Voice-Over Voice Actor: The Extended Edition

✍ Scribed by Yuri Lowenthal; Tara Platt

• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 417
• Category: Library

✦ Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Dedication
Disclaimer
Foreword to Second Edition
Foreword to Original Edition
Introduction
Chapter 1: SO, WHAT IS VO ANYWAY?
And … We’re Rolling on Take Two…
What It Is
Where Can You Find Voice-Over?
History and the Different Kinds of Voice-Over
Chapter 2: YOU REALLY WANT THE JOB, BUT WHICH ONE?
So Many Delicious Flavors ...
Animation
Video Games
Motion Capture and Performance Capture
Film/TV
Commercial or Promo
Narration
Podcasting and Radio Shows
Chapter 3: FINDING YOUR VOICE
Know Your Voice
“So How Do I Find My Own Voice?”
Adjective/Adverb Quality List
“But I Like How That Guy Sounds!”
“People Tell Me I Sound Like So-and-So …”
A Healthy Voice is a Happy Voice
Know Your Boundaries
“I Use My Voice All the Time. How Hard Could It Be?”
Chapter 4: BEFORE YOU GET TO THE AUDITION
Creating a Character – the Acting Part of Voice Acting
The Importance of the Ws: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and hoW
Playing with Speed, Pitch, and Volume
Impressions and Timing
Professionalism
Be Willing to Play
Focus
Fight Sounds/Efforts
Yelling/Screaming
Your Diaphragm and Breath Control
Breathing: Just Do It
Reactions
No, Seriously – Just Do It
Let’s Get Physical – PCap Time
Warm-up Time
Chapter 5: THE AUDITION ITSELF
This Is the Fun Stuff
Expanding Your Comfort Zone
Making Bold Choices
Using Your Real Voice
Taking Direction
Working with the Material: Be a Detective, a Miner, and a Gardener
What’s Not on the Page: Improvising at an Audition
Ask Questions in the Audition Room
Auditioning from Home vs. Getting in the Room
MoCap & PCap Auditions
Chapter 6: THE BOOTH
Where Your Friend (the) Mic Lives
The Proper Distance from the Mic
P Pops, Popper Stoppers, and Blowing a Take
Watching Your Volume
Mouth Noises: Clicking, Smacking, and Gurgling
Not Just Your Mouth: Shuffling, Rustling, and Squeaking
“What’s That Stuff in the Booth with Me?”
“What’s That Sound?”
“What About Performance Capture?”
Be a Conscientious Camper
Chapter 7: THE STUDIO
“How’s the Studio Different from the Booth?”
Don’t Psych Yourself Out
“What Do Those Guys/Gals Do Anyway?”
The Director
The Engineer
The Producer
The Client
The Performance Capture Studio
Chapter 8: THE SOUNDSTAGE
More Than a Talking Head
Theatre of the Mind
Props, Projection, and Participation
The MoCap Team
Stunts
Acting Natural Under Unnatural Circumstances
Lights, Camera, Action
Chapter 9: YOUR HOME BOOTH
“How Do I Set Up My Own Studio? What Do I Need?”
“So What’s Your Home Booth Like?”
Going Remote
Changing Technology and the Future of VO
Chapter 10: HOME AWAY FROM HOME: RECORDING REMOTELY
Your Travel Rig
The Last Resort: Renting a Studio
Chapter 11: WHAT TO DO TO GET STARTED
Be Prepared: The Way of the Boy Scouts
Read Much?
Start Small
Your Routine
Classes, Classes, Classes
That Shiny, Happy Thing We Call the Demo
Staying Prepared
Ready, Set … GO! (No, Seriously, Go)
Top VO Cities
Pay-to-Play Sites
Chapter 12: THE DEMO
Your Calling Card
Fake It ‘til You Make It
Play to Your Strengths
The Commercial Demo
The Promo Demo
The Animation/Video Game Demo
The Narration Demo
PCap Demo
Making Your Demo: Costly, but Worth It
Short & Sweet
Chapter 13: AGENTS/MANAGERS & PERSONAL MARKETING
“Who’s in My Corner?”
“Do I Need Representation?”
“Where Do I Find Them?”
Self-Promotion 101
What to Do with Your Demo
Your Website
Postcards and Business Cards
The Mailing: Ships out to Sea
Network, Network, Network
Follow Up
Referrals
Swag
Your Contact Info
Union/Nonunion
Chapter 14: PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT
Script Notations
Time Code
Line or Loop Numbers
Mouth Movement
Hitches
Practice Script & Copy Section
Commercial Copy
Animation Scripts
Video Game Script
Promo/Trailer Copy
Narration Scripts
Get on Your Feet: PCap Scripts
Podcasting Template
A Fun Exercise: The Phrasinator!
Chapter 15: SUCCESS STORIES
Not Just Us
Reader Stories
[Your Story Goes Here]
Chapter 16: HINTS, TIPS, and PARTING THOUGHTS
How to Stock Your Pantry
Tara & Yuri’s Short List
Resources
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants …
And That’s a Wrap!
APPENDIX: THE WORKBOOK
Step One: Your Voice
Step Two: Expanding Your Range
Step Three: Better Breathing & Moving Your Mouth
Step Four: Putting It All Together
Step Five: Practice With Scripts & Copy
Glossary of Terms
References
Index
Author Bios