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Acting is only interesting when you are at the top of your game. Actor who would not take time to prepare himself before hopping at a role is certainly doom to fail eventually. And lack preparation is the result of mediocrity and stereotyping in the Nigerian movie industry. Only a handful are willing to digest a character before they show up in front of the camera.
Either way, when you receive a script you will need to go through the process of interpreting what your role is, which words should have inflection (usually the adjectives) and what the copywriter's intentions are. In order to perform a script well, sit down with it for a moment and analyze the copy.
Every character has a backstory. As a voice talent you will be entrusted with a big responsibility; developing that backstory in your mind to enhance your role. Therefore, You need to constantly ask yourself these questions whenever you pick up a script to interprete a role
Who is the Character?
When reading the script, look to see who you are in the script and what role you play. Are you a narrator who is supposed to be all-knowing? Are you a character in need of a backstory? When trying to figure out who you are in the script, you also need to read between the lines to gain a better appreciation for who your character is, why your character is relevant, and how your character relates to other characters in the script.
What are You Communicating?
You also need to answer the "what" question, regarding the plot, including what is going on, what needs to be communicated, and what the theme or the sub-theme of the script is. Answering this question gives you a firm place to stand and sets the expectations. When you're reading from a place of confidence and have laid a firm foundation, your read can be more believable simply because there are no unknowns or ambiguities.
When did the events of the story happen?
Figure out when the story takes place, including the time period. What is the time-frame for the story unfolding? Does it cover an hour, or cover many years before reaching a conclusion? Answering the "when" can help you establish a timeline and gain the historical context that will form your character.
Where does the story take place?
One of our favourite questions to ask is "where?" The "where" allows you to create a physical environment for yourself, or for a stage to set your players on in the theatre of the mind. Having an idea of your physical location, based upon a place that could be either fictitious or real, can help you to visualize your surroundings and understand the world that the characters live in. An understanding of this particular element can help you to suspend your audience's disbelief as you paint word pictures and soundscapes.
Why?
Answering the "why" question helps you better understand the story's context, which tells you what's going on, how it affect the characters, and why it matters.
How?
The "How" is a problem-solving question. When you ask "how," you instinctively need to find a solution. How does this factor into the story? How should you interpret this phrase? How can you best deliver your lines? Studying the script reveals the answers to these different questions. A good author or text will provide you with many clues.
Analyzing Your Answers
When answering these questions, you're looking for clues that can help determine who your character is, why you're saying what you're saying, and who you are speaking to. Doing so is important because you need everything you can get your fingers on to help you create a believable and effective read. You can dissect from all kinds of angles when you know what to look for. The more you know about the script, the better you can interpret that script. A good understanding results in a richer performance and, thus, the best experience possible for your audience.
Beyond interpreting the script and your character's role, there will be times when you're handed a script with typos be they spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes. From run-on sentences to block paragraphs and everything in between, you will be responsible for deciphering the meaning and interpreting what the client's message is.
Sometimes the best course of action will be to send it back to the client, gently letting them know which areas of the script need to be cleaned up. If you're skilled at copywriting, it is an excellent added value
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