Do you watch the ABC show "Lost"?

I hadn't started watching the series until earlier this February, and last night, we completed our LOST marathon ending with last episode of season three.

Today when I read that the LOST videogame entitled "LOST Via Domus" was released a few days ago on the XBox 360, Playstation 3, and the PC, I thought it very timely to write about the series and also get your take on the game and the voices used in it.

For those of you who haven't gotten "lost" yet, it is one of the most intriguing and involving series that I have seen for quite a long time and perhaps one of the only reasons aside from The Tudors to keep watching TV.

After wrapping up a one month marathon of catching up from the beginning all the way through to the end of the third season, I was excited to hear that there is a videogame two years in the making out now from UBISOFT called LOST: Via Domus (Translated from the Latin which means "The Way Home") that lets you in on the LOST experience, introducing a new character, Elliott.

Elliott

Elliott is a photojournalist who is a survivor on Oceanic Flight 815. The gamer assumes the role of Elliott and is given opportunities to use his photography skills to get further into the game.

One complication is that Elliott is suffering from amnesia and needs the help of other characters, John Locke in particular, to help him rediscover his past.

Just like the characters on the show, Elliott has a past which is revealed through playable flashbacks. In on of the Dev Diaries, the crew from UbiSoft confides that fans should be watching very carefully in the flashbacks to see other characters that they'll recognize from the show.

Writing and Visual Elements

Kevin Shortt was the lead writer for the game and found a good partner in Dawn Kelly, a writer from LOST seasons one and two.

The entire team took this project very seriously. The art director went to Hawaii to take pictures from the island, jungle and set to make sure that the scenery and landscapes were portrayed as accurately as possible.

The purpose of the game is to capture the meaning and experience of the show.

Not Your Average Videogame

How does LOST Via Domus differ from other games UBISOFT has worked on?

The pressure to make the game right and right for the fans sets this game apart was the largest challenge and differentiator. If the fans are not happy with the game, then the crew will feel as though they didn't do their job right.

The show is very complicated and has many layers, mysteries, and themes that needed to be incorporated into the videogame.

Not only is the show a masterpiece it has a worldwide following and fans with great expectations.

Gameplay

Gameplay involves mostly traveling through jungle where Elliott encounters familiar landmarks from the show, i.e. Black Rock, the Swan Hatch, and also some items in those places that were never in the show. Other activities include solving puzzles, mini games, dialogue choices and getting in on the action.

Elliott also encounters dangers including the infamous black smoke, polar bears, and more.

The objective was to give the gamer the full experience of the jungle just as it was in the show.

Navigational tools used to get around the island include a compass, the player's intuition, and markings on the ground.

The player needs to create the actions to survive throughout the game and there is about ten hours of gameplay to be had.

LOST Via Domus Voice Cast

From what I've read so far, one of the only drawbacks is that some of the voices are not of the original actors from the TV series.

I was in touch with the good people at UBISOFT and they confirmed some members of the voice cast for me.

"For the English version, Ben, Desmond, Claire, Mikhail, Sun and Tom provided their characters' voices. For the other versions, almost all actors provided their characters' voices."

For more detail, Yunjin Kim portrays the role of Sun Hwa-Kwon, Michael Emerson portrays the leader of The Others, Ben Linus, Emilie De Ravin plays Claire Littleton, Andrew Divoff portrays Mikhail Bakunin (one of The Others), and Henry Ian Cusick, who portrays the character Desmond Hume, the fellow who tends to say "brother" a lot.

Are you a fan of LOST?

What do you think of the Via Domus videogame and how do you feel about the voice acting and voice cast?

Best wishes,

Stephanie

As you may have heard, Pat Fraley along with some friends have an ADR (Automatic Dialog Replacement) and Looping Event coming up soon in Los Angeles.

I've got the scoop on the presenters and what the lucky participants will be up to.

Here's a great opportunity to study with 2008 Lifetime Achievement Voicey award winner, Patrick Fraley.

ADR and Looping Training Event in Los Angeles

Here's an invitation from Pat Fraley to sign up for the most meaningful ADR/Looping Training Event ever presented scheduled over two days, March 8-9, 2008, Saturday and Sunday in Los Angeles.

Participants will be trained by the country's Masters of ADR/Looping, Voice Matching and Replacement to possess all the skills ADR Supervisors, Post-Production and Casting Houses and desirable Agents.

In every major city in America, there is ADR/Looping, Voice Matching and Dialogue Replacement Work available to those who have the skills for union or non-union industrials, feature length films, and TV.

Conducted by a team of Masters who know how to deliver the training you need:

Terri Douglas: Leading Casting and ADR Session Queen, casts and conducts sessions for films like Disney's "Enchanted," "College Road Trip," "Wild Hogs," "Chicken Little," and ON and ON and ON. She'll be guiding the participants through the exact methods she uses on the ADR stage at Disney.

Patrick Fraley: Voice-Over Talent/Teacher, will be teaching his approach to voice matching and replacing. Pat recently supplied voices for Sony Picture's "I Am Legend," Paramount's "The Spiderwick Chronicles," and Disney's "College Road Trip."

Eric Thompson: ADR Engineer who will guide the technical side of the event with
the expertise that can only come from over 21 years of experience. Eric has engineered the ADR for hundreds of diverse films and TV projects, ranging from "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins," "27 Dresses," "Hysteria," "The Golden Compass," and "Rambo."

Ned Lott: Casting, Producer and ADR Supervisor. Having cut his teeth at Disney on "Cars," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Chronicles of Narnia," and many more, Ned is now a freelance producer and the Executive Producer for Denison Entertainment.

Andy Morris: Audio Engineer and Producer at Buzzy's Recording, has over 40 years experience recording talent. Andy knows how to get the job done. Andy engineers ADR sessions continually and has perfected the most sophisticated technical system in the country. Buzzy's is the home away from home for James Earl Jones, Linda Hunt, Liam Neeson and David Keith.

Day One - March 8

Hollywood's Famous Buzzy's Recording Studio

12 Participants will be taught how to recognize their personal sound print and effectively adjust to match those on the screen, supplying voices for Movies, TV and Industrials. Learn how to "lip sync" with critical accuracy in the booth while sound and picture are rolling.

Day Two - March 9

LA's Premiere Professional ADR Sound Stage, Wildfire Post-Production Studio

Participants will work with Terri Douglas on group ADR/Looping Techniques, with a collection of FRESH animated and live action feature films splashed up on the screen.

Learn Advanced ADR Techniques, Insider Tricks and Invaluable Ensemble Work.

Cost: $1200. Check, Cash, Credit Cards
Payment schedules arranged upon request.

When: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9, 2008

Saturday: Buzzy's Recording. 6900 Melrose Ave., LA, 90038
Sunday: Wildfire Studios. 640 South San Vicente Blvd., LA 90048

Event is limited to 12 participants.

To Enroll: Email patfraleyteaches@aol.com or call 818.400.3733

Best,

Stephanie

Debbie Munro is coming to Toronto in a couple of weeks!

Winnipeg and Vancouver are also on her itinerary over the next month.

This is your opportunity to study with Voicey Award winner Deb Munro, Best Female Voice.

Debbie Munro will be bringing her Mic & Me workshops to Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver this coming March.

Mic & Me Voiceover Workout : Toronto - March 8/9; Winnipeg March 29/30

Mic & Me Teen Voice / On Camera Weekend - Vancouver - March 1/2

For more details you can visit Deb's website.

Best,

Stephanie

Have you been beating yourself up over your ratio of auditions to jobs secured?

Guest blogger Bobbin Beam takes a swing in the right direction and hits one out of the park with her article featured here on VOX Daily called "The Art of Risk".

How many auditions does the average actor perform to nail a single job?

How many times do you "put yourself out there", and see nothing come of it?

Good question. Obviously the answer varies, depending on so many factors, which would be difficult to quantify into a solid statistic.

It is the question as well as the answer that makes me wonder.

In general, it would be safe to assume that you are in the majority if you take the risk of performing on any level, you run a risk of not booking the job more often than not;

Risk of failure. Risk of rejection, Risk of "de-selection".

Think about the Oscars. So many actors auditioned for the films and just so many got the job. Only so many many films or actors were nominated, and just a few select won the "golden ticket".

It's a Hard Knock Life

Being in this business is like the supreme roller coaster ride of your life. If you wanna ride, better strap yourself in. You may have exhilarating highs one week or one day, and have all the air let out of your balloon the next.

In voice-over acting, we are at a grander disadvantage. At least on a film or video shoot, you're interacting with other human beings. Not so in voiceover, unless you enjoy the rare occasion where you're booked into a studio for a double or an ensemble gig. Even so, many times you end up perhaps with just the director, and or the engineer to record the session.

"Isolation" is Not Just about the Booth

So most of the time, we work in a very isolated environment, and take our daily risks. We operate in a vacuum, and in so doing, we risk it all. We spill out our best, (we think), and can still fall flat on our face.

Working through this "art" of the process is challenging at times. It can be quite painful, to risk and lose, as it can be incredibly heady in getting the recognition or landing a gig.

Take Charge and Weather the Storm

When we suffer losses, we must train ourselves to place them into perspective. You do this any way you can. But it helps to have practical training and experience to weather them.

Where we can get into trouble is when we allow our emotions and ego to take off on a self-absorbed “pity party". Many of us do this because we are actors, we are competitive, and have innate and trained sensitivity, combined with a healthy ego.

For those who can't get this aspect of it, simply give up.

That's when it's time for a break from the business. Really, take a break! Keep doing things you love and surround yourself with people who love you, and get back in touch with what truly matters.

It's all Subjective, Don't Take it Personally

Know it's not your fault that you've been rejected, ignored, dissed, overlooked, under-appreciated, low-rated, or the latest industry buzzword, "de-selected".

Don't let this stop you.

It's OK to take the risk, while giving permission to others not to hire you for whatever reason that is not in your control. All you can do is control your own performance and spill it out there.

And next time, take the risk and get comfortable with the uncomfortable.

All the Best,

Bobbin Beam

©iStockphoto.com/Aleksandar Kolundzija

Did you watch the Oscars on Sunday night?

I did but I must confess that it wasn't to see the dresses, red carpet shenanigans or the winners... I watched to hear the announcers.

Read more about announcing at the Oscars featuring the voice of Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, and seven-time Academy Awards announcer, Randy Thomas!

The 80th Annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday night.

By now, that is old news, but what you may not have known is that the announcers on the Oscars were Randy Thomas and Tom Kane, both veterans of announcing at Hollywood's biggest night.

You may recall that last year's Oscar announcers were Gina Tuttle and voice over legend, Don LaFontaine.

Randy Thomas was kind to answer some questions for me about announcing for the Oscars including how she got her start on the program. Randy has announced at the Oscars seven times now and she says of the experience that it is always a thrill and an honor, stating "This job never gets old nor do I take it for granted. It is amazing."

When asked how she first landed the gig of announcing at the Oscars, Randy shared, "I was on the radio as a morning DJ on 94.7 The Wave in Los Angeles when they decided to audition women to be the first ever for the 65th Academy Awards in 1993. That is the year I left radio and became a full time voice-over artist."

Now, that's what I call making history!

Rehearsals for the Oscars take place four days in advance of the show so that there are no surprises and plenty of time to perfect the names of nominees.

Announcing at the Oscars is an honor extended by invitation, and for Randy, the 80th Annual Academy Awards was her 7th showing in 15 years, seven opportunities that she is very grateful for.

Coming up, Randy Thomas will be announcing at the Tony Awards for her eighth year in a row on June 15th at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.

Did you watch the Oscars this year? Any comments?

Best wishes,

Stephanie

Looking for a voice over coach?

We have recently developed a network that connects voice acting instructors with students seeking voice over training.

Check out more information here at VOX Daily!

Voice Coaches Network Vision

Building relationships and facilitating connections is one of our specialties at Voices.com.

After years of nurturing and developing relationships with the top voice over instructors in North America and abroad, we thought it was time to standardize and publicly announce the amazing opportunities available to voice over trainers, calling this new initiative the "Voices.com Voice Coaches Network".

Over the past four years, we have collaborated with voice over coaches in many ways, all of which are symbiotic and directly benefit the voice over industry at large.

You've likely seen this in action first hand as a reader of VOX Daily, Ask the Voice Cat, Master VO or as a listener to the podcasts Voice Over Experts and VOX Talk.

We're pleased to offer an interactive directory of teachers who provide voice over training across the US, Canada and Great Britain... and beyond!

Want to know a bit more about the actual voice coaches network?

As part of the Voices.com Voice Coaches Network, instructors are given free publicity and the opportunity to educate on a pro bono basis via the Voice Over Experts podcast.

Voice trainers can also have their articles and upcoming workshops posted on the VOX Daily blog as well as special mentions on Voice Over Times, the online news source for the voice over industry.

An Overview of Benefits Free for Coaches Include:

- Promotion through the Voice Over Experts Podcast
- Your own Voice Coaches Profile
- Press Release Writing and Distribution
- Have your articles published on the VOX Daily Blog
- Coverage on Voice Over Times
- Join the Affiliate Program
- Receive exclusive opportunities through Voices.com (book reviews, participate in Voices.com sponsored events, and more)

Public Service

The Voice Coaches Network is a public service provided by Voices.com to help promote the importance of voice acting education and evangelize the art of voice acting while teaching people how to navigate the new world of voice overs online. Through these extraordinary efforts, Voices.com propels the future of voice acting, proactively engaging the community and shaping the industry for years to come.

Labor of Love

The Voice Coaches Network is a labor of love, both on the part of the instructors and our company.

Giving back to the community is very important. Everyone involved in this project realizes the impact they are having and are proud to be part of this outstanding initiative in educational excellence.

Want to join the Voices.com Voice Coaches Network?

By partnering with Voices.com, you'll enjoy unparalleled publicity through blogs, podcasts, press releases and feature articles, all the goal of helping you attract students as well as support you by giving you access to tools and resources.

Simply Click here to Complete the Form

Do you know a voice over coach who should be part of the Voices.com Voice Coaches Network? Invite them to join by sending them to this article here on VOX Daily.

If you are a voice over coach, thank you for your interest and I look forward to working with you.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

Every so often I write about updates to the Voices.com membership service on VOX Daily.

Today, I'd like to share some information about new features and benefits for Voices.com members, as well as new pricing effective after March 31st, 2008.

To learn more about how this change may affect you, read this article.

First, let me say thank you for taking a moment to read this important article.

It took a lot of thought and the information is of special significance to all voice talent members of the Voices.com web service.

Secondly, everyone will continue to enjoy the full suite of services that we offer, and there are no large technical changes to how Voices.com operates.

OK, moving forward!

There are many new features and benefits that we're pleased to announce to you today as part of our Spring '08 Release, and I'd like to get into those with you now. Let's start with the new features and benefits.

NEW FEATURES

Google Search Engine Optimization

After months of strategic search engine optimization techniques, Voices.com has received Google's blessing with the coveted Site Links, a list of short cuts right from Google's search results. You'll see these links by Googling "Voices.com".

Search Engine

Recently, we've positioned the search box at the top of each and every page on Voices.com ( over 50,000 pages ) to give clients a single starting point when they are looking to find a professional voice talent.

The search engine has been rebuilt to include better caching, a technique to remember popular searches and recent searches that helps deliver results faster.

Search Engine Results

The search engine results pages have been completely redesign for simplicity. From client feedback and usage statistics, we've found that clients want to conduct a search, listen to the demo and move ahead with the voice talent of choice.

Your name links to your personal Voice.com website, and the large Flash player makes it easy for clients to start playing your demo immediately. A large "Request a Quote" encourages clients to take the next step in hiring you for the job.

Responses

In the client's view, the responses page has been redesigned after reviewing, analyzing and implementing recommendations from a survey.

Similar to the search results, clients want to focus on your demo, then your quote for the job. To allow clients to move quickly through the auditions and ensure that each and every audition is heard ( the average job receive 100 auditions ), we've decided to hide the proposal from view, then show it when the "Read Proposal" link is clicked.

In the two weeks since making these changes, we've witnessed a 400% increase in the number of SurePay transactions at Voices.com.

Bottom line is that the improvements we've made, and continue to make, are generating more job opportunities for you.

ENHANCED FEATURES

Featured Talent Directory Listings

Premium members will receive unlimited category listings in the Featured Talent Directory, and Preferred members now have 5 listings.

Storage for Audio, Videos, Graphics and Documents

Storage has also been increased to 100MB for Premium members and 50MB for Preferred members.

NEW BENEFITS

Premium members will now receive expedited support tickets. This means that any queries submitted by Premium members to Voices.com will be automatically escalated and answered first before all other support inquiries.

PAYMENT SUBSCRIPTIONS

There are changes in pricing effective after March 31st, 2008 for all newly purchased membership subscriptions. Please read this carefully as it may affect you.

Current Paid Subscribers

If you have automatic payments set-up, including payments for an active subscription originally made by credit card over the phone, you'll continue with the old pricing until your subscription is cancelled.

To break it down, someone who has a subscription at the current rate, so long as they don't cancel it, continues to receive service at that price going down the road so long as they keep renewing it.

If you have made a one-time payment, you can extend your membership by one year at the current rate. To do so, simply call us toll-free at this number (1-888-359-3472) or send sales@voices.com an email and we'll send you an invoice.

Here's an example. If you are a Premium member at present, you could continue to receive all of those features and benefits for $199 regardless of the price change -- so long as you maintain your automatic subscription. This process is known as "Grandfathering".

So, unless you have a credit card that expires thus canceling your subscription on you, it wouldn't happen any other way unless you decide to cancel it with the understanding that your account would be purchased at the new price in the future.

ALL NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS AFTER MARCH 31st, 2008

Before we change the membership subscription fees, we want to give you the opportunity to secure your membership at the present rates for your desired membership subscription level.

Subscribe before March 31, 2008 to secure your membership at the present rate and maintain that membership rate until your subscription is canceled or your credit card expires.

VOICES.COM COACHES NETWORK

As part of the Voices.com Coaches Network that will be rolling out in the next few weeks, we're introducing group pricing. Keep your eyes on this one.

AGENCY PACKAGES

Also, if you have an agent, ask them to contact us about special pricing for their agency. We've developed a package for agencies as well.

SPECIAL OFFER TO FREEZE YOUR RATES

All of these changes will be effective after March 31st, 2008.

We look forward to serving you!

Best wishes,

Stephanie, David, Carol, Laurynda, Erica and Lin

The voice over industry honors its own on February 21, 2008 -- be sure to catch the ceremony on the VOX Talk Podcast.

The Voiceys is the event of the year celebrating the achievements of the voice over industry and the voice actors who step up to the microphone every day.

Judged by a panel of industry experts and personalities, the Voiceys recognize professional voice actors and provide a venue for those behind the scenes to shine for all the world to see.

Join us all on February 21st, 2008 for the 2nd Annual Voicey Awards.

Listen here: http://podcasts.voices.com/voxtalk/

It's almost time to reveal the winners of the 2008 Voicey Awards!

Within the space of a year, the Voiceys have gone from five categories to nine, and three judges to ten. The nominations also increased exponentially in 2008 totaling 517 individual nominations for voice actors.

Suffice to say, that's a lot of growth in a short period of time, but in all reality, hasn't the voice over industry grown in leaps and bounds in a relatively brief number of years, too?

The 2008 Voicey finalists were absolutely dynamite, giving more than a few judges several sleepless nights.

That's an incredible compliment paid to all who will be honored this year and a testament to the continued and passionate pursuit of excellence in voice acting.

Judges for the 2nd Annual Voicey Awards

To remind us all, the judges participating this year in the 2nd Annual Voicey awards are Sunday Muse (Best Child Voice), Cynthia Songé (Best Teen Voice), Joan Baker (Best New Voice), Julie Williams (Best Personal Branding), James R. Alburger and Penny Abshire (Best Voice Team), Bettye Zoller (Lifetime Achievement), Elena Valenzuela (Best Foreign Voice), Marc Cashman (Best Female Voice) and Connie Terwilliger (Best Male Voice).

Through the support, involvement and guidance of industry experts, winning a Voicey Award has become a coveted, sought after accolade for voice actors.

We couldn't do this without the industry judges and are heartily grateful for their desire to help us recognize voice actors for their contributions to voice acting and the elevation of the craft.

Thank you!

Thank you to all who nominated people this year for the Voiceys and for the believing in their talent.

Will you be joining us for the Voiceys podcast this year?

Leave a comment!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

P.S. In the future the Voicey Awards will be a live event, but for now, please do enjoy the podcasts. Listen here: http://podcasts.voices.com/voxtalk/.

©iStockphoto.com/PeskyMonkey

I'm always happy to hear from VOX Daily readers whom I haven't yet met.

Yesterday, I received an email reply to VOX Daily from Reed Rudy, a voice acting instructor in California, letting me know about his upcoming workshop this Spring.

So everyone, I'd like you to meet Reed Rudy. Please make him at home :)

Voice over online is such a small world and one would think that you know everyone in it already, but every once in a while, I hear from someone who is a voice over coach or casting director who reads VOX Daily whom I didn't know before.

It's exciting to hear from all of you, by the way.

When I got Reed's email, I was thrilled to hear from him. Today, I want to introduce Reed and ask for your help welcoming him to the community.

Meet Reed Rudy

Reed Rudy has been an actor for film, TV and commercials for twenty-three years and has worked in voice acting for fifteen years voicing campaigns for companies the likes of Polaroid, Hagar, McDonalds, State Fund, Alfa Insurance. Reed is currently the voice of Al, for Osh and also has a talent for narration, including work recorded for numerous music shows on VH1, HGTV, and most currently the long running series for Encore, "Cinenews".

Teaching

Reed Rudy has taught voice for the past five years, both privately and open classes. Currently he coaches many of KCRW’s (Los Angeles’ NPR affiliate) radio hosts and also teaches voiceover classes at various levels which leads me to something that may be of interest to you.

Twice a year, Reed holds eight-week sessions for voice actors, one in the Spring and one in the Fall.

The most popular is called "Introduction to Voiceover - Exploring the Voice".

It’s a class focused on the craft of Voiceovers, with lots of booth time and all session-work is burned onto a CD for you to take home. According to Reed, the class always proves to be a wonderful experience for both his students and for himself.

The next class in Los Angeles will be from February 26th to April 16th at one of the coolest studios in L.A., Ravenswork, in Venice. To learn more, visit Reed's website.

Are you a voice over coach who doesn't know me yet?

Leave a comment so that we can get connected so that I can post your workshops and classes on VOX Daily, too.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

After sitting down to watch a 31-minute documentary without any narration whatsoever I came to the conclusion that films without narration are incredibly difficult to digest.

Something was obviously missing and I tell you, it was painful!

Is narration necessary in film? Let's find out.

Remember those hour-long documentaries made by National Geographic with the animals going about their business?

How about the numerous historical programs on A&E and TLC?

What would happen if you were to strip them of their narration? It would be catastrophic, wouldn't it?

This evening, there was nothing on TV and we were out of LOST DVD episodes so I clicked around to find a documentary from our cable provider to watch. Thirty-one minutes of natural splendor featuring Algonquin Provincial Park was calming and tranquil, yet as I said before, something was missing.

It didn't take long for me to realize that the documentary I was watching didn't have a narrator and that fact made me uncomfortable.

Why?

I realized just how integral speech and narration is to someone who is watching a film or documentary.

The steady voice of a trained narrator provides many things, including:

• balance
• structure
• an anchor
• a touchstone
• verbal perspective
• interpretation
• intelligence
• window into the writer's mind

Another surprising aspect of this experiment proved that although beautiful, splendorous and serene, the film was not able to keep my undivided attention, partially because I was so distracted by the fact that there was not a narrator.

I desired the companionship of a narrator and wanted someone to comment on what I was seeing to affirm my interpretation of the film... but most of all, I needed someone to speak to break the solitude -- to share the moment.

Watching the film in complete silence (with the exception of some nature sounds and music) seemed too private and intimate, almost like I was intruding on the filmmaker and his crew.

Having a narrator on board is kind of like a nod in your direction giving you permission to partake in what is going on. They invite you in and encourage you to journey with them as the story unfolds on the screen.

People like narrators because a narrator provides security. They can spur on new thoughts, segue eloquently when required and persuasively convey emotion using the most powerful and innately wonderful tool in humanity's communicative arsenal -- the human voice.

How important is narration to you?

Leave a comment sharing your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Elena Elisseeva

Randy Thomas and Peter Rofé will be teaching an intensive workshop for ten select students (prior voice-over experience required) in Fort Myers, Florida on April 12, 2008.

Here's your chance to study with one of America’s most recognized female voice announcers and one of America’s most sought after voice-over coaches.

Here's an invitation to participate in a fantastic learning opportunity with two of the industry’s most prolific voice-over experts in Fort Myers this April.

Randy Thomas and Peter Rofé have co-authored a book, VOICE FOR HIRE, which is due out in bookstores this year (2008) and they want to share some of their goodies with you before the book hits the shelves.

In this workshop, Randy and Peter will cover copy interpretation, audition and microphone technique, commercials, industrials, reading to picture, promos, radio imaging, discovering your signature voice, and valuable marketing strategies.

Space is limited, so inquire as soon as you can.

Location: Unity Gain Studios - Fort Myers, FL
Date: Saturday, April 12 (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
Fee: $400 if you sign up by March 31 - $450 if after March 31

For reservations, please email caryn@carynclark.net

When emailing Caryn, please indicate your prior voice over experience. To guarantee your space, your reservation and payment must be made in advance.

Best,

Stephanie

P.S. Something else of note: Randy will be co-announcing at The 80th Annual Academy Awards this year for the seventh time! Her partner in crime is past Oscars announcer and professional voiceover artist, Tom Kane.

Bettye Zoller has just released her Spring / Summer course schedule and I'm pleased to provide the details to you here on VOX Daily.

Here are the workshops in a nutshell:

March 15th: Advanced Voiceover Workshop in Dallas, TX
March 30th: Children's Voiceover Workshop in Dallas, TX
April 5th and 6th: Cartoon Character Voices and Audiobook Narration Techniques Weekend in Dallas, TX
June 30th: Voiceover Evening with Bettye Zoller in Nashville, TN
July 30th: The Business of Voiceovers Workshop in Denver, CO
August 2nd: Audiobook Narration Techniques Voiceover Workshop in Denver, CO

Read more details below for each one.

Advanced Voiceover Techniques Workshop

Location: Dallas, TX.
Date: March 15th, 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This day is for voiceover talents and actors from film, TV, theatre too who are not beginners at the craft and who have had experience in some area of acting and some previous training and you don't need to have a voice over demo yet - Bettye will focus on this in her class. Students will experience hands-on voice acting, learn how to develop characters, dissect copy, and take a deeper look at that psychological aspects of advertising and how the voiceover script manipulates listeners and ingraines messages in their minds.

Call Bettye Zoller at 214-638-TALK (8255) and leave message to be contacted about this advanced day or email her at btzol@aol.com. Once you've talked, she will then give her go-ahead (or advise you) to enroll.

The class is limited to 10 participants and students need permission to enroll.

Fee: $375 Includes continental breakfast, catered working group lunch, guest speakers, excellent hand-out take-home packets Bettye is famous for.

~~

Children's VO Workshop

Location: Dallas, TX
Date: March 30th, 2008
Time: Two sections based on child's age
Morning section 10: a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ages 7-10
Afternoon section 2:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Ages 11-14

A talent agent will be in attendance too! One adult must accompany the child at no charge. Fee for child: $225 until March 13. If places still available, $275 fee. ONLY TEN CHILDREN admitted in each section. Child must be good reader and like to read aloud and act! Voice acting techniques taught by the coach of Disney actors, Star Search winners, Broadway and TV stars!

~~

Cartoon Character Voices and Audiobook Narration Weekend

Location: Dallas, TX
Dates: Saturday April 5th and Sunday April 6th, 2008

* Enroll in ONE DAY OR BOTH. Enroll in both and save $50! Fee when you enroll in both days is $525. Both days include continental breakfast, catered working group lunch, all class materials and handouts.

Saturday April 5th: "Cartoon Character Voices" Workshop: $275 Learn from Bettye Zoller techniques behind creating and getting paid to voice character approaches to voiceover roles in commercials, narrations, and cartoons-anime-videogames. She began as a child actor signed to MGM studios in Hollywood and since then has spent a lifetime perfecting her acting and her voice acting techniques she lovingly shares with students worldwide! She is the winner of CLIOS, AUDIES, GOLDEN RADIOS, and ADDYS. Small group!

Sunday April 6th: "Audiobook Narration Techniques" Workshop $300. Bettye Zoller is a Simon and Schuster author, reader, producer and also the author reader of many other titles worldwide. She is a seasoned actor (TV, theatre) and will teach you how to voice fiction and non-fiction titles, where the jobs are, how to make that "killer" audiobook demo you need to get work, and much more. Small group.

~~

A Voiceover Evening with Bettye Zoller!

Location: Nashville, TN
Date: June 30th, 2008
Time: 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

By popular demand and hosted by some of Nashville's famous studio and voiceover pros. While in town to deliver a keynote artist workshop for the National Association of Teachers of Singing World Conference, Bettye will teach this voiceover workshop July 30 from 6 - 10 p.m. at a local studio. Details coming soon. Reserve early.

~~

The Business of Voiceovers

Location: Denver, CO
Date: July 30th, 2008
Time: Evening

Denver actors are hosting this special evening with Bettye. Learn how you can work worldwide via internet, where the jobs are and much more! Contact Bettye for details and to enroll.

~~

The Business of Voiceovers

Location: Denver, CO, downtown Grand Hyatt Hotel
Date: August 2nd, 2008
Time: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

"The Business of Voiceovers" Workshop with Bettye Zoller, a featured keynote workshop as part of the ATHE Annual World Conference in Denver (Association of Theatre Teachers Higher Education).

Bettye Zoller will also be available for private one-hour consultations and voiceover demo evaluations and other career concerns while in Denver July 30-August 4th, one-on-one. Contact her directly to schedule.

Want to get in touch with Bettye? Here are her contact details:

PH: 214-638-TALK (8255)
EMAIL: btzol@aol.com
WEBSITE: www.voicesvoices.com

* To listen to Bettye Zoller on the Voice Over Experts podcast, click here.

The majority of emphasis is placed on how audio demos sound, however, it's important to remember that website visitors will often *look* at your website first before listening to your demos.

How can you make this work to your advantage?

What does it take to get noticed?

Make your move by creating a stunning visual identity that is unique, instantly revealing something about you that evokes emotion.

When people visit your Voices.com website, what do they see?

First impressions are lasting and you only get one chance to make a good impression on visitors who are finding your website through search queries online.

What can you do?

1. Brainstorm Words and Images

You've likely already thought about which words and adjectives best describe your voice. Now, take that to the next level by jotting down pictures that come to mind when thinking about your keywords. You may find it's helpful to do this activity "offline" with a pencil and paper when you are sketching out your vision and setting your mental juices in motion.

2. Be Unique

Differentiate yourself by using alternative imagery that evokes emotion. You don't have to go with a microphone or mixing board, that's been done (and then some). Try something new like a plant, animal, household appliance, something conceptual, a play on words, or something completely off the wall. The point is, be different.

3. Use Royalty-Free Images

Online services like iStockPhoto or Getty Images offer up royalty-free photographs, royalty-free illustrations and digital artwork. For a few dollars ( most images are $1.00 ) you can promote your business with an image that's likely not being used by anyone else. You may have noticed that I use iStockphoto images on VOX Daily to brand my articles. We have a subscription with them and find their service extremely useful. If you'd like more information, leave a comment here on this post and I'll answer those questions for you.

4. Edit Your Images with Free Online Software

Image editing has never been easier. Cropping, color adjustment, adding text overlays and special effects can all happen with a few mouse clicks. For the desktop, try FireWorks, PhotoShop or Gimp (free), or for online image editing, go with Flickr.

5. Hire a Graphic Designer

If you have a budget you are working with that you can invest in professional graphic design, consider working with a professional graphic designer to craft a logo for your business. A quick search on Google will reveal thousands of people who specialize in creating visual identities. These people are freelance professionals just like you are so keep in mind that they'll be charging professional rates as well.

6. Write a Slogan

A smart one-liner can do wonders for staying front-of-mind. As an example, voice talents on Voices.com include "Cowboy Dave, The Voice of the West" or "Melanie Haynes, The Tasty Voice". That's just a couple of slogans but there are so many more out there that are absolutely amazing. Have some fun with it.

7. Crop Your Image Appropriately

The dimensions should be 180 pixels wide and the height of the image may vary. Ideally, you should display a square, so your image will be 180 pixels by 180 pixels. An image that is cropped correctly will load much faster, use less bandwidth and create the positive first impression that you're aiming for.

8. Use .gif or .jpg

If you're working with a graphic designer, they can send you a web-ready image in the appropriate dimensions and format. Stick with .gif or .jpg file formats as they display best on the Web.

9. Upload Your Image to Voices.com

Upload your image to your Voices.com profile. This is done by clicking on Profile, then by clicking on Files. The first image you upload will be automatically placed on your Voices.com website.

10. Select a Matching Website Theme

Voices.com offers a set of 10 themes for your personal website in blue, green, orange, pink and white. Pick the one that works best with your image and overall visual identity. If you're unsure, stick with the default blue as it matches the Voices.com website colors and branding.

Have a Suggestion?

If you have other recommendations or tools that you've found useful for editing pictures, add your comments below.

Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Naomi Bassitt

Oh look at that... it's Valentine's Day!

I thought it would be nice for everyone to give a shout out to the community by leaving Valentine's Day greetings here as comments on the blog.

St. Valentine's Day, February 14th, is a special day celebrated by many people around the world.

Although the origins of Valentine's Day for some are speculative, February 14th has come to be associated with the proclamation of love, particularly romantic love.

That got me thinking.

Valentine's Day is for romance, but it is also a day to spread cheer and extend warm salutations to our friends whom we love in platonic ways, some in familial ways.

This article today is meant to be a valentine to you from Voices.com.

We hope you are having a day filled to the brim with happiness, good health, inspiration and peace.

As one of my friends, Moe Egan would say, "Slainte", which is a Gaelic toast to good health.

We wish all that for you and more!

I want to encourage you to leave a comment and say Happy Valentine's Day to your voice over community. It's not just about romance, after all! It's also about friendship.

Take a moment now and give a valentine to your friends at VOX Daily.

Love,

Stephanie and the Team at Voices.com

©iStockphoto.com/hermi

Despite that the majority of your working day is consumed with auditions, emails and delivering finished work, time should be set aside to make sure that you're consistently putting the best foot forward.

Smart voice talent take a few minutes every so often to polish up a few key areas of their career online.

This isn't hard to do and the results will be immediately evident.

So with that in mind, let's explore the five (5) key "touch points" that you will likely have with prospective clients.

Today, we're joined by David Ciccarelli, CEO of Voices.com. Enjoy this great article on branding!

Stephanie

~~

1. Website

Having your own website isn't absolutely necessary, but highly recommended. Register www.yourdomainname.com at GoDaddy or Network Solutions. It can cost as little as $9.95 to register the name, but that's just the first step.

Next, you'll need to work with a graphic designer to build a website the represents you and the type of work you can deliver. Use the yellow pages to find someone local, or simply Google "graphic designers your city name". In my experience, I've had the best results by meeting with the designer first to convey my ideas on paper. Then, it's the designers job to translate the napkin sketches into HTML.

Finally, you'll need a web hosting provider. Likely you can use a "shared" or "virtual" environment and share the server space with other people. iPowerWeb is a web host we used in the early days, then we switched to ValueWeb. Packages run around $20/ month to $100/month.

2. Voices.com Website

Creating a profile at Voices.com is free, however as you know, you can get access to other services with a monthly subscription.

Your profile should be complete with a description, at least 3 voice-over demos and an image that will help set you apart for your colleagues. Furthermore, you can pick a theme to help build a visual identity.

3. Social Networking Profiles

Interact on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to connect with people and hopefully new clients.

Use a common avatar (small thumbnail picture) to identify yourself. Depending on how active you are, people will come to identify a particular avatar with you, just like the Apple logo is representative of Mac computers or iPods.

4. Email

Email is a hidden gem and often forgotten when developing a branding strategy. Create a unique email signature, use large font, and add your client list or current projects you're working on to impress your recipients.

I'd recommend refraining from including too many graphics or flash animation within your email and keep it clean.

5. Telephone

If you have a telephone line dedicated to your business, consider purchasing a small telephone system to handle incoming calls and route to your mobile phone if you're not in the office.

A simple phone system, or even virtual IVR service will allow you to even have on-hold music, giving you yet another opportunity to show off your work and inform your callers of the many ways you can service them.

Finally your voicemail message is your last shot at making a positive impression.

Wrap-Up

Remember, branding is about the customer experience and not just the logo or colors.

Give your customers the experience they deserve by spending a few moments to update your Voices.com profile, email address signature and voicemail message if you haven't done so lately.

Good luck!

David

©iStockphoto.com/Skip ODonnell

The 2nd Annual Voicey Awards finalists have just been announced!

This year promises to be very exciting. With the addition of several new categories, the Voicey Awards has expanded from five award categories to nine that are poised to honor voice actors of all ages, nationalities and voice types.

Find out who the finalists are in this post at VOX Daily.

The Finalists for the 2008 Voicey Awards are:

Best Child Voice

Brandi Munro (acclaimed)

Best Teen Voice

Jesse Springer
Michelle Dunphy

Best New Voice

Jason Clark
Jeffrey Kafer
Jenna Holinsworth
David Houston
Georgette Perna

Best Male Voice

Bob Barnes
David Kaye
James Herron
Bob Souer
J.J. Wilson

Best Female Voice

Summer Crockett Moore
Moe Egan
Debbie Munro
Jacqueline Samuda
Gale Van Cott

Best Voice Team

Maggie’s Voice and Thom Wilkins
Terry Daniel and Trish Basanyi
Forrest Rainier and Diane Havens
Adam Fox and Kara Edwards
Dana Detrick and Paul Clark

Best Personal Branding

Allen Farmer
http://allenfarmer.voices.com
http://www.allenfarmer.com

Kara Edwards
http://karaedwards.voices.com
http://www.karaedwardsvo.com

Jessica Levesque
http://jessicalevesque.voices.com
http://jessicalevesque.com

DC Goode
http://dcgoode.voices.com
http://www.dcgoode.com

David J. Lawrence
http://davidjlawrence.voices.com
http://www.voiceontap.com

Best Foreign Voice

Lili Wexu
Giovanni Noto
Marc Chase
Adam Behr
Sylvain Tribouillard
Daniela Maria Krueger
Andy Turvey
Claire Dodin
Juan Carlos Hernandez
Liz de Nesnera
Jane Nolan
Barto Mora
Adela Bolet
Sanjo Ogunseye
Rachel Salaman

Life Time Achievement

Bob Bergen
Pat Fraley
Bryan Cox
Rita Pardue
David K. Jones

To discover who the winners are, be sure to subscribe to the VOX Talk podcast which can be found here or in the Apple iTunes Podcast Directory:

http://podcasts.voices.com/voxtalk/

The Voicey Awards is presented via podcast at present, and in the future, it will be held as a live event.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to producing the 2nd Annual Voicey Awards show via podcast on February 21, 2008.

Sincerely,

Stephanie and the Voices.com Team

©iStockphoto.com/geopaul

Have you ever thought about why people should be hiring you to record their voice overs?

Caryn Clark attended a local business networking event recently and found that upon introducing herself as a professional voice actor, she had some explaining to do.

Learn more about how Caryn justifies her professional voice over services to people outside of the industry in this feature article.

I attended a local business networking event this evening. My first one ever. It was much different than I expected.

In introducing myself to local business owners and telling them my profession, many of them responded with, "Oh, I've always wanted to do that... how can I?" or "Oh, I do the narration for my company's videos... why would I need your services?"

I can understand these responses. It APPEARS that what I do is as easy as reading a story to a child, or reading a local newspaper article aloud to your spouse.

It's not though.

Not at all.

So, why do these folks need a professional voice over for their commercial or corporate narration? Why can't they just do it themselves?

These are questions to which voice over artists need to have answers, and these answers are the basis of your marketing.

Here are some of the answers:

1. Specialized Training

I've had years of training - voice over classes, acting classes, workshops, private coaching with some of the best voice coaches in the country. Truly. And, I've had lots of "on the job" training, performing hundreds of commercials and narrations.

I've invested in my education so that I can produce a top notch product for my clients, take their direction and make it happen, and ultimately, deliver not only the sound they want, but the sound they NEED in order for their commercial or narration to sound BELIEVABLE... and not like someone's reading off the page.

And why is this important?

2. Believability = Credibility = Comprehension of what you're selling

Whether you realize it or not, using yourself (business owner) for your business's commercial is likely not the best idea. We've all heard those folks on TV and the radio... and they sound like they're reading. Do you really comprehend something when someone's reading to you? No.

People comprehend real life. Voice over talents are trained to bring your commercial or narration to life... real life.

3. Consistent Performance

While you just might sound fabulous reading a commercial for, let's say, high end furniture, you might NOT make a commercial about the benefits of a community college, or one about why folks should visit Walt Disney World, sound believable. But I have and I do. Yet, I wouldn't necessarily be the right voice choice for a high end furniture commercial.

Point is, everyone's voice is different, and one voice is NOT suited for all types of commercials or narration.

4. Higher Quality Audio

I've invested thousands of dollars in my studio and equipment in order to provide the best sound possible for your audio.

So, if you're a talent reading this, step back and think of some more reasons people should hire you... I'd love to hear them.

And, if you're a business owner considering my services, the points made above should convince you that YOU NEED ME for your voice over project.

~~

What do you think of that?

Any comments?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Caryn and Stephanie

Every so often, a blogger really needs to hear from their readership, and for me, that day is today.

Do you read or subscribe to VOX Daily?

If you do, please leave a comment and say Hi :)

One aspect that I enjoy most about blogging is the commentary that ensues following a great article.

Hearing from you makes my day and enables the community to continue the story where I left off, taking it in new exciting directions and making the conversation richer for it.

Fellow bloggers who may be reading this, I know you have a keen appreciation for what I'm saying and thrive on comments submitted by your readers, too.

Whether comments come as supportive notes or via heated debates, each one of you and your comments have meant something to me and helped to propel VOX Daily, shaping future articles and presenting the voice over community with a diverse collection of viewpoints, all valid and open for discussion.

So, to get straight to the heart of the matter, if you read VOX Daily and enjoy doing so, please leave a comment on this post (or others that you like) and let me know you're out there.

It's when I hear from you that I feel the most fulfilled as a blogger. A blogger's main purpose (and often, their greatest joy) is to connect with their readers.

Looking forward to reading your comments!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Kativ

Did you hear about what happened with the voice of KITT in the new Knight Rider revival?

A conflict of interest has arisen for KITT car voice actor, Will Arnett, and now Val Kilmer has been recruited to replace him as the voice because of it.

Find out exactly what happened at VOX Daily.

Will Arnett was cast not too long ago to be the voice of KITT in NBC's new Knight Rider endeavor.

In light of recent news, there are a couple of problems with that...

1. KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) car is a Ford Mustang Shelby.
2. Will Arnett has been the voice of GMC Trucks for years.

Needless to say, the decision to pull Will off the voice over for KITT was one imposed by General Motors with Will's astute cooperation.

''I was very excited at the prospect of playing the part of KITT in the new Knight Rider movie," Arnett told Variety. ''However, because of a long relationship with General Motors as the voice of GMC Trucks, I had to respectfully withdraw from the project.''

GM can't have their signature voice affiliated with a Ford vehicle, now can they?

Hollywood actor Val Kilmer has already been hired to re-voice all of the lines for KITT.

The casting decision is a good one (Val's got great pipes and is a fabulous actor) and there is also no conflict of interest between Val Kilmer and any other automobile manufacturers.

What do you think of this?

Looking forward to hearing from you on the blog. Leave a comment!

Best,

Stephanie

The sound you make is just part of the process.

Have you spent any time thinking about breathing?

Hear from singing teacher Paul Kiesgen about the basics of breathing and discover 3 terms you should be familiar with as a vocal artist.

Over the years, I was a frequent visitor to the infamous Music Library at UWO and gobbled up every morsel I could find on topics that interested me as a singer, including periodicals and journals with regard to vocal education and vocal health.

One of my favorite journals when I was in university was called the Journal of Singing.

Today, I'd like to share some knowledge from an article I read by Paul Kiesgen with you that spells out the basics of breathing. While it may not be written for voice actors, it is directly applicable as the same instrument (the human voice) is the subject of the matter with an emphasis on proper breathing.

Paul Kiesgen holds B.Mus and M.Mus degrees from Northwestern University School of Music. He is Professor of Voice at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. In addition to studio voice, he teaches courses in vocal pedagogy for master of music and doctor of music students. He served as chairman of the voice department from 2001 to 2004 and his students have sung in major venues throughout the world.

According to Paul, the study of breath management has two purposes:

1. We must find and maintain the appropriate breath pressure to make the best possible tone on each pitch and for each volume.
2. We must recognize that control of the muscles of the breath has an indirect effect on the throat and thus influences the kind of tone we produce there.

I'm sure you've had your fair share of long form narration projects or cram-it-in commercial sessions that have demanded calculated phrasing on your part to achieve a successful take.

It takes more than just a great voice to swing through those!

What's needed is some serious jet fuel to carry you through each phrase and that fuel is your breath support. Once you are anchored to a solid foundation, you'll have the resources necessary to propel your phrasing and maintain tonality and composure.

There are 3 in particular that you should know about:

1. Support
2. Diaphragm
3. Intercostal Muscles

Thanks to the power of the Internet, I found Paul Kiesgen's website and am thrilled to be able to refer to you on to his full article. Just click on "Publication" when you get there to read his articles.

Best,

Stephanie

People talk freely all the time but not everyone gets paid for doing it!

Have your pipes ever got you a gig simply by chatting it up?

You know how people are "discovered" in the business for their visage or physique?

Every day, scouts and agents make it their business to find that "somebody" who has the right "look" as well as keep their ears open for the right "sound" when hiring voice actors to record voice overs.

That brings me to my question:

Has your voice ever got you hired for a job by merely talking to someone?

You know, not actively going out for a job... I'm talking about someone who simply noticed how talented, soothing, warm, or awesome they thought your voice was when speaking with you and decided to talk shop and get your voice working for them.

Share your stories here as comments on the blog.

Looking forward to hearing about your experiences!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

©iStockphoto.com/Chris Schmidt

For whatever reason, voice acting for video games has become a fixation for me as of late and I can't seem to stop talking about it.

Maybe you know where I'm coming from!

At any rate, I thought an article about voice acting for video games was in order and invited DB Cooper, queen of video game voice acting, to join me today for your reading pleasure.

When inspiration first struck to write another article on video games and voice acting, the muse came out of discontent from reading so many "reviews" of "bad voice acting" in video games.

On behalf of voice actors everywhere, I couldn't stomach the number of negative comments, threads and articles out there and knew at that moment that I had to get to the bottom of the problem and needed some help figuring out just what has to be done in the voice acting community to help correct or iron out issues that contribute to the notion that many games have sucky voice acting.

This is when I came to Deirdre and sought her assistance.

If you know Deirdre (DB), you know that she is one serious voice actress who voices and loves video games, but what you might not have known before courtesy of DB, is that great video game voice acting is intrinsically tied to gameplay and understanding the fundamentals of the gaming experience.

I'll let DB take it away with her sage advice on the topic in her opinion on the state of voice acting in video games today with particular emphasis on gamers, that is, people who play the games.

~~

State of Voice Acting in Video Games Today

Voice acting in video games: what’s going on?

Gamers have come to expect a more immersive experience with the games they play, and the voice acting can be a key element in drawing the player into the story.

Technological advances are certainly making it easier to include more dialog and verbal byplay. However, like a college kid with his first credit card and an open internet connection, it is altogether too easy to get more crap than you need. The impulse to jack up the cinematic quality of some games is making it hard to hear the actors, and at times incidental chatter has a negative impact on the player’s ability to focus on the gameplay.

On the other hand, four of the top-ten best selling games at this moment do not employ voice acting in a way that affects gameplay: In the Mario games the voice is incidental; racing games like Burnout Paradise don’t require voice acting in the action parts, and Rock Band is Rock Band--who needs dialog? In the Zelda franchise, the hero Link never even has any text communication, never mind spoken speech. Some games thrive without VO.

Other games like the Grand Theft Auto series are blessed by a panoply of excellent voice actors who make the game enjoyable in spite of (or in addition to) its violence. In games like the Final Fantasy series, the game XIII, or the Metal Gear games, there is a mix of in-game dialog and cut scenes that makes sense and furthers the plot.

With a spectrum of possibilities this broad, it’s clear there is no set model to follow, so each group of game designers is virtually re-inventing the wheel when they decide to include voice acting. The one consistency is the quest for really fine voice actors to fulfill the roles in the games that need them. Audio designers have become keenly aware that, while voice acting is just one part of the aural experience in a game, it is the most human connection— and voice actors need to be ready to step into the studio and be excellent. One way for actors to be ready for this challenge is to understand the medium.

If you want to do voice acting for video games, PLAY THE GAMES.

DB Cooper

~~

Well, there you have the state of voice acting in video games today. If you only take one idea away from what was discussed, be sure that it is to play the games if you want to be a video game voice actor.

If you don't play the video games you won't understand the complex culture of gamers and how they expect to be engaged.

A great voice actor can read lines but context is always a friendly guide when it comes to voicing for any project, video games included.

There are many great games that receive praise for voice acting and we want to see more evidence of that flowing freely in chat forums, blogs and social sites.

A toast to more positive reviews for video game voice acting in the future!

Any comments?

Best wishes,

Stephanie and Deirdre

©iStockphoto.com/Jacom Stephens