book

The Art of Voice Acting, 5th Edition

Name: The Art of Voice Acting, 5th Edition
Author: James Alburger
ISBN: 9781317816317

by James Alburger

August 2014

Beginner

492 pages

13h 49m

English

Focal Press

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Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Forward
Preface
Introduction
The Craft of Performing for Voiceover
1. What is Voice Acting?“Voiceover” vs. “Voice Acting”Types of Voiceover WorkThe EssentialsBreaking into the Business of Voiceover

2. The Best Kept Secret
The Realities of Voice ActingFull-time or Part-timeSeven Things You Must Know About Voiceover Work
3. Voiceover Basics: Where to Start
Are You an Actor or a SalespersonYour Role as a Voice ActorA Common MistakeUnderstand Your AudienceThe Voice Actor as a SalespersonGetting the Skills You NeedA Twist of a WordVoiceover “Reads”ClassesA Word of Caution
4. Using Your Instrument
Where do You Sit in the Voiceover Orchestra?All about BreathingYour Vocal PresentationBreath Control for the Voice ActorBreathe ConversationallyBe Easy on YourselfExercising Your VoiceCorrecting Speech Problems and HabitsUnclear Diction or Lack of Speech ClarityOveremphasis, Explosive Consonants, and Over EnunciationLosing, or Dropping, the Ends of WordsLack of Mobility in the Face, Jaw, and LipsClipped vowelsBreathiness and Devoicing ConsonantsExcessive Resonance or an Overemotional QualityAccent Reduction or MinimizationVoice and Body ExercisesWarm up to Save Your VoiceExercise 1: Relax Your MindExercise 2: Relax Your BodyExercise 3: Relax Your NeckExercise 4: Relax Your ArmsExercise 5: Relax Your FaceExercise 6: Horse LipsExercise 7: Relax Your TongueExercise 8: YawningExercise 9: The Cork ExerciseExercise 10: The SweepExercise 11: Enunciation ExercisesTongue Twisters24 Tips for Maintaining Your Voice and Improving Your Performance
5. Voice Acting 101
It’s Not About Your Voice, It’s About What You Can Do With Your VoiceCommit to Your Choices - And AdjustBe in the MomentBe Your Own Director—Mastering Self-directionMake it the First Time Every TimeTell the Story EffectivelyFind the Rhythm in the CopyGetting Away from the ReadUnderstand the Big Picture with 6 Ws and an HAsk “What if…”Character DepartureListen and AnswerMake up a Lead-in Line (Pre-life)Make up a Lead-out Line (After life)Billboarding Key Words and PhrasesPersonal Pronouns—the Connecting WordsWork the ConsonantsBuilding Transition BridgesUsing ConjunctionsDealing with ListsContrast and ComparisonAd-lib to Create RealismThe TellMaintain Your Character’s Vocal RangeFaster and FlatterPhysical Attitudes to Help DeliveryM.O.V.E.To Care or not to CareFeel the TensionYour Clothes Make a DifferenceThe Magic of Your Mind: If You Believe it, They WillTrends
6. Developing Style and Technique
What’s in Your Took Kit?StyleYour Signature VoiceThe Road to ProficiencyBecoming CompetentThree Stages to Achieving ProficiencyThree Steps to Creating an Effective PerformancePracticeRehearsal & PerformanceThe Elements of a Voice Acting PerformanceLess is MoreMore is MorePerformance Dynamics: Pacing, Volume & RangeArticulationDictionTempo and RhythmTiming is EverythingPhrasingSustain to Slow Down and Add InterestThee and Thuh, Ae and UhAttitudeSense MemorySubtextTonePause for ImportanceHold that Thought—Using the EllipsisThought Pacing—Another use of the EllipsisImitationResources
7. Techniques for Developing Style
Critical Voice Acting ConceptsLet Go of Judgments and InhibitionsTake the “Voice” out of VoiceoverInterrupt, Engage, Educate, OfferNever Play Comedy for the LaughShortcuts that Trick Your BrainThe 2-4 ShortcutRe-spell with Sound-alikesLinkingAdvanced TechniquesMake Them the Only WordsRemove or Change Punctuation MarksReverse Text to Find InflectionRide the Elevator to Tweak Your TimingSubstitution: Changing Context to Find AttitudeAdd a Word or TwoSubtract WordsBreak the Rules of LogicBreak the Rules of GrammarWork BackwardsFind Emotional HooksMemorize the First LineUse Music as Inspiration (Music Match Exercise)Using Props
8. Microphone Technique
Your New Best FriendMicrophone BasicsMicrophone Pickup PatternsMicrophone Placement & Copy Stand PositionLet the Engineer Position the MicrophoneWorking the MicrophoneUsing Proximity Effect to Your AdvantageNever Blow into or Tap a MicrophoneHolding the MicrophoneUsing HeadphonesWhat Kind of Headphones are Best?
9. The Seven Core Elements
Acting is Acting is Acting… Sort ofIt Starts with PretendingA = Audience: Core Element #1B = Back Story: Core Element #2C = Character: Core Element #3D = Desires: Core Element #4E = Energy: Core Element #5Psychological EnergyPhysical EnergyEmotional EnergyF = Forget Who You Are & Focus: Core Element #6G = Gamble: Core Element #7
10. Wood Shedding and Script Analysis
The Director in the Front Row of Your MindWood Shed Your CopyCreating a Performance Road Map: Analyzing and Marking a ScriptTo Mark or not to MarkMapping Your PerformanceWood Shed Your Script to be More BelievableCharacter Analysis: Core Element #3Find the Back Story: Core Element #2Unveil the ConflictScript Analysis WorksheetDiscover the Resolution or Non-resolution of ConflictDiscover the Unique Selling PropositionMake the Copy Your OwnCreate TensionLook for Question Marks in the CopyTips for Wood Shedding
11. The Character in the Copy
How Will You Play the Role?The Two Types of ActorsThe DilemmaYour Best Tool is Your Own PersonalityThe Two BoxesTheater of the MindAn Exercise for Creating Real CharactersVisualization Script for “Creating Characters”Making Your Characters BelievableFind the MusicStudy Other PerformersStretch Your Boundaries and be Willing to RiskMake Every Time the First TimeCharacter Has Precedence Over CopyAct ProfessionalTips for Performing All Types of Copy
12. Single Voice Commercial
Commercials are Not About SellingIt’s All About the StoryTelling the Story in TimeScript FormatsTips for Performing Single-Voice CopySingle-Voice ScriptsFunerallPayChex TodayLiberty Trust
13. Multiples and Dialogue
Types of Dialogue CopyThe ConversationComedyTips for Performing Comedic Dialogue CopyDialogue and Multiple-Voice ScriptsNature LifeSan Diego TourismCheap TimesSunland Bank and Trust
14. Industrials: Long Form Narration
Telling a Different Kind of StoryThe Challenges of Medical NarrationHow to Approach Your Medical ScriptTips for Performing Corporate & Narrative CopyCorporate and Narrative ScriptsLighting StoreRAPIDaccess: How To Use the Interface
15. Audio Books
Telling the Long StoryThe Audio Book ChallengeFinding Audio Book ClientsTips for Performing Audio BooksAudio Book ScriptsThe Time MachineKnow Thy Neighbor
16. Mastering Character Voices
Vocalizing CharactersAnimation, Game and Other Character VoicesThe Six Elements of Character VoicePat Fraley’s Six Critical Elements of Character VoiceFinding Your VoiceThe Character Voice WorksheetTips for Character and Animation CopyCharacter, Game and Animation Scripts
17. Imaging—Promo—Trailer
Radio ImagingThe Radio Broadcaster’s Brand and SignatureTelevision PromoTrailerTips for Performing Imaging, Promo and TrailerImaging Scripts (various formats)Promo ScriptsTrailer Scripts
18. Other VO Genres
What is Your Niche?TelephonyADR/LoopingAnimeNew MediaA Revolution in Media Content & Delivery
The Business of Voiceover
19. Getting Paid to PlayIt’s Show-biz, Folks!The Many Hats of a Voiceover ProfessionalMaking Money Doing Voiceover WorkThe UnionsFinancial CoreWhen Should I Join the Union?Working FreelanceTalent Agencies, Casting Agencies, Personal Managers, and Advertising AgenciesThe Talent AgencyThe Casting Agency or Casting DirectorThe Personal ManagerOn-line Audition ServicesHow Advertising Agencies WorkHow Production Companies Work
20. How to Work in the Voiceover Business
Promoting and Marketing YourselfManaging Your TimeLeft Vs. RightMaking the Minutes CountBusiness basicsNever Underestimate the Value of Dumb LuckNever Underestimate Your Ability to be Able to Deal with PeopleMaking Contacts with Prospective ClientsFollow-upReaching the People who Book TalentHow Social Media Networking Can Help Your Voiceover BusinessThere’s Value in Social Media Networking (Courvoisier)Which Ones Should I Be On?Where Do I Start?OK, My Profiles are All Set Up, Now What?Join GroupsTips for Net EtiquetteShould I Upgrade to a Paid Account?Final RecommendationsWorking InternationallyWorking as a Global Voice Actor (Andy Boyns)A Business Plan for Voice Actor You, Inc.Business Plan for Voice Actor You (Worksheet)
21. Your Voiceover Demo
Your Professional Calling CardDemo Rule #1: Don’t Produce Your Demo Until You Are ReadyHow Will I Know?How Do I Get to Be That Good?A Word of CautionDemo Rule #2: Your Demo Must Accurately Represent Your AbilitiesVersatility is Your Selling ToolDemo BasicsDemo FormatsTypes of Voiceover DemosCommercial DemosIndustrial Narration DemosCharacter and Animation Demos (incl. Games)Audio Book DemosImaging, Branding, Signature Voice DemosPromo and Trailer DemosTelephony DemosProducing Your DemoPreparation is the Key to a Great DemoHow Long Should My Demo Be?What About Product Names?Where do I Get the Copy for My Demo?What About Dialogue, Music and Sound Effects?What is the Production Process?How Much will My Demo Cost?What do I Need to Know About Recording Studios?How do I book a Demo Studio and Producer?Your Demo Recording SessionArrive on Time and PreparedWorking with Your Engineer/ProducerKeeping Your Demo Current
22. Your Home Studio
A Million Dollar Studio in Your HomeThe Challenge of Recording at HomeDesigning Your Home StudioUnderstanding Room AcousticsAdvanced Home Studio TechnologyISDN and Other TechnologiesPhone PatchDigital Recording DevicesEquipment UpgradesManaging Your ComputerWearing the Hat of the Audio EngineerThe Mysterious DecibelRecording LevelsAn Audio Recording & Editing PrimerRecording SoftwareBasic EditingSignal ProcessingRenderingDelivering Rendered Files
23. Establishing Your Voiceover Identity
Present Yourself as a ProfessionalCreating Your BrandWhat Makes You Unique?Setting Up ShopPrint MaterialsPhotosCD LabelsGetting Your Demo Out There: To Duplicate or NotYour WebsiteWebsite Essentials
24. The Talent Agent
Finding and Working with an AgentGetting the GigsSearching for an AgentInterviewing an AgentWorking with Your Agent
25. Managing Your Voiceover Business
Setting Your Talent FeeEvaluate the Job RequirementsThink Like an EntrepreneurSetting Your FeeWhat About All that EquipmentBuyoutsThe AgreementNegotiating Your FeeGetting Paid for Your WorkThe Deal Memo LetterHow to Guarantee You’ll be PaidCreate a Booking Agreement FormOther Types of AgreementsBooking Confirmation FormUnion CompensationProduct IdentificationLimited Release ProductionsDocumenting Your SessionSession Work Order FormKeeping RecordsVoice Acting Expense Report FormBanking and Your BusinessVoiceover and the Law
26. Auditions
The Audition ProcessAuditioning from Your Home StudioOnline Auditions—Pay to Play WebsitesRecording a “Killer” AuditionWho Wrote this Copy?Uncompensated Use of Your AuditionThe Live AuditionPreparing for a Live AuditionWhat to Expect at a Live AuditionBe Prepared to WaitExpect to be NervousExpect to be Treated Like Just Another VoiceMake a Good First ImpressionMake the Copy Your OwnIntroduce Yourself with a Slate and Do Your BestOwn the SessionAfter the AuditionWhen the Actors are GoneBe Good to YourselfNon-Union Auditions
27. You’re Hired! The Session
A Journey through the Creative ProcessThe Production ProcessSession DelaysWorking with Producers, Directors, Writers and ClientsWho are Those People?Types of Sessions, Setups and Script FormatsDemosScratch TracksRegular SessionSession SetupsScript FormatsThe Session: Step-by-StepCommon Direction TermsWrap it Up
28. Stop it!
What are You Doing to Sabotage Yourself?Stop ActingStop AnnouncingStop ApologizingStop AssumingStop CaringStop GuessingStop Judging YourselfStop Negative ThinkingStop PerformingStop ProcrastinatingStop ReadingStop Second Guessing Your ClientStop Second Guessing YourselfStop ThinkingStop Trying to be PerfectStop Trying too HardStop Wasting TimeStop Worrying About the Words
29. Tips, Tricks & Studio Stories
Maxine Dunn: Are New Clients Even Reading Your Cover Letter?Deb Munro: How Well Are You Managing Your Time?Julie Williams: Keep the Spotlight on the Star!Tom Dheere: Tom’s Tip: The Scratch TrackBill Holmes: Commercial Voiceovers: Yeah… It’s That Easy!Judy Fossum: Link up with LinkedInBobbin Beam: Thoughts on AuditioningBob Hurley: A Tip About Your DemoLaura Bednarski: Tips for Voiceover NewcomersElley-Ray: What You Eat is How You Sound!Penny Abshire: So … What Happens Now?
Index

Overview

From basic acting techniques and exercises for keeping the voice in top condition, to marketing and promotion of the actor, The Art of Voice Acting covers it all. Now in its fifth edition, this essential book is packed with expert advice on job opportunities and career management tips; it is the ideal resource for anyone wanting to maximize their success in the industry. Complete with a companion website and QR codes that link directly to additional material such as audio for every script included in the book, more exercises, and voice relaxation techniques, this is the complete package that gives voiceover actors, and those in related fields, a clear, no-nonsense introduction to the business and art of voice acting.

New and updated in this edition:

All new scripts and voice exercises

More voice and acting techniques

Coverage of new trends, including online demos and online auditions

Additional coverage of audiobooks and new information on home studio technology

All new contributions from some of the top voice talent in the world

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
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