Voiceovers: Techniques and Tactics for Success

by Janet Wilcox

Overview

Have you ever been told that you have a great voice? Put it to use in a career as a voice-over actor! Veteran voice-over actor, writer, producer, and teacher Janet Wilcox provides the inside scoop on the industry and personal training to help voice-over hopefuls find work in network promos, commercials, documentaries, books on tape, radio, animated films, and more! This rich resource comes with a CD-ROM featuring vocal exercises and interviews with voice-over actors. Readers will discover a treasure trove of useful information, including: Actmg warm-ups, Vocal workouts, Improv exercises, Character work sheets, Tips for making demos, Sample V.O. scripts, Interviews with show biz heavyweights, Casting insights, Advice on getting professional representation, Secrets to finding opportunities in traditional and emerging venues. Voiceovers shows readers how to use that great voice to garner cash and compliments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621534297
Publisher:	Allworth
Publication date:	09/09/2014
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Janet Wilcox is a voice-over actor whose clients include E!, ABC, Lifetime, HBO, Lowe’s, Nickelodeon, Cinemax, Lancôme, the Discovery Channel, and others. She has worked as a writer, producer, and director on major promotion campaigns for HBO, A&E, and the History Channel. She taught improv classes and voice-over workshops in conjunction with Heyman Talent and the SAG Conservatory. She currently teaches studio voice-over classes at UCLA Extension and lives in Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acting Comes First
Acknowledgements
The Rules of the Game     1
Pre-Game
The Clock Is Running
The Starting Line
Getting a Feel for the Playing Field
Get Ready for Workouts and Work
Train to Reach Your Fighting Weight     15
Preempt Problems
Finding Your Balance
Gear and Play Things
The Gold Standard
Coming Up for Air
Exercise Your Imagination, Not Your Voice
Strengthen Emotional-Choices
Defining the Boundaries-Approaching Copy
Play the Game
Key Suggestions
Warm Ups
Turn Up Your Imagination
Getting Ready to Compete     37
Use Your Hands to Free Your Voice
Learning the Rules of Radio and TV
Play Book
The Tryouts-Auditions and Casting
Finding Your Game     51
The One-Two Punch of Promos
Going for the Gold with Commercials
The 1,500-Meter Race: Long-Form Scripts
The Marathon-Audio Books
Relay Races-Multiple Character Radio Scripts
Lost in Play-Crazy Animation
The Record Book-Your Demo and Marketing Plan     75
The Dos and Don'ts of Demos
Production Value
Defining Style and Finding Copy
Distributing Your Demo
Showing Off Your Trophies-Marketing
Resources and Referrals
Be Persistent
Creativity Pays
Draw on All Your Talents
Playing Your Game     85
Game Time-Auditions
Technical High Hurdles
Animation-Acting on the Spot
Game Time-Thinking Outside the Booth
Finding Work
Coaches' Corner     101
What Makes a Successful Voice-over Talent?
What Makes aGood
Voice-over Demo?
What Are Your Pet Peeves?
What Are the Biggest
Mistakes Actors Make?
What Skills Do VO Actors Need?
What's It Like to Be on Your Side of the Desk?
Are Celebrities Monopolizing the Field?
What Are Your Thoughts about the Agent/Client Relationship?
What about the Actor's Relationship to the Casting Director?
How Do Actors Gain Success in Animation?
What's Unique about Promos?
How Have New Technologies Changed the VO Field?
What Can an Actor Do to hnprove His Odds of Success?
How Much Follow-up Should an Actor Do with Agents?
Do VO Accors Have to Live in Los Angeles?
Some Tips from Producer Michael Maxwell
Welcome to the Games-Agents and Going Pro     113
What Does an Agent Do for You?
How Do You Get an Agent?
Sell Yourself
Slam Dunk
Appendix I     121
Promo Scripts; Study Points
Script Formats
Commercial Scripts
Industrial and Marketing Copy
Study Points
Multiple Character Study Points for Radio Spots
Books and Character Copy
A Boy Named Blue   Janet Wilcox
Fifi of Fifth Avenue
Fifi of Fifth Avenue-Excerpts
Animation Copy: Study Points
Appendix II     174
Appendix III     176
Appendix IV     177
Appendix V     179
Appendix VI     180
Appendix VII     183
Suggested Readings     185
About the CD     187
About the Author     189
Index     191

Editorial Reviews

“Everything you ever wanted to know about voice-over. Wilcox’s clear, concise, an thorough how-to answers every question you’ve ever had about the voice game and a few you’ve never thought of before.”
—Chris Spencer; Senior Vice President, Creative Services, HBO

“Everything you ever wanted to know about voice-over. Wilcox’s clear, concise, an thorough how-to answers every question you’ve ever had about the voice game and a few you’ve never thought of before.”
—Chris Spencer; Senior Vice President, Creative Services, HBO

From the Publisher