Voiceover for Documentary Narration

Film critic Bill Nichols outlines six types of documentaries:

• Poetic
• Expository
• Participatory
• Observational
• Reflexive
• Performative

The tone of the content informs the style of narration. While master narrator, David Attenborough, sounds at home on sprawling wilderness documentaries – he may not be the right voice to tell Taylor Swift’s story through a music documentary. Matching narrator voice to content is a key choice when working on post-production for story.

An Off-Camera Guide

Adding narration to a documentary offers viewers a guide through the story and helps to move the documentary forward by sharing information that may not be able to be fully understood simply by images or videos. Having a script and documentary narrator can add clarity and consistency that ensures that viewers don’t miss your key messages — all while bringing viewers into the story you’re telling.

Adding A Human Element

Working with a professional voiceover artist adds warmth and a human element to documentaries that are often packed with facts and figures. Some of the most recognizable documentary narrators include celebrities like Morgan Freeman, James Earl Jones, and Naomi Watts. Although you might not have the Hollywood budget, collectives like Blue Wave Voiceover can help you find a professional documentary narrator who can deliver a script that captures the spirit and essence of a celebrity narrator.

Establishing Credibility

When it comes to a documentary, establishing credibility with your audience is key. Don’t leave the narration to a DIY effort; work with a professional documentary narrator to not only save you time but also turnaround an audio file that has been recorded with state-of-the-art equipment in a professional studio.

Strike The Right Tone

Whether you’re going for compelling, comedic, authoritative or lighthearted, a professional voiceover narrator can make sure they deliver just the right tone for your documentary. While many professional voiceover artists bring years of training to help them understand the nuances of tone and inflection, you can also provide live, realtime direction through virtual recording sessions to get it just right.