Formatting VoiceOver Scripts
Written To Be Read Out Loud
English grammer punctuation is quite different from punctuation that actors would use. For example a full stop in grammer would sugguest the end of the line. Where an actor would read this as an end of a character thought. And the new sentence the beginning of an new thought.
VoiceOvers and actors don’t expect clients to write as actors would. However the over use of punctuation may limit the read from the voice actor.
It would be best to be minimal on punctuation. Use paragraphs and lists only when needed.
Readable Font, Size, and Spacing
As is a good idea for any written communication, use a clear, readable font in decent size.
Double spacing is a good idea using a black as your text colour. Between 12-14 point in size.
Scripts for VoiceOver should be saved in a Word format so the artist can adjust text if needed. This also helps dyslexic actors to adjust fonts and colours to there needs.
Pronunciation Guides
What elements need pronunciation guides in a script? – This should be a separate document.
- Jargon or unfamiliar words, including complicated, technical, and medical terminology
- Abbreviations and acronyms
- Numbers (2010: two thousand ten or twenty ten.
Type it out phonetically, with capitals on emphasized syllable. If possible, provide an audio link to the pronunciation of word
- Dictionary.com include pronunciations for many words in their dictionaries.