In ep 140 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Marissa Dubois joins Sam and Mark to talk about taking all the emotion out of a documentary read (and how feeling cross can help). We remove the schmaltz from a schmaltzy script and explore how not to be excessively sentimental when talking about love. Plus how varying your pace within a sentence can bring more drama, and how nailing a conversational read is one of the trickiest to pull off.

Our VO question this week is all about how you prepare for a singing part in a voice over script.

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

The knock could come at any hour.

No explanation. No warning. Just a quiet summons.

Questions came quickly.

So did threats.

These weren’t arrests.

They were warnings. Proof that they were watching.

And that if they chose... you could vanish

The streets ran with fear.

Voices were met with bullets.

And then—he appeared.

Not in a war room... but in the rain.

It was the image of a ruler unravelling.

Script 2

Love isn’t the goal.

It’s the reason—

the way they wait by the door,

the silence that makes words unnecessary.

They deserve care that keeps pace,

support that shows up,

science that moves with them every step.

At PAWSITIVE, we’ve always stood beside the vets who listen closer,

the pet parents who notice sooner.

Not because it’s easy, but because it’s love.

PAWSITIVE. For a life well loved.

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About our guest:

Marissa DuBois is a professional voice talent, singer, and singing coach based in Los Angeles, California, specializing in commercials, animation, video games, audiobooks, children’s songs, corporate narration, and more. She is also a multi-award-nominated actor for the One Voice Awards.

She got her start in voice over studying acting at the University of Southern California and has since voiced 1000+ projects with major brands and clients around the world including Little Angels, Zales, Lego, Vida and Vet, Walmart, The North Face, Kia, and has voiced games available on all major consoles and app stores.

Marissa's Website

@marissadubs on Instagram

Marissa'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