Award Winning Documentary Narrator
As a child, Brian Arens used to watch countless hours of documentary programs on television, with nature documentaries from National Geographic being his favorites. So it was a dream come true when National Geographic asked him to narrate their documentary series Kingdom of the Polar Bears. The process was a delight from beginning to end, and Brian thought the experience could not be any more perfect . . . until he won the 2022 One Voice Award for Best Documentary or In-Show Narration for his performance. He thus crossed not one but two items off his voice over bucket list, and will forever be grateful for the experience. Brian still counts documentaries among his favorite programs to voice (and to watch), and is always excited to be asked to participate in a documentary project.
Documentary Testimonials
Featured Documentaries
Broadcast Documentary
Corporate Documentary
Docu-Short
Documentary and In-Show Voice Overs
In-show narration used to consist mainly of documentaries. But television has evolved enormously, and now voice over is used in everything from crime shows to cooking and gardening shows. This means there is also a great variety of styles that are called for in today’s programming. A grisly crime show might demand a deep, serious, mysterious and ominous tone. A more casual, upbeat and enthusiastic tone might be better suited to a lighthearted, fun reality show. And a rugged, energetic sound might be most appropriate in a sports documentary.
Common Features of Television Narration
Regardless of what kind of show is being produced, or what kind of style is called for, the narration will need to fulfill a few essential requirements. First, it must serve to highlight what’s happening on screen, rather than becoming the focus itself. In other words, the voice over is not the “star” of the show - it is there to enhance the story, never to take over or to distract from the visual elements. Second, it will contribute to a longer narrative through-line than your average voice over script, which is usually no more than a few minutes in length. This means that the narrator needs to be able to sustain the arc of the story, even if there is minimal text and the narrator’s contribution is intermittent. And finally, the voice over needs to engage listeners, not merely instruct them. Of course it will impart some knowledge in the process, but no television show is meant to be a stuffy lecture. Listeners should feel like they are on a journey of joint discovery with the narrator. No matter the subject, the content should seem as new and as full of wonder (or sorrow, or joy, or gravity, or tenderness, or whatever else may be called for) to the narrator as it does to the audience.
A Proven Voice for Documentary and In Show Narration
Television shows and documentaries are expensive to produce - at least compared to the internet content that has flooded our bandwidth - and their creation is not taken lightly. Every element is critical, and needs to be of the highest quality to ensure success. Though voiceover is often the final feature to be added to the mix, it is every bit as important as the others. Brian Arens’ versatile voice is well-suited to a wide variety of television content, and his proven track record as an award winning documentary narrator allows producers and creative directors to rest easy, knowing that their project is in the hands of an established professional.
Let’s Connect
Whether you’re looking for a quote, or you have a question, or you’re ready to book - getting a voiceover is easier (and faster!) than you think. Just tell me a bit about your project and we can be underway in no time. Want more info first? Check out my FAQs.
