Category Archives: Actors (PA)

Animation Voice Over Careers

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Voice Over Work: Overview

Aliso Creek Quote:2.

When many people think of voice over work they immediately think of the voices that they’ve heard on the radio and radio commercials.  If you’re a bit more observant then you’ve noticed that the voice you hear on television commercials is often not “on camera.”  In fact the “announcer voice” has been recorded separately and added to the commercial at the end, after all the on-camera action has been filmed and edited.  As a matter of fact, this is where the term “voice over” comes from:  the narrative “voice that is added “over” the film or video.  But beyond these fundamental uses of an announcer or narrator there are now many requirements for those disembodied voice over folks.

List of Voice Over Careers

1.  Animation Jobs

2. Feature Film Animation

3. Television Animation

4. Video Game Animation

5. Radio And Television Character Voices

6. Internet Animation Voice Overs

Job Description for Voice Actors

Voice actors can perform in a variety of projects, from completing voice overs for commercials and movie trailers to portraying various animated characters. Depending on the project, a voice actor might work alone or with a group. Most of the work is done in a recording studio, with the voice actress reading lines in a recording booth while a sound engineer observes from the control room.

Voice actors are self-employed and typically have an erratic work schedule. They may experience times when there is a lot of work available, as well as times when they have few projects. Jobs for voice actresses can be long-term, such as providing the voice for the main character in an animated series, or very brief.

Voice Actors Duties

Good voice actors are able to speak in multiple tones of voice and with various accents. The ability to speak clearly and with a pleasing voice is essential. Unlike stage, television and movie actors, voice actors typically don’t receive scripts in advance to allow them to rehearse and memorize their lines. Yet despite the lack of rehearsal time, voice actors must be able to read from scripts in a natural, conversational way.

Voice actors also are responsible for maintaining their voices. Many do vocal exercises. Frequent practice, particularly with new tones and accents, prevents voice actresses from straining their vocal cords.

Requirements

Aspiring vocal actresses must make a habit of sending demo tapes to directors and frequently attend auditions. The field is very competitive, so voice actresses must be outgoing and network in order to find jobs.

There are no educational requirements to become a voice actor, but many schools that offer performing arts programs have courses in voice acting. Some of these are standalone, non-credit courses or workshops that can be taken for personal enrichment or professional development. Others are incorporated into degree programs in acting. Basic courses focus on performing voice over work for a variety of mediums, and students typically practice reading scripts and receive feedback from industry professionals.

 

Actor’s Life in Digital Age

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By Maurice Edwards

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Image via CrunchBase

I was watching Netflicks when several questions about acting, film and television started to invade my mental space.  Let’s start with the main question:

  • How does the digital age affect actors and casting?
  • How are actors really adjusting to the digital age?

TV Shows We Used To Watch - 1955 Television ad...

To try and find some answers I  went on Google to begin my search.  Luckily for me I didn’t have to look to far before I found an article that was waiting for me called “An Actor’s Life in the Digital Age: Trying to Make New Media Pay“ by actor and author Gary Moore.

This new digital world has brought auditions to a whole new level of convenience for both actors and casting directors. Approximately 80 percent of all my auditions over the past two years have been recorded in my studio and edited on my computer. Then I send them off either to my agent or directly to a casting director. This process saves actors money; they no longer have to fly or drive to the location, purchase gas at ever-increasing prices, pay for wear and tear on their cars, or spend money on food and lodging at an out-of-town audition. Casting directors can now make their first cuts without having to bring 100 actors into the waiting room.

But new media projects come with challenges for actors. These days, I get my demo reel on all sorts of platforms, which is a great thing. But that has another side, too. With the multitude of platforms the Internet has to offer, we seem to be getting paid less for each gig. The newSAG-AFTRA union does have a new media contract, but I’ve rarely seen it used, mainly because I don’t think producers, actors and directors know exactly what’s considered “new media.” The new media contract says that the pay for actors under this agreement is as follows: “Initial pay is negotiable under the SAG New Media Agreement. There are no minimums under this contract; however, state and federal minimum wage laws still apply.”

Now, having no pay scale to start with is discouraging, but if that web series went to prime-time television and was a half-hour or longer, that actor would get paid approximately $2,400 (100 percent of the network ceiling). If an actor wants to risk small or no pay on a new media project, it may just pay off for him in the long run.

So as you read, the potential for actors and casting is positive but they are still in need of Quality Introductions to develop long term careers.

Outrageous Acting Tips Revealed

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By: 

When you get started in acting, it is difficult to know who to listen too. Luckily there are lots of talented actors willing to share their experiences. Many years of acting experience have shown me who is worth listening too. Uta Hagen provides acting instruction in her book Respect for Acting. I’ve been acting for ten years and I can shed some light on the poor information.

An especially poor acting tip is how to commit lines to memory. As an actor, your focus should not be memorizing dialogue. You should focus on why the character is speaking the lines. What are the characters goals? What is he feeling when he is speaking? How does he respond to other characters? The audition process is not about finding the person who can memorize lines. You want to rehearse with the script. But no director will scold you for improvising some of the lines. What is important is how well you can act. How well you remember the script is not important. Actress Jessica Alba said in Elle Magazine December 2010 issue “Good actors, never use the script unless it’s amazing writing. All the good actors I’ve worked with, they all say whatever they want to say.” That demonstrates how often professional actors stray from the script.

Full Article 

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Tips For Emerging Actors

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Far Too Many Actors Don’t Consider Themselves As A Business.

 In order to succeed not only artistically but financially you must concern yourself with the business of acting.

 

 

Tips For The Emerging Actor:

 

Your Image

It hurts me to write this section as I wish that the entire acting business was based solely on talent. Unfortunately, this is not the case. As an actor you must become hyper-aware of your image. You are a product, and you must condition yourself as such. Casting directors are looking for actors who have a solid understanding of their image. While your image may vary according to your personality, all actors must approach their appearance as if they were walking into an office everyday. Keep your hair trimmed, facial hair under control, clothing professional and tattoos/piercings in non-visible locations.

You MUST keep your body in-shape. While some actors are able to do quite well with their out-of-shape body, the majority of casting directors are looking for actors who are in-shape as this means they can move well, have dedication and take pride in their appearance.

Tracking Your Auditions/Call Backs/Rejections

As a business owner, tracking your auditions, call backs and rejections will help keep you organized and possibly help you learn what you’re doing right or wrong. In a notebook, or spreadsheet, write the name of an audition, the performance materials (monologue, scene), whether the materials were prepared beforehand or done as a cold reading, the casting director’s name and whether you got a callback. Update this information regularly.

Essential Equipment

As a working professional, you should have several pieces of equipment to ensure that you are easily reachable and ahead of the times when it comes to current castings. The following is what I have in my essential equipment:

  • · Cell phone with text messaging and voicemail capabilities
  • · House phone in case the cell phone dies or goes missing
  • · Pens and paper near every phone in my home
  • · Email address that I have regular access to
  • · Access to the internet
  • · GPS system for navigating to and from auditions
  • · Trade magazine subscriptions

 

 

Source: Prior Aphter, Yahoo! Contributor Network


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