This has nothing to do with anything (although you can study the voice over work I suppose) but I thought I’d share one of my favorite clips from Family Guy.
Now I have to admit I’m a pretty late bloomer to this show because I was very much on the side of the South Park guys who have very publicly voiced their utter disdain for Family Guy. I’ve avoided watching forever. But after falling for a few episodes on Hulu, I was immediately hooked. Between all the repeats on Cartoon Network, The CW, TBS, Hulu, FamilyGuyX and Fox, it took me approximately three weeks to watch EVERY SINGLE EPISODE of the show.
Yeah.
I’d like to pontificate further but I’m too busy watching Family Guy on TiVo at the same time so, just enjoy the clip.
“Whoa whoa whoa whoa. That sounds like a pretty big design flaw there.”
There’s a pace and tone to the show that makes me equate it to the TV equivalent of a McDonald’s value meal: awesome at first but really so bad for you with zero nutritional value.
Then the flavor of the show ruins your taste for other shows. I can’t watch The Simpsons now because after several Family Guy episodes, The Simpsons just feels slow and tired.
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?
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.
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).
This kid ain’t nothing but an impersonation of Rex Harrison!
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.
Posted by cap
Posted by cap
