VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

RayAnime · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: British Accent

Oy. I know I'm offering myself up for the skewering by posting this, but you can't learn without a few bumps & bruises . . .

I'm trying to work on my british accent and it needs a LOT of help. Here is a sample of where it is right now (I just read a news article for the purpose of getting feedback on the accent--never mind the read itself):

http://www.zshare.net/audio/11154336f4bf60ae/

What I'm trying to pinpoint is exactly what I need to focus on. To me I have issues with maintaining a correct placement (I'm not sure I know what the correct placement is exactly , but it doesn't sound like I always have it) and with the pronunciation of certain words, especially those with "r" in them (ex: birds, university), but I don't know if that's on point--or if there are other things I need to work on as well (probably).

Any input is definitely appreciated!

Also, does anyone have a method/book/CD for working on dialects that they really like? I have such trouble with them.

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject:

It's a helluva lot better than mine.

That's all I can contribute to this, sorry. Smile

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RayAnime · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject:

Hmm, maybe it's not quite as miserable as I'd thought, even if it does still need work . . . that's always good to know.

Now I'm just waiting (and hoping, honestly) for you-know-who to pop in and rip it apart! Smile

Edo · Guest

I think your "Her Majesty's English" is rather believable. I know two verrry Brrritish ladies that sound just like that and make a hell of a living out of it too. Well done Rachel!

RayAnime · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:01 am Post subject:

Hmm . . . I hadn't trotted the accent out in a while, and I did just get back from London. Maybe I improved without realizing it!

Good to know I'm on the right track. I do know I need to keep working on consistency--I find it hard to stay on point, especially with a character vs. just reading something for the sake of reading it.

mcm · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:15 am Post subject:

First of all, I'm nuts about the script! Good find.

The accent - there are some very good places, and some words that stand out as a bit jarring. Words that I jotted down -

modern - o needs to be shorter, more like "modd'n"
evolutionary - e needs to be long - "eeva-lyooshunry" (leave out the a in the penultimate syllable)
first - too much r
Harvard - ditto
John - too much a in that o

Keep it up!!

mcm · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:42 am Post subject:

Also, I know you use the Gillian Lane-Plescia CDs, so if you're having trouble with them, it might be that you need a broader approach to make those CDS seem more "relevant". My suggestion would be to watch lots of movies with good accents (I could put a list together, given a bit of time). The Jeeves & Wooster PBS series is quite wonderful, as are my earliest tutors: Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Alan Bennett (Beyond the Fringe - available on CD at Amazon although the price is steep). Audiobooks too - like Harry Potter.

And Philip's demos Smile

BenWils · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

Yes, I listen to the Blackstar narration Philip recorded and put out a link to a few years back. It is a good one to listen for the little nuances of the British spoken word since it is 20-30 minutes long and very natural in delivery and pacing.
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"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

Gp · Guest

Rick_London · Guest

Hello

Your 'British accent' is better than my 'North American accent'! (That's a gentle bump which isn't intended to bruise but rather to nudge you in the right direction -)

If it's a general, 'standard' English accent you're aiming for, it's the one usually referred to as RP (Received Pronunciation) - and your RP is pretty good. Once you're really comfortable with this accent, having practised and played with it so often with all sorts of texts and genres and styles that your cat is threatening to leave home, try some regional English accents and dialects and then some Scots and Welsh ones (and then one which contains an Irish influence: Scouse / Liverpudlian) before jumping across the Irish Sea to relish some of the Irish accents. (- I'm on a journey of discovery around the many accents and dialects of the US, Canada and Mexico at present, mainly for fun and personal interest for now as my 'general American' still needs quite a bit more work.)

Guides to accent and dialect which I find useful are:

Paul Meier - "Accents and Dialects for Stage and Screen" - manual and accompanying CDs (and website with recordings of native speakers)

Gwyneth Strong and Penny Dyer - (series) Access Accents - CDs - published/released by Methuen - Drama

Edda Sharpe and Jan Haydn Rowles - "How To Do Accents" - (with accompanying CD) - Oberon Books, London

(My local stage & screen & voice book store, Samuel French's, has really well-informed staff who encourage customers to listen to the CDs and browse through the manuals before buying, which helps supplement the information and reviews you can get on e.g. Amazon. I hope you have similar good fortune in finding the learning tools that are just right for you.)

While you're practising your accent/s, don't forget about the context and influences of historic period, educational background, class or social standing, speaker's age etc - Fun exercises could include: Delivering your V.O. as bored supermarket checkout girl, prissy great-aunt, seductive old-time movie vamp, angry girlfriend of unfaithful boyfriend... Or mix up the genres: try a public information announcement or corporate/industrial narration in the style of a cheesy gameshow host or horror movie trailer voice artist... - If you're having fun, you're relaxing into the accent and not visibly (audibly) 'trying too hard' and the personality, versatility, emotion and style you and the client want come through more naturally and interestingly.

Wishing you fun and profit from the accent and your fine voice and technique

RayAnime · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the input guys!

mcm-- thanks for pointing out those words. There are definitely some that stuck out to me as well, so at least it's good to know I have a general idea of what's working and what's not. Totally didn't catch evolutionary and and modern though--there are some many little nuances to remember! Gotta brush up on my Harry Potter! Smile

gp-- I probably will drop a line to Mr. B at some point. Just figured I'd let this thread sit for a bit and let people bat it around before personally asking anyone's advice!

rick--the worst part is I'm aware of the existence of RP/ "Standard British English" vs. other dialects and was just too sloppy to specify what I was aiming for in my posting . . . sorry!! Thanks for the great suggestions for books/CDs, and I especially love your idea of practising my RP as various different people . . . I think that will help me stretch myself and get a better grasp on it. Good to know that at least I don't sound like nails on a chalkboard to a real-live Londoner Smile

I was just in your fair city last week, by the way, and I miss it already!!!!

Deirdre · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:29 pm Post subject:

Mister B has been hoisting it at VOX 2008 and will check in once he's sitting up and taking nourishment again in Portgordon.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:13 am Post subject:

Had I not known your country of origin "University" would've alerted me to something. Other than that you just sounded like a bad British voice over as opposed to an American trying to do a British accent. Is there any money in what I heard? No.

Listen to :- http://www.julieberry.com/
http://www.trishbertram.co.uk/
http://www.laurashavin.co.uk/

or for younger sound
www.elisacanas.com

RayAnime · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:44 am Post subject:

RayAnime · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:10 am Post subject:

Ps, does this mean I have to hang all my dreams of becoming the stateside representative for Buncha British, Inc? I'm not sure I can stand the letdown!!!!!! Maybe I can start as an intern and work my way up? Garbage girl? Anything????

Smile