Archive for the ‘Auditions’ Category
Voice Acting and Script Context
The last time I worked on an animation project the director stood just a few feet away from me in the booth. Unusual, I thought. But as we moved from scene to scene he continually filled me in on the setting and the back-story, making sure I understood the context of the lines I was [...]
May 25, 2010
Posted in: Auditions, General, Techniques 
No Comments
In Search of The Next Billy Mays
Tangentially related to voice over, the call has gone out to find a replacement for hyper-pitchman Billy Mays who unexpectedly passed away in 2009. The joke around our house was that when one of Mr. Mays’ TV spots came on, you could hit “mute” on the remote and still hear him.
Trade publication Advertising Age was [...]
January 25, 2010
Posted in: Advertising, Auditions, General No Comments
Faux Audition Finalists Fronted
Voice over actor and fun guy Peter O’Connell has announced the finalists for the “just for fun” auditions for the voice of the ABC Evening News with Dianne Sawyer. Visit Peter’s blog and vote for your favorite finalists.
Remember, it’s all just for grins and aside from a little notoriety and maybe some link love, both [...]
January 22, 2010
Posted in: Auditions, Awards, General One Comment
What is the Context?
Been thinking about the word “context” this morning. It’s one of the lenses through which we should see the script as we prepare for the job or an audition. It helps us determine choices.
I think language scholar Oscar E. Nybakken has a very useful take on the word “context” for the voice actor:
Context not [...]
September 14, 2009
Posted in: Advertising, Auditions, General, Techniques No Comments
Creative Slating
My agents have a rule about slating which is short and sweet.
Name only. Not even the role. Put that in the file name.
The intent is to curb the behavior of some actors who think that rude noises, mini-biographies, or lame attempts at being funny during the slate will make them more memorable when in fact [...]
August 5, 2009
Posted in: Auditions, General, Getting Started, Techniques One Comment
Should I slate in Character?
That’s one of the questions that floats up during the four part podcast interview Voicebanks’s Tracey Patton has with Bob Bergen and Bill Holmes. Both are busy voice actors and teachers.
So when auditioning for character or animation roles, should you slate in character. Some say yes. Bob says “no” for a simple reason that make [...]
June 11, 2009
Posted in: Auditions, Coaching, Training, Workshops No Comments
