This time around I wanted to give a very simple audio drama producing tip.
In the world of audio drama, most casts record remotely, uploading their recordings for an editor to bring together into one story. This is not theater. This is not a cast working alongside a director on stage together through a lengthly rehearsal process. So there are some unique-to-audio-drama needs that new creators might not consider. And this is one I discovered. People pronounce names very differently!
When it comes to proper names, the variety of pronunciations run the gamut. If the show were being rehearsed together like in theater, the director could very easily get the cast on the same page from the read through as to how each name were to be pronounced. But since I give out scripts to cast and they record without me, I learned very early on that any name I think is “obvious” on how to pronounce, ain’t obvious. And this really does pose a problem when you try to edit all of these recordings together. For example, in multiple scripts the dialogue called for the character to introduce themselves. “I’m Maya.” And then the character responding said, “Nice to meet you, Meeya.” Face palm. Could you imagine introducing yourself and the person blatantly saying your name wrong in reply? And then NOTHING further is said as the scene goes on? Oh… she’s just going to let him call her “Meeya” for the whole show now. Wonderful.
So my first attempt to remedy this issue was spelling out the names phonetically in the script. But that just made it worse. I’d say “My-yah” not “Mee-yah” and now I had cast saying “My YAH!” Like… what? Who… who says a name like that? And I’m going to take some of the blame here, too. I would spell out words phonetically that made sense to me, but, again, would be interpreted vastly differently from the actor reading it.
Enter: The Pronunciation Guide. Like a lightbulb flickering, desperately trying to come to life, finally it dawned on me that this was an audio format. Why don’t I use audio – my voice – to tell the cast how to say the names the way I need them? Since season 2, I have prepped each episode with a quickly recorded (on my phone) audio guide on how to say proper names, or any unusual words. I list each and every character. I don’t care if they are “Bob Smith.” I cannot stress enough how a name you believe is completely obvious, another person with another background might come up with a way to say it that will stun you.
But it’s not just character names. The pronunciation guide truly helped in our “War of the Worlds” episode which was filled with the names of city streets in Los Angeles. I’ve lived here for several decades. But some of my cast has never been to the West Coast. And names that are super common to residents, are absolute puzzles to outsiders. Even in Philip Marlowe I listed the LA streets and let them know that their characters 100% would know those streets because they are major arteries here in town.
And then there are unusual words. I’ve had things like the name of a certain wine. If only one character is going to say the name, I leave it to them. But if I know more than one character is going to mention the wine by name, I want to make sure we all are saying it the same. Or, for example, in the upcoming episode of “The Six Shooter.” The original series has a very distinct opening where they describe the lead character as “long-legged.” Now… how did you just pronounce it in your head as you read it? Well, the way the series did it was “long-leg-ed” not “legged” Can you pronounce it either way and be correct? Sure. But I’m trying to emulate the original opening announcer. So I made sure that word was in the pronunciation guide.
There’s another show that picked up on my suggestion and they produce an entire video for a pronunciation guide. Kinda like a Sesame Street short where they show the word and you hear someone pronouncing it. I don’t have time for that kind of video production! But what I’m doing has really helped the cast all be on the same page. And in some cases, I’ve heard from actors saying they had to keep going back to hear how I wanted the name pronounced to get it right. Yeah. Sometimes it’s not super obvious. But we’re adapting these old shows, so we have to do it like they did. “The Falcon” was a tough one for me. My Chicago accent says “Faaalkin” but the OG series says “Fall-kin” Oof. Try saying “Fall-kin” in Madison’s voice. There were some failures.
Oh, and before you think that the audio dramas who rehearse together virtually before they record individually have the solution to not needing a pronunciation guide, think again! I am on one such show and have still caught actors coming up with name pronunciations that were way off the mark. Perhaps in the excitement of the read through the director didn’t catch it, or meant to bring it up but the conversation went elsewhere. Whatever it is, making sure you have a guide in place for all the cast to reference will make sure that doesn’t happen.
And if you have a long running show that a new cast member is joining, don’t flatter yourself that they actually listened to the available episodes so they absolutely should be able to say the lead character’s name. That’s a discussion for actor’s doing their prep work. But I will say, I include my pronouncing “Madison Standish” in every single pronunciation guide I record!
Now, will your cast for sure listen to the pronunciation guide before diving in and recording? Not always. I do keep stressing how important it is, though. And also emphasizing that I won’t come after them for pickups if they say it right the first time!
-Chrisi (aka Madison)
