How much voice over is too much voice over?

Can anyone recommend any scripts to read that involves too much V.O.?

I have read Forrst Gump a few times because who doesn't  love that movie?  The script I am currently working on is kind of along those lines as far as structure goes, but I have a little more V.O. than Forrest Gump.

Any opinion is appreciated.

Cheers

I'm not a fan of V.O, at all. But, I've noticed that most casual viewers actually like it, a lot.

There's no set limit to anything. You'll just have to see how the script flows. If it fits the tone. Nothing is good if it's overdone.

Your thread reminded me of this movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165874/

It's a fake comedy documentary about human relationships from the perspective of an alien. Done like an alien TV documentary, BBC style. The whole movie is V.O, narrated by the guy that plays Niles on Frasier. It totally works and doesn't get tiresome. Well, maybe a bit at the end. But my point is, if you have the right idea you can go crazy with it and it'll still work. If you're writing a drama, something serious, I'd be more careful.

I really dislike voice overs as well.  I can't help but feel like it's a bit of a cop out.

I'd say avoid it at all cost unless you REALLY need it in your story.  Most of what goes in voice overs can be portrayed through your action and dialogue with a little creativity and it's more rewarding for the audience IMO.  Usually when I come across voice overs, especially in amateur scripts, it's for exposition or basically spelling out what a character is feeling.  That's my 2 cents, anyway.

Quoted from Demento I'm not a fan of V.O, at all. But, I've noticed that most casual viewers actually like it, a lot. There's no set limit to anything. You'll just have to see how the script flows. If it fits the tone. Nothing is good if it's overdone. Your thread reminded me of this movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165874/ It's a fake comedy documentary about human relationships from the perspective of an alien. Done like an alien TV documentary, BBC style. The whole movie is V.O, narrated by the guy that plays Niles on Frasier. It totally works and doesn't get tiresome. Well, maybe a bit at the end. But my point is, if you have the right idea you can go crazy with it and it'll still work. If you're writing a drama, something serious, I'd be more careful.

Thanks mate, I'll have to look that screenplay up online. Seems interesting, I have never heard of it. Was it ever much of a hit or was it just a spoof kind of thing?

Quoted from RegularJohn I really dislike voice overs as well.  I can't help but feel like it's a bit of a cop out. I'd say avoid it at all cost unless you REALLY need it in your story.  Most of what goes in voice overs can be portrayed through your action and dialogue with a little creativity and it's more rewarding for the audience IMO.  Usually when I come across voice overs, especially in amateur scripts, it's for exposition or basically spelling out what a character is feeling.  That's my 2 cents, anyway.

Thanks mate. I'm using the voice over in place of dialogue if you know what I mean. For instance: There is a part where my character gets caught by Rebels and taken hostage for three months. I have zero dialogue, just action with a little Voice over of him saying what's going on in his head for about 5 pages until they bring in another captee for him to interact with.

Some people do indeed dislike voice over and like Regular John they believe your action should speak for itself and 'be portrayed through your action and dialogue' i.e., that it's not necessary.

People generally fall in two camps - they love it or hate it.

I personally love V.O. on the proviso it is done well. That's obviously the key ingredient.

Loved the top n tail V.O. in Road To Perdition and I loved it in Shawshank.

I have it on good authority there's a V.O. in Hateful Eight as well that apparently is intrinsic to the interpretation of a certain 'plot' element and key 'poison' scene.

Regarding Forrest Gump I'll be the dissenting voice here and say that and Love Actually are two movies which really irk me - ugh, so contrived and saccharine, but each to their own. They were both hits so I'm in the minority there. The only other movie which irked me even more was The English Patient - laughing at a love scene is never a good sign imh.

I will reiterate voice over needs to be done well. In the end I think it's about adopting a style choice and evoking mood. I'm a fan of it so I'm not going to warn you off it just be aware even if it's done well you'll have people (mostly screenwriters) who just don't care for it and will not be shy in telling you so.

Quoted from LC Some people do indeed dislike voice over and like Regular John they believe your action should speak for itself and 'be portrayed through your action and dialogue' i.e., that it's not necessary. People generally fall in two camps - they love it or hate it. I personally love V.O. on the proviso it is done well. That's obviously the key ingredient. Loved the top n tail V.O. in Road To Perdition and I loved it in Shawshank. I have it on good authority there's a V.O. in Hateful Eight as well that apparently is intrinsic to the interpretation of a certain 'plot' element and key 'poison' scene. Regarding Forrest Gump I'll be the dissenting voice here and say that and Love Actually are two movies which really irk me - ugh, so contrived and saccharine, but each to their own. They were both hits so I'm in the minority there. The only other movie which irked me even more was The English Patient - laughing at a love scene is never a good sign imh. I will reiterate voice over needs to be done well. In the end I think it's about adopting a style choice and evoking mood. I'm a fan of it so I'm not going to warn you off it just be aware even if it's done well you'll have people (mostly screenwriters) who just don't care for it and will not be shy in telling you so.

I agree with you 100 percent.

Cheers

Although, I loved the Forrest Gump V.O. Hahaha

"Itty bitty stingy rain"

Quoted from BSaunders Thanks mate. I'm using the voice over in place of dialogue if you know what I mean. For instance: There is a part where my character gets caught by Rebels and taken hostage for three months. I have zero dialogue, just action with a little Voice over of him saying what's going on in his head for about 5 pages until they bring in another captee for him to interact with.

Interesting idea.  I'd probably just have the guy mumble nonsense at some water stain on the wall that resembled the virgin mary, lol.  Sorta like the grilled cheese sandwich that looked like Jesus.

I guess my dislike for voice overs stems from the fact that I'm not a huge fan of dialogue either which sounds weird, I know.  Guess I've always preferred characters tripping over their feet than characters tripping over their words.

In either case, good luck with your script.

Quoted from RegularJohn Interesting idea.  I'd probably just have the guy mumble nonsense at some water stain on the wall that resembled the virgin mary, lol.  Sorta like the grilled cheese sandwich that looked like Jesus. I guess my dislike for voice overs stems from the fact that I'm not a huge fan of dialogue either which sounds weird, I know.  Guess I've always preferred characters tripping over their feet than characters tripping over their words. In either case, good luck with your script.

Hahaha. Cheers mate  

Guess I don't understand the love - hate thing. I love them when they enhance a script or story and hate them when they don't. I would never have a guideline that says avoid them.

Talent scouts and producers say to strictly avoid it when one sends them fresh material.

Then let's be honest 30-50 % of mainstream cinema in recent years have a VO at least in their exposition. How is that?

I think when filming they use it to get into story sooner, to avoid longer screentime, slower storytelling OR especially longer/better script development IMO

Also, filmakers sometimes seem to underestimate the audience and think they need to fed us conflict so that we understand.

So, in specs I tend to a VO !NO!

In execution of movies is a clear !Okay! at least with regarding reality

ADD To the asker: Search for interviews of readers of your markets, producers etc.. Not that I want to sound clever, I'm not, but there's a lot of information about the topic and several other topics you may like or need to know to better your chances to reach your markets.

I love VO if it's done well.

Quoted from Pale Yellow I love VO if it's done well.

I think you did a GREAT job on the V.O. in the last OWC. I use it myself sometimes as well. The longest one probably in my sci-fi prisoner transport thriller. I have also read many pro scripts and watched many films using V.O. and it works well, especially if done in the beginning to sort of set the stage.

Yeah, I like VO too. Aren't we talking about a first contact impression of a speculation script here? Cause those readers dislike it...

Quoted from PrussianMosby Yeah, I like VO too. Aren't we talking about a first contact impression of a speculation script here? Cause those readers dislike it...

I don't know that they do. I've never heard that before. I think if it's good and draws you in and makes you want you to read on, why would they dislike it?