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Do you have any guidelines for selecting a really talented voice director who can get the performance out of people.
Hi thanks for the post. Good question. Here are my 2 cents.
Yes, there is a 'method to the madness' when it comes to selecting a good voice director as it is a unique skill and ability. However, it can be learned over time.
In case you are not aware, I'm not only the casting director at VoiceTOONS, and the instructor / coach of VO 101, but I'm also a 23-year veteran gaming, cartoon and animation voice actor. See http://www.anthonyreece.com
In my humble opinion, and from years of exp both as a voice actor and vocie / casting director, when you select a voice director, try to select someone who has exp in BOTH areas.
Truth is it is a REAL bonus working with a voice director / casting director whom is ALSO a voice actor. See we can better relate to the task at hand having been on both sides of the mic, seeing it from both perspectives.
I've been in SO MANY sessions as a talent over the years, where it is more than obvious the so called "voice director" has no clue HOW to get the BEST performance out of a voice talent. More so, IF he, or she has never been directed as a talent themselves.
Unless one has been on both sides of a session, or recording project as a talent AND director, only then can one FULLY understand how to get the voice cast to find their motivation for a part, and HOW to interpret the script as a voice talent.
If a director treats the voice actor like a monkey, and thinks the hired talent should merely mimic the dialogue just how the director wants them to deliver the lines, game over. The truth is, a great director must allow the actor to well, 'ACT'.
Our job is to HELP and guide the talent to bring out the artistic ability of the talent and make the character rock. A good director is a creative partner while recording tracks. Our job is to establish a comfort zone so the talent feels little pressure, no stress and is open to EXPLORE the character as to deliver the best performance possible.
In summary. A good voice director is someone who has been in the battle trenches so to say, understands just WHAT is expected from the talent, helps the talent FIND and STAY in character, then colaborates with that voice talent / voice cast to get the best dialogue possible. A good director does NOT try to run the show, or 'control' the talent like a big shot. If the voice talent is comfortable, feels respected, and is confident they are being directed by someone who has "been there done that", in the end everyone wins. Of course, there is also something to say about "exp" in all of this, but in short those are the key ingrediants to being a good voice director.
Thanks again for the quesiton.
Anthony Reece