How Do You Say That?!

In ep 195 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Ian Russell joins Sam and Mark to talk about how serendipity can really influence your career. Accents you're not supposed to do any more, and the difference between Horrific and Horrifying! We explore characterisation in Telephony jobs, and how a "handle" on both ends of a script can be quite helpful. Plus, as it's nearly Halloween, we consider direction that says "be a wizard without being too wizardy"!

Our VO question this week is all about how luck and hard work can make a VO career fly.

Get involved! Have you got a Wildcard suggestion that we should try or an idea for the show? Send it to us via Mark or Sam's social media or email it directly to [email protected]

Script 1

Thank you for calling The Deadly Alcove.

The attraction is currently open on weekends only. Our team is available by phone Monday to Friday, but if we’re unable to take your call, please leave us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Tickets for weekend visits and for the new season are available to book through our website…. But hurry because if you need a ticket for today… the four horsemen are right behind you.

Please hold and a member of our team will be with you shortly.

Script 2

The Old City Inn

Left empty for over 50 years

Cold, Empty, Alone

Now this hotel is seeking revenge

and it's out to get you

Mazes, Ghosts, Spiders and Shifting doors

Dare you stay at the Haunted Hotel?

Will you Escape or will you and your team be trapped Forever?

The Haunted Hotel

A new experience from The Gamer Room

Only this Halloween

Mwahahahahah

We'd love your feedback - and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, hit the follow button today!

**Listen to all of our podcasts here - you can also watch on YouTube, or say to your smart speaker "Play How Do You Say That?!"

About our guest:

Ian Russell is a British VO based in America. He stumbled into voiceover by accident, and lays the blame firmly at the feet of his wife Sandra (She bought him a VO Workshop for Christmas!) Over a decade later clients still hire him and the dark side of Videogames and Animation have become core to his business.

Secretly he enjoys the challenge of reading complex medical scripts and getting the right number of words to fit perfectly into 29 and a half seconds!

Ian's Website

@thebritishvoice on Instagram

Ian's Facebook page

Resources: Click here for the Wildcard Generator and don't forget to think of an action your character can be doing!

About your hosts:

With over 40 years representing major international clients such as Google, Emirates and HSBC; Mark Ryes has been trusted to be the voice for some of the world’s biggest brands. If your business needs a fresh voice to represent you, then make it Mark's British voice. As a voiceover, TV presenter, podcaster or product demonstrator - Mark makes your brand truly sparkle!

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Elegantly British with an intelligent, warm and seductive voice, Samantha Boffin helps creatives and production companies create great audio that really connects with their audience. BBC-trained and with over 20 years of broadcast experience on both sides of the mic, she's created award-winning promos, narration and commercials for companies all around the globe, including the BBC, Sky, Games Workshop, John Lewis, Audible and Penguin Random House.

Samantha's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

Short trailer for Episode 195 of "How Do You Say That" sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk featuring Mark Ryes, Samantha Boffin and Ian Russell.

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Sam's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

In ep 194 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Jordan McNaught joins Sam and Mark to talk about a military script which sparks discussion about how you'd treat the chain of command when playing characters in video games... and how it can affect real life too. We ask, if you don't have experience of a subject - should you actively avoid it? We bring a salt-of-the-earth 1930's gossipy character to life just from the dialogue, and Mark wishes he had a prop to help... but is that always necessary? There's an exclusive exposé in the first three minutes of the show... and how one word can either be Scottish or Pirate - you decide!!

Our VO question this week is all about what experience you can bring directly from military life into voice acting!

Get involved! Have you got a Wildcard suggestion that we should try or an idea for the show? Send it to us via Mark or Sam's social media or email it directly to [email protected]

Script 1

“I should say you did, miss! It’s been in all the newspapers. The Daily Budget’s out still to catch the man who did it. It seems, according to them, as our police are no good at all. Well, I hope they’ll get him—although a nice-looking young fellow he was and no mistake. A kind of soldierly look about him—ah, well, I dare say he’d been wounded in the war, and sometimes they go a bit queer afterwards, my sister’s boy did."

Script 2

Aye, he was out of line. Insubordinate even. Everyone knows that Sgt, But.. you confined him to a cell awaiting some kind of kangaroo court ruling.

He was just trying to do the right thing! Jesus we all are, He saved that lad, a boy soldier, fresh out of depot who now gets to go home to his family. Are you really going to punish everyone who bends the rules to save lives? You’re supposed to be our commander... and yet all I see is a Career politician.

We'd love your feedback - and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, hit the follow button today!

**Listen to all of our podcasts here - you can also watch on YouTube, or say to your smart speaker "Play How Do You Say That?!"

About our guest:

Jordan McNaught is a Scottish voice actor and member of Bafta Scotland (one of only two in Perth, the other is Obi wan Kenobi!!) He works mainly in videogames, animation and audio dramas. He was in the Royal Military Police for the British Army for 4 years before being medically discharged with PTSD and dropped into the pandemic with a wife a newly born daughter! Jordan took a chance and a dive and a leg and a wing and whatever else to try his hand at acting.

Jordan's Website

@Mcnaughtvo on Instagram

Resources: Click here for the Wildcard Generator and don't forget to think of an action your character can be doing!

About your hosts:

With over 40 years representing major international clients such as Google, Emirates and HSBC; Mark Ryes has been trusted to be the voice for some of the world’s biggest brands. If your business needs a fresh voice to represent you, then make it Mark's British voice. As a voiceover, TV presenter, podcaster or product demonstrator - Mark makes your brand truly sparkle!

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Elegantly British with an intelligent, warm and seductive voice, Samantha Boffin helps creatives and production companies create great audio that really connects with their audience. BBC-trained and with over 20 years of broadcast experience on both sides of the mic, she's created award-winning promos, narration and commercials for companies all around the globe, including the BBC, Sky, Games Workshop, John Lewis, Audible and Penguin Random House.

Samantha's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

Short trailer for Episode 194 of "How Do You Say That" sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk featuring Mark Ryes, Samantha Boffin and Jordan McNaught.

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Sam's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

In ep 193 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Christian Starr joins Sam and Mark to talk about a dating script that could be horribly patronising to the listener if it weren't firmly tongue in cheek and how finding the right words of direction is so important to the final feel of a piece.

We have a sharp discussion on what really makes a Film Noir style, and whether Mark can actually pull it off (you decide!), we ponder how a phrase like "ta-da" in a script as an exclamation can lead you to be a little more jazz-hands than is entirely comfortable, and Christian brings a script that at first reading makes no sense at all... until you realise that a glizzy and a gagger are both nicknames for a hotdog!!

Our wildcards consist of a bedraggled cat, an Eastern European Igor and the tale of the last man on the planet!

Our VO question this week is all about what other ways you can bring your work to public attention.

Get involved! Have you got a Wildcard suggestion that we should try or an idea for the show? Send it to us via Mark or Sam's social media or email it directly to [email protected]

Script 1

Of course - it is always tempting after a long day at the office to go home, snuggle down on the sofa with your pjs and a lovely hot chocolate and binge watch your favourite shows. But, I can assure you that Mr - or Mrs - Right is not waiting for you at the bottom of your mug, ready to appear like a prize - ta dah! - when you have finished your drink.

Your date is waiting out there in the Big Wide World. It’s time to get up off your sofa and get out there.

Script 2

Most people think the PGA is a golf thing

Most people are wrong.

In the city of Love, an ancient order stands watch over the franks and weenies.

They judge every glizzy.

They defend the sacred casing.

And when a sausage is wrongly-filled, over-dressed or under-grilled, they answer the call. But tonight, something has awakened in the Métro. The trains are meat. The meat is stuffing.

This is the story of the Paris Gagger Alliance.

We'd love your feedback - and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, hit the follow button today!

**Listen to all of our podcasts here - you can also watch on YouTube, or say to your smart speaker "Play How Do You Say That?!"

About our guest:

Christian Starr is an American voice artist, actor, and performer based in Paris. His work spans commercials, video games, live performance, and screen acting, with credits for L’Oréal, Dove, Jeep, Capgemini, Accor, Ubisoft, and Digixart. He is currently the live voice of Stitch in Stitch Live! at Disneyland Paris, voiced multiple characters in Digixart’s new release Tides of Tomorrow, as well as their award-winning title Road 96.

Working in English, native-level Norwegian, and French (with a viking accent), Christian records from his broadcast-ready studio. He is also a member of Les Voix, the French association of professional voice artists, which advocates for performers’ rights, ethical use of voices, and professional standards in the industry. He lives in a beautiful old house with his British wife and French daughter, and has a weakness for making elaborate, absurd birthday videos for his family overseas.

Christian's Website

@christian_starr_lassen on Instagram

Christian on YouTube

Resources: Click here for the Wildcard Generator and don't forget to think of an action your character can be doing!

About your hosts:

With over 40 years representing major international clients such as Google, Emirates and HSBC; Mark Ryes has been trusted to be the voice for some of the world’s biggest brands. If your business needs a fresh voice to represent you, then make it Mark's British voice. As a voiceover, TV presenter, podcaster or product demonstrator - Mark makes your brand truly sparkle!

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Elegantly British with an intelligent, warm and seductive voice, Samantha Boffin helps creatives and production companies create great audio that really connects with their audience. BBC-trained and with over 20 years of broadcast experience on both sides of the mic, she's created award-winning promos, narration and commercials for companies all around the globe, including the BBC, Sky, Games Workshop, John Lewis, Audible and Penguin Random House.

Samantha's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

Short trailer for Episode 193 of "How Do You Say That" sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk featuring Mark Ryes, Samantha Boffin and Christian Starr.

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Sam's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

In ep 192 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Donna-Louise Bryan joins Sam and Mark to talk about how words of direction have a different effect on different people - not everyone will respond to conversational the same way! We ask how light you have to go when your narrator is a teen, but you are not... and in a corporate - does the direction "friendly and conversational" always go together? If you're told NOT conversational... how easy is it to be overly serious? We have a message for nurses that everyone should take heed of and we also horse around in the wildcards alongside a knowing old woman and a beautiful butterfly!

Our VO question this week is all about what accents are most in demand!

Get involved! Have you got a Wildcard suggestion that we should try or an idea for the show? Send it to us via Mark or Sam's social media or email it directly to [email protected]

Script 1

Katherine and I started the journey back to the manor house. I looked at the scenery around me, the dusty road lit by a full moon, silhouettes of bushes and black trees either side of us. The air, slightly chilled from the night, felt clean and fresh.

Katherine sighed heavily. “Is it me or does the world seem different now?”

“Everything seems different.”

Silence hung between us and we rode like that for the first mile or so. I could almost feel the question before she asked it.

Script 2

Nursing is essential.

The profession is diverse and complex.

But nursing skills and responsibilities are often unseen and undervalued.

To be paid fairly, we have to know our own worth.

But how do you measure the value of your work?

The work you do should be defined by your job description. When did you last look at yours?

Knowledge, skills and responsibilities grow.

What you are required to do in your role may have evolved, and your employer must keep job descriptions accurate and up to date.

We'd love your feedback - and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, hit the follow button today!

**Listen to all of our podcasts here - you can also watch on YouTube, or say to your smart speaker "Play How Do You Say That?!"

About our guest:

Donna-Louise Bryan is a British voice actor with a warm, clear and versatile voice. Originally from the North Midlands, she offers neutral British RP alongside gentle Midlands and General Northern accents. Her voiceover work spans commercials, corporate, gaming and character performance, with clients including Aardman Animation, Roblox, Nike, Amazon, Microsoft, Tesco and the NHS.

She is also an experienced corporate presenter, regularly working on autocue-led projects for major brands and organisations. Alongside her voice work, Donna has appeared in a number of TV and film productions, and is keen to continue developing her work in gaming, animation and performance-led character roles. She records from her purpose-built Oxfordshire studio and is represented by Damn Good Voices.

Donna-Louise's Website

Donna-Louise's Facebook page

@donnalouisevoiceactorpresenter on Instagram

Resources: Click here for the Wildcard Generator and don't forget to think of an action your character can be doing!

About your hosts:

With over 40 years representing major international clients such as Google, Emirates and HSBC; Mark Ryes has been trusted to be the voice for some of the world’s biggest brands. If your business needs a fresh voice to represent you, then make it Mark's British voice. As a voiceover, TV presenter, podcaster or product demonstrator - Mark makes your brand truly sparkle!

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Elegantly British with an intelligent, warm and seductive voice, Samantha Boffin helps creatives and production companies create great audio that really connects with their audience. BBC-trained and with over 20 years of broadcast experience on both sides of the mic, she's created award-winning promos, narration and commercials for companies all around the globe, including the BBC, Sky, Games Workshop, John Lewis, Audible and Penguin Random House.

Samantha's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

Short trailer for Episode 192 of "How Do You Say That" sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk featuring Mark Ryes, Samantha Boffin and Donna-Louise Bryan.

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Sam's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

In ep 191 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Tracy-Ann Leith joins Sam and Mark to talk about the right side of caring for a mental health charity script. How can you be empathetic without tipping into saccharine? As it was National Poetry Day yesterday, we have a script all about Mary Shelly, and the very unorthodox things that happened to her husband's body! There's amusement in the script, but also a deep emotional bond. Our wildcards cover the girlguides, a bored museum tourguide, and a guide as to how not to behave on a blind date.

Our VO question this week is all about what producers and directors should think about when they hire a neurodivergent voice actor.

Get involved! Have you got a Wildcard suggestion that we should try or an idea for the show? Send it to us via Mark or Sam's social media or email it directly to [email protected]

Script 1

Trelawny gave the heart to Mary Shelley, and it was found among her things when she died and buried with her at St. Peter’s Church in Bournemouth. So while Shelley’s ashes are over in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome, his heart is in England.

Keeping a physical memento of a loved one was considered pretty unremarkable in the 19th century. And it wasn’t unheard of for a person’s heart to be buried separately to the rest of the body. Chopin’s heart was preserved in a crystal jar (which the Nazis later stole). Thomas Hardy’s heart was cut out to be buried in his hometown of Stinsford, Dorset, but was then part-eaten by a cat.

Script 2

Everyone should have access to quality mental health care, no matter where they live or what circumstances they‘re in. But where do people turn?

Mental health affects everyone, including health-care workers, but finding the right support when you need it in a way you can access it is harder than it looks.

For many people, seeking help means knocking on a lot of doors at a time when their resources are already depleted. Finding no clear pathway, meeting one barrier after another, they often give up before getting the mental health care they need.

We'd love your feedback - and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, hit the follow button today!

**Listen to all of our podcasts here - you can also watch on YouTube, or say to your smart speaker "Play How Do You Say That?!"

About our guest:

Tracy-Ann is an award-winning bilingual voice actor, based in Montreal, Canada, specialising in commercial and corporate narration. She's worked on various projects for brands like Audible, Yves Rocher, Ubisoft and the Government of Canada. Since her ADHD & Autism late-diagnosis, she has become an advocate in raising awareness for the neurodivergent community.

Tracy-Ann's Website

Tracy-Ann on YouTube

Tracy-Ann's Facebook page

Resources: Click here for the Wildcard Generator and don't forget to think of an action your character can be doing!

About your hosts:

With over 40 years representing major international clients such as Google, Emirates and HSBC; Mark Ryes has been trusted to be the voice for some of the world’s biggest brands. If your business needs a fresh voice to represent you, then make it Mark's British voice. As a voiceover, TV presenter, podcaster or product demonstrator - Mark makes your brand truly sparkle!

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Elegantly British with an intelligent, warm and seductive voice, Samantha Boffin helps creatives and production companies create great audio that really connects with their audience. BBC-trained and with over 20 years of broadcast experience on both sides of the mic, she's created award-winning promos, narration and commercials for companies all around the globe, including the BBC, Sky, Games Workshop, John Lewis, Audible and Penguin Random House.

Samantha's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin

Short trailer for Episode 191 of "How Do You Say That" sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk featuring Mark Ryes, Samantha Boffin and Tracy-Ann Leith.

Mark's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/britishvoiceovermark

Sam's demos & contact details: https://linktr.ee/samanthaboffin