Read Online The Art of Voice Acting: the art and business of performing for voice over by James Alburger - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Alburger
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needed for the production of a project. Sometimes the production company is actually a radio or TV station that handles the production. In some cases a casting agent might be brought in to handle casting, writing, and production. Some larger ad agencies, with in-house facilities, may work directly with talent agents for casting performers.
Ad agencies can be a good source of work. Your agent should know which agencies use voiceover and will send out your demo accordingly. You can also contact ad agencies directly, especially if you are nonunion. As part of your marketing, you can telephone ad agencies and let them know who you are and what you do. You will find many ad agencies work only in print or use only union talent. When you call, ask to speak to the person who books voiceover talent.
The ad agency assigns an account executive (AE) or on-staff agency producer (AP) to handle the account. Sometimes both an AE and AP are involved, but it is usually the AP who knows more about the production than the AE. The AE is more involved with arranging the schedules for airtime purchases. The AP is the person who is generally in charge of selecting talent. The AE is less involved, but often approves the AP’s talent choices.
Either the AE or AP may be present during auditions and one or both is almost always present at the session. If the ad agency is producing the spot, they will want to make sure everything goes as planned. If the spot is being produced by a casting agency, someone from that company may also be at the session. Casting agencies are more common for television on-camera productions than for voiceover, but a casting agency rep may be present at an audition or session if their agency is handling the production. And, of course, advertisers are very likely to be at the audition and session to provide their input.
HOW PRODUCTION COMPANIES WORK
As their name implies, production companies are where the work of creating the radio commercial, TV spot, industrial video, video game, or other production is done. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the oneman shop to the large studio with hundreds of people on staff. Most production companies have a small staff of 2 to 10 people, many of whom may be freelancers.
Production companies generally work directly for a client, or as a production resource for an ad agency or a corporation’s on-staff producer. Many large corporations have their own in-house production facility.
Although some production companies can be a good source of freelance voiceover work, most work primarily with talent booked through a talent agent by the producer or with talent hired by an ad agency. Learn which production companies do the kind of voiceover work you want to do, and get to know the producers and directors. You can find production companies in your area by checking your phone book under “Recording Services—sound and video,” through an Internet search for “production company your city,” or by contacting your city’s Chamber of Commerce. Many cities have a film bureau that maintains a list of local production companies.
Notes
1 Source: http://www.AFTRA.com , http://www.SAG.org and http://www.SAGAFTRA.org
2 Source: http://www.nrtw.org/d/rtwempl.htm
3 U.S. Supreme Court, NLRB v. General Motors , 373 U.S. 734, 1963.
4 U.S. Supreme Court, Communications Workers vs. Beck , 487 U.S. 735, 1988.
5
Using Your Instrument
As a voice actor, the tool of your trade—the instrument for your performance—is your voice. Just as any other craftsperson must know how to care for the tools of his or her trade, before you can begin to learn the craft of performing for voiceover, it is vital that you first learn how to properly use, and care for, the most important tool you have… your voice! So, with that in mind, this chapter includes some essential information about how your voice works, how to deal with common vocal problems, simple warm-up exercises, and tips for keeping your voice
Ad agencies can be a good source of work. Your agent should know which agencies use voiceover and will send out your demo accordingly. You can also contact ad agencies directly, especially if you are nonunion. As part of your marketing, you can telephone ad agencies and let them know who you are and what you do. You will find many ad agencies work only in print or use only union talent. When you call, ask to speak to the person who books voiceover talent.
The ad agency assigns an account executive (AE) or on-staff agency producer (AP) to handle the account. Sometimes both an AE and AP are involved, but it is usually the AP who knows more about the production than the AE. The AE is more involved with arranging the schedules for airtime purchases. The AP is the person who is generally in charge of selecting talent. The AE is less involved, but often approves the AP’s talent choices.
Either the AE or AP may be present during auditions and one or both is almost always present at the session. If the ad agency is producing the spot, they will want to make sure everything goes as planned. If the spot is being produced by a casting agency, someone from that company may also be at the session. Casting agencies are more common for television on-camera productions than for voiceover, but a casting agency rep may be present at an audition or session if their agency is handling the production. And, of course, advertisers are very likely to be at the audition and session to provide their input.
HOW PRODUCTION COMPANIES WORK
As their name implies, production companies are where the work of creating the radio commercial, TV spot, industrial video, video game, or other production is done. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the oneman shop to the large studio with hundreds of people on staff. Most production companies have a small staff of 2 to 10 people, many of whom may be freelancers.
Production companies generally work directly for a client, or as a production resource for an ad agency or a corporation’s on-staff producer. Many large corporations have their own in-house production facility.
Although some production companies can be a good source of freelance voiceover work, most work primarily with talent booked through a talent agent by the producer or with talent hired by an ad agency. Learn which production companies do the kind of voiceover work you want to do, and get to know the producers and directors. You can find production companies in your area by checking your phone book under “Recording Services—sound and video,” through an Internet search for “production company your city,” or by contacting your city’s Chamber of Commerce. Many cities have a film bureau that maintains a list of local production companies.
Notes
1 Source: http://www.AFTRA.com , http://www.SAG.org and http://www.SAGAFTRA.org
2 Source: http://www.nrtw.org/d/rtwempl.htm
3 U.S. Supreme Court, NLRB v. General Motors , 373 U.S. 734, 1963.
4 U.S. Supreme Court, Communications Workers vs. Beck , 487 U.S. 735, 1988.
5
Using Your Instrument
As a voice actor, the tool of your trade—the instrument for your performance—is your voice. Just as any other craftsperson must know how to care for the tools of his or her trade, before you can begin to learn the craft of performing for voiceover, it is vital that you first learn how to properly use, and care for, the most important tool you have… your voice! So, with that in mind, this chapter includes some essential information about how your voice works, how to deal with common vocal problems, simple warm-up exercises, and tips for keeping your voice
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