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Gregg Berger is “Orson” in US Acres
Gregg Berger may not be a household name but chances are that most houses have been exposed to the work of this extremely talented and versatile actor throughout your lives. Moreover, chances are that you’re still exposed to his work on a daily basis. An (extremely) abridged list of Gregg’s credits include: G.I. Joe, Transformers, The Smurfs, Garfield (a personal favorite), Duckman and Spider-man. Additionally, his equally long and impressive list of video game voice over credits would read like the hall of fame of all time greatest video games.
Yet another impressive distinction for Gregg is that he can claim the rare distinction of conquering every major facet of the voice over industry. Though the majority of voice over talents audition consistently for commercials, animation, trailers, narration, promos, etc., the realistic and harsh facts and stats are that if they’re lucky enough to beat these overwhelming odds for actual paid work, chances are that they’ll only be strong in the one niche. Crossing over from animation to commercials, commercials to promos, trailers to commercials, these are not the norms… unless you’re that extremely rare talent on a very short list whose versatile gifts allow you to transcend such constricting labels. A list that includes Gregg Berger.
Add to that the fact that Gregg’s career spans over four decades in an industry where an organic peeled banana usually has a longer shelf life and you get a slight indication of just how consistent and uncommon Gregg’s career is in the voice over business.
And if that’s not enough, I can tell you from personal experience that you’ll be hard pressed to find a more gracious, warm hearted and professional guy than Gregg.
Gregg Berger brings on a very unique perspective on this very unique profession and I thank him publicly for taking the time to answer a few questions here.
Okay I’m done waxing this dude’s car, let’s get on with the interview. =)
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Gregg Berger plays “Cornfed” in the Cult Hit Duckman!
cap) How did you get introduced to the voice over industry?GB) Hmmmmmmmmm. Introduced? Well, I knew as a kid that Mel Blanc was the voice of all those cartoon characters that I grew up loving, so I guess that was the first time it occurred to me that somebody was putting a voice in the mouth of all of those characters. For as far back into my childhood as I can remember, I would look at people and how their facial features were arranged and try to guess what their voice sounded like. Then I would hope that I got to hear them talk or sometimes I would even try to get them to talk. I’m still fascinated by the same thing.
As far as my involvement… well, fast forward to me acting at The Repertory Theater of The Loretto Hilton Center in St. Louis. I was still an acting student, but had landed a role with the Rep. One of the actors had a tie to KETC TV, the PBS affiliate there. They were doing a puppet show called The Letter People and I got an opportunity to audition for it and got offered a character, and later… more characters. I even did some puppetry (on the job training!). While I was there I heard about auditions for a temporary replacement gig as the booth announcer for the station (I didn’t even know what a ‘booth announcer’ was! I took my best shot at ‘acting’ like an announcer and they said yes! So before I had even graduated from The Theater Conservatory of Webster College… I had done my first voiceover gigs.
cap) How long have you been in the voice over industry?GB) Sheesh. Short answer is since the gig above… but by no means consistently. Mix in summer stock, dinner theater, touring theater, television, film and writing. And a couple short lived job-jobs. Those of us who achieve any degree of longevity in this career are usually jugglers. The more possibility of being employable we can keep in the air, the more likely we are to be able to catch something that will keep us afloat.
cap) What would you attribute most to your voice over success?
GB) Well, I don’t know who said it first, but whoever it was deserves credit… for pointing out that it’s voice ACTING. The voice itself is secondary to the point of view, the sense of play, or the sense of seriousness … the sense. The sense of the voice actor and the innate ability to honor the material.
After all of that is in play, it doesn’t hurt to have good pipes. But good pipes alone won’t get it. I attribute my success most to my acting ability… and then to my voice itself. And determination, a ridiculous level of optimism and a healthy dose of absolute good fortune.
cap) How long did it take you to land your first voice over job?GB) Uhhhhhhh. See Above.
cap) What was the first job you earned that really got you noticed in the voice over community?
GB) That would have to be the consistency of employment and activity of the golden days of Transformers (Generation ONE!) and GI Joe recording concurrently. It was wake up, shower, and have to be at a studio. Happily, to some degree… it still is!
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Gregg Berger plays “Ripcord” & “Spirit” in GI Joe.
cap) Finish the following statement: “One thing you might not know about voice over is…”GB) That the voice itself is secondary to the point of view and flexibility of the voiceover artist.
cap) Do you feel that the industry has changed since you first started in the business? How?
GB) Trick question. Yes and no. The fundamentals are still the same, but nobody knows what it sounds like or looks like anymore. Announcers have been replaced by ‘non’announcers’. Hard sell has been replaced by ‘heart sell’. Story driven animated characters are now often animation driven characters. The technology in animation is faster, sharper and more explosive, just like live action. But ironically, it’s still the great characters and stories that that we remember the most vividly.
cap) What’s your favorite part of the job?
GB) Bad coffee, good shmoozing, great comradery, and my admiration for the talent on both sides of the studio glass.
cap) What’s your least favorite part of the job?
GB) Screaming. Necessary for most interactive games and all epic scripts. Hey, its a small galaxy, but somebody’s gotta struggle to save it!
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Gregg Berger plays “Odie” Classic from Garfield…
cap) Finish the following sentence: “If it wasn’t for voice over, I’d probably…”
GB) Still be trying to get my voice heard some other way : - ]cap) If you were just entering the voice over industry now, would you do anything different?
GB) I would bring with me everything I’ve learned! I would realize that what will be recognized is what is distinctive about you. The things that separate you from the crowd and make you stand out as unique.cap) With several automated online based marketplaces opening up in the voice over industry like voices.com, voice123.com, etc., do you think this changes the playing field in terms of competition, agent value, barrier to entry in the field?
GB) Sure, but the cream will always rise to the top. More portals mean more entry points and there’s always room for one more voice talent… but only if its a really great voice talent. So the field will in truth, level itself.
With a big dose of good fortune and pure luck and perfect timing… those deserving recognition will be recognized. The daunting variables of good fortune and good luck and perfect timing are still in play, regardless of increased entry opportunities.cap) Do you have any voice over tips you’d like to share?
GB) Show up and always let em know what makes you special.
cap) When you’re not working, how do you typically spend your time.
GB) Well, there’s not much leisure time these days. My wife and I are managing my son’s Rock N Thrash N Roll band BACKLINE. All original and starting to get a tourbusload of attention worldwide thanks to myspace, the internet and a ton of live shows at large and small venues. Check em out!
Backline on Sonicbids Online EPK with tracks, vid, lyrics, bio, photos, more
Backline on MySpace
I’ve also been busy making my own myspace more fan friendly. Come visit!
Gregg Berger on MySpace
Plus I am nearing completion of my first book, Voice Virtue.
When I am not doing those things… I am exceedingly good at RELAXING!
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… Gregg Berger also plays “Odie” 2.0 in the New Garfield!
cap) Being one of the rare triple threat VO actors are there any differences in approach when you perform for commercials, animation or promos?
GB) Yes and no. For me, it’s a translation challenge. They all require the same degree of honesty. But the size of the sandbox changes. Ability is the same, it’s the application of the ability that changes. On stage, you have to find a truth that reads to the back row. On film, closeups are more focused than wide shots. It’s like that… but the similarity is that regardless of size, it’s gotta ring true. And I love the challenge. I love stage work, on camera work, off camera work, commercials, animation, promos, narrations. Bottom line… I love working. Getting the job… that’s the tough part!
cap) Complete the following sentence: “I wish…”
GB) I wish… and then I try to actualize what I wish for. I hope everybody does!
Listen to Gregg Berger perform some of his Greatest Hits!
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