13199: What Do They Mean When They Say “Give Me Multiple Takes”?
Hey there, hero!
Like most specialty pursuits, we performers have our own special language when it comes to auditioning and doing the work of actors and voice talent.
And sometimes, people channel The Princess Bride’s Inigo Montoya when it comes to some of that jargon: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
A good example is the audition request that is phrased like this: “Give me multiple takes.”
In this episode, I’ll tell you what I think that means (and give you two hard and fast rules for doing multiple takes), but…does it mean the same to you? Let me know in the comments below.
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Raw transcript:
Raw transcript:
well that was fun I uh I just got off a
a private coaching call with a client
and she asked a really interesting
question and I thought it might be
something you’d be interested in as well
and it applies whether you’re doing on
camera work or you’re doing voice
overwork in terms of auditioning the
question was when they say give me
multiple
takes what should I think about as I’m
doing the multiple takes let’s talk
about that in this episode of the vo
Heroes podcast
so a casting person says to you uh give
me this audition give me multiple takes
in the world of VoiceOver we call that
ABC in it or one 123 in it uh I don’t
know that they’ve picked up on that
lingo yet in the world of on camera
maybe they have I just haven’t seen
anybody using it but they want you to do
different
versions uh of the same material and the
question is what do you do to make
sure that that’s effective and I’ve got
two basic rules that I want to share
with you number one when you do the
different takes make damn sure they are
different not just a little bit
different just make sure that they are
different uh make sure that when you
look at them you see different
motivation or you see a different
conclusion or you see different Voice
work or you see different uh approaches
to the material just make sure that they
are different that no one could say oh
those are two versions of the same thing
be very very clear about that the second
thing that you absolutely need to pay
attention to is that both versions or
all three versions or whatever it is
that you’re doing the multiple versions
that you’re doing that they all serve
the story that you’re trying to tell in
the production that they all solve the
problem that the listener or viewer is
trying to solve if you’re doing a
commercial audition or it it tells the
story of your client’s product if you’re
doing an explainer video or you you know
you’re able to tell the the poor grief
stricken wife that her husband has this
dread disease if you’re auditioning as a
doctor on a on a show but that they’re
all different and that they all serve
the story and the reason I bring that up
is that sometimes people do things that
are wacky different to be different but
those wacky choices those very different
choices don’t serve the story you know
like the most outlandish thing uh I saw
somebody do is they put a hat on indoors
you know that was their difference and
it didn’t make any difference in the
performance it was
distracting and it didn’t serve the
story at all why is that person wearing
a hat in the SC anyway the point is
those two rules are usually the ones
that I ask myself before I turn
something in did I accomplish that were
they actually very different and did
they serve the story in all cases if you
do those two things that kind of frees
you up to be a great actor to just
concentrate on the material and get your
job done what do you have do you have
any rules about that do you have any
anxiety around multiple takes do you
worry about it let me know in the
comments below I’d love to know what you
have to say about that hit the like
button if you like what you’re hearing
you can subscribe to the channel you can
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coming out you can share this with
another actor who might be concerned
about multiple takes as well or another
voice Talent I’m David H Lawrence the
17th I thank you so much for watching
and for listening and I will see you in
the next episode
(from YouTube)
It sure has helped me to just choose different operative words to change the focus of the lines
Yes! It always comes down to helping others solve their problems. Thank you for this!
Another tactic I sometimes lean on: going small, medium, and/or large.
Sometimes, our idea of the “size” or intensity of a scene is misaligned with the larger context of the story (which we’re typically privy to only if we’re lucky).
So, either upping or lowering the stakes for an alternate stakes can also often provide some useful contrast.
I am always afraid that I can’t come up with 3 different takes. I love your suggestions on how to get to that end. Thank David.
I am new to the world of Voice Over and camera work, I’m an onstage baby. However this reminds me of trying different ways of trying lines and/or movement when auditioning for stage. Usually you have the director there to guide you, however I have encountered directors who say’ “Just do something different…” I guess there are universal ways to deal with all the mediums.
David and Trevor, thank you for the thought provoking insights.
I’ve only encountered different takes in VO workouts (so far), but I can see the challenge under any circumstances.