There isn’t any have to ‘alter your self’ for the spec to be one thing you aren’t; the key is to find how the spec is all the things you’re by adjusting the spec to YOU. How to try this?
Learn the spec in ‘first particular person’ as you learn the spec, describing your self proper now. Notice {that a} spec describes YOU and all the things you’re, and never all the things you aren’t. So describe who you’re in a selected relationship that’s intimate in your life, somebody near you in your life.
So if the Spec is –
‘Actual, Heat is usually a little wry at occasions. Nice actor. Nice storyteller.’
The spec can now be all learn in first particular person by including I AM and describing who you’re in a selected intimate relationship in your life – so it turns into –
I AM actual, particularly with my older brother who retains me in line, I’m heat as a result of my brother is so vital in my life, and he and I’ve an incredible humorousness and may be wry with one another. I’m an incredible actor (how typically do you get to say that out loud?!) and I’m an incredible storyteller, particularly with my brother and household tales.
Now bounce into the textual content and see the eyes of the particular person you described your relationship with within the spec and viola’! You at the moment are sounding such as you. Recreation changer.
Ignoring the spec is a mistake. Many voice actors learn the spec dismissively and miss the connection producers hear of their heads for the learn. Actors might THINK they’re decoding the spec, however in actuality, they learn the spec mindlessly and don’t connect with it in any respect, and proceed into the learn with none actual viewpoint. A spec is simply that – a viewpoint and a relationship and dialog with the listener, and so is a industrial learn.
You’ll typically get a ‘voice print reference’ – a celeb suggestion for a industrial learn. An audition voice reference lets you discover comparable qualities to the movie star’s, and to not give an impression of that movie star. Auditions will allow you to find that YOU are as current as any movie star. If you’re given a voice reference on your audition, discover the defining qualities you share with that movie star past simply the sound of their voice, however the emotions they convey to a efficiency.
Your present as a voice actor is THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, not simply ideas. Emotions are ‘ideas in movement in your physique,’ customized to you. That is your present to the script. You at all times need to ADD to the script and never detract from the script or character at hand.
Chances are you’ll be requested to reference Viola Davis, Jay Pritchett, Jeff Bridges, or Julia Roberts, so that is your likelihood to search out what qualities you share past that movie star reference. Slightly than simply matching a sound, match the emotions and qualities that the movie star brings to their work. It might be a cadence, but in addition a way of pleasure, confidence, humor, wryness, or confidence {that a} explicit actor reference carries that you just even have.
It’s too aggressive for you to not carry your greatest to an audition. How do you do this? Discover your greatest you and connect with the copy by connecting within the spec. Learn the spec in first particular person – put ‘I’m’ on all the things, together with the product title, so Actual, Heat, is usually a little wry turns into – I AM actual, I AM heat, I CAN BE slightly wry SOMETIMES. The spec is about you, and the spec is adjusting to exactly who YOU ARE within the copy and never the opposite approach round.
Convey your fearlessness of hope to each industrial learn so that you just carry true pleasure and hope and never a faux model of your self. A good way to begin any piece of economic copy is with you saying out loud – “There’s at all times hope.” You’ll be able to even see the eyes of somebody you may say that to – even your self. Business copy brings with it the audacity so that you can be your self courageously.
Voice-over Agent Allie Silber was lately in a Voice-over Tune-up class and gave this recommendation:
“Research and keep present with tendencies in promoting and pop references. A voice match remains to be discovering your self within the copy and never simply sounding like another person. Watch and hearken to promoting tendencies, and at all times be truthful within the learn.”
Convey your greatest self to each audition by at all times discovering your fact, and keep sort to different actors—at school, on-line, and in particular person.
A spec is a reference to YOU and to not anybody else. Chances are you’ll get a suggestion of a celeb, however the learn is at all times about discovering YOU.
Written by Paul Liberti
Voice Actor and Voice Director for Animation, Audio Books,
and works as Casting Director for Animation, Audio Books, Business Voice Over