Many people have a general idea of what a voice sounds like, but there is a tremendous amount of skill and integrity involved with voice-matching an actor.
The idea that subtitling is the only way of maintaining cultural authenticity and the emotional performance of the original actor does not hold true.
Let’s not forget the role that computer based technology and social media have played in the voice over community.
We've listed our top 10 most memorable, most inspirational Voice Over Performances. Ever.
The tube was made famous thanks in part to its soothing, silver-voiced announcement to please Mind the Gap.
What would Shrek be without his Scottish accent? Can you even imagine it? But not only was the character of Shrek NOT Scottish in William Stieg’s original books, (in fact, his name comes from Yiddish) but Mike Meyers very nearly never got the chance to play Shrek.
Last month, the whole team at Resnick Interactive did some Motion Capture (MOCAP) testing for a video game we’ll be working with in the near future.
In this second episode in our sit down with voice over actor Nolan North, we find out how voice acting for video games may differ from other projects.
As winter blows through the northern hemisphere, the season brings with it the chilling threat of illness to those in the voice over industry. Nothing halts a voice over production faster than the actors losing their voices! Even worse, for the struggling actor or singer, blowing an audition because you’ve caught a cough can be a devastating hit.
The gaming industry is creating its own stars as they come even closer to motion pictures. Most notably known for his portrayal of Drake in the Uncharted franchise, North is the closest the gaming industry can come to a leading man. His resume is extensive having appeared in Batman: Arkham City as The Penguin, Assassin’s Creed as Desmond Miles, Prince Of Persia (as The Prince), & And Then There Were None as Patrick Narracott.
The Engineer put his/her heart and soul into each project and their performance cannot be understated or overlooked. One could argue that they are our Tin Man – seemingly machine, but truly much heart.
You have to get very creative in your death scenes. You can only die so many times and in the world of video games, you can die over and over again. The interesting thing about a death scene is that this isnt something we can truly relate to ourselves. And the way we die in animations isn’t realistic to most deaths we know. So we have to become very creative and think outside the box.
What are the roles of a Voice Over Producer and Director? If we use the analogy of The Wizard Of Oz, the producer would ultimately have to be The Wizard, that being said s/he can be the Wicked Witch as well. The Director is the liaison between actors and the engineers, writers and producers, and must be as loved as the Scarecrow by all.
These two videos feature actors we have had in the studio, giving their audition advice for aspiring voice actors. Katie Crown shares that you must always know the tone of the project you are working on and how that can lead to success in the booth! In addition, Charlie Bodin gives his audition advice. His tip: take risks. He stresses the importance of reaching above and beyond your comfort zones and not going with the most obvious choice.
Here are four videos from actors we have had in the studio, giving their audition advice for aspiring voice actors. First, Sean Hankinson reminds us that this whole process should be fun. Paula Rhodes then gives a couple of tips, including how you can get close to voice over casting specialists and voice over directing experts. Next, Nakia Burise shares that you should always be yourself and have faith in your success. And finally, Laura Gerow tells why you should let yourself be nervous.
An individual like Ross Marquand would be very helpful in this situation. Check out this funny video he put together showing the different actors he can voice mimic
Voice actor, author and audio engineer Dan Friedman shares his list of 10 important tips for getting the best efforts and best results from your voiceover sessions.
Pat Fraley truly loves teaching and sharing his tips and advice with other voice actors, so we were excited to sit down with him and hear some of his advice for aspiring voice actors. Here is his response:
Richard Epcar has voiced more than 300 characters, in games, cartoons, and anime, so he’s no stranger to juggling multiple roles. He recently worked on an audiobook where he played the entire cast, and we were curious to know what it was like to have to go back and forth between so many characters. Here’s what Richard had to say:
Welcome back! Last week we talked about the importance of coming to your voice over casting session with a great sense of the characters and tone of your project. This week, we’re focusing less on the creative side of things, and more on the practical – how much money do you have and how fast do you need it by?
If you’ve ever watched a cartoon or played a video game, you’ve probably heard David Lodge’s work; his resume boasts a wide range of heroes and villains alike. We’ve used him as everything from orcs to puppies, and his never ceases to surprise us with his creative choices. In this clip, he talks about what it’s like doing voices for video games.
Voice over casting can be one of the most creatively exciting times in the life of your project. Finding the voices that fit the characters that have been living in your script/storyboards/head makes everything feel like it’s really starting to come to life. We love watching that moment happen, and we’ve seen it happen over and over during voice over casting sessions. We know it’s risky to put this information out there on the Internet, but we’re going to reveal the number one secret to finding the perfect voice cast. Are you ready? This is going to blow your mind.
