Podcast Summary: Everyday VOpreneur® with Marc Scott

Episode: Audio Description: A Niche Many VO’s Haven’t Considered with Cynthia De Pando

Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Marc Scott
Guest: Cynthia De Pando

Episode Overview

This episode explores the fascinating and often-overlooked niche of Audio Description (AD) for film and television—a sector of voiceover where voice actors narrate visual elements for the benefit of blind and visually impaired audiences. Guest Cynthia De Pando, a trailblazer in Spanish-language audio description, shares her insights, experiences, and practical advice for VO talent looking to diversify into this meaningful and growing genre.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Audio Description

• Definition & Purpose:
  • Audio Description (AD), also known as Described Video, provides narration of visual elements in media for blind and visually impaired audiences.
  • “We are storytellers while being invisible.” (Cynthia, 07:32)
• History & Expansion:
  • Originated in Canada; later expanded globally, especially with streamers like Netflix asking for AD in multiple languages.

2. The Art & Technique of Audio Description

• Timing and Blending with Dialogue:
  • The AD voice must narrate only when characters are not speaking, never stepping on dialogue or sound effects.
    • “How am I going to be able to tell the story without interrupting the story? …You have to talk when the character is quiet.” (Cynthia, 10:15)
• Difference from Dubbing:
  • Opposite of dubbing; instead of matching mouth movements, AD requires narrating in the interstitial spaces.
• Acting Choices:
  • Requires subtle, adaptive acting—matching genre and energy, but remaining unobtrusive.
    • “I would act as much as possible and as less as possible. I know I'm contradicting myself.” (Cynthia, 35:57)

3. Getting Started in Audio Description

• Industry Entry Points:
  • Dubbing studios often handle AD; Cynthia recommends reaching out to studios and expressing interest.
  • “A lot of dubbing studios are doing audio description… express your interest, talk to the studio managers or directors.” (Cynthia, 11:47)
• Skills Needed:
  • Strong diction, pacing, script adaptation, acting nuance, and technical familiarity with timing to visuals are critical.

4. Challenges and Rewards

• Technical Challenges:
  • Fast-paced material (e.g., action films, children’s animation) can be especially demanding for timing and brevity.
    • “Trolls is one of the hardest… everybody's talking and sometimes they are even singing. So it's like a musical where you have to be on top of the song trying to explain what's going on.” (Cynthia, 21:13)
• Creative Choices:
  • Balancing informational clarity with narrative immersion.
  • Newer audience research has allowed for a little more interpretive leeway (e.g., stating “she looks frustrated” instead of only “she rolls her eyes”).
    • “We want to hear more. Please put a little bit more of an interpretation… so now we're allowed to say she looks frustrated.” (Cynthia, 28:44)
• Feel-Good Factor:
  • The work provides content access to people who otherwise wouldn’t experience it.
    • “You are the link between the content and people that usually weren’t able to get this content and now they can. I feel good. It's a feel-good type of work.” (Cynthia, 48:08)

5. Workflow & Production Details

• Home vs. Studio:
  • Cynthia typically records from her home studio, connected with an audio engineer via Session Link (16:44).
• Script Supervision:
  • While AD scripts are provided, the voice actor must sometimes adjust for clarity, brevity, or language nuances.
• Time Commitment:
  • A two-hour film can take up to 7 hours of recording, plus pre-watch and rehearsal for flow and pronunciation (33:48–40:00).
• Pronunciation Research:
  • Extra care is sometimes needed for names from various languages, especially in credits.

6. Growing Opportunities & Legal Context

• Legally Mandated Genre:
  • Many regions now require AD tracks by law, ensuring continued demand despite AI encroachment.
    • “If now by law big studios are required to provide these services, then I think it's a good chance that we will be there for a while.” (Cynthia, 26:32)
• Industry Growth:
  • With streaming services expanding and localizing content, demand for AD is growing globally and in multiple languages.

7. Practical Advice for Aspiring AD Voice Actors

• Where to Look:
  • Approach dubbing studios, let agents/contacts know of your skills, and indicate flexibility to take on such roles.
  • “Just let everyone around you know, hey, I do this… if you are an actor, you can do it. Just express your interest.” (Cynthia, 30:03)
• Required Capabilities:
  • Adaptability, patience, acting skill, technical understanding, and willingness to study the rules of AD.
  • Recommended to train with scripts/video and study AD tracks to understand norms.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Success is in the follow-up:
  • “90% of the replies I’ve been getting, it’s because of the follow up. It’s crazy.” (Cynthia, 02:22)
• On acting in AD:
  • “You have to be very, very clear… then you have to move to pacing. You need to control your pacing very, very good.” (Cynthia, 35:46)
• On embracing new career paths:
  • “Don’t say no if you really, really love this profession… Go to workshops, listen to podcasts… Just tell people, ‘I want to do this.’” (Cynthia, 49:02)
• On the invisible performance:
  • “You have to blend in… you can’t be a distractor.” (Cynthia, 09:00)
• Why pursue this genre?
  • “It's nice work because you are the link between the content and people that usually weren’t able to get this content and now they can. I feel good. It's a feel-good type of work.” (Cynthia, 48:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Guest Welcome: 01:11–01:42
• What is Audio Description?: 07:32–10:39
• How Cynthia Started in AD: 11:47–13:50
• Technical Process & Collaboration: 15:37–18:55
• Biggest Challenges in AD: 19:58–21:15
• Acting & Rule Nuances: 27:35–29:34
• Where to Find Work / Growth: 30:03–33:32
• Workflow & Time Commitment: 33:48–40:20
• Relationship-building and Career Opportunities: 48:33–49:02
• Advice on Entering the Niche: 49:02–49:50

Final Takeaways & Resources

• Audio Description is a niche ripe for exploration and growth, especially for bilingual or non-English talent.
• Technical skill and storytelling abilities are crucial—and so is the willingness to market yourself and connect with studios.
• It’s an opportunity to do “feel-good” work that truly matters, helping make media accessible.
• Stay open to new genres and challenges—creative opportunities in VO abound for those who persist and promote themselves.

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