Episode Overview

Podcast: A VO’s Journey: Voiceover and more voice over
Host: Anthony Pica
Episode: #278 – Use SPEED for Better Voiceovers
Date: July 23, 2024

This episode centers on the concept of “speed” as a critical mode of expression in voice acting. Host Anthony Pica dissects how varying your speaking speed—speeding up, slowing down, and everything in between—can dramatically alter your voiceover performance, affect the listener's emotions, and help you build more nuanced, memorable reads. This episode is tailored for both new and developing voice actors looking to fine-tune their craft and understand foundational acting tools essential to the industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Five Modes of Expression in Voiceover

• Anthony introduces the five essential “modes of expression” in voice acting:
  • Speeding up and slowing down
  • Varying volume
  • Changing pitch
  • Pausing before or after words
  • Elongating or shortening words
• These modes form the “framework to build your tower of acting” and are foundational for effective delivery. (03:12)

Deep Dive: The Power of Speed

How Speed Shapes Emotion and Message

• Speed communicates emotion and energy:
  • Fast pacing can “give an audience a feel of chaos, of energy, of kinetic energy. It can bring excitement.” (05:22)
  • “It can bring chaos–in one, maybe you’re speaking fast because you’re nervous, or the piece is leading up to something, or some action is happening right now.” (05:49)
• Slow pacing builds intensity and anticipation:
  • “If we want to build intensity, we can build it by going faster or by slowing down for anticipation. People are metaphorically leaning forward in their chair.” (08:10)
  • Example (narration-style):
    “Who’s behind that door as it creeps open really slowly and… Jill turns her head and peeks around the corner to see… It’s anticipating.” (09:00)
• Conversational vs. authoritative vs. intimate:
  • Conversational scripts usually require faster pacing.
  • Authoritative reads tend to be slower; “Authoritative tones usually have a little bit of a slower speed.” (07:15)
  • Intimate moments are usually slowest.

Flexibility and Layering Modes

• Combine varying speeds in the same phrase or section:
  • “Don’t be afraid in the same phrase to speed up a part and slow down a part.” (10:48)
• Speed is interconnected with other modes (pauses, elongation):
  • “You can elongate or shorten a word quickly or slowly. You can pause and let that pause be fast or slow, longer or shorter… all different speed variations.” (11:25)
  • Note: Anthony separates “speed” from “pauses” but acknowledges overlaps.

Training Exercises for Speed

• Practical exercise suggestion:
  • “Take a script. Say these couple of lines. Record yourself—first say them fast, then slow down to like 70% of that and say it again.” (13:44)
  • Try it with different parts of the script or line—mixing fast and slow within a phrase.
• Classroom anecdote:
  • “I used to do this with my acting students… put a phrase on the board and have them say the line in a variety of different ways: faster, slower. Now we would use also other modes of expression down the road, but for right now, we’re talking about speed. Say it faster and slower.” (15:01)
• Outcome:
  • “You will be shocked and amazed” at how different the same script feels just by changing speed. (16:30)

Reflecting on the Actor’s Toolkit

• Articulation of process:
  • “Part of us becoming better voice actors is learning how to vocalize what we are doing… You need to be able to verbalize that. Because if you can’t verbalize what you’re actually trying to accomplish… you can’t truly control it.” (17:18)
• Modes of expression as the “cake” (the core):
  • “Acting is at the core of everything we do. Remember marketing… But acting is the cake. It is the basis for everything.” (19:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On speed’s emotional impact:
  • “If I speak very fast while I’m narrating, it gives an audience a couple of things. One, it can be chaotic… it can bring excitement.” (Anthony, 05:22)
• On why learning to control speed matters:
  • “The words themselves are controlling them, not them controlling the words.” (Anthony, 10:16)
• On practicing and verbalizing your technique:
  • “Learning how to say and think about, okay, this is what I’m actually trying to do… You need to be able to verbalize that.” (Anthony, 17:18)
• On speed’s versatility in intensity:
  • “We can also build intensity by slowing down by utilizing anticipation. Building in intensity with anticipation is very powerful.” (Anthony, 08:10)
• Core message:
  • “Today is about speed. Practice your speed.” (Anthony, 19:23)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:12] – Introduction of the five modes of expression
• [05:22] – The emotional impact of speed: chaos, excitement, and energy
• [07:15] – Speed for different tones: conversational, authoritative, intimate
• [08:10] – Using speed for intensity and anticipation
• [10:48] – Combining fast and slow within phrases
• [13:44] – Practical exercises: recording and varying delivery
• [15:01] – Acting classroom exercise example
• [17:18] – Importance of articulating your actor process
• [19:05] – Acting as the “cake”—the foundation of VO

Conclusion

Anthony Pica’s episode offers straightforward, actionable advice for voiceover actors at any level, placing special emphasis on the mode of "speed" as a transformative tool in performance. By dissecting how simple changes in pace trigger emotional responses and communicate intent, he urges listeners to both practice and reflect on their own delivery—and to become actors who direct the words, not who are directed by them.

Practice Your Speed, Build Your Skill.