Beyond Monologues: Why Recording a Diverse Range of Demos Benefits Your Voicereel

Standalone pieces, monologues, or a diverse range of scenes? Whichever you choose, your voice reel material can make or break your chances of being selected for a role.

Are you after that golden nugget of a scene that will captivate casting directors? There is a good chance you may not find it. But if you’re looking for the potential to create something unique that makes you stand out from the crowd, you’re in the right place.

This guide is packed with tips, ideas, and the best examples to inspire you to start recording a diverse range of scenes that benefit your voicereel.

Monologues: Voicereel Worthy Or Not?

Every good monologue leaves a lasting impression, whether it’s from theatre, movies, or TV.

There’s a reason famous monologues have been recorded a million times (‘Oh Captain, my captain,’ we’re looking at you). Although they do showcase your acting skills, monologues don’t allow casting directors to see your responsiveness and how well you work with others. Finding the perfect monologue with the same impact as a well-crafted scene can be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

But if monologues don’t fit your style and you don’t like performing them, we’ve got the solution. You don’t have to stick to traditional formats, especially when there are so many alternatives and a diverse range of scenes you can try.

Recording a Diverse Range of Scenes

Choosing something that matches your acting skills and style can really take your voicereel to the next level. But while it’s crucial to showcase your strengths, it’s equally vital to exhibit versatility in your voicereel. Casting directors and agents are on the lookout for actors who can adapt to a diverse range of roles. Show them that you’re not just a one-trick pony; you’re a versatile actor ready to tackle any role that comes your way.

So no matter which scene you choose, it must be one that suits your abilities, so you can showcase that you’re comfortable and confident with it. It should fit your style and align with your strengths to really make you shine. For example, if you’re a comedic actor, you should choose a scene that highlights your comedic timing and delivery rather than a dramatic monologue.

Remember, your voicereel is proof of your acting skills, not an experimental project. Choose a scene that reflects your acting ability and allows you to demonstrate your best performance.

Pro Tip: Look for characters with a variety of expressions, a clear objective, and strong dialogue.

Check out our script library for character content!

 

Scene Diversity Makes All the Difference

Some of us are naturally more reserved or romantic, calm or spirited, serious or lively so it’s important that you show off your range and versatility. Think of your voicereel as your calling card, it should represent your finest work and demonstrate what you are capable of.

Steal the Spotlight

Your demos should place you front and centre, allowing casting directors and agents to focus on your performance. While small and supporting roles may look great on your resume, they’re not really giving potential employers an idea of what you can do. You also don’t want to add lots of overbearing sounds that could take away from your reel, if you are damaging your ability to be properly heard, then you should probably ease up on the effects.

Keep It Short

You want to avoid long scripts. Lingering demos on your voicereel are just going to detract from the overall experience for the casting director. They want to hear the demos which are going to relate to their project, if they have to sift through multiple 3-minute demos, they are more likely to just drop your submission rather than scan for what they want. These are busy people!

Keep It Fresh

No matter how proud you are of that indie play you starred in at drama school, it won’t do you any favours if it doesn’t align with your present acting skills. Make sure you pick a range of scenes that reflects your current abilities.

 

A Rich and Diverse Range of Scenes for your Voicereel

Drama: Invest in a scene that conveys a wide range of emotions. Dialogue in dramatic scenes is typically rich, meaningful, and emotionally charged. Love playing with a spectrum of emotions and making the audience empathize with your characters? Check out the type of scripts that would fit a dramatic scene.

Comedy: If you love comedy, have a penchant for punchline delivery, and great timing, choose from a range of scenes that allow your humour to sparkle, like this one.

Romance: An intimate scene that displays chemistry with a partner is another great way to leave a long-lasting impression. They often vary greatly in intensity, tone, and style depending on the specific story, genre, and characters involved.

Conflict: Intense scenes typically require varying vocal dynamics and expressive delivery of gravity, urgency, and tension.

 

• Looking for inspiration? Check our recent interview with Richard Cotton and discover how to develop your unique voice and style.

 

Foreign Language: Are you bilingual? Then choose a diverse range of scenes in different languages to show your talent. You can create separate reels for each language to cater to different markets; more common languages and accents are highly competitive, so having content geared to another language can be a great way to diversify your opportunities. Sure, there may be less demand for some languages, but there may also be fewer professional voice actors to compete with.

Genre Specific: You may love video games, audiobooks, true-crime documentaries or TV and commercials. Each voiceover genre can provide you with a diverse range of scenes that will add versatility to your voicereel. Putting together voicereels that are designed for characters, commercials, business projects, and narration means you can cast your net wider and show off your expertise in multiple styles.

Pro tip: Remember, your voicereel should be concise (typically around 1-2 minutes). Target only the strongest parts of each scene to allow room for expression.

Don’t want to pick a scene from an existing movie, play, or show? No problem! You can try original writing with an online script library like ours to find the best match for you.

And if you’re looking for alternative ways to showcase your acting skills, we’ve got you covered.

 

Conclusion

Monologues will always have a place in your voice acting career. But let’s face it, a diverse range of scenes is a more dynamic and engaging representation of your skills. Embracing the magic of diversity in your voicereel scenes increases your chances of impressing casting directors, agents, and industry professionals. But more importantly, it helps you illustrate your versatility as a voice actor. So, keep your voicereel concise, emphasizing scenes that highlight your strengths, align with your type, and represent your recent work.

Eager for new exciting voice acting opportunities? With unbeatable options for beginners and experts, we have something for everyone.

Book a free consultation with our professionals and start planning your next successful reel today.