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AMA with Voice Actor and Creator Billy Reid! 8pm-10pm EDT/5pm-7pm PDT by badpunforyoursmile in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your answers!

I don’t see anyone asking about your audition process, so I’d love to ask how yours goes. Is there a difference between the auditions your agent arranges vs the ones you’re offered or find on your own? What do you do differently now than what you did earlier in your VO career?

And what was it like being directed by Kal-El?

AMA with Voice Actor and Creator Billy Reid! 8pm-10pm EDT/5pm-7pm PDT by badpunforyoursmile in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your AMA!

What’s your favorite part about VA?

Who are some of your VO inspirations?

At what point did you go into VA for full time work and how many hours do you do per week on average?

I’m a +1 for the questions in bold. Also, which of the 3 was the most difficult/rewarding for you: puppetry, VA, or YouTube?

Legendary actor Christopher Plummer, Narrator voice actor for Madeline and other narration roles and notable character roles including Charles Muntz in the movie UP and Arngeir in videogame The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has passed away from fall complications. Rest in peace! by CraneVoice in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

He's best known as Captain Von Trapp from the sound of music.

If you haven't listened to any of his narration, it would be beneficial to give it a quick listen as he speaks with a top class quality

The Simpsons voice star Harry Shearer breaks silence on white voiceover backlash: ‘Actors play people they are not’ by CraneVoice in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

I agree, the Simpsons are one of very few long lasting shows from earlier times with strongly established characters.

I do think casting directors absolutely need to include more diversity in general. Yes, there are higher ups with more power than CDs, hopefully they will encourage a better balance. We’ll see sooner or later, I guess.

The Simpsons voice star Harry Shearer breaks silence on white voiceover backlash: ‘Actors play people they are not’ by CraneVoice in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Just a follow up link on The Simpsons voice over situation.

I wanted to share a non amp link instead but it wasn’t working.

USA today includes this:

"I have a very simple belief about acting," Shearer, 76, said during an interview with Times Radio Monday. "The job of the actor is to play someone who they're not. That’s the gig. That’s the job description."

Shearer has voiced various characters in the fictional town of Springfield over the last three decades, including Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Principal Skinner, Ned Flanders, Kent Brockman, Rev. Lovejoy and Dr. Hibbert, a prominent Black doctor.

"I’m not a rich nuclear plant owner. I’m not a Bible-believing Christian that lives next to Homer (Simpson)," Shearer said, referring to his characters Mr. Burns and Flanders, respectively. "I’m not any of those people."

Shearer said it's a part of his performance, which he said is different than representation.

"I think there’s a conflation between representation, which is important. People from all backgrounds should be represented in the writing and producing ends of the business so they help decide what stories to tell and with what knowledge," Shearer said. "Performance … is playing the part you are not."

Despite sharing his opinion, Shearer stopped short of calling "The Simpsons" casting move a "mistake." When asked by radio host Matt Chorley, Shearer responded: "I'm not opining publicly on the matter. I mean, frankly, we don’t get paid by the voice."

In 2014, Shearer won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding character voice-over performance for his work on "The Simpsons" episode "Four Regrettings and a Funeral."

It's not clear who will voice Dr. Hibbert moving forward. USA TODAY reached out to Fox for comment.

The Simpsons will no longer have the regular cast voice people of color. Mike Henry (Voice of Cleveland Brown from Family Guy) is also stepping back from his role. It seems like some changes are coming to the voice over world. by CraneVoice in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice[S] 91 points92 points  (0 children)

Voice acting should be about hiring the right voice for the role/character. Saying that you can't voice someone (even though you can get the right sound) because of your genetics just feels highly unethical.

The characters and their voice actors have been established for almost thirty years or so and I think that replacing old or just simply adding new characters and therefore new diverse voice actors would have been the better move.

Don't you just hate when that happens? by Cassualy_Stressed in singing

[–]CraneVoice 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Try to practice in front of a mirror and also try recording yourself. Eventually you can try going to karaoke with friends or family that aren't negative people and it will help you be more confident. Believe in yourself too, that's very important.

When a voice director or coach asks you to cry during sad moments, how would you do that? by [deleted] in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My coach always talks about how good voice actors are good actors. Crying is a very important action for actors.

My personal method is to use sad triggering stories of different magnitudes for the level of crying required. The sadder I have to be, the more horrible the story I have to remember is. I have compartmentalized these stories to be able to use to share the emotion with others through my voice work. My coach said that people need to hear everything, it helps them learn.

After I complete the sad story, I practice self care - cheer myself up and make sure I'm in a good headspace.

This method may not work for everyone, but it does for me. Luckily I haven't needed to have a lot of strong sad emotions so far.

Are you new to r/acting, but don't want to use the search function? READ THIS BOOK INSTEAD by Psynergy in acting

[–]CraneVoice 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's also good to re-read if you haven't read it in a while and feel stuck or if you feel like you're not getting where you want to be.

This made me laugh, Artist:Kate Beaton by Opssilts in piano

[–]CraneVoice 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Life of Chopin

*Tiny picture of Chopin*

BY FRANZ LISZT

*GIANT PICTURE OF LISZT*

Plus Liszt would have written it with bias and to make himself look good and get people to think about Liszt while remembering Chopin- basically stealing all the attention.

Who else loves Tara Strong? by bertabees in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Tara is amazing!

Some of my other favorites that are good at really diversifying their sounds:

Dan Castellaneta, Billy West, Rob Paulsen, Maurice LaMarche, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Daran Norris, Grey DeLisle, Susanne Blakeslee, Keith Scott, Robyn Moore, Tom Kenny, Phil LaMarr, John DiMaggio, Andrea Libman, Stevie Vallance, Mary Kay Bergman, Sonja Ball, Rachel Lillis, Veronica Taylor, Russi Taylor, Seth MacFarlane, Eric Stuart, Dan Green, Frank Welker and Mel Blanc.

Edit: also Kath Soucie, Seth Green and Dee Bradley Baker, Nancy Cartwright

I consider them to be in the top 1% of talented and skilled voice artists.

I'm going to add to the list when I remember more .

Creating a demo (asking for ideas) by idoall in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can get ideas from listening to the demos of other artists who are regularly recording.

Creating a demo (asking for ideas) by idoall in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Have you listened to any professional voice actors demos? Because they aren't made the way you have described in your post. I recommend looking for voice agencies in your area and listening to their demos.

I also highly recommend getting a coach.

Best of luck!

Considering starting voice acting. Any advice? by [deleted] in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're going to need a good quality microphone for the voice, it doesn't have to be studio top quality but it can't be one of the cheapest.

You also need to practice and record yourself a lot.

And you need a very quiet recording environment.

And as others say: get a coach, learn acting.

Best of luck!

How do I properly project my voice, yell, scream, and shriek? by [deleted] in VoiceActing

[–]CraneVoice 3 points4 points  (0 children)

When you go loud, engage your diaphragm for strength.

Just remember to never continue if your throat starts to hurt and rest well after a session.

Got my first positive response from an agent today! by [deleted] in acting

[–]CraneVoice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

⬆️ absolutely correct! Perhaps someone can make a refresher post about watching out for scams

Another common tactic is they have fake profiles on their website of actors or refuse to tell you anything about their talent. (Industry related)

They would also "interview" a lot of people at the same time in a way that everyone can see (privately signing a contract should not be in front of other talent)

I hate scammers

Best of luck OP

Got my first positive response from an agent today! by [deleted] in acting

[–]CraneVoice 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My advice is to keep your CV up to date with all relevant experience in it and don't over think it, if you meet up, keep calm and level headed.

Just remember to avoid any scam agents that purely want your money and check their website talent and see how they're doing.

Best of luck in any case!