In a twist of irony, as I sit to write this blog entry, I am actually rewriting this blog entry — from scratch. I had it saved somewhere, but due to a careless click or two, it was deleted.
It’s appropriate because, as a Chicago copywriter once told me: “Writing IS rewriting”. Sure, sometimes you hit a groove and spin some gold, but I hear writers say over and over that the first draft is the hardest and then it’s about refining.
In the worlds of entertainment and advertising, a vision is most often an especially collaborative effort — with clients and creative teams doing a little dance, giving some back and forth. When the client isn’t happy, it’s literally back to the drawing board. After all, sometimes after we see what we thought we wanted, we tend to see things we missed on the first go. I used to work in editing full-time, so I am intimately acquainted with the revisionary process. Shucks, I rejoice in it!
Why? It’s fun to be a part of the corrective creative process. Plus, you get paid all over again! An account exec once told me that “[rewrites] keep the lights on”.
Yep, as players in this madcap game, VO people are often called back for retakes due to changes in the script. In fact, I have been called back three and four times for a single page of copy, when alterations occured, due to concerns or shifts in emphasis, and other input from clients. This worked out nicely for paying bills and that sort of thing.
Viva la difference! Viva la rewrites!
Here’s an example of a great Georgia Lottery spot I voiced (and was on the set of), where the end VO changed:
Because of a refocus on promoting the “second-chance” drawing, the whole thing was made stronger, faster and more exciting:
The lesson may be that the momentum of action can shape a project to new heights, as aims come more clearly into focus. But to get it up there, the first thing is — start that first draft!
What’s that? Oh, is that right? Rewrite this!
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