Versatility...

Kim White · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007, 14:40 (GMT) Post subject:

Thank you to everyone for such incredible responses! I'll be printing this thread...

Ronald: I've posted on 'voice over idol.'

Kara: Girlfriend, your stuff is great! I didn't know there was ANYTHING you didn't do!

September/Kara: Charlotte would certainly 'string' your praises!

Colin: Thank you for all your encouragement lately.

Michael: Must have been a slow news day... you can't make a silk purse out of stories like that!

Mr. Bergen: I get it! Capilalize and focus on what I DO have, and create a spectrum of versatility within my given resources.

Phillip: Great quote! I'm tucking it into my file....

Lance: 'swagger meets ADD'...LOL! Love your quote as well!

Thank you!

Kara Edwards · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 347

Kim, you are well on your way! I agree with Bob B. and the message in his posts. If only I had that amount of wisdom and guidance when I started out!

Nancy Wolfson and I were discussing this the other day...imagine all the voice over work there is.

Imagine only 3% of it matched your vocal styles and abilities...now, if you can dominate that 3%- you will be set!

(at least that is my goal!) Good luck!

Bettye Zoller · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 163

I teach character and cartoon voices, have for thirty years now, and do them of course. In fact, when I first started in the vo biz (started in the studios as a jingle singer), I got so well known for my characters that my primary agent at that time warned me I'd better do a "straight read" demo or I was going to get pigeon holed to the point where no one hired me for anything by comedy or cartoons stuff. I did. Now, we live in a very serious world it seems and the character and cartoon voice work has slacked off greatly and my colleagues and agent pals everywhere seem to echo this feeling...you may disagree...but remember, most of the work comes from the West and East coasts such as the feature length films with characters and the TV series stuff like the Simpsons and the childrens' video TV shows etc. However, there still is a need to be ABLE to do characters and cartoons for ALL ACTORS, not just vo talents. Stage and film actors need these skills too. BUT NOT EVERYONE SHOULD TRY. So reading Kim's and other's posts here...hey, if you really are only a "straight read" person, perhaps even the "announcer type," so be it. It's ok. Some people have natural comedic leanings and do characters and impressions even as children...others never get the "hang of it." It's just not "their thing." But if you're wanting training in characters and cartoons, search around in your geographical region for the workshops and teachers to help you. My workshops are in various cities where I'm booked to teach but you can check out my site www.voicesvoices.com to see current activities. The next Character Cartoon Workshop in Dallas is Oct 6 and I'll also be doing a Women in Film Fundraiser in Houston in January 2008 teaching three seminars there and the Char. Cartoon is one of those workshops. Dates to be set...

Bettye Zoller · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 163

I meant to post this when I did my message posting here just now...so, take a listen if you want...

Kim White · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007, 17:04 (GMT) Post subject:

Ms. Zoller,

Thank you so much for taking the time to offer your insight. As I listened to your demo, I see what everyone is saying... I hear you in all of them, just a different 'you' in each character. Your characters weren't 'all over the map.' Actually, it made me a little less intimidated to try. Thank you!

What a blessing to have this place to gather information! I jokingly told my husband that during this time, I'm "getting my Master's Degree" in VO, from the University of Experience & Education.

Thank you!

Bettye Zoller · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 163

Kim says, "character voices are really just attitudes..." I'm paraphrasing...yes, Kim, when many think of cartoon and character voices they think of the voices they hear for children (and adults) that are animal voices perhaps or the old Warner Brothers or Disney things...always fabulous, of course. But in today's vo world, characters are used in toys, videogames, anime, commercials, TV shows, feature length films, and children's products of all types (and many other things too numerous to mention here...). Also, character voices are often moods and attitudes people convey with their voices...for example, sad, ecstatic, moody, shy, nervous, enthusiastic, loud and brash, etc...I teach these voice attitudes in my voiceover workshops always. Voice attitudes are the foundation of all actors' work...be it voiceovers, film, TV, toys, whatever. This could turn into a "treatise" here...and must go...gotta session! But suffice it to say, character voices are so vital, voice attitudes, for all actors everywhere, so be sure and learn how to do them and then practice. The great Jim Dale says that he "names his characters' and always records their voices and tries them various ways. Then, the characters become "people" to him. He's the voice of all the Harry Potter books, among other things. Learn more about Jim, by the way, he is a genius. He has a website and you can "google him." Yes, the voice123 forums are fabulous, well worth the price per year alone!!! And by the by, keep being patient with Alex Torrenga and staff while they iron out the kinks in this new system. I believe it holds great promise.

Gregory Houser · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 177

Jon Robbins · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 267

Bettye Zoller · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 163

Great posts, everyone. Yes, speech impediments do form many cartoon voices. I have 22 doctoral hours in speech disorders and wow did that open my brain to this...how to maneuver the tongue, the lips, manipulate the pitch, the prosody of speech, to affect characters and dialects and...in my workshops we do exercises creating how a "tomato' would sound while enjoying olive oil dressing dribbling down over it. We think about the voice of a "bad puppy" who won't obey commands and dirties the carpet. We try to voice a mom who is "angry" and bawling out her kid. See how this works>? and yes, try to voice the character DOING SOMETHING. How would your character sound while cleaning up the puppy's mess on your new carpet? Great stuff. Imagination...voice imaging. The stock and trade of all actors. This is VOICE ACTING and that's what I teach! There is a world of difference between those who are voice actors and those who are announce types...not to disparage announcers...we need you too!!! And here's another topic: How many of you do CELEBRITY IMPRESSION VOICES? They're such fun. Usually, I have to listen over and over again to the voices when I'm hired to imitate new ones. Some of my repetoire include Rosanne Barr, the Simpson characters, Joan Rivers, Bette Midler, Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Mae West, Marilyn Monroe (or sexy stuff), Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, etc.

Kim White · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007, 12:09 (GMT) Post subject:

Bettye,

Wow! OK, one that I've been trying is Paula Dean. When I get close, I'll post it... but I bet you do a GREAT Paula Dean!

I wish I could attend one of your workshops...and will definitely budget for one in the future.

Bettye Zoller · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Aug 2003 Posts: 163

Golly, I was just WATCHING her on the food channel! OK. You've made me do it. Here's my "take" on the impression I do of Paula Dean. Enjoy. And as a teacher, here's how you capture an impression of someone's voice: What is the outstanding characterisic, for instance, is it that they break their syllables up into a "yodel" with changing pitches, is it the certain way they pronounce an "s" or a "t" or is it their heavy city or regional accent or dialect coming out? Is their voice soft and melodious or brittle and hard? Is their voice nasal and twangy? Do they sound denasal as if they have a cold or stopped up nose? Do they have "frozen lips" that don't move much to articulate? It's voice analysis...hope this helps ya' all.

Kim White · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007, 22:06 (GMT) Post subject:

Bettye,

LOL! That's great! About all I can do right now is her "Ha, Yawl!"

You should cook up plenty of clients with that one!

So, today my daughter breaks into this... and her impression is better than mine!