VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Rick Riley · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:24 pm Post subject: Character Demo…. Let It Rip!

The deal is, this is a very, very good friend of mine. A friend who has been in radio since Methuselah got his first Arbitron Diary. I’m trying to offer him some help / direction in the VO business. He’s always doing characters, so I asked him to give me a character demo.

I liked what I heard and I think I hear something in there, worth pursuing / developing, but I’m not a character artist, so maybe I’m ignorantly wrong.

I know there are a lot of well established Character VO Artists on this board. Would those who know, offer some insight as to where he might go with this. Again, he’s a very, very good friend and I’m doing whatever I can to offer whatever I can.

http://soundcloud.com/rickriley-1/character-demo

And I appreciate your effort in helping me do that. Thanks!

Bruce · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:12 am Post subject:

I think he could get there. The thing that's needed most, to take him from being a guy who does some voices, to a guy who does voices for a living, is what some call "commitment to character". In most of the bits I don't hear him "being" the character. Either he needs to find that technique on his own or get some acting guidance.

Of course the single piece of music under all the voices adds to the amateur feel. It would eventually help to create separate vignettes.

B
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Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:18 am Post subject:

British comedy actor Beryl Reid said that when creating a character she started with the feet, yer woman was a genius.

Most actors are able to create living, breathing characters and if they have problems with the voice of the character they get a voice coach and more often that not the problem is solved.

Watch Jane Horrocks ..an actor .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPcfWQQKork

Darren Altman · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:26 am Post subject:

This year I went on two character voice workshops. As well as learning the mechanics of the mouth, all the sounds one can produce and variations that can be attained, we went into details of the characters we invented. I learned that it's not just a case of 'putting on the voice' or 'doing the accent'. Give your character a back-story. Who is he? How old is he Where does he live? What job does he have? How does he stand? How tall is he? Is he happy? Sad? Indifferent?

When you dig deep and go into the minutiae of a voice, you start to properly create a character. A person.
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Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

The following people have all at some point said the same thing:

"It's all about the acting."

- Charlie Adler, Ginny McSwain, Pat Fraley.

I'm not going to write Bob Bergen's name there, because I can't accurately recall if he said it, but I think he did.

Matto · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:09 pm Post subject:

Pixar posted some succinct and relevant advice today on Twitter.

"Even if it will never be seen (or heard*), build a world around your characters. What do they like/dislike? Where were they 5 minutes ago?"

*editor's note
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:03 pm Post subject:

This was you doing some screwy voices for that demo thingy.

Now work on bringing living breathing people to the microphone that have something to say.
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Rick Riley · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:13 pm Post subject:

Oddio · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:33 am Post subject:

Everyone's comments are so right on I truly have nothing to add, I will say your friend has a great start though! He definitely has a nice voice, but the same piece of music all the way through is annoying....definitely could use some individual pieces.
Philip, THANK you for turning me on to Jane Horrocks. WHAT A TALENT!
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Mandy Nelson · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:12 pm Post subject:

to Philip I have to say BUBBLES!!!! Man, I never followed her after but I'm so glad to be turned on again.
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