Perhaps the biggest acting question.
In ANY medium of acting, there's someone or something trying to dictate what the final outcome will look like.
A director that needs a tear on cue.
A script that baldly states 'convulsive giggles'.
And so the actor's challenge becomes orientated around the final outcome.
You either tear up at the right moment - or you don't.
You either start cracking up when 'needed' - or you don't.
Precisely the sort of determinist approach that would be labelled as BAD acting in any acting class worth its salt.
Why?
Because the best acting isn't predictable or logical.
It defies expectations, living and breathing on its own terms.
It knows where it's going, but it doesn't rigidly adhere to a defined route.
The best actors can obviously marry these two things.
You find techniques and tools to fulfil a project's purpose, be a team player and give other creatives what they need. That's why it's a craft.
But I feel the growing role of AI in my own industry is further drawing a dividing line between these approaches.
For those clients who already have a set 'final outcome' in mind, AI will always have some form of allure because it's utterly obedient - even if it still can't execute nuance due to it's lack of cognition and authentic emotion.
Sure, it might be a utter nightmare and timesink to 'prompt' into submission, but that's what some people call being creative in 2025 apparently... and you're welcome to block me, as we won't get on.
These are not the clients I'll be able to count on long term.
The one's I do want to attract are those that appreciate the value of the truthful moment. Fully experienced, you might not 'get there' - but end up somewhere far more interesting as a result.
The below is the same speech done different ways with absolutely no preparation other than a subtle adjustment in point of view. THESE are the spaces that excite me as a creative, so I'm doing my damnedest to find more of them right now!
Want to inject some creativity into your project? Then check out my demos here
Contact me here and we can discuss your voiceover needs directly
By Christopher Tester, British Male Voice Actor
