The Art of Voice Acting, 6th Edition

The Art of Voice Acting, 6th Edition

by James R. Alburger
Released March 2019
Publisher(s): Focal Press
ISBN: 9780429749551

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Book description

The Art of Voice Acting covers all aspects of the craft and business of performing voiceover.

This sixth edition is reorganized and completely updated to include the latest information on how to get started in voiceover, performing techniques, setting up a personal recording space, voiceover demos, the basics of running a voiceover business, working with agents, unions, and much more. Dozens of URL’s are included with additional resources and several chapters include all new scripts written specifically for this edition. Two new chapters include contributions from some of the voiceover world’s top professionals. Additional content can be found on the Voice Acting Academy website at AOVA.VoiceActing.com.

This is the perfect tool for aspiring voice performers, radio announcers, and stage and screen actors.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. Preface
  8. Introduction
  9. 1. The Business of Voice Acting
    1. “Voiceover” vs. “Voice Acting”
    2. Types of Voiceover Work
    3. The Essentials
    4. The Realities of Voice Acting
    5. Full-Time or Part-Time
    6. Are You an Actor or a Salesperson?
    7. Getting the Skills You Need
    8. Breaking into the Business of Voiceover
    9. Ten Things You Must Know about Voiceover Work
  10. 2. Using Your Instrument
    1. All about Breathing
    2. Joni Wilson (20 Facts You Must Know About Your Voice)
    3. Correcting Speech Problems and Habits
    4. Voice and Body Exercises
    5. Physical Attitudes to Help Delivery
    6. 27 Tips for Maintaining Your Voice and Improving Your Performance
    7. Be Easy on Yourself
  11. 3. Microphone Technique
    1. The #1 Tool of Your Trade
    2. Microphone Technique
    3. Using Headphones
    4. Your Clothes Make a Difference
  12. 4. The Monologue
    1. How Will You Tell the Story?
    2. Tips for Performing Monologues
    3. Monologue Scripts
  13. 5. Voice Acting 101
    1. Give Yourself Permission to Play
    2. Commit to Your Choices - And Adjust
    3. Getting Away from the Read
    4. No Judgments Allowed
    5. The Magic of Your Mind: If You Believe it, They Will
  14. 6. Developing Your Unique Style
    1. What's in Your Tool Kit?
    2. Style
    3. Your Signature Voice
    4. The Road to Proficiency
    5. Three Steps to Creating an Effective Performance
    6. The Elements of a Voice Acting Performance
  15. 7. Techniques for Developing Style
    1. Critical Voice Acting Concepts
    2. Shortcuts that Trick Your Brain
    3. Basic Techniques
    4. Advanced Techniques
  16. 8. The Seven Core Elements
    1. Acting is Acting is Acting... Sort of
    2. It Starts with Pretending
    3. A = AUDIENCE: Core Element #1
    4. B = BACK STORY: Core Element #2
    5. C = CHARACTER: Core Element #3
    6. D = DESIRES: Core Element #4
    7. E = ENERGY: Core Element #5
    8. F = FORGET WHO YOU ARE AND FOCUS: Core Element #6
    9. G = Gamble: Core Element #7
  17. 9. Wood Shedding and Script Analysis
    1. Creating a Performance Road Map: Analyzing and Marking a Script
    2. Wood Shed Your Copy
    3. Wood Shed to Be More Believable
    4. Tips for Wood Shedding
    5. Script Analysis Worksheet
  18. 10. The Character in the Copy
    1. How Will You Play the Role?
    2. Your Best Tool Is Your Own Personality
    3. Theater of the Mind
    4. An Exercise for Creating Real Characters
    5. Visualization Script for “Creating a Character”
    6. Making Your Characters Believable
    7. Tips for Performing All Types of Copy
  19. 11. Single Voice
    1. Working Solo
    2. Tell Me, Don't Sell Me
    3. Tips for Performing Single-Voice Copy
    4. Single-Voice Scripts
  20. 12. Multiples and Dialogue
    1. Types of Dialogue Copy
    2. Tips for Performing Comedic Dialogue Copy
    3. Dialogue and Multiple-Voice Scripts
  21. 13. Long Form Narration: Corporate, Medical & eLearning
    1. Telling a Different Kind of Story
    2. Tips for Performing Long-Form Narration
    3. The Challenges of Medical Narration (Julie Williams)
    4. Corporate and Narrative Scripts
  22. 14. Audio Book Narration
    1. Telling the Long Story
    2. Tips for Performing Audio Books
    3. Audio Book Scripts
  23. 15. Mastering Character Voices
    1. Vocalizing Characters
    2. Pat Fraley's Six Critical Elements of Character Voice
    3. Finding Your Voice
    4. The Character Voice Worksheet
    5. Tips for Character and Animation Copy
    6. Character Sides for Games and Animation
    7. Character and Animation full Script
  24. 16. Imaging - Promo - Trailer
    1. Radio Imaging
    2. Television Promo
    3. Trailer
    4. Tips for Performing Imaging, Promo and Trailer
    5. Imaging Scripts
    6. Promo Scripts
    7. Trailer Scripts
  25. 17. Other VO Genres
    1. What Is Your Niche?
    2. ADR and Looping
    3. Pocholo Gonzales (The Art of Foreign Language ADR)
    4. Anime
    5. Telephony
    6. New Media
  26. 18. The Business of Voiceover: Getting Paid to Play
    1. The Same but Changing
    2. It's Show-biz, Folks!
    3. The Many Hats of a Voiceover Professional
    4. Non-Union Voiceover Work
    5. Union work
    6. Talent Agencies, Casting Agencies, and Personal Managers
    7. Online Audition Services and Advertising Agencies
    8. Ad Agencies and Production Companies
  27. 19. Your Voiceover Demo
    1. Your Professional Calling Card
    2. Demo Rule #1: Don't Produce Your Demo Until You Are Ready
    3. Demo Rule #2: Your Demo Must Accurately Represent Your Abilities
    4. Versatility Is Your Selling Tool
    5. Demo Basics
    6. Preparing for Your Voiceover Demos
    7. Types of Voiceover Demos
    8. Producing Your Demo
    9. Your Demo Recording Session
  28. 20. Your Home Studio
    1. A Million-Dollar Studio in Your Home
    2. The Challenge of Recording at Home
    3. Designing Your Home Studio
    4. Understanding Room Acoustics
    5. Managing Your Computer
    6. Working with Clients Remotely
  29. 21. Home Studio Technology
    1. Wearing the Hat of Audio Engineer
    2. Digital Recording 101
    3. Advanced Home Studio Technology
    4. The Mysterious Decibel
    5. An Audio Recording and Editing Primer
  30. 22. How to Work in the Voiceover Business
    1. Promoting and Marketing Yourself
    2. Managing Your Time
    3. Business Basics
    4. Dave Courvoisier (Using Social Media Networking to Build Your Voiceover Business)
    5. Working Internationally
    6. Andy Boyns (Working as a Global Voice Actor)
    7. Male vs. Female
    8. Trends
    9. A Business Plan for Voice Actor You, Inc.
    10. A Business Plan for Voice Actor You, Inc. (Worksheet)
  31. 23. Managing Your Voiceover Business
    1. Setting Your Talent Fee
    2. Negotiating Your Fee
    3. Getting Paid for Your Work
    4. How to Guarantee You'll be Paid
    5. Documenting Your Session
    6. Keeping Records
    7. Banking and Your Business
    8. Voiceover and the Law
  32. 24. Your Voiceover Identity
    1. Present Yourself as a Professional
    2. Words of Wisdom from Paul Frees
    3. Defining Your Business
    4. Setting Up Shop
    5. Print Materials
    6. Your Website
  33. 25. The Talent Agent
    1. Finding and Working with an Agent
    2. The Changing Role of the Talent Agent
  34. 26. Auditions
    1. The Audition Process
    2. Auditioning from Your Home Studio
    3. The Live Audition
    4. After the Audition
    5. Union vs. Non-Union Auditions
  35. 27. You're Hired! The Session
    1. A Journey through the Creative Process
    2. Types of Sessions, Setups, and Script Formats
    3. The Session: Step-by-Step
    4. Common Direction Terms
    5. Wrap it Up
  36. 28. Stop It!
    1. What are You Doing to Sabotage Yourself?
  37. 29. The Changing World of Voiceover
    1. An Industry in Flux
    2. J. Michael Collins (The Future of the Industry)
    3. Hugh P. Klitzke (So, What About the Future? A Casting Director's Perspective)
    4. Tom Dheere (Ignore the Noise)
    5. Peter Bishop (The World-Voices Organization)
  38. 30. Wisdom from the Pros
    1. Peter Dickson and Hugh Edwards (Advice on Considering a Career in Voiceover)
    2. Shelley Cohen (Is This Business Right for You?)
    3. Dana Detrick (22 Jobs Every Creative Solopreneur Must Be Able to Do)
    4. Marc Cashman (Twenty Crucial V-O Tips)
    5. Melissa Moats (A Day in the Life of a Voice Actor)
    6. Kelly Buttrick (Career Compass)
    7. Kate McClanaghan (What You Should Know When Meeting with a Talent Agent)
    8. Lisa Orkin (Directing Radio Spots: It's All About the Playables)
    9. Bob Bergen (Voiceover Demos)
    10. Fred Frees (Advice from Paul Frees)
  39. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Art of Voice Acting, 6th Edition
  • Author(s): James R. Alburger
  • Release date: March 2019
  • Publisher(s): Focal Press
  • ISBN: 9780429749551