VOICE-OVER PERSONALIZES STORYTELLING.
The voice-over is a popular device employed in screenplays. Most times, it’s the protagonist relating
a past story to the audience. Sometimes, the voice-over is not that of the protagonist, but a third
party’s version of the story. Or even an “as told to” version. The latter is generally less effective because
it’s not telling the tale through the protagonist’s point of view. But that doesn’t mean it can’t work.
The important rule of thumb is simple: use the voice-over technique only if it’s intrinsic to the story
and brings something new to the telling.
For example, Forrest Gump brought his unusual perspective to
many famous historical events in which he unwittingly took part. I don’t believe anyone can imagine
that story being told any other way than through the voice of its simple-minded protagonist.
Though used sparingly in both Terminator films, the protagonist’s voice-over gives the audience a
matriarch’s perspective of the relationship between man and machine.
