Stiletto Vendetta
Season 1 eExtra (*195/Openview *105) 20:30 Telenovela
Turkish telenovela Stiletto Vendetta (originally called Ufak Tefek Cinayetler when it aired from 2017 to 2018) is all about revenge and one of the characters at the centre of the drama is Arzu (played by Tülin Özen, Gülbin in Netflix drama series Ethos, 2020). She played a cruel prank on a school friend and is being punished for it years later. Arzu is voiced by Mari Molefe van Heerden (Captain FJ Bezuindenhout in local sci-fi series Die Vlieënde Springbokkie, 2018now) and it’s a lot of fun explains Mari. “I’ve done radio dubbing for years and this is different as there is something visible to watch (the episodes) in front of you while you work.”
Are you a fan of these Turkish telenovelas?
I don’t get to watch all of them, but I do watch whichever one I’m working on. It’s great to hear actors I know and work with as the other dubbed voices. Does seeing the original episodes help you understand your character more? Totally! We watch the scenes while we record our lines so that we can see the characters’ mannerisms and what’s going on.
Is recording lines in a sound studio easier than traditional acting? They’re different mediums, but with voice work like this you have to “act” with your entire body but you can only use your voice.
Do you stick to the scripts word-for-word or do you have leeway? I stick to it 99%, but sometimes the translations need tweaks, so the director helps.
What do you think makes these telenovelas so popular? For me it’s definitely storylines. They’re over the top and you can’t stop watching. Hearing SA voices adds to the entertainment. NB! See p36.