Week 4

In a World Film

In a World is a 2013 film that follows the life of a struggling vocal coach, Carol after receiving a job to be the voice over for a movie trailer. The movie addresses many themes and one of these themes includes how a female makes her mark in the voice over world which was originally controlled by males. As the movie progresses we get an understanding of carols life and her family, and it is clear that her father (the voice-over king) is consistently reminding and encouraging carol to give up on the voice-over world as she doesn’t have what it takes and that the industry isn’t for a female. However after the movie trailer is released, carols voice is the one chosen to be used as the voice over. From here carol choses to use her vocal coach training to coach females with squeaky and or too feminie voices, to make their voices heard in a world which was once ruled by man (In a World, 2013).

The performance techniques used within this movie include:

o   The face. This is continuously used by carol, her father and Gust when they are getting ready to speak. It is their warm up.

o   Volume and projection. This is used throughout the film to let the listener know when and what to feel. For example when carol raises her voice we know that she is angry and or excited. Her feeling is then showed by how she projects her volume and the way in which she does it.

o   Breathing. This is shown within the film just before Carol does her voice-over for the movie trailer. This can be seen as she takes a minute to focuses on her breathing before she starts talking.

o   Gesture, eye contact and posture are other techniques used within the film that act as a visual picture to the words being said.

Some important techniques used to alter voice-over include:

o   Creative devices (when a human voice is used over images)

o   Educational or descriptive devices (used when a video is not shown)

o   Commercial devices (used within TV advertisements)

o   Translation (used within TV programs)

o   Character devices (when a narrator tells the story) (Stonely, 2015).


Reference List (Week 4):

Stonely, T. (2015). Voice Over. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice-over. Last accessed 31st March 2016.

Week 4

Week 4

Activity 1: Re-recording of News Script

https://soundcloud.com/beck_anne-user-606680066/week-4-re-recording-of-news (SoundCloud, 2016)

Activity 2: Reflection

After being able to re-record my take on this News Script, there are definitely many areas in which I was able to improve my professional voice and performing techniques. During my first attempt on this recording I summarised that my weakness included:

o   That I spoke to fast

o   I stumbled on words

o   I left words out and sometimes added more words in

o   And also that at times my voice wasn’t very professional and or clear.

However after being able to re-record myself I was able to improve these weakness I had. After listening back to my recording I was able to hear that I slowed my voice right down to a speed that was clear and professional, just as heard within the original recording of this News Script. I didn’t stumble on as many words within this recording and to make my voice sound more professional I emphasised certain words to draw the listener back in. With regards to performance techniques, I believe that my new recording contain a variety of different performance techniques which included:

o   Clarity of my voice. I was able to speak clearly and strongly as I managed to control my nerves and not let them show within my voice.

o   Projection of my voice. I was bale to project my voice clearly and at a volume that would be heard but at the same time was not too loud.

o   Breathing. I was able to control my breathing within this recording, therefore I didn’t sound like I was running out of breath or gasping for air during any point of this recording.

Overall, when comparing my second recording to my first attempt it can be seen that I have improved many areas of my voice.

Reference List (Week 4):

SoundCloud. (2016). Re-recording of News Script. Available: https://soundcloud.com/beck_anne-user-606680066/week-4-re-recording-of-news. Last accessed 29th of March 2016.

 

Week 3

Activity 1: Rhetoric

After reading Aristotle’s Rhetoric the following key points of his speech were summarised as follows.

Rhetoric:

o      Is a form of dialectic

o       Includes the modes of persuasion

o      Persuasion is the only true element of the rhetorical art.

o      Rhetorical study showed persuasion is a sort of demonstration (people are easily and or are fully persuaded when given a demonstration).

o      Demonstration is the most effective mode of persuasion.

o      Rhetoric is useful based on the following three points:

-          Things that are true prevail over their opposites.

-          Knowledge will make it easy to produce conviction (Knowledge = Instruction)

-          To employ persuasion is to use strict reasoning.

o      Rhetoric is not made up with a single definite.

o      Rhetoric is as universal as dialectic and clear and useful.

o      Rhetoric can be defined as the ability to observe, however rhetoric included the power to observe the means of persuasion on any subject.

o      Some modes of persuasion belong strictly to the art of rhetoric. 

o      Modes of persuasion include as follows:

-          Personal character of the speaker.

-          Positioning of the audience in a certain frame of mind.

-          The words of the speech itself.

o      As well as the modes of persuasion there are three means of persuasion as well. These include as follows:

-          To reason logically

-          To understand human character

-          To understand emotions.

o      Rhetoric falls into three divisions. These include:

-          Political

-          Forensic

-          Ceremonial oratory of display.

o      These three kinds of rhetoric refer to the three different kinds of time.

o      Rhetoric has distinct ends and views for each of its three kinds (divisions) (Aristotle, 2016).

 

Therefore based on Aristotles rhetorical speech overall it can be seen that rhetoric is a form of dialectic that refers to persuasive speech (how we persuade people). 

 

Reference List (Week 3):

Aristotle. (Unknown). Rhetoric by Aristotle. Available: Rhetoric by Aristotle. Last accessed 23rd of march 2016.

 

Activity 2

Recording of my own use of Rhetoric

https://soundcloud.com/beck_anne-user-606680066/week-3-recording-of-my-own-use

 

Activity 3

Short Review on Rhetoric Video

After watching, In Defence of Rhetoric: No Longer Just for Lairs, it was seen that the main key or purpose of the video was to define the actual meaning of Rhetoric and dismiss the untrue definitions associated with Rhetoric. The video contain a range of highly reparable sources, who explained the actual meaning associated with the term Rhetoric. The video’s which again was aimed to dispel any negative perceptions associated with Rhetoric also was designed to defended the study of Rhetoric and answer the ultimate question, what is Rhetoric? Throughout this short video Rhetoric was defined as the study of the technique using language effectively. In other words used within this short video, Rhetoric was described as how we persuade each other or how we present arguments to each other, not just by the way we say it but also by the gestures we use to convey it. It described many example and demonstrations when rhetoric was and wasn’t used and how this affected the outcome of the initial decision.

Week 2: Evaluation Activity

Week 2: Comparing Activity

After listening to the actual recording of Weeks 1 News Script by Kate Stowell, it is very clear to how different my own recording went. While listening to the recording of Kate Stowell it was noticed that she tended to emphasis certain words over others. It was in no particular order that the words where emphasised (for example the amount of words she said before she emphasised a certain word), but rather the importance’s the word held. This can be depicted as Kate emphasised words that related to the facts of the article including words such as, ‘interest rates unchanged’, ‘two of three independents’ and ’76 seats’. This emphasises was carried throughout the whole recording and Kate emphasised words that draws the listener’s attention back (Stowell, 2010). Another example of this can be seen towards the end of the recording as she made an effort to emphasis the capital cities names, again drawing the attention to what is about to follow or what has been already stated. 

When comparing this recording to my own recording it is very clear how differently I interpreted this News Script. One example of this can be seen as Kate Stowell used a voice that was clear and easy to understand. When listening back to my own recording it was very clear how fast I spoke and at times how unclear my voice sounded. As stated above Kate emphasised important words of the script to draw the listeners attention to what she was about to say, whereas I had one tone that I spoke in the whole way throughout the recording. Another thing I noticed with my own recording was that I spoke in the GRAB and OUT section where as I should have stayed quiet as this is a section where they insert other speeches.

In conclusion, my recording was completely different to Kate Stowell’s recording. However after listening to her recording it has given me a better understanding to how a News Script is actually meant to be spoken. It has also giving me many areas in which I could improve my voice when reading and recording my voice based on a News script. 

Reference List (Week 2):  

Stowell, K. (2010). News Reading Sample . Available: Aristotle. (Unknown). Rhetoric by Aristotle. Available: Rhetoric by Aristotle. Last accessed 23rd of march 2016.. Last accessed 15th of March 2016.
 

What Makes a Great Speech?

Week 2: What Makes a Great Speech?

What are the qualities that make a great speech? Is it the speaker? Is it the content of the speech? Or is it the way the speech is portrayed?

After watching Nick’s speech (a motivational speaker) it can be clearly seen why Nick is such a motivational speaker. Nick who has no arms and no legs gets up in front of the youth of today and talks to them about anything and everything. However if you were to take the visual side of this speech out and only listen to the words Nicks says he would still be a great motivational speaker. So what are the elements that makes Nick a great motivational speaker? First of all Nick who suffers from a rare birth defect which leaves him having no arms and legs, is able to talk freely about this condition in a way that explores the positives in life. He speaks in his own form. He doesn’t try to be anyone else when he talks and it is a vital part that makes his speech so effective. Another element that made Nick’s speech motivational was that fact that he had fun with his speech and his audience. He made appropriate jokes that suited the environment he was in. The content of the speech was light hearted and eye opening, it was another element that make Nick’s speech effective. While Nick was only telling stories about his life and what he can do, the underlining message of ‘everything is possible’ was executed well. The fact that Nick relied on the involvement of his listeners was also well incorporated and an enjoyable aspect to his speech (Vujicic, 2011).  

Martin Luther King, Junior’s speech, ‘I have a Dream’, was another well executed speech. The speech ‘I have a Dream’, which was about uniting as one no matter what your skin colour was, included a range of aspects that made an effective speech. Martin had a strong and powerful voice that he controlled well to emphasis certain parts of his speech over others. He used techniques such as rising and lowering his voice to make a clear and strong points, as well as depicting his passion of the subject within his voice and throughout his speech. While Nick’s Speech and Martin’s speech are two completely different speeches, spoken years apart from each other they still have an element the same that shows what makes an effective speech. This element is themselves. During Nick’s speech he doesn’t pretend to be someone he is not, but instead talks about the achievements and obstacles he has overcome. Martin shows this element of himself by sharing with the world his dream about how the world should unite as one and be accepting of everyone (Martin Luther King, Jr., 2013).

Overall after listening to both of these speeches I believe that what makes a great speech is the speaker and how they portray the use of their voice to put across their main point or message.


Reference List (Week 2):


Martin Luther King, Jr. (2013). I have a Dream . Available: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE). . Last accessed 15th of March 2016.

Nick Vujicic. (2011). Motivational Speeches. Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snDQe3tWwRQ&feature=related. . Last accessed 15th of March 2016.

 

What Makes a Professional Voice?

Week 2: Professional Voice

What makes a professional voice? Is it someone who has a clear, strong, formal and or bold voice? Or is it someone who knows there high up position in society and portrays it through their voice? Personally I believe that a professional voice is a combination of both of these factors. This can be depicted as the word professional to me means, someone or something that acts in a respectful, appreciate and genuine manner. When referring these terms with a voice the adjectives including clear, strong and bold come to mind. This can be seen as someone who speaks in a clear and strong manner is in my opinion someone who will be heard, compared to someone who may speak in an unclear, slow or informal way. However having said this, there are many other factors that contribute to speaking in a professional voice.

 

Another factor that in my opinion contributes to a professional voice, includes the person themselves. Every time I hear a speech or radio transcript where I am unable to see the speaker, I automatically picture the person based on what their voice sounds like. Therefore when I hear someone talk who has a low toned voice or perhaps a voice that lacks clear or strong aspects, I immediately switch off to the contents of their speech. However if someone was to speak in a confident and formal manner which was clear to me, I would be able to pick up the main message from their tone of voice.  Having said and stated these factors, a professional voice to me needs to include the aspects of a confident speaker, with a strong, clear and formal tone of voice.   

Week 1: New Script Recording

Week 1

The following recording, is a recording of my own voice. The recording was a News script and can be seen as below.

 

 

 https://soundcloud.com/beck_anne-user-606680066/week-1-news-script-recording (SoundCloud, 2016).
 

 

After listening back to my own recording of my voice, I can identify many strengths and weakness I have noticed and picked up. My strengths from this activity include the following:

o   I have a bold clear voice.

o   Being a female I have a slight feminie side to my voice.

 

The weakness I noticed from my own recording based on this activity include the following:

o   At times my voice seems to almost crack showing my nerves in my tone of voice.

o   I sometimes stumble on words.

o   The speed in which I talk at is quite fast and could be slowed down.

o   I noticed that at times I replace, drop and add certain words that differ from the original script.

 

Based on these weakness, the improvements I could make to better improve my tone of voice could include, slowing the speed of my voice down. By doing this, it will not only make my voice clearer and easier to understand it might also help with my tendance to replace, drop and add words that aren’t originally in the script. Another benefit to slowing my voice down could also limit the words that I stumble on as my mouth has a chance to properly pronounce each word. I was also unsure about the 'Grab' and 'Out' section of the news script, therefore when completing this activity again next time I will aim to understand these concepts in more of a depth. These improvements will be one of the many aims I intend to focus on throughout the duration of this Speech and Script course, that will ultimately help and benefit my role as a pre-service teacher.        

Reference List (Week 1):

SoundCloud . (2016). News Script Recording . Available: https://soundcloud.com/beck_anne-user-606680066/week-1-news-script-recording. Last accessed 8th of March 2016.