Voice Over Tips: CAP Interviews… Keith Ferguson

August 27, 2008

Keith Ferguson as “Ben Stiller” in Family Guy

The man of a thousand and one voices (and that’s probably a modest number), Keith Ferguson is someone who was born to perform.

Inspired by an uncanny early knack for getting into trouble (where so many great performers got their starts), Keith would often mimic his own cousins’ voices, saying inappropriate things to unknowing adults.

Those pitch perfect “voice-matching” skills would later prove to be quite an asset in the voice over world as Keith is widely considered one of the very few go-to clutch performers whenever producers would need talent to voice-match celebrities for games, films, toys, etc.

However, beyond merely voicematching some of your favorite celebrities, Keith has an even larger array of original voices that has propelled him to the pinnacle of the voice-over world. From the lead character of “Bloo” in Nickelodeon’s Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends to the character “Kaim” in the global hit video game “Lost Odyssey”, and too many others in between, Keith Ferguson is a highly skilled and sought voice actor who has only begun to scratch the surface of his potential with an even brighter future ahead.

Just check out Keith’s website and you’ll get a very small taste of the smorgasboard of voices Keith is so quietly famous for.

Special thanks to Keith for taking the time to participate in this interview.

Keith Ferguson as “Han Solo” in Robot Chicken

cap) How did you get introduced to the voice over industry?

kf) The short answer is I was discovered by one of my current agents, Pat Brady, in a voice over workshop I took after landing some vo work in a talk show that I actually used to work on as a staff member. Wait… that was actually the long answer.

cap) How long have you been in the voice over industry?

kf) About eight years so far.

cap) What would you attribute most to your voice over success?

kf) Hmm, hard to say. Definitely my representation is a strong factor. I’d say the reason I have a career is because of Pat Brady. She’s been relentless in championing my vo skills since the very beginning and has always made my capabilities known to those that had no other reason to be aware of me.</blockquote>

Keith Ferguson plays two different racing announcers for Vitamin Water

cap) How long did it take you to land your first voice over job?

kf)Well, I suppose it was more of a lucky fluke, but I booked my first audition. As a matter of fact, Ms. Pat Brady got me the audition before I even officially signed with her the day I first went in to meet with her. I worked the following week. Now ask me how long my second vo job took.

cap) What was your first job you earned that really got you noticed in the voice over community?

kf) I’d have to say the role of Blooregard Q. Kazoo on “Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends” on Cartoon Network. I’d been working in the industry for about three years with a comfortable rate of increasing success, including a brief and exciting website series with vo veteran, Rob Paulsen (Pinky of “Pinky and the Brain”). But then when I booked Foster’s it was like, “Whoa, where’d this guy come from?!”

Keith Ferguson as “Bloo” in Nickelodeon’s Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends

cap) Finish the following statement: “One thing you might not know about voice over is…”

kf) It can be great physical exercise. Especially with bigger characters or almost 80 percent of video games. When finishing a session one can be so covered in sweat that one feels like they just ran a 10k.

cap) Do you feel that the industry has changed since you first started in the business? How?

kf) The gaming industry has exploded since I first started. It was already going at a pretty good pace, but now it’s on par with the film industry and sometimes surpasses it.

cap) What’s your favorite part of the job?

kf) The work itself. Feeling myself vocally slip into the skin of so many different characters is invigorating. It takes me so many places in my mind, giving me a rich world of countless perspectives from the real to the surreal.

Keith Ferguson plays “Friend Owl” in Walt Disney’s Bambi II

cap) What’s your least favorite part of the job?

kf) I’m not sure. I really do enjoy my work.

cap) Finish the following sentence: “If it wasn’t for voice over, I’d probably…”

kf) …be trying to get into voice over. That or being some kind of psychologist. Or seeing one.

cap) If you were just entering the voice over industry now, would you do anything different?

kf) I’d establish my website much sooner, and be better about getting copies of everything I booked from the very start.

Keith Ferguson as Steven Wright in Family Guy

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?

kf) Hard for me to say. I have heard that some casting directors do go directly to sites sometimes before going to agencies to audition. My agency happens to get an immense amount of audition copy in town, so for me, the effect may be different than for others. Also, there still will always be the need for the negotiator. Some performers have that inclination as well, but there will always be those who want to focus on the art form more than deal brokerage, myself included. I imagine that vo websites might open up opportunities of discovery for those not yet known. But then again, there is always high value in having a third party who’s industry-established, be it an agent or a manager, vouch for your ability and professionalism. My sense is that hearing someone say, “Trust me, this person’s really good,” carries more weight than merely hearing, “Trust me, I’M really good.”

cap) Do you have any voice over tips you’d like to share?

kf) Read aloud everyday. And in different ways, from emotional intent to vocal quality. Take a workshop. Then, take a workshop with agents when you feel really competitive. Have fun in the booth, unless it’s a really dark and serious project. Then just have fun between the takes. ;^)

cap) When you’re not working, how do you typically spend your time?

kf) Watching movies, running or cycling, hanging out with friends, and lavishing inappropriate amounts of affection on my cat.

cap) Complete the following sentence: “I wish…”

kf) I had discovered voice over even earlier in my life.

You gotta love Daniel-San!

cap

No Comments » | cap interviews..., potentially useful info, voice over | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by cap

Voice Over Tips (Comic-Con Special Edition): CAP Interviews… Gregg Berger

July 27, 2008

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. =)

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!

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!

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!

… 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!

cap

2 Comments | cap interviews..., friends, life, potentially useful info, voice over | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by cap

Voice Over Tip: I Want To Be A Voice Over Artist… Do I Need An Agent?

May 21, 2008

Homer Simpson

Homer Simpson: “Mmmm… Alcohol Poisoning”.

In a word… NO.

First off, read this post and get edu-macated on the basics of how to get started on your voice over career.

Then check out this post.

Maybe this post will answer some basic questions you may have.

There are several more so browse around.

American Dad

American Dad is hilarious! You gotta love Hulu!

Now with that out of the way…

With several years of talent agency experience, it’s safe to say that I know and understand the business both inside and out. Here’s the deal with voice over talent agencies: simply put, they are something not unlike a waiter at a diner. If you’re a buyer, producer or any sort of customer looking to hire or buy voice over talent for your project, you go to an agency or you put up your project on one of those online sites, craigslist, AWN, etc.

These services then send out this project to their clients, community, members, etc. Sometimes they offer suggestions on the hot talent of the moment (kinda like the soup du jour) but really they’re just pushing someone to ease their own load. The talent then records / auditions the piece and these auditions are sent to the buyer to review. Once a decision is made as to who they want, they contact the rightful representative and the talent is hired for a preset price (ie. the dinner check based on the price you saw on the menu).

Generally when it comes to going through a reputable talent agency, these prices are preset by the SAG or AFTRA minimum rates code (currently $426-$685 for SAG and $250-$350 for AFTRA) with hardly any room for negotiation. Hardly the hip, cool, exciting images we have seen in HBO’s Entourage. I guess if you go through one of the online services, they aren’t bound by any of these preset rates and they allow you to negotiate a rate that both parties feel comfortable with.

Know that most likely, the buyer does know the preset union rates so you can have an idea of what a “professionally represented” talent may receive.

Seth MacFarlane and crew have fun with Family Guy.

So does a voice over agent get me more money than if I negotiated my own deal?

Unless you’re a celebrity (check out this post to see what I mean) a voice over agent will only get you the basic minimum rate required by the SAG or AFTRA codes.

Voice Over is primarily a faceless and nameless endeavor. You can be one of the highest paid and most successful voice over artists in the US and still not have to worry about anyone recognizing you on the streets. The agents, the talent, the buyers, everyone knows this. So why pay more than the absolute minimum? Doesn’t make sense.

Of course there are internal exceptions to these rules. A voice over talent who works a lot and whose time is in high demand may receive a double, triple, quadruple or higher rate at times. That’s generally rare. Not extremely, but generally it’s rare. It takes a looooong time to get there (2-5 years would be considered: fast track). At that point, sure, it might be worth paying 10% of your rate to an agency to manage your time well. Or you could spend a few minutes a day before bed to organize your own schedule. It’s all about time management.

People like saying, “oh my agent this… my manager that… blah blah blah”. It’s all semantics. It’s name dropping. Like “I have a Beemer” opposed to “I have a car”. They both get you from point A to point B. Some people need to say they drive a Beemer. It validates their self worth and temporarily makes them feel important.

So are agents completely useless?

In a word… NO.

Listen, if you’re one of those people who need someone to hand hold you through the process and you think paying 10% of your earnings to someone adds value to your time and how you manage your career (and many many people do) then by all means, go for it. Long standing, well established, reputable agencies have access to copy and projects that those automated online services still don’t. And until Voices or Voice123 or any other online voice over business producing entity gets past the tipping point and becomes a viable service worth their monthly, quarterly, yearly service fees (which I think it very well could) talent agencies will always hold some sort of minor, indirect value. But they can’t just get you a job just because they’re an agent. It doesn’t work like that.

Trust me when I tell you that if you’re serious about starting a voice over career and you want to take a stab at making money doing those “funny cartoon voices”, you’ve got everything you need already at your disposal.

Hope this information helps.

If none of this makes sense or you have a specific question you’d like to receive an answer for, feel free to leave a comment or question here and I’ll be more than happy to answer what I can in a timely manner.

Til then, cheers!

cap

Add to Technorati Favorites

6 Comments | internet, life, potentially useful info, voice over | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by cap

Voice Over Tip: Don’t merely say the words, deliver the message.

April 7, 2008

I know I said that I was going to take a break from voice over subjects but I’ve had a heavy weekend and trying to make sense of a lot of information I’ve just received in my personal life. So before I start to blog something I’ll regret later (after all, I want to keep this as spontaneous and unedited as possible), I want to digest the information first. So while I do that privately (for now), I’ll share some potentially useful information instead.

Let’s get to it.

You’ve got an interesting voice. People tell you this “like, everyday… practically everyday… at least a few people have told me this… uh, like my friends have told me in the past… friends who are more like family… I can count myself as my own family member, right?… Okay, I’ve told myself that I have an interesting voice… Once.”

So all anyone has to do is just hand you a script of words and you’re bound to make millions to use your voice and just… read.

Here’s the reality.

Your voice is only half the story. Even in the “professional” level I hear people every single day with great voices who can’t book a job to save their lives. After a few months of this, people get frustrated, they get discouraged and they lose all sense of confidence and self. Then they get angry and this begins a bad habit of hating everyone and everything associated with life.

And that really doesn’t book any jobs.

As a professional voice over actor, part of your job is to interpret the message within the copy you audition for. Sometimes the message is very easy to find and very clearly stated. Often times it’s not.

Writers and producers write what’s in their heads. They rarely read their words out loud. So it’s no surprise when the readers (ie. voice over professionals) read these written words (usually read out loud for the first time at this point) and realize how unnatural these words sound. Then to really twist the proverbial knife, the specs for the script call for someone to “not sell, not sound announcery and come off very natural”. Well you try saying the following line with the above mentioned specs:

“The California Lottery is proud to present to you The Big Spin Lottery scratch off ticket for a limited time only!”

How do you say this as if you’re just shooting the shit with your best friend? How do you say this without sounding like some cheesy game show host?

Well, that’s the trick. The ability to pull that off is what separates a lot of the talent who book a job and the other 799 readers (with a great voice) who don’t.

Decipher the message of what the writer is trying to convey and use your ability as a voice over actor to not make the message sound like a commercial trying to sell something they don’t need.

That makes sense right?

Okay, next I’m really going to get back to blogging about more important things: me.

Here’s something random just because.

A rare bright ray of sunshine in an otherwise lackluster musical year (so far).

Speak it, Akon!

No Comments » | potentially useful info, voice over, work | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by cap

Voice Over Tip: The three most important tips when auditioning for an animation voice over role

April 4, 2008

The following tip is something I learned from one of the most successful voice over actors to ever speak into a Neumann mic.

Personally speaking, he was actually quite a prick as well as a complete and utter douchebag with serious anger issues. However that doesn’t change the fact that he is very good at his profession proven by the decades of success that continues to this very day. A few years ago when he spent a few hours transferring a lifetime’s worth of knowledge to our directors, agents, casting folks and other actors, it was one of the most important and rewarding blocks of time ever spent.

I pass along this knowledge to you now.

1) Energy

And by “energy“, I don’t mean for anyone to yell, scream, shout or even raise your voice necessarily. I mean: be present. Don’t be lethargic. Don’t try to be cool and “not care”. In on-camera acting this may work because you have your body, face and eyes to contribute conveying your message. But in voice over this comes off very uninteresting and dull. And if you don’t care, why should anyone else? And why should anyone hire you?

At this stage you’re painting the whole picture with just your voice.

Next time you watch your favorite animated show, film or webisode close your eyes and really concentrate on how the actors sound and perform. Even when the scene calls for a lazy character or situation, chances are the actor won’t play them half asleep and dull.

Once you listen with your eyes closed, try the same lines yourself. Better yet, record yourself doing the same lines. Then play back your take and compare it to the actual character’s take (thank TIVO!). This isn’t about copying their voice or character (for that you should check this out) so don’t worry about anything else but on the energy of the performance.

Always be present and always have energy.

2) Clarity

Diction and enunciation are important. But I don’t mean you have to sound like a Rhodes Scholar or even Patrick Bateman:

What a great flick! Christian Bale’s Bateman is such a crazy pimp!

So you don’t have to sound like an ivy league educated yuppie turd either. But we do need to understand what you are saying. Even when the scene is supposed to be very “natural” and “conversational” between two drunk Scots, the words have to be delivered in a manner where the real drunk Scottish dude watching at home doesn’t need the closed captioning switch turned on to comprehend what your character is tyring to communicate.

Groundskeeper Willie

Even at his most Scottish best, you can still make out what he’s saying.

Don’t mumble.

Even when the scene has a parenthetical that denotes (mumbles), try to get a word or two in there that means something. Have you ever tried mumbling an entire sentence in real life? It actually sounds very unnatural (even for an already unnatural sound). Even at my most drunken state when I used to makes those dreaded drunk dials to ex-girlfriends, friends with benefits or even the occasional bottom bitch (Iceberg Slim was right: Pimping is not a job, it’s a life.) they could still make out quite a few words in my stuporfied speeches.

3) Variety

Now this is something that’s geared more towards your audition for an animated character. Afterall, if you book the job, one hopes that the director will fine tune your performance to what they need for the show, film, etc.

Too often I’ve heard actors receive sides that include a full scene and basically play the whole scene in one note.

“But the character is angry here so I played her angry.”

There’s more than one type of anger. If you’ve ever been angry at anyone or anything in your life you know that that shit builds up, goes off in unexpected directions, takes a turn for the worse (or better) and culminates into something that could be too intense to handle. There is no such thing as a straight, all-purpose “angry” road.

The Original Incredible Hulk - Bixby and Ferrigno

O.G. Hulk! Grrr!! Bitches!

Then there are various variables with volume and tone that can combine to create an anger that’s very unique to you as well as the situation. Exploring a lot of those options in your audition creates a full fledged character. It helps your interpretation come to life. It gets animated. It gets you the bookings.

Provide some variety in your reads / auditions. Even if you have to add a little improv to bridge certain beats and emotions within your performance. Just, no matter what you do, don’t be that douchebag novice actor who “plays it angry because the character is angry”.

Energy. Clarity. Variety.

You work on those three aspects of your audition and your chances of booking that job goes up exponentially. I see it happen every single day.

I’m tired of talking about VO now. I’m going back to discussing more of me next time.

Seriously, how bloody awesome is American Psycho?

5 Comments | potentially useful info, voice over, work | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by cap

Voice Over Tip: So you think you’ve got the chops to become the next Homer Simpson? Study your characters!

April 3, 2008

Anytime I hint that my past or present life has anything to do with the voice-over industry, I will invariably get a response close to the following:

Voice-over? Oh like cartoon voices? Oh radio and TV too? Pixar? Disney? Oh wow. People get paid for that? I guess that makes sense. And they’re mostly bitter ingrates who started out wanting a ‘real acting career’ right? Cool. (beat) Hey, you know people have always told me that I’ve got a great voice for voice-over. no kidding. I can do all those crazy voices. I do pretty much a dead on (insert favorite Simpsons or Family Guy character). (Long Beat) Oh, so it’s real tough to get that kind of work huh? (Longer Beat) You’re not looking for more people to do (insert same favorite Simpsons or Family Guy character) are you?

Homer Simpson in Tidy Whiteys

The envy of many Voice-Over actors as well as On-Camera actors. This dude pulls in a quarter mil per episode doing “funny voices”.

Moving on…

There are methods to help improve your chances to be the next guy to be “that guy” doing “that voice”.

What a lot of people — actors and/or non-actors — do instinctively is to go try some over the top, lame, only your family and friends would be impressed type of voice for these characters when really you should start by anchoring yourself down with a timeless / classic character to start.

Don’t just watch movies and tv, study them!

Homer Simpson’s voice began as a loose impression of Walter Matthau. Stewie Griffin is another impression of a British actor Sir Rex Harrison from “My Fair Lady”. Fred Flinstone is reinterpretted Jackie Gleason. Bugs Bunny was highly influenced by Clark Gable’s character in “It Happened One Night”. Eric Cartman is an Archie Bunker take as a nine year old. Etc. Etc.

Successful long time animation voice-over actors know all this. When they audition, they always ground their auditions with a recognizable character, actor or personality. They don’t necessarily put a spotlight on them but they do so because they know that a lot of these writers and producers who are making these shows, films, websiodes and mobi-sodes will either perk up a little (consciously or not) when they hear something familiar at first. Then it’s your job as the actor to put your own unique spin on that character voice so that’s not just a blatant out and out rip off (although those book a lot of jobs too).

Stewie Griffin

This kid ain’t nothing but an impersonation of Rex Harrison!

Now a days the common repetitive “go-to voices” the successful actors rock out are: Tony Soprano (for the tough guy roles), the mom from Malcolm in the Middle (for angry comedic mom roles), Chris Hansen (for any creepy white guy roles), 50 cent (for tough black guy roles). Gary Busey (insane white guy). Michael Jackson (another insane white guy). Furnell Chatman (dad of insane white guy). Ross Perot (wealthy insane wh… you get the picture). Clint Eastwood. That one brother with the lisp from The Jets.

Even as a kid I thought this guy sounded funny every time he said anything that started with an “S”. I got you, mofo!

In this media crazed era we currently live in inspiration is literally everywhere. Use your time and energy to study these characters and have a few in your proverbial back pocket to use not only to creep chicks out at the bars but also to have back-up options in case you go in for a voice-over audition to play a character in the next spin off from South Park.

5 Comments | potentially useful info, voice over, work | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by cap