Systematic training

According to professional voice actor Zhao Ling who has been in nearly 100 traditional audio dramas, a key difference between professionals and amateurs is that traditional voice actors congregate in a studio, whereas online CVs tend to record separately at home.

Zhao, a master of fine arts who became an actor of Zongzheng drama troupe while in the army at age 18, recalls the time when he started out as a professional voice actor in 1995. "Excellent professionals in the field all gathered in a studio. We worked 12 hours a day, and stayed there most days of a year, communicating with the senior artists, learning from them and seeing how they worked.

"That was really beneficial to a novice like me."

Sadly, this approach has almost disappeared.

Now voice actors no longer need to stay together in a studio for an extended period. They can record individually in one studio at different times of the day.

"The new model is time-saving for veteran voice actors, but it's a lost opportunity for newcomers to learn from others," says Zhao.

Zhao teaches many online CVs and finds them lacking basic training.

"Practicing in incorrect ways may hurt their throat, so I suggest they receive professional guidance before starting work."

Moreover, he says, the dubbing skills are only a small part of a qualified voice actor's treasure trove, which can include tonal differences, body movement to "get into character" and the ability to act.

For example, once he guided actors to voice an audio drama that was set in ancient China, but he found the young actors couldn't play the roles of ancient Chinese properly, since they had little idea of the body movements or the physical side of their characters. He made them learn how to stand and move to improve their performance.

Xie Tiantian, the initiator of Voice Bear Studio, believes that the sector will flourish.

"As time goes on, more and more quality work will grow like green shoots of spring."

Contact the writer at wangru1@chinadaily.com.cn