In the list of works broadcast by voice actor Peng Yao in 2021, we found a rather interesting phenomenon:
This year, he acted as the voice of Zhou Enlai in the revolutionary historical drama "Hit the Water in the Middle Stream", and also played the leading role in the costume romance drama "Jun Jiu Ling", the youth campus drama "You are the most beautiful in the world" and the costume comedy "My Lord Xu, please advise me". On the one hand, it is a red tribute drama, which shoulders the extraordinary responsibility of restoring the voice and image of great men; On the other hand, it is a modern emotional interpretation that is youthful, affectionate, joyful and interesting, and even unconstrained. Shuttling through completely different roles and stories, changing completely different voices and emotions-Peng Yao, who created many characters as a voice actor, gained no less experience from the sound, sound, light and shadow than the clear faces facing the camera.
"Dubbing is eating a hundred meals, and you don’t know when it will rain." Peng Yao said that this is what an old-timer in the dubbing industry warned himself. He remembered this, cherished every job opportunity and used the so-called option carefully. Looking through the list of Peng Yao’s works, the types of roles are complicated and changeable, including film and television, animation, games, radio dramas and other categories: Mao Zedong in Hot Blood Flag, Xun Yan in Chu Qiao Biography, Chen Shen in Sparrow, Gao Wenyan in The Temptation of Going Home, Ouyang Shaogong in swords of legends, Li Chengyin in in East Palace and the dry work in Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace.
Today, Peng Yao is not only a voice actor, but also a voice director and director of instant cultural artists. On the basis of maintaining his professionalism, he has integrated into what he believes is "the inevitable result of the development of market economy".
Looking back at the node of 2021, Peng Yao has been working in the dubbing industry for 14 years. He remembers that his first official commercial dubbing was the cartoon "The Story of the Tortoise", which premiered on CCTV’s comprehensive channel. That cartoon is very old, and there is no fledgling name in the dubbing cast recorded by Encyclopedia. However, taking The Story of the Lonely Tortoise as a key sentence in life, Peng Yao began to devote himself to full-time dubbing, and formally bid farewell to his stable life and came to Beijing to station and grow up.
The fifth anniversary of the animation "Under One Man"
Dubbing actors used to be a group of people hiding behind their backs, and the nature and form of their work decided that they were unknown. "At that time, it was equivalent to having their own units and troupes. When dubbing, they all thought about subtitles without names, just hiding behind the scenes." With the rapid development of science and technology after the Millennium, the attitude of social environment and cultural atmosphere towards dubbing is also changing quietly. For more than ten years, a group of dubbing actors, represented by Peng Yao and others, have experienced great changes in dubbing from behind the scenes to in front of the stage, and have also experienced the prosperity of self-media and live broadcast industry brought about by technological iteration.
Under the influence of fan economy and traffic, voice actors have become exquisite commodities that can be exposed and packaged. Peng Yao, born in the early 1980 s, faced with such earth-shaking changes, his initial feeling was that he was caught off guard and was "suddenly attacked by traffic." Now it is time to choose to follow the trend and face the changing situation with an inclusive and responsive attitude.
During the nearly two-hour conversation, Peng Yao talked about many experiences when he first entered the industry. He also mentioned how to become a voice actor and how to train a voice actor. Talent and hard work are essential, and more importantly, how to preserve his will and belief when facing an industry different from the stereotyped cognition of the public. There is no doubt about his love, but Peng Yao, as a person who has been through it, has also given a selfless share on how to balance bread and dreams for the dubbing practitioners in the head, waist and even legs and the bottom, in addition to the minimum needs based on survival.
He has a clear understanding of the industry that is still changing, and he hopes that he can be consistent all the time when he is engaged in it, and he will not forget the enthusiasm and sincerity he first devoted himself to it.
The following is Peng Yao’s self-report:
From "Iron Rice Bowl" to "Hundred Family Meals"
I came to Beijing to do full-time dubbing in 2010.
Before I came to Beijing, my main business was radio host, and dubbing was only a part-time job. In fact, being a host is quite stable, but everyone wants to pursue their dreams and want to develop on a bigger stage. It is an opportunity to study in Beijing. Looking back at the original decision now, there is nothing to regret or regret. Like most young people,Should we jump out of the stable system and do what we really want to do, and then rely on this to get some material benefits? I don’t think the two are in conflict.It may be a better choice to pursue bravely. As far as I know, many friends in the film and television industry I met later did not jump out of the system at that time, and now they all come out to be self-media. This is a trend.
At that time, we were dubbing actors, and the way we first entered the business was basically the introduction of acquaintances. This is an acquaintance circle, and there are not many people who do this business themselves, which is relatively closed.The recognition of ability in this circle is based on the judgment of a more capable voice actor or a more experienced voice director.Once he approves of you, he thinks you can, so do others.
Peng Yao works daily as a dubbing director.
But it’s hard to get into this circle. And whether your ability really meets the standard, this is very important. At that time, many people who went to be voice actors were the best in professional troupes. In professional troupes, the lines were good, the response was fast and the invisibility threshold was high. But that’s not the case now. Compared with that time, there are many ways now, for example, you can submit a resume, or attend a training class and recommend yourself. It is possible to leave a message on social media and send a private letter to get a chance.
But it is also a double-edged sword. After all, there are more ways and more opportunities, and the threshold for dubbing is lowered. In the past, everyone had a certain understanding of their own abilities, and your strength can fully achieve the work you want to complete. Basically, if you fail three times, you may go out.
I’m very lucky to have a node, that is, after I came to Beijing in 2010, I immediately got the big boss Ouyang Shaogong of the game "swords of legends", which is a very, very important opportunity. At that time, I was quite ignorant. Although I thought I had practiced the eighteen kinds of martial arts well, I didn’t experience such an actual contest and competition, and I was still not very confident. When I successfully won this role and was liked by many people, I realized that I could really do it. This is very important, which is an accumulation of confidence. Later, I went on to play the leading role in several plays, such as Gao Wenyan in the TV series "The Temptation of Going Home".
Part of Peng Yao’s dubbing works
Of course, it is impossible to match a few well-known roles once and for all. In those years, I just started to establish myself in Beijing. At most, I recorded a variety of projects.To integrate into this circle, it is to start from the group, and let all people who don’t know and don’t know you know you through the group.. At that time, we recorded a group of miscellaneous things, and we really held our breath. If we repeated a point, we felt that we had not done it well. I couldn’t wait to go up and finish all the words, and then everyone said OK.
After the group miscellaneous, maybe other directors, including the actor who recorded with you at the same time, heard that this young man was well matched and the group miscellaneous was well recorded. In a couple of days, he called and said that I had a leading role in a play to try. So why don’t you give up any chance? That’s why. Now that I choose an actor, I will feel it. For example, when I asked an actor to dub, he was puzzled and said, Brother, it seems that you have never asked me to dub. Why do you trust me with this role? I said, I listen to your usual speech and think you can. Your usual voice is very close to that role. This is what we observed.
Instant heart culture dubbing class daily class
Dubbing doesn’t seem to have a high income like some jobs.I know an old-timer in the dubbing industry who once said that dubbing is a meal for a hundred families.. If you eat a hundred meals, in fact, you don’t know when it will rain. So up to now, I will not use the so-called option too much.For friends who want to enter or have already entered this industry, I also suggest not to use too many "options". For example, you don’t like to match certain roles, or you don’t deserve roles that are too tired and hard, and you don’t deserve certain types of plays. If you feel that there is no problem with your material foundation, you can do this, but dubbing still eats a hundred meals and tries to broaden yourself.
Dubbing can really last a lifetime.
Some friends who are not engaged in this industry may misunderstand that dubbing is also a "youth meal." Personally, I think,Dubbing can really last a lifetime, because the change of timbre is far less rapid than that of appearance.. In the film and television works we see, the old people’s voices are actually old to stick up their images, but in fact, unless they are particularly old, the voices of their fifties and sixties and their twenties and thirties have not changed much. Especially if the male vocal cords are thicker, the voice will be less aging or changing.
Career life can be guaranteed, but there are many realistic factors to consider when entering the industry.Dubbing newcomers may have no income at first, but they are practicing and learning.. To support yourself depends on savings or eating at home, and you may have to find some odd jobs such as dubbing audio books on the Internet. Of course, it doesn’t matter if there is a mine at home. But if it’s an ordinary person, it’s a more rational consideration to think about whether you can stand the situation of no income for about half a year.
Then there is a question of talent and sense of drama.I think talent is more and more important now.. I used to think that practice can achieve some results, but after so many years of contact, I found that some people may not get that point no matter how hard they practice. At this time, you will realize that talent is really crucial. Often when I was young, my heart was higher than the sky, and I wanted to do everything. I thought I could do this and that, but after I actually did it, I would find that I might be really good at one aspect and really not good at other aspects. Don’t force yourself to do things that you are not good at, and don’t give yourself a hard time.
The combination of talent and sense of drama is the ability of the voice actor himself. If you don’t have enough ability, it’s useless for others to talk more.. It is impossible to control the details and grasp a particular tone, and it is useless to teach. Although I said that the types and types of this character and the positioning of the role are not so much and not so rich, it is still more cognitive for the average person. For example, divided into hundreds of character types, for an ordinary person, his contact may be 3-5, and his tone change may be 3-5, which is not enough. If you can have 100 tone changes and 100 different character models in your mind, you can definitely become an excellent voice actor.
When I first entered the business, to achieve better dubbing effect, the first thing is imitation, which is a perceptual understanding. Look at the materials, watch all kinds of films, imitate the state of the characters, and then understand the characteristics and changes of the characters on the basis of imitation, and know why they have to perform like this. In my early years, I will deliberately imitate the characteristics of various actors’ speeches. If I feel that it is not enough, I will continue to watch various movies or TV series. These are all accumulation, and systematic learning is also accumulation.
The 6th anniversary of the game swords of legends.
You can accumulate at any time and anywhere in your life. I am sensitive, especially to the characteristics of voice. In my life, I will absorb the tone characteristics of different people’s speeches anytime and anywhere. Sometimes I suddenly realize that the tone and way of speaking of someone I contact are very similar to a star, or like the characteristics of an animated character and so on.
Whether you can accumulate enough materials in peacetime and polish your state and skills better are invisible preparations.. Let me give you an example. When I first started dubbing, I sometimes needed a process of entering. For example, today, some lines can’t be said, so I have to practice hard at home and have to practice hundreds of times. I will also do a big chapter exercise the day before dubbing or in the morning, so as to adjust my tongue to a good state. Muscles just have to be practiced constantly. If you don’t practice, you won’t need them at critical moments.
This kind of excitement needs to be maintained and must be practiced. An old predecessor I contacted before said that I can still dub at this age because I haven’t relaxed. I still read newspapers and exercise at home. About the same age, he may not be able to do dubbing, but he can still do it because he has never relaxed his practice and accumulation.
Offline activity
Of course, no matter imitation or accumulation, part of it also depends on personal qualifications. If you can do it, you will have a big question. Why can’t he do it?Some people know how to imitate as soon as they listen, while others just can’t learn at all. I think there is no way to explain it, but it can only be explained as talent.. Like some people who can’t correct their Mandarin, he can realize it, but he can’t change it, which shows that the control of the tongue and oral muscles is really insufficient.There are three requirements for dubbing: first, whether Mandarin is standard, second, timbre texture, and third language feeling..
In this line of work, you should have a sensitive heart, sensitive ears and keen eyes, even your nose and mouth, and be sensitive to smells and tastes, otherwise you won’t feel moved at that moment.
"Critical Strike" and Reflection
I’m a dubbing director now, which is equivalent to acting all the roles. I don’t talk too much about roles and feelings with voice actors, because voice-over is a particularly practical job, unlike acting. In acting, the director will fully talk with the actors, and then try to figure out the state, shoot a lot, and leave one in the best state. But dubbing is not. It is such a high-intensity and fast-paced job. I must give a very clear hint as to whether the voice of this sentence is going up or down, whether it is virtual or real. This is more efficient, and the effect is better.
The most important standard of film and television dubbing is to stick to the face, which must be as close as possible to the actor’s face in terms of the characteristics and temperament of his own voice. His face is definitely the first standard. Then beautify it on the basis of the original sound characteristics. What kind of voice I want to pursue to fit him depends more on a feeling.If there is a gap with the real voice, it depends on the acceptance of the producer, director and audience..
Offline activities of radio drama "Professional body double"
Voice actors are "people hiding behind their backs" from the beginning. At that time, it was equivalent to taking private jobs, having their own units and troupes, and then earning extra money. It is best not to let people know, be unknown, and not to have subtitles. In recent years, with the rapid development of the media and live broadcast industry, coupled with the development of science and technology and economy, it has gradually entered the era of traffic, and voice actors have gradually faced the public, and they are no longer in a state of "hiding behind". I still remember the first time my name appeared in the subtitles of cinema movies, and then I photographed it and sent it to Weibo saying that I had written my name wrong. Everyone hopes to gain social recognition and feel valuable.
But I didn’t expect that the industry developed slowly, and it was the era of fan economy, with traffic first and striving for exposure. In fact, I didn’t realize this problem. For a long time, Weibo was a private place, and I just expressed my feelings about my usual life. Later, I found that it was completely different. Dubbing a small circle has suddenly become popular, and I am a little caught off guard and flustered, and I will feel whether I am behind the times.For example, in the past, as long as I was suitable and competent, I found that Party A would have many considerations.. In the face of this "crit", some conceptual cognition just needs to be changed.
In the face of traffic shocks, I have not found a balance so far.. Like Weibo, it is difficult for me to put myself in public as a marketing commodity. I will still keep some of my thoughts. I want to be a person with independent thoughts and opinions, not a product that caters to consumers, so in fact, my business is quite small.
Of course, people are ambivalent. Under the impact of traffic, the first feeling is very exciting. In the face of so many fans who like themselves, I will feel very excited and happy, but I will immediately think of the second point, that is, whether my efforts and what I present to them are worth it. I get into this contradiction every time.Do I think I’m worth it when people buy tickets to visit me and line up for my autograph? Do I really deserve it There is a saying that Germany should coordinate. Is my product really worthy of my consumers?? I will reflect on this. What can they do to make their efforts match themselves better, and what can they do to make their works more touching?
I think happiness will be divided into many grades. The most basic happiness is actually easy to be satisfied, but we need better content to make happiness richer.. First of all, it must be to ensure that the works are excellent and that consumers have this basic happiness. I also hope that they can feel some aesthetic feeling, that kind of complex and rich beauty. Then there is the correct theme, values, etc., which must be gradually integrated.
Go upstream
If you want to enter this industry, I think.First of all, be careful, don’t blindly invest, you can try to play online for a period of time in your spare time.. Once you are sure that you are suitable for this job, it is most important to know yourself before you try to enter this industry. After knowing yourself, you should learn to change yourself. If you can change some shortcomings through your own efforts, you will have more sense of accomplishment.
Then, by any means,Training or self-recommendation, live broadcast, can be done step by step. Then, find someone who really wants to teach you.. When the master leads the door, there will be something that is passed on from mouth to heart. For courses like Instant Heart training, you need to send samples in advance. In my experience, I may listen to a short clip for about 10 minutes, and I can know whether it has characteristics or not, and to what extent the existing level has reached.
There is nothing reliable about dubbing. Unlike other industries, it can be foxy and tiger-like, and it can give orders to others to help, which others can’t do. So everything depends on our own ability and quality. On the basis of having a good body, maintain a full mental state. Keep your mouth clean, keep your muscles flexible, and keep your energy focused. These are all preliminary preparations for dubbing, and you should be familiar with your lines.
After the preliminary preparation is completed, it can be prepared before the wheat.Dubbing is based on the manuscript, and it depends entirely on personal ability.If you still can’t master the lines, I don’t think it makes sense. At that time, we all used paper manuscripts, but now, because of advanced technology, we just throw them on the screen. But I suggest to use the paper manuscript, because at the beginning of dubbing, you need to make some marks on the paper manuscript to remind yourself. If you say that your ability has reached a certain level, you can record it by watching it through screen projection. But if you haven’t reached this ability, you still have to do some desk preparation work.
As for the rising space, there are only a few options for voice actors, such as artist director, art consultant, etc.. I’m an artist director now, but as a manager, I haven’t reached the scale of a real entertainment company, and I still have a long way to go. More often, I want to be their friend. I don’t want to use the word "senior", just tell them from my experience how to go better. It’s not easy for newcomers. They will encounter many bottlenecks and obstacles in their work. I am willing to try my best to help them avoid detours.I just teach practical skills and share my own real experience..
Instant heart culture dubbing class daily class
Generally speaking, the dubbing industry has developed faster and faster in recent years. I have the impression that there was a small group like this about seven or eight years ago. Including the rise of studios and the trend of branding, I think this is also an inevitable result of the development of market economy. More and more market-oriented,More and more customer-oriented, and the future trend may always be like this..
I don’t know about other possibilities. I certainly hope that this industry will get better and better. The premise of getting better and better is that our front end will get better and better. For example, the related cultural and creative industries such as film and television industry and animation industry will get better and better. As the downstream of the industrial chain, our voice actors will have more projects. Of course, if individuals have the conditions, they definitely want to go upstream, and many cross-border peers also go upstream. If they have the ability, it is not bad to go upstream.
The so-called "upstream" in the development of the industry, in fact, radio drama is a very good platform for trial and error, with low cost and short time, and can pursue good creation.If one day the IP or script of a radio drama is really good and exported to the film and television industry in reverse, it will really go upstream.
Some commercial radio dramas produced by Instant Heart Culture
As for income, I think dubbing is already the end of the industry, and it really needs to be paid as high as the entertainment industry., is unlikely.. Because the upper limit of this industry is there, the ceiling exists. If one day, the fans of voice actors can reach the same level as those of film and television actors, that may be the case. But it can’t be reached for the time being. After all, people are visual animals, and hearing is after vision. It is difficult for hearing to reach such a popular level as vision. The more intuitive things are, the easier it is to impress and stimulate people. So I haven’t seen the situation that audio can be compared with video PK for the time being.
To be honest, up to now, I don’t know what kind of path the voice actor should follow. Ten years ago, who would have thought that the media would develop like this, and the changes in this industry are hard to tell. More than a decade ago, dubbing could not be called an industry, but only a business. Times are different now, and dubbing is barely called an industry, so I don’t know what it will develop into in the future. But I know what we should stick to. It’s very important to train our own abilities, cultivate our moral character, and get to know the world. Finally, we must hold on to an idea that everything depends on ourselves.There is nothing to borrow in this industry, and we can only rely on our own talents and efforts.
Written by Gu Xiang
— THE
