VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Philip Banks · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 1:54 pm Post subject: "Local" accents

Inspired by the PA accent search in the work section I wondered if anyone either routinely works in what is accepted as their own "local or regional" accent or has ever been asked to do it.

I was born and brought up in Somerset, England, the so-called Westcountry and was asked to do a national TV commercial with a diluted form of that accent.

One two ways of greeting someone around my home village are "woss awn sawn?" or "ow be awn?" Neither would work in a TV commercial broadcast nationally so we went with this, a gentle Somerset burr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4IMCVOQyvk

bobsouer · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 2:18 pm Post subject:

I grew up in Minnesota, a state that has a distinctive regional accent. The most widely known popular media example is in the movie released a number of years ago: Fargo. It doesn't happen often, but now and then I'll get a request to do something in that style. I wish I had a sample to provide, but sadly I do not.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Lee Gordon · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 6:52 pm Post subject:

I was born an hour north of Boston, have no discernible regional accent, but have been hired numerous times to do some variation of a New England accent, usually sounding as if I'm from Boston or Maine.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Bruce · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:23 am Post subject:

That was interesting Philip. To my 'Murican ear the only regionalism I really noticed with the dropping of the U from the word "popular", but I'm sure you struck a chord with people from that spot.

I grew up in Arizona so I've had a bit of their accent which is rather plain Midwestern, but with tinges of Western, which is sometimes called Southwestern. I've done a fair amount of voice work over the years where the Western sound has served me well so it's always in my quiver, naturally.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Steve Knight · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:20 am Post subject:

I grew up in the Baltimore/DC area, after you move away, and then return the "Bawlmerese" accent becomes very pronounced, hon..

Jason Huggins · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:39 am Post subject:

I grew up in Michigan and they do have a unique midwestern accent. Kind of a mix between Wisconsin and Canadian accents. I have been hired for 'neutral midwestern' quite a bit, and even had a Canadian production company hire me a couple times because they thought I sounded like I was from Toronto, ON.

Now that I'm living back in Michigan, I gave my wife permission to mock me mercilessly any time the accent starts to come back....it's not exactly 'neutral' midwestern Smile

WillMWatt · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 3:02 am Post subject:

I grew up in Devon (big up yer chest, represent the South West!) and so am also naturally adept at the Samwise Gamgee way of speaking.

However, I'm often told that my voice has a slight estuary (Thames estuary to you yanks - think eeeever so slightly Cockney) twang to it. I live in Oxford now...which is...sort of...in that general area. But I've only been here for two and a half years, so I'm really not sure where I've developed this accent.

The one time I was booked for a job with a Westcountry accent, the director asked me to change to normal RP after a few takes as I didn't sound authentic enough. The director was American. Go figure.