axe, or a fairy princess with a lisp, the player wants to believe.
As the writer, one of your jobs is make sure every line rings true. Yes, it's subjective
and you can't get obsessive about this or you will be booted out of the studio, but
you can definitely help keep everyone on the right path.
One concrete way you can help is to give the voice director and the actor the
context of the scene. The basic context and intent for every line should be indicated
in the script, but often it's helpful to offer more detail. Make sure the actors under-
stand exactly who they are, where they are, who they're talking to, and why they're
talking to them. Are they outside? On a horse? In a saloon? In a bathtub? Are they
talking to one person? Are they are talking quietly, so as not to be overheard? Or
are they addressing a crowd? Are they chasing someone through a forest? Through
a sewer? How far away is the person they're addressing? Five feet? Ten feet? Fifty
feet? By setting the scene and describing the context, you can help to ensure a more
believable and powerful performance.
Some actors, especially older actors, aren't very video game savvy. They have no
clue what the finished product will look or sound like. As much as you try to explain
it, they can't quite grasp the context. The best thing to do is to show them videos,
trailers, and an actual game demo, if it's available. If not, you can demonstrate (and
show them how to play) a similar game. This can get them excited and help them to
understand the final result everyone is working towards.