Award-Winning Video without Narration?
Yes—It Can Be Done!
The resonant and reassuring voice of the narrator. We know it well—from elementary school science films to Discovery, PBS, and the History channel. Documentary film and narration go together like movies and popcorn. You can’t really have one without the other. Right?
Think again. ECOS recently produced an award-winning short video for EPA Region 8 without using narration. No voice of authority . . . and no high-price-tag professional talent.
Wetlands & Wonder: Reconnecting Children with Nearby Nature is a story about protecting and restoring neglected urban wetland remnants in the name of healthier kids. With the cry of alarm being sounded far and wide over Nature Deficit Disorder, the message of this film is a timely one. Yet we had a tall order from the start: weave together the benefits of wetlands, the causes of today’s disconnection from nature, and a call to action to clean up urban wetlands—all on a tight budget, and in under 15 minutes.
In the end, this “problem” led ECOS down a very creative road. Our big break came when three authorities on the subject of children and nature—also figures of national prominence—agreed to be interviewed for the film. (Thanks again to Joan Almon, Richard Louv, and Robert Michael Pyle!) With the help of videography partner Tamarack Media, we wove highlights of these interviews together with clips of a young EPA ecologist. She speaks to both wetland science and her personal experience of the ever-increasing tugs of an electronics-based culture—tugs that pull so many away from nature.
You might guess the rest. Shoot, shoot, shoot. Children exploring and playing at the water’s edge. Urban/suburban wetlands: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Examples of nature-integrated development. B-roll. Juxtapositions. And some repurposed footage from Michigan Public Television. (More thanks!)
Yet, truly, it’s the interviews that hold this short film together and move it along. Heartfelt, personal, and compelling, these voices of concern carry the key messages straight to the hearts of viewers. Without Mr. Omniscient. You might want to try this route with your next project. And let us know how it turns out!
Here’s a link to watch the video if you’re interested: http://www.ecos.us/project_interactive_epa6.html
Note: Wetlands & Wonder: Reconnecting Children with Nearby Nature has garnered granted three national awards:
- National Association of Interpretation (NAI): 1st Place, Short Video Category, 2009
- International Wildlife Media Center & Film Festival (IWFF): Merit Award, 2009
- Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (MarCom): AVA Platinum Award, Government/Educational Category, 2008
January 14, 2010 at 5:05 pm
No narration?? Noooooooooo!
Kidding – kind of! I agree that a narrator is not always necessary and it sounds like this is a wonderful project. But I wanted to point out that The Voice of Authority and Mr. Omniscient are actually passé anyway and the trend – I’m sure you’ve noticed – is towards a much more natural read. Even the highly stylized TV promo genre is moving a little bit in that direction. Also, I can say with some excitement, more and more narrations and promos are being done by women, and we aren’t all super high priced either.
So I hope you will keep an open mind! As both a voice actor and a former natural history museum curator with a lot of interest in your projects, I hope the new year will find us working together.
All the best for 2010.
Mary McKitrick
January 26, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Thanks for your comment, Mary!
We whole-heartedly agree with you, especially the increase in women’s presence and the range of fees across the voice talent industry. (Still, equal pay for an equal day’s work, right?)
We use VO narration for a significant number of the pieces we create for our clients, so it’s fun for us to take a different approach every once in a while.
Best to you,
Seth and the ECOS Team