6 .500 6 PERFORMING ARTS W Voiceovers: i VVooiicceeoovveerrss Praise for l c o x “Everything you ever wanted to know about voice-over. Wilcox’s clear, concise, and 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 VV Techniques and Tactics for Success OO “Clear and valuable tools for the voice-over artist.”—Michelle Danner; Artistic Director, II Edgemar Center for the Arts and The Larry Moss Studio CC EE “If you want to win the voice-over game, you must understand the strategy from OO both sides of the microphone. Janet has written the perfect playbook.”—Sue O’Neal; VV Radio Personality EE “Filled with practical tips and words of inspiration, this is the only book that covers RR everything you need to know about this exciting career!”—Jeannie Novak; Founder and SS CEO, Indiespace.com T e H c ave you ever been told that you have a great voice? Put it to use in a cahreer as a voice- n over actor! Veteran voice-over actor, writer, producer, and teacher Janet Wilcox provides i q the inside scoop on the industry and personal training to help voice-over hopefuls find u 9 work in network promos, commercials, documentaries, books on tape, radeio, animated films, and more! This rich resource comes with a CD-ROM featuring vocsal exercises and interviews with voice-over actors. Readers will discover a treasure trove of auseful informa- tion, including: n d • Acting warm-ups • Vocal workouts • Improv exercises • Character work sheets T • Tips for making demos • Sample V.O. scripts • Interviews with show biaz heavyweights c • Casting insights • Advice on getting professional representation • Secretts to finding opportunities in traditional and emerging venues ic s Voiceovers shows readers how to use that great voice to garner cash and com pliments. f o r is a voice-actor whose clients include E!, ABC, Life time, HBO, S Lowe’s, Nickelodeon, Cinemax, Lancôme, the Discovery Channel, and others. She u has worked as a writer, producer, and director on major promotion campaigns for HBO, c A&E, and the History Channel. With Heyman Talent and the SAG Conscervatory, she e taught improv and voiceover workshops, and currently teaches studio voice-over classes s Jat aUnCeLtA EWxteinlscioonx. She lives in Los Angeles. s Allworth Press Cover design: Derek Bacchus www.allworth.com Cover photo: ©image100 Techniques Janet Wilcox $24.95 and Tactics for Success Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page i Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page ii © 2007 Janet Wilcox All rights reserved.Copyright under Berne Copyright Convention, Universal Copyright Convention,and Pan-American Copyright Convention.No part of this book may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,ortransmitted in any form,or by any means,electronic,mechanical, photocopying,recording,or otherwise,without prior permission ofthe publisher. 11 10 09 08 07 5 4 3 2 1 Published by Allworth Press An imprint of Allworth Communications,Inc. 10 East 23rd Street,New York,NY 10010 Cover design by Derek Bacchus Interior design by Mary Belibasakis Page composition/typography by Integra Software Services,Pvt.,Ltd.,Pondicherry,India Cover photo by ©image100 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wilcox,Janet. Voiceovers :techniques and tactics for success / Janet Wilcox. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN-13:978-1-58115-475-7 (pbk.) ISBN-10:1-58115-475-5 (pbk.) 1. Television announcing. 2. Radio announcing. 3. Voice-overs. I. Title. PN1992.8.A6W55 2007 791.4502'8023—dc22 2006032404 Printed in Canada Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page iii Contents Preface Acting Comes First Acknowledgements 1 CHAPTER 1:The Rules of the Game Pre-Game •The Clock Is Running •The Starting Line • Getting a Feel for the Playing Field • Get Ready for Workouts and Work 15 CHAPTER 2:Train to Reach Your Fighting Weight 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 37 CHAPTER 3:Getting Ready to Compete Use Your Hands to Free Your Voice •Learning the Rules of Radio and TV •Play Book •The Tryouts—Auditions and Casting 51 CHAPTER 4:Finding Your Game 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 75 CHAPTER 5:The Record Book—Your Demo and Marketing Plan 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 85 CHAPTER 6:Playing Your Game Game Time—Auditions •Technical High Hurdles •Animation—Acting on the Spot • Game Time—Thinking Outside the Booth • Finding Work iii Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page iv 101 CHAPTER 7:Coaches’Corner What Makes a Successful Voice-over Talent? •What Makes a Good 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 Improve His Odds of Success? • How Much Follow-up Should anActor Do with Agents? • Do VO Actors Have to Live in Los Angeles? • Some Tips from Producer Michael Maxwell 113 CHAPTER 8:Welcome to the Games—Agents and Going Pro What Does an Agent Do for You? • How Do You Get an Agent? • Sell Yourself • Slam Dunk 121 APPENDIX I 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,By Janet Wilcox • Fifi of Fifth Avenue • Fifi of Fifth Avenue— Excerpts •Animation Copy:Study Points 174 APPENDIX II 176 APPENDIX III 177 APPENDIX IV 179 APPENDIX V 180 APPENDIX VI 183 APPENDIX VII 185 SUGGESTED READINGS 187 ABOUT THE CD 189 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 191 INDEX iv ◆ Voice-Overs Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page v Preface W hen a movie star walks down the street he is likely to be followed by an entourage,fans,and the paparazzi.An equally talented voice-over artist,on the other hand,usually remains invisible,no matter how successful she’s been.However,once people discover that she’s a voice-over artist,she’s in the limelight. “What kind of jobs do you do?” “Do I have the right kind of voice to do it?” “How much money do you make?” These are the questions that are likely to follow. I discovered voice acting on my first production job at HBO.I was hooked after my initial recording in the booth. I studied, acted, and booked everything from spots to shows. These shows have included E! Network’s Hollywood & Divine,Beauty Secrets Revealed.I was also the voice of Lifetime TV’s Billboards. This experience and my academic background were a perfect match for University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Extension. Once I started teaching at UCLA Extension,I was surprised that so many people told me they were interested in pursuing voice-overs or taking my class.Then I realized that there are many people who want to test the waters and see if the field is right for them;but they’re too busy to get to a class or don’t want to invest too much money at first. I created this book for these curious people,including actors want- ing to transfer their skills or anyone who has been told that they have a nice voice. This book can be used as a personal study guide, or for a class,or study group.The book is intended to be a voice-acting method v Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page vi book to set a strong foundation for work in the recording studio.I have organized the genres and exercises in a sequential pattern to build skills up to a greater level of difficulty. There is, however, no reason why a more experienced voice actor can’t pick and choose what he or she wants to work on,in any order. Acting Comes First The competition for voice-over jobs is very stiff—especially nowadays, when celebrities are eager to do voices for products,to narrate documen- taries,and to create bigger-than-life cartoon characters.My goal in writing this book is to help the aspiring non-celebrity voice actor to strengthen the acting technique that is needed to compete in a market that requires believable characters.Truthful acting has to be at the core of all work.And in order to get to this core,I am going to utilize a game-playing theme to get the creative juices flowing.Improvisation has influenced my work in everything from my live announcing gig for AMC’s Nicole Kidman, AnAmerican Cinematheque Tribute,to the narration of my children’s book, Fifi of Fifth Avenue (featuring twenty-nine characters). Thinking out of the box helped me write and produce promos for HBO and A&E. I found flexibility crucial for directing celebrities as varied as Jerry Seinfeld and Gladys Knight.Finally,I discovered that fast, free-flowing thinking was essential to meeting the varied needs of my students at UCLA Extension. In sum, improvisation has inspired me in every area of the voice-over industry. Speaking of “every area of the industry,”there are many opportunities in voice-overs, such as: commercials, infomercials, trailers, promos, looping, adr, dubbing, phone prompts, Internet audio,A/V presentations, documentaries, video games, audio books, point-of-purchase displays, industrials, marketing tapes,Web sites, toys, museums, animated TV shows, DVDs, feature films, pods, and cell phones.These jobs may garner fifty dollars or thousands of dollars for a few hours of work. I’ve focused on the areas that I believe can enhance the range of a voice actor and yield decent pay or pleasure for an hour in the booth. The book starts out with an overview of basic techniques and the industry.Then more and more exercises are introduced as different industry genres and jobs are discussed. Finally, business tips and advice vi ◆ Voice-Overs Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page vii from industry experts address etiquette and successful career moves. You can turn to the appendix for scripts and all of the checklists. This book is all about playing the game to win and the only way to do that is to have fun.You’ll learn the rules of the game with exercises. Then you can get an idea how to play the game as you read stories about jobs from professionals in the business.And,finally,you’ll understand how to cash in and win with your first paycheck.When was the last time you played a game and enjoyed it? Turn the page and let the games begin. PREFACE ◆ vii Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page viii Prelims.qxd 1/17/07 11:40 AM Page ix Acknowledgements T his book would not have been possible without the help of so many generous people.I appreciate what everyone did along the way to assist me in my efforts. I extend a special thanks to Harlan Hogan for introducing me to the senior editor of Allworth Press, Nicole Potter- Talling.In addition,I want to thank everyone at Allworth Press for their top-notch work. I am also indebted to the following people and organizations: A&E Television Networks, Richard Allen, Kristen Argis,Atlantis Group Recording, Sue Bailey, Lindsay Bajo, Zoia Barrio, Bob Bergen, Terry Berland, Alan Bivona, Allen Blumberg, John Brosnan, Tiesha Brunson, Cheryllynn Carter, Tiffany Chao, Melanie Chartoff, Suzanne Cooke, Adrienne Dalsemer,Michelle Danner,Wendy Dillon,Jill Edwards,Camille Errante,Alberto Ferreras,William Germano,Robert R.Granlund,Virginia Griffith PT, HBO, Tori Hartman, Healthology, William “Bill” Holmes, Linda Ignarro, Allyson Johnson, Dr.Virginia Johnson, Arif S. Kinchen, Diane Lake, Chelsea Lail, Bob Liebert, Carl Lindahl, Lisa Lloyd, Bob Luke, Marilyn McAleer, John Matthew, Michael Maxwell, Becky Neiman, Tim Nolan, Sue O’Neal, Steve Penchina, Bonnie Perkinson, Jenny Phillips, Erika Pratt, Mark Prillaman, Allison Reeds, Becca Schader, Artie Scheff, Dr. Randolph Schnitman, Selena Smith, Mike Soliday, Cynthia Songe, Chris Spencer,Wes Stevens,Troy Stone, Stewart F.Wilson Turner,Pat Whiteman,Dave Williams,Robert Woodfield,Charles Wright,Michael Yurchak,and Carolyn Zweifel. ix