Sound Design for Low & No Budget Films

Chapter 7 Narration

It Isn't Dialogue

1. a. Introduction
2. b. Purposes
3. c. Pre-Production
4. d. Recording
5. e. Editing
6. f. Processing
7. g. Exercise

Introduction

Narration is different from dialogue in that the speaker or actor is not usually seen delivering the lines. First-person narration is when the voice-over is that of one of the characters in the film, usually one of the main characters. Third-person narration is when the voice-over is from an observer’s viewpoint.

Narration is often used to introduce a story, provide backstory, express the thoughts or the emotions of a character, explain a flashback, flash-forward or even the plot and sometimes to finish a story.

Purposes

Narration is an acceptable part of filmmaking. It’s a common convention in ...