Role and Responsibilities of a Dialect Coach
– Supports actors in crafting voice and speech patterns for characters in various productions
– Researches real-world voices and provides guidance during the vocal design process
– Monitors vocal performance on set, during recording sessions, or at runs and previews
– Gives notes on clarity, consistency, and credibility of dialect elements
– Collaborates with directors and other departments to ensure cohesive vocal transformation
Terminology
– Dialect coach is the primary designation for a pronunciation coach in the English-speaking entertainment industry
– Other designations such as speech coach and voice coach are also used
– In the United Kingdom, dialect coaches are also called voice coaches or accent coaches
– In the United States, the term voice coach is often reserved for singing coaches or relaxation coaches
– Dialect coaches may offer guidance on breath support, vocal warm-ups, and vocal combat techniques
Additional Specializations
– Some dialect coaches also work as text coaches, especially for productions involving heightened language like Shakespeare’s works
– Diction coaches help opera singers with articulation of lyrics in unfamiliar languages
– Acting coaches and dialogue coaches have distinct roles from dialect coaching
– Text coaching is sometimes seen as part of the job of a voice coach in the UK
– The term diction coach was historically used for accent or speech coaching in film
Hiring and Management
– Dialect coaches are typically hired by the line producer or production manager during pre-production
– Coaches may be interviewed by showrunners, staff writers, or film directors
– Coaches often start working with actors early to fully integrate the character’s voice
– Sessions can take place remotely, on set, at the production office, or via video chat
– Coaches need to be flexible in serialized television due to last-minute scheduling changes
On-Set Responsibilities
– The key second assistant director typically coordinates coaching sessions during production
– Coaches may be present at read-throughs, story conferences, and production meetings
– They often have a designated space on set, such as a dressing room or room in the honeywagon
– Dialect coaches are issued wireless headsets and may sit in video village for easy access to the director and script supervisor
– Their presence on set helps ensure the actors’ vocal performance aligns with the character’s dialect Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialect_coach
A dialect coach is a technical advisor who supports actors as they craft voice and speech patterns for characters in the context of productions be it in an on-camera setting (film, television and commercial), stage setting ("straight plays" as well as stand-up comedy, musicals and operas), or voiceover setting (radio plays, animation, audiobooks, video games, etc.).
Scope of work can differ widely from production to production and from actor to actor within a production. The coach's tasks may include researching real-world voices with an ear to regional, social or idiosyncratic patterns, curating primary source recordings for the actor's exploration, providing guidance and feedback during the actor's vocal design process (sometimes with input from directors or writers), running lines and monitoring vocal performance whether on set or in post (film/TV/commercials), during recording sessions (voiceovers), or at runs and previews (stage). A dialect coach will typically give notes on clarity, consistency, and credibility. Sometimes dialect elements are in place primarily to add texture to character or to the world, but occasionally authenticity is also flagged as a concern by a production. In such cases, the dialect coach will be tasked with monitoring the vocal transformation as it might be experienced by a native speaker in the audience. Above all, the coach strives to remove stumbling blocks to performance so that the actor's vocal transformation work does not distract the actor or the audience.
For on-camera productions, dialect coaches with a strong background in languages, cultures and dramatic writing may be involved in trans-creation or polishing of dialogue or other forms of written language (for signage, etc.), often with the support of native-speaker language consultants and culture advisors, including on-set language and culture monitors. Dialect coaches who have a background in linguistics may also be hired to design constructed languages ("conlangs").
Although the purview of the dialect coach is very different from that of the director, dialect coaches and directors often develop highly collaborative working relationships. Coaches may also be consulted by members of other departments including, for on-camera productions, writing, post, graphics, props, camera scenic and even wardrobe (for instance, when language elements appear on costumes).
Outside the acting world, dialect coaches are also employed to train broadcast journalists in speech (newscasters/newsreaders, etc.), to coach non-actor public speakers in presence and delivery, and to support singers, for instance, with diction challenges and in balancing tone and articulation in an unfamiliar language.
