Every person speaks with an accent—and so do your characters. When an actor’s natural accent doesn’t align with the social group or region your character belongs to, it’s as noticeable as a costume or set piece that feels out of place.

And when actors aren’t given enough time to prepare, they often face a difficult choice: “Do I stay in the accent or stay in the scene?” The result? Performances where the accent distracts from the story, or the story suffers for the sake of keeping the accent steady.

Accent design and preparation are part of world-building. Done well, they help the audience stay immersed and emotionally connected. Done poorly—or ignored—they become an avoidable liability.

It depends—but you should start early.

Actors vary widely in how quickly they can adopt a new accent. To plan effectively, I recommend assessing each actor’s skillset at least 8 weeks before shooting. This gives you time to:

• Evaluate their current vocal flexibility

• Estimate how much training they’ll need

• Budget coaching hours accordingly

A good rule of thumb is to plan for at least three coaching sessions during the assessment period. For the most efficient process, work with a dialect coach who has experience supporting casting directors. They can:

• Craft accurate, strategic breakdowns to attract the right talent

• Provide accent materials to actors preparing for auditions

• Vet finalists for accent readiness before contracts are signed

This gives you more control over both performance quality and budget.

assess and prepare them.

Accent work affects vocal placement, timing, clarity, and confidence. Without coaching, even a skilled actor may underperform, costing you time and money in the long run.

For best results, assess and begin coaching no less than 8 weeks before production—and sooner, if possible.

Two common outcomes:

1. A flat or held-back performance, where the actor is too focused on “getting the accent right” to fully embody the role

2. An accent that fades in and out, distracting the audience and undermining credibility

Both issues lead to increased production costs—from extended shoot days to costly ADR and post-production fixes. Worse, they diminish the final product’s impact.

To avoid this, bring a qualified dialect coach on board early—ideally when hiring other key department heads like the DP, Production Designer, or Costume Designer.

Start with a Linguistic Script Consultation as soon as your project is greenlit. For a relatively low investment, you’ll receive:

• A clear, easy-to-read report

• A practical roadmap for training, casting, and budgeting

• Strategic recommendations for every linguistic element in your script

This single step helps avoid costly surprises later and gives your team the insight needed to plan intelligently from the start.

That’s the multi-million dollar question! “Best” depends on your priorities—but if you want maximum control at the lowest cost, here’s the smart approach:

1. Start with a Linguistic Script Consultation to identify exactly what your project needs in terms of accent, language, and cultural support

2. If your film includes 3-dimensional characters speaking in accents other than their own, you’ll need consistent coaching throughout pre-production, shooting, and post

3. Hire a qualified coach on a per-project basis (rather than hourly, daily, or weekly) for full-scope support. It’s more cost-effective and allows them to work seamlessly with your entire team

When handled strategically, accent and language work enhances storytelling while keeping your production efficient and professional.