Skovgaard Energy Case Study
Energising Sustainability: English Voiceover Case Study
Skovgaard Energy prides itself on maximizing the utilization of natural resources. Their dedication is highlighted by the ongoing construction of the world's foremost dynamic Power-to-X plant.
This pioneering facility isn't solely focused on capturing and storing solar and wind energy; it's also committed to waste reduction.
Their mission reaches beyond merely supplying green electricity; they're committed to generating eco-friendly fuel for heavy transportation, sustainable fertilizer for agriculture, and harnessing waste heat for heating needs.
As they embrace the shift towards sustainability, their resolute commitment aims to inspire more people to partake in this environmentally conscious journey.
And to inspire more people, you need to tailor your content accordingly...
The problem - compelling English voiceover narration
Skovgaard Energy want the world to know what they're doing. It's important work! But only 5-6 million people speak the Danish tongue. And they mainly live in... yeah, you guessed it, Denmark.
So, put simply, being able to effectively communicate their story on a global scale is hindered by a language barrier.
In a time of interconnection that spreads to every corner of our planet, it seems crazy that this is still an issue. But Google Translate does not a decent piece of content make.
Alright, then how can you cover as many people as possible in one fell swoop?
The Solution - English Voice Of Success
English is the most spoken language in the world with almost 1.5 billion, yes BILLION people speaking it.
This is where I come in. I'm an English voiceover artist (check out my demos to prove it) and have a pretty neutral accent which caters for a wide range of audiences.
With a vast back-catalogue of work for "English as a foreign language" schools, I'm easy to understand and engaging. Both essential elements when learning!
BUT WHAT ABOUT SUBTITLES?!
Well, when you have to read subtitles you can't take in all of the media as intended. Your brain has to work harder to understand what's going on. If you're given the information in a palatable way (audio visual) then you can sit back and absorb.
Implementation - Steady pace, clarity in voice
Jobs like this are pretty smooth sailing for me.
The script gets sent over.
I'm told how to do it.
I record.
Sometimes I'll get a copy of the video to time my voiceover to, but on this occasion it was just a case of keeping a nice steady pace throughout. The animation was then built around the VO. (Not by me, I can't do that).
Warming up, script interpretation and tech checks happen for every job and this one was no different.
Explainer animations are used when complex things need to be understood easily - and not just by those in the client's specific industry.
Here's the voice-over in the finished piece.
When the VO is coupled with easy to follow moving images, what you get is something that keeps the viewer interested throughout.
Learning about things is much more palatable when it looks and sounds good.
Text books? What are they?!
Results - championing sustainability through modern English voice
Skovgaard energy have a set of explainers that they can show their audience. Their stories and messages are told in the clearest way possible, so that not only native English speakers can consume them, but also those where English is their second language.
The piece
The quote.
I have worked with Martin a couple of times now, and he always delivers an excellent product. He's is highly skilled, both concerning the voice-over work itself, and the technical aspect. He also excels in clear communication with the client. Always a pleasure working with Martin.
Challenges faced.
You should know this by now...there were none. I'm a proVO!
Lessons learned.
Localization is the process of tailoring content (in this instance, a voiceover script) to suit a specific audience's language.
But it's not always English of course.
For example, if a company in the UK wants to start advertising it's products in Japan, they'd get a Japanese voiceover involved.