VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

JBarrett

As mentioned in a previous thread, part of my experience so far has been acting as a voice replacement/soundalike for a couple VeggieTales characters in a live stage show. I was able to get the full mix of the show from the producers, but I wonder if it would be unwise to include that material on a reel because I'm not the original voice of the characters. Am I left to just chalk it up as a good experience, or is there some way I can use the material on an animation/character reel when the time comes?

Edit: on a related note, is there a market of any kind for soundalikes?
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Justin S. Barrett
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:18 am Post subject:

I see postings on Craiglsit all the time for someone who sounds like Schwarzenegger or Sean Connery, but I don't think there's a tremendous market. As I say to anyone who puts impressions on a reel: "That's great you can do a Kermit the frog or Porky Pig. But someone already has that job and they do it better than you." Painful, but true.
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Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

BenWils · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject:

I agree with Dan. However, I would also add it might be a good idea to have a demo together if you can really do "spot on" impressions of the cartoons you mentioned and others.

More than likely people in the "biz" won't be impressed if it is on your demo reel, unless they are the one that day looking for the sound-a-like. So, I would say, leave it off of any websites etc. Just have it ready to fire off when asked for and list it somewhere on your site if you want. You never know what may come of it.

Other impressions of famous people.....I would say, they better be really, really good to be on your demo or site, otherwise you may appear to some as one of those YouTube impressionists.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject:

This whole thing sounds kind of like the rule of thumb for accents: If you can't fool a native of the accent you are attempting, then don't try it.

So unless you can convince Bob Bergn that you are the voice of Porky Pig or Brian Henson that you are Kermit, leave them off.
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patfraley · Guest

Dear Justin,

There are no rules just notions. I did a Sound Alike for Tim Allen's Buzz Lightyear for 12 years for games, park rides, toys, commercials, even voice Buzz's exertion sounds in Toy Story II, and yet never used it on a demo (I think-not sure-I was recently replaced. It was never a match made in heaven, and my agent charged them four times what most received). That being said, I have my bad Paul Lynde on my character voice demo. Who knows? Impressions and impersonations amuse me to death, and it is part of our skill set.

There is a fine market for Sound Alike. Most is found in LA, where airplane edited versions of movies are ADR-ed (you must get clever at saying "friggin'"). Also post production where stars are not available to add lines to films. Why? The contracts call for them to do post at no extra money IF they are available. Dah. Many make themselves not. Bob Holt, one of my mentors used to refer to this work as "Vocal Whoredom," but always thought that a bit harsh, and marveled at his ability to slip into the vocal folds of an absent star.

Certainly there is work for Sound Alike with regard to interactive/gaming projects. The money is usually not handsome enough for a player who appeared in a motion picture to do the game version.

Justin, if you would like to pursue this avenue, I suggest you first get a sense of what range you are in. Are you a tenor, cover Matt Damon, Mark Wallenberg, Keanu Reeves, and even younger higher pitched players? Or, are you "of an age," and more appropriately go after Jon Voight, James Woods, and other actors named John or James?

Then, start watching those players who are working on the screen a lot. Get facile at adjusting your placements (where the voice seems to be centered or coming from). Also, listen to "signature 's' pronunciations. Every other actor has something going on there. It's the vocal fold fingerprint (how's that for a mixed metaphor?).

Then, go to a studio and lay down a few lines, and get them, properly slated by another, to your agent or directly to casting people who must find Sound Alikes, like Barbara Harris in LA.

Also, know that it's 80% genetics, and a solid 10% technique. You never get beyond that, and it's usually good enough.

Finally, Justin, there is no wasted work for a professional, who is committed to excellence. The journey this kind of "road work" takes you on a path, which will make you more aware of your abilities, and more vocally versatile.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me. I teach my approach to Sound Alike in a workshop/event setting. Haven't done it in a while, but I've got just enough monkey in me to enjoy the process and willing work with a group.

Regards, Pat Fraley
patfraley.com

Lizden · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

Well,
I think THAT about covers it!
Justin, you just got a Master's advice!

Pat, you rock!

Liz
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tombrom · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject:

Ditto what Pat said!
My agent said that if you are to put some sound a likes on your reel put them at the end of the reel as most animation house want to hear original voices.
She said I had too many sound a likes on my reel.

So put your original voices and then some sound a likes to show you can do that too.

All the best!
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JBarrett · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:18 pm Post subject:

Awesome advice from everyone, and a super-big thanks to Pat for kindly composing such a lengthy reply!

To clarify where the sound-alikes question came from, it was mainly a branch-off of my experience recreating some of the VeggieTales character voices. I can sorta-kinda impersonate a handful of people, but most of my sound-alike voices are animated characters. However, aside from the VeggieTales stage show job (which largely came about due to relationships I already had w/ folks at the company who knew I'd been messing with the voices for a while), I wasn't sure how common it was for sound-alike jobs to come up.

In everything I've read/heard about the VO business so far, there's been almost no mention of sound-alikes, whether for animation or live-action. I had a hunch the work was out there somewhere, but nobody was talking about it...how to go about finding it, how sound-alike voices should/shouldn't fit on a reel, etc.

I don't imagine that I'll do a lot of sound-alike work, but ever since the VeggieTales gig, I've been wondering what -- if anything -- I could do with that material, and how that kind of VO work fit into my overall portfolio. Thanks again to those who have replied so far! Laugh

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BenWils · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:23 pm Post subject:

Justin,

You never know what you will get asked to do when the word gets out you do character voices and some select impressions. I just recently did a spot for a large east coast restaurant chain and was asked to do a King of Queens, lovable buffoon type read for the spot. Very fun gig! But, this is where YouTube is very useful to me.... and others I am sure. Study, study, study the voices as Pat suggests. Get good at doing the Dennis Leary reads....lots of people asking for him as of late.

I also was just asked to do 6 different voices (announcer, and 5 characters) in another commercial for a tire company. Some of the characters only had one line. We'll see what the pay shakes out to be for that one.

It is fun stuff though when that type of work roles in......balances out the boring stuff for sure.
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Ben

"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:29 am Post subject:

One type of sound-alike I didn't think of is video games. A LOT of video games are based on movie franchises. But due to budgets, they can't afford to hire the same actors. So they hire voice actors who sound similar. Something to think about.
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davidmonteath · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:04 am Post subject:

I would be very careful about including anything that suggests that your sound-alike is promoting a product.

Many stars are understandably exceeding litigeous when it comes to their 'image'.....Tom Waits sued and won against an imitator and I know that Sean Connery is very very careful over where he is seen/ heard. None of us know what particular sponsorship deals someone may have and if they (voiced by you) are thought to be promoting a rival or part of a spoiler, they will get cross!!!!

I totally take the point about ADR, a completely different skill. Someones ability to sound like Matt Damon in a movie drop-in or flight or TV version could be deemed to have the approval (albeit tacit) of star or the movie company who has contracted them. I have covered Ewan McGregor in the past with no problems.

Me selling whisky while using my famous Connery impression will only get me sued.

Be very wary!!!
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BenWils · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:39 am Post subject:

Good point David. That is very true. My spot that I mentioned was not a sound-a-like. It was more of the attitude they were after than the voice. I guess more times than not people asking for a certain voice are asking for the attitude of this person and not a dead on impression or a sound-a-like because of the law suit issue.

It would be much much harder for someone to try and file suit over stealing their attitude for a spot than it would for a sound-a-like. I can see it in court now...."see there, he's using the same bad attitude I use whenever I am on TV...just like I do". I could be wrong but I don't think it would hold up well. If so, James Earl Jones should own the world by now.
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Ben

"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

Brett Mason · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:38 am Post subject:

davidmonteath · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:03 am Post subject:

Preshishely Mishter Mashon Laugh

Ben, your point is well made..... suggesting an attitude rather than doing an impression is indeed different from purporting to 'be' the person.....for instance.....Go on make my day, buy Kaisers potato chips' would probably be OK, but done with an Eastwood snarl and even perhaps adding 'Go on punk' would probably take you too close.

I have done radio ads in which I copied the attitude of a well known hamburger eating singer, I made very sure it wasn't too close and he was never mentioned by name.

Its a minefield, I'd interested to hear others opinions.

Personally.....I don't use any sound-a-like or impressions on my site, because I want clients to use my voice, not my ability to sound a little bit like someone else. Having said that, I have done them and I use them very, very sparingly on a demo reel I tailor for preospective clients.
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