You hear them between shows. You hear them in the latest animated feature. You hear them rattle off a bunch of side effects at the end of the commercial for the newest prescription drug. Some are celebrities in their own right taking a turn as a cartoon character, and some are professionals whose faces you might never see but whose voices seem strangely familiar…
That’s right, they’re voice over actors, and they are an integral part of broadcast media, commercials and animated programs and films. But who wrangles these temperamental artistic types? Who makes sure that the performances are memorable and things are done properly? Well, I’m glad you asked me — and I’m glad I took the time to ask Cameron Anthony Park, because that’s exactly what he does.
Below you’ll find Cameron’s contribution about his career, and if you’re looking for more information about the business of voice overs and how to break in, his blog is a great read that is full of information.
Thanks, Cameron!
Current Position: Studio Manager / Talent Director.
My favorite part of the job is the clients. My company represents upwards of 250 professional actors and voice over artists just in our department. Most of them are incredibly wonderful people. a few of them are jackasses. A very select few are the devil incarnate. But the good ones, they have all have very fun and lively personalities and it’s always a joy to spend a limited time with them. Limited as in like spending time with other people’s kids: you love them visiting you for a short time but after a while, you can’t wait to kick them out of your home and return to some peace and quiet.
The downside is everything else. The current corporate culture at my company may be one of the worst I’ve ever heard about and been a part of. But it’s one of the oldest companies that relies too heavily on its past reputation and not enough on its detrimental future mostly based on a recent change to weak leadership.
You have to be willing to pay your dues with low pay and thankless long hours to begin a career in this industry from my perspective. Then slowly, you can begin to learn other aspects and skills from the more experienced folks and start sitting in on sessions to learn the technical and artistic aspects of directing talent.
Most of the funny stories in my job are from the “inside” which I can’t necessarily share, but here’s one without disclosing names. A well known celebrity recently came into our studios to audition for an animated series. She’s a very hyper, outgoing lady who has a crazy and spontaneous sense of humor. This particular day, we were welcoming a new member of the studio team (a new assistant) and this particular actor decided to “initiate” him into our company by pulling down her jeans and underwear to introduce her rose tattoos (one huge rose on each cheek) to him. She’s done it plenty of times before so there was no surprise to anyone else. The look on this kid’s face was priceless. This was his first day on the new job. They’re good friends now. He’s still a happy assistant and she’ll be appearing in James Cameron’s “Avatar” next year.
rock on Jim. thanks for the nice post and plug. keep up the great work!
CAP
This was fascinating. I actually have two friends who are currently attempting to enter the world of voice acting, so I’ll send them on over here to read this entry!
Very interesting
Thanks for the neat post sharing information from a directing perspective.
Cheers,
Stephanie Ciccarelli
Co-founder of Voices.com
Gosh, i feel so stupid sometimes. My wife will have to point out how convincing a voice over is being done, and I’m usuallly clueless and totally sold on the voice as being the character’s own.
I would probably never be able to perfect that, so I’ll leave that to these pros!
I know a lady who works at the local radio station who also does voices for video games. She has a high cutesy voice, but she is about 200 pounds of solid muscle!
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Good evening, good afternoon, or perhaps good morning; which ever salutation suits.
Not knowing your name, beyond the “jim” in the URL of which I have only this very afternoon been presented; I am forced to remain neutral in my opening salutation.
It is rather a curious juxtaposition betwixt the words “forced” and “neutral.” They are, after all, opposing concepts.
Now to business, and perhaps even opportunity.
Currently, I earn my living as a dispatcher; not of the law enforcement genre. Nevertheless, throughout my tenure in this field barely a week passes when either a client, a club member, or an associates in the office comments on my voice.
One guy calls me “radio man.” A female caller asked a female associate of mine if “David is as sexy as he sounds?” Those were her words, NOT my own.
One afternoon, while juggling client demands, I received a request to page another member of the staff. It was my first time using the office intercom. Two dates and one marriage proposal later…just kidding…but I was indeed approached by a charming woman from accounting…you guessed it, the voice.
After five years of unsolicited accolades, offers, and innumerable anecdotes to what ever the hell it is my voice sounds like (personally I think it sounds a whole lot like me), I’ve become interested in the Voice Over Profession.
God help me, I’ll do it!
So, with respect to whatever and how ever my vocalizations are perceived, I would welcome the opportunity to explore, or at lest to learn more of the field.
Awaiting a response,
David
jimsmuse sez: Hey David, thanks for stopping by the blog! Cameron’s website would be a great place for you to start exploring the field if, indeed, you’re going to make a career move. I don’t hook get people work, but the point of this blog is to inspire them to consider something new and interesting, and it looks like I’ve succeeded. And as for who “jimsmuse” is, it’s just me, Carrie who you talk to whenever you’re dispatching for Warren County (the clever one who swoons over your voice like all the other girlies!) so no need to be “neutral” LOL Now do I get a ride on the Harley?