VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Scott. Everything you said makes a lot of sense when understanding my demeanor. I'm normally either playing a serious character, straight lead, or giving some epic speech and when I play comedy it always depends on dry wit. My point is I never really exercise any sense of vibrant flare which may be what I need behind the mic along with the mix of characteristics, Marc Cashman just mentioned in Voice Over Experts, in building your VO house.

Thanks again. Means a lot.
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:44 pm Post subject:

good luck, daniel. persevere!
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:16 pm Post subject:

The suggestion to read the script as fast as you can is good advice. The point of that exercise is to break down the pre-concieved subconscious patterns that your brain has latched onto. And it isn't just a normal speed read - it is a read so fast it ends up not making any sense - stumbling over words - adding strange words - just talk so fast it gets all crazy.

It works everytime with my introduction to voiceacting students - but I will admit - I have to be standing right there with them - talking at the speed of light along with them - helping to distract their brain.

Or try saying each word painfully slow - physically stretching out each word with your hands - slower and slower and slower until it makes no sense to you at all.

Your brain is working in the background to figure out what the hell is going on and when you stop suddenly and start again at the top of the script, your subconscious brain takes over and the read will sound a LOT better.

But again, this may only work if someone is standing next to you forcing the slow read and - again - distracting your brain.

It also works if you find a really really strong character that is NOT right for the copy - a southern Baptist Gospel Preacher is good - or a crotchety old man - can you channel your grandfather? Let that person read the script - ad libbing and adding the little character quirks that make that character unique.

Then again - stop and quickly start reading again in the "right" voice and see if you can hear the more natural believable delivery.

There is a tendency for some over intellectualizing when learning - this really is about the creative side of our brain taking over. Oh, of course you have to give some thought to the right approach, tone, pace, etc., but once that is established - don't over think!

That's one of the reasons to QUICKLY start reading the script from the top after doing one of those crazy exercises - don't give yourself time to think about it again. It's English - you know what you are reading. No need to stop and analyze it again.

Time to get to one of those classes!
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:27 am Post subject:

Rob - perhaps a little bit of overthinking is going on here in this example.

We are not doing a play or a movie with a director working with us for weeks - we are in and out of the booth in a short a time as possible and are selling a product in most cases. Usually the only through line is getting the consumer motivated to get up off their butts and buy something. And if there is an approach - the script should clue us in pretty quickly.

As far as the moment before - well, I still will use that "trick" to help me break a pattern of delivery. What did the person I am talking to say just before I start reading the script?

Marking the copy is something I almost always do when in an ISDN session or in a studio session where I actually have copy in front of me. But most of my work these days is self-directed using a computer monitor.

So, I speed read through that copy to get a feel for the approach, any hard to pronounce names or acronyms - complex sentence structure. With experience (and natural ability) your sight reading skills should improve to the point where you can "get into the groove" so to speak and not have to do much marking of the copy.

But, even so, if, during the recoding process, I hear something strange in the "story", I will take a moment to find the key messages - or break down the complex clauses.

Picking up the copy and playing with it is great! Really - try channeling some wild crazy character as you do this - then you have two brains doing it at the same time.
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:29 am Post subject:

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:57 am Post subject:

i'm a fan and user of the speed read, as well as the read-it-as-loud-as-you-can ... to get the wiggles out
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Gregory Best · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:49 pm Post subject:

Listen to what some very knowledgeable and experienced people here are telling you. Get a good VO coach; spend some time training with the coach and really LISTEN to what they tell you. Go back and listen to what you record with the coach and the coach’s critiques and suggestions. Then practice a lot.
You are not ready to be recording a demo. Learn voice acting first.
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Depthpersuasion · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Diane. There's no other choice. You're a sweetheart.

Gregory, Thank you. Remaining teachable is my intent til the end.
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Depthpersuasion · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:49 pm Post subject:

Mike - As soon as I'm out of the hospital, I'll have the spot. Thanks.
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ballenberg · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 9:30 am Post subject:

Okay, I just can't stand it, so I'm jumping in here.

Most important, this is not an attack on Daniel. I listened, and no, it's not there.

But here's something: This is a specialized field. It's true, you don't need a lifetime of study or a drawer full of degrees, but in spite of the (I'm sorry) silly, over-simplified and degrading subtitle of this forum--The website for people who talk, VO is not just talking, not by a long shot. And while anybody can and does talk, not everyone can be, or should be a VO. So instead of beating this guy up, Mike, maybe the suggestion is that in spite of how much he thinks he might like to be a VO, it just may not be for him.

Mike Sommer · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:27 am Post subject:

Beat up on Daniel?? Where did I do that?

I gave him real, honest, truthful, frank advice.
.
Maybe I should not feed the troll, but he did improve this time.
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Philip Banks · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject:

Several years ago I had a call from what sounded like a girl in her late teens or early twenties, very strong London accent.

"My boyfriend needs 'elp. E'd like to do voice over stuff and also get into working in radio. E's an Inspector for London Transport (worked either on the buses or the Underground). E's done loads o'stuff an' discos an' the like. Been trying to get in for about 20 years now."

A phone call to me motivated by love, true love and devotion. It was not my place to discourage her or the light of her life. I made the right noises, made her laugh, made her smile and sent her away with a few ideas and suggestions. I didn't need to help him into voice stuff or pro radio but I did need to say something to keep his dream alive.

“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.”- T.E. LAWRENCE

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:34 pm Post subject:

Those who said they couldn't never did, and those who did, never said they couldn't
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