Sara Jane Sherman
@sarajanesherman
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Finder of Voices & Nit-picker of performances. My tips are specific to #animation #voiceover. #castingdirector #voicedirector #voiceovercoach #vo
Joined August 2011
#VO tip: Someone else’s win is not your loss. This part of the entertainment industry is known for celebrating and helping others. It is not unusual for one VA to recommend another VA for a role. Let’s continue to lift each other up. Happy Sunday!.
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I just booked 2 actors based on auditions they did for other roles. You are never just auditioning for the role you are actively reading for, you are auditioning for all the roles the CD is casting now and will cast in the future. A good audition is a good audition.
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#VO tip: Verbalize your goal. Say it out loud. Admitting your dream is the first step to achieving it.
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#VO tip: Jobs can lead to jobs. People like working with people they like and can count on to do good work. Going in for a one-off character can sometimes lead to a recurring or lead on another series. Consider the “small” roles as big opportunities.
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#VO tip: Sometimes NOT getting the role has nothing to do with you or your performance. Your voice may sound too similar to another character. The creator had someone already in mind. They have you earmarked for another role. There are a dozen other possibilities. Stay positive!.
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#VO tip: As you make your way up the voiceover ladder today, I encourage you not to pull up the ladder behind you. Turn around and offer a hand to those coming up after you. #MondayMotovation.
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#VO tip: No character too small! I’ve seen what was intended to be a one line character in one episode develop into a one line running gag in EVERY episode. And I’ve seen one off characters develop into series regulars. Every role is an opportunity.
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I worked w/ a woman who had a youthful, high pitched voice. She didn’t like to audition for adult roles bc she thought it wasn’t believable. I reminded her, but you actually ARE an adult with a higher voice. Age isn’t just about pitch- cadence & delivery are a big part of it too!.
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#VO tip: Try not to put so much pressure on yourself with each audition. You don’t have the role going into it, so absolutely nothing lost if you don’t get it.
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#VO tip: Disney, Nick, DreamWorks, etc do not charge you to audition. If you see an ad to audition for a fee, it is a scam. Side note- They are also not typically posting animation auditions on the Pay 2 Play websites either. They cast .through agents.
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Here are a few sounds that I request regularly at #VO records. If you’re just starting out, practice now and get comfortable with them. - Laughs.- falling impacts.- Cheering .- Gasps.- Burps.- Crying.- Sneezes/ Blowing nose.- Punching & being punched.- Kicking & being Kicked.
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#VO tip: Isn’t it special that you are in an industry where just the sound of your voice can spark a smile, a laugh, nostalgia and joy? Seeing actors jump into character at the delight of an unknowing bystander is the best. On the hard days, remember you bring that to the world.
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#VO tip: what is 1 step you can do today to move your voiceover career forward?. -Sign up for a class.- Start a list of agents you want to reach out to.- Make a list of the types of characters you want on your demo.-Create a website.- Create socials for your professional account.
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People often tell me their dream characters to voice. The one I get the most is . a “Disney Princess”. At least once a month someone will tell me they got into voiceover with the hope of one day voicing a Disney Princess. Do you have a dream character you’d love to book?.
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Today marks 20 years in LA chasing my dreams of working in television. From a girl who would watch every single name in the credits, to actually getting to see my name in them. Cheers to following your dreams!.
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#VO tip: Sometimes during a record you “mess up” or don’t like the take you did. It happens! Try to avoid putting yourself down (repeatedly!) in front of the client. Just go for another take. No negative comments needed. Our goal is to keep the room positive & foster creativity.
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#VO tip: I recently sent out an audition where the client specified that the character would need to say a lot of technical words with ease. 25% of the people mispronounced several of the words and were cut immediately. A quick google search on pronunciation can go a long way.
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#VO tip: Oof, the recast. It happens & honestly sometimes it has absolutely nothing to do with you! Roles get cut, characters change, budgets can’t afford the PU payment & make this role someone else’s 2nd voice. I encourage you to let it go and march on. There’ll be other roles.
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#VO tip: Casting Directors are never just casting one role while listening to your audition. They are casting future roles as well. A good audition for one show may book you a role on another show a year later.
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#VO tip: I save all the auditions I receive for future reference. Nothing is wasted. Even if you aren’t exactly right for the role, submit a great audition. Past auditions can easily be used for future bookings. Any other casting directors out there do the same?.
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#VO tip: You can hear in your voice when you are having fun with a read. You can hear a smile. You can hear when you feel desperate to book. This is a reminder to try not to put so much pressure on each individual audition. It can be about the collection of your work.
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#VO tip: Not quite booking yet? Create your own content. I recently saw a video where someone filmed their fish and gave them voices. Don’t wait for someone to come to you with your next opportunity, make it happen for yourself. You have the power to move your career forward.
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#VO tip: Great ADR / Dubbing cheat sheet from @mummynyan! . I would also add the following abbreviations under reasons for the pick up:. (NL) New line.(RL) Revised line.(S) Scratch.(P) Performance
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This week I asked an actor to vocalize being spun around, then thrown against a wall, slide down the wall, have a bunch of onions fall onto your head, wait a beat then one last onion, then pass out. The actors response? “How many onions?”. Give it a try! .(Ps- I said 20 onions).
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#VO tip: Don’t forget, even your younger characters will have a low end to their register. You don’t want to just make your voice higher and call it a day with your kid voices. Find their pitch range. Their range will not be the same as yours, but will still have range.
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This is my first project in the world of Scooby Doo! It was a real bucket list moment getting to watch the incredibly talented actors bring these iconic characters to life. Hope you and your family enjoy it this Halloween!.
A trailer for 'TRICK OR TREAT, SCOOBY-DOO' has been released. The film is set to release this fall.
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#VO tip: You only have your voice to convey emotion. No facial expressions or body movements. For fun, let’s practice saying this line with different emotions. “You painted my room red.”.- Happy.- Devastated.- Confused.- Ecstatic.- Angry.- Hiding disappointment .- Not impressed.
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#VO tip: What keeps me listening to an audition?. - Right vocal quality for the character.- Great Acting.- Life in a performance / Energy.- Comedy.- Unexpected choices that work.- Being able to visualize the character’s physicality based on the vocal performance.
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#VO tip: What animated show currently in production would you love to do a voice on? Let’s put our goals out into the world. #MondayMotivaton.
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Casting a non hearing/partially deaf female, adult character who is BIPOC. I’m looking for any SAG voice actors who can authentically play this role. Any and all leads welcome and appreciated! Thanks!.
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My husband had a job interview this week where they asked him his minimum and MAXIMUM salary. How do you answer that?. “Minimum 60k. Max 5 million. tops”.
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#VO tip: Practice your cold reading skills. Sometimes scripts don’t arrive or new episodes are added. Being able to perform scripts on the fly is a great skill and can help you from getting flustered with a change of plan.
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#VO tip: There is no one specific path you take to becoming a successful voice actor. But the two main things you need are training (acting, improv, etc) and access to auditions. I find the first sometimes leads you to the second. For most, this is not an overnight process.
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#VO tip: Recently I worked with a woman who said she was bullied as a kid because of her voice. Now she is making 6 figures with it. Cheers to our differences being our strengths and celebrating what makes us unique. (And maybe also to sweet revenge 😀).
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Happy Pride Month! 🌈🌈. When a child feels alone or isolated and has no one in real life, they often turn to characters on TV. We have the ability to make that child feel less alone and seen with representation in the characters we create and the actors who portray them.
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#VO tip: Sometimes it’s hard to know when to quit your day job to pursue voice acting full time. I will say, it’s a lot harder to book a job when you desperately need to book a job. Any of you working actors want share when you knew it was the right time to quit your other job?.
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#VO tip: For fun, try this sentence with the following character types, “I knew it!”. - Defeated Villain.- Proud Parent.- Successful Superhero.- Bratty kid.- Genius Teen.- Annoyed Grandparent.- Hippy teacher.
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And I’m bawling at home reading Twitter….
The #DaytimeEmmys Award for Outstanding Voice Directing for a Daytime Animated Series goes to @Hulu #Animaniacs.
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#VO tip: Be wary of voiceover courses that offer a “professional demo” at the end of a one time 3 hour workshop.
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Welcome new friends! To intro myself, .I’m a casting director who also voice directs & coaches. I use this account to give animation #vo tips of things I observe by listening to tons of auditions & directing sessions. I will also give updates on shows that I’m working when I can!.
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#VO tip: Adding a great character laugh to an audition could be just the thing to separate your read from the pack and book you the role. Practice some laughs today. Not only could it be beneficial for your career, it will also be good for your soul. #MondayMotivation.
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#VO tip: If you have a Trans, youth performer in your life, I encourage you to introduce them to voiceover. Show them our world where anyone can play anything.
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#VO tip: When booking an actor for a NEW role, I usually use the following as a guide for the amount of time booked. Roughly 40 new lines = 1 hour.10-15 lines of ADR= 1 hour . ADR will take longer since talent is matching the animated character’s lip flap.
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#VO tip: Typically a series will cast the widest net for actors at the pilot stage. For guest roles that come up each week, bc of the fast turnaround, I often pitch actors from our original pool of talent. This would be people they liked, but ultimately didn’t get a lead role.1/2.
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#VO tip: The exclamation point! People see it and think volume! Sometimes sides are filled with them and the actor thinks they should be yelling every line. I like to think of it more as emphasis. Sometimes you can even emphasize things by emphatically whispering!.
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#Vo tip: Truly analyzing an audition script can make the difference between a good audition & a great one. Try to visualize the scene, the blocking, your character’s physicality with every line. Specificity for what ur character is doing in a scene will make a stand out audition.
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#VO #Voicedirecting tip: In addition to directing actors, Voice Directors are also responsible for setting the tone of the record and making sure everyone feels heard & respected. They create the space for collaboration, creativity and comedy to flow freely.
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#VO tip: When selecting a voice for an audition, make sure it is one you can sustain for a long period of time without hurting yourself. Under SAG, animation vo records can last up to 4 hours.
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#VO tip: if you have the time, after you record an audition, walk away and come back later to review with a fresh perspective. I also think this is great to do in between recording first and second takes to really separate the reads and not fall into the same acting for both.
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#VO tip: Practice varying degrees of evil with your villains. Try saying the below phrase in the diff. ways listed. “I’m going to get you”. - for a preschool show.- an adult thriller.- a comedic tween show.- primetime family drama.- Scooby Doo villain.- Huge final movie scene.
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#VO tip: Don’t like the way you read a line in a callback audition? Ask to do it one more time. I have never said “no” to that request. I want the actor walking out of the audition feeling like they gave their best performance. #animation #voiceover.
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#VO tip: We know there are classes in character development, acting and improv. Did you know there are also classes on branding, website design, building your business and audio editing?. If you or someone you know coaches on that side of the business, drop a line below!.
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#VO to: Got an early morning session? Wake up a little earlier to get your voice going. You don’t want the first time you speak for the day to be at your record. Let’s start a thread on vocal warm ups. Got any favorites?.
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“Do I have the right voice for animation?” . I have been asked to find every type of voice under the sun. There is so much animated content that I believe there is a character out there for everyone. CDs want talented (and funny) actors above all else. Keep training.
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#VO tip: Don’t forget there is also the human interaction side of a callback audition as well as the actual performance. We want to get to know you as a person as well as an actor. (In 3 min or less 😀).
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#VO tip: Keep discovering your talent. Try new impressions, creature sounds, accents, new voices, etc. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard new actors say, “Wow! I didn’t know I could do that!” You don’t know until you try. Keep experimenting and continuing to grow!.
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New Animaniacs trailer. check it out!.
NARF! Hope we didn't miss too much while we were gone! All-new episodes of #Animaniacs premiere November 20, only on @hulu.
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#VO tip. I’d love to start another thread on microphones for our friends who are just starting the search. Please let us know what mic you use, if it has a high or low price point (relatively speaking) and what vocal quality or type of voiceover it works best for. Thank you!.
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#VO tip: Your first animation demo should be between 60-90 seconds (and no more!). Separate characters that are in the same ballpark. Don’t forget to vary pacing between the characters. Your goal is to make the demo feel like quick snippets from various cartoons you have voiced.
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#VO tip: Ad libs shouldn’t just be you talking longer. If you decide to add on to a line, it should have a purpose. For example, it showcases your comedy or adds to the character’s personality. It truly needs to elevate the read.
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#VO tip: Got an audition you’re super proud of? Put it in a new folder for easy access. You may want to build another character off it in the future or you might need a pick me up down the road or a reminder you’re on the right track! .(Be sure to give that folder a cool name.).
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#VO tip: If you decide to send a cold email to a CD, know that we want to hire you based off of your incredible talent. Sell us on that. While I sympathize with any struggles you’re going through, there’s no need to mention financial hardships or setting the hiring up as a favor.
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What type of character or voice is your specialty?.
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#VO tip: You can hear a smile. If your character is happy, actually smile during the read.
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#VO tip: Remember, demos aren’t just for showcasing your vocal range. They should also showcase how you ACT as that character as well. It’s more than just voices.
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#VO tip- Always take the meeting. This is actually a tip my dad gave me as I was growing up. “Don’t rule things out too quickly. Take the meeting, then decide.”. -Henry Goldberg.
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Welcome to all who have just started following my daily #VO tips! Happy to have you! If you are just getting started or have ??, I encourage to you scroll through past tips. You may find your answers. All comments are welcome so long as they move the convo along positively. 💜💜.
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#VO tip: Here are some random sounds to practice. For this exercise - no words, only sounds. - Growl.- Grunt.- Nod "yes".- Shake head "no".- Shrugging.- Eye roll.- Happy Humming.- Eating sounds.- Squealing with excitement.- Whisper sounds.- Kiss (make out scenes happen in vo!).
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‘Tis the season for scam calls. ‘Tis also the season to practice your character voices on those scammers! Baby voice? Little old lady? NY cop? Angry Mob boss? The world is your oyster. 🤣🤣🤣.
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#VO tip: One bright aspect of the recent months- Now more than ever, producers and studios are open to animation vo talent being outside of LA.
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You guys inspired me! I just put together an hour long class focusing on the non-verbals of animation- “More than Words”. Thank you!.
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#VO tip: Listen back to your audition right before you submit it. One final listen after editing and exporting is always a good idea.
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#VO tip: Here are some different types of laughs to think about:. Belly laugh.Nervous laugh.Stifled laugh.Cruel laugh.Flirty laugh.Fake laugh.Evil laugh.Howling laugh.Obnoxious laugh.Sarcastic laugh.Polite laugh.
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#VO tip: The first line of your audition tends to be a benchmark of where the casting director can expect this voice to live. Try not scream or do something completely “out of character” for your opening line.
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#VO tip: I’ve said this one before- With sound alikes, once you have the cadence and vocal quality down, don’t forget to act. Voice matching is a lot about matching musicality, but you gotta bring the acting too.
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#VO tip: For the most part, animated shows and movies take a really long time to make. Many of the shows you see coming out now were two years in the making. We are also beholden to when the studio releases the project. Last week I worked on a show that won’t stream until 2025!😳.
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#Animaniacs is such a team effort and this Emmy nomination is truly a testament to the AMAZING cast and their incredible talent!. OUTSTANDING VOICE DIRECTING FOR A DAYTIME ANIMATED SERIES. Animaniacs. Hulu.
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#VO tip: Get to know your natural voice. What does your voice sound like when you’re just being yourself? What roles could you play? How old do you sound? Are you a fast or slow talker? High or low pitched? Accent? Vocal affectation? What are some descriptive words for it?.
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#VO tip: Sometimes you will come across auditions you don’t want to do, for an array of possible reasons. I know it’s hard to turn something down when maybe they come few and far between, but sometimes you need to do what feels right to you.
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#VO tip: Try to avoid wearing clothing that makes noise when you record. It’s not just jewelry. Squeaky shoes and some shirts or jackets can all ruin takes if you can hear the fabric. You may even be asked to turn around your baseball hat if your voice bounces off of it.
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3/6/2020 was my 1st day back to studio after maternity leave to work on #TheCupheadShow & it was also the day everything shut down. Today, I’m going back in studio for #HamsterandGretel & I have all the feelings. Anxious, Excited, Nervous, Excited again. Ahhhh! Why am I so weird!.
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#VO tip: There are roles that we’ll always be casting in kid’s cartoons - parents, teachers, bullies, grandparents, etc. If you have a take on these roles, add them to your demo. Along with all the unique types of characters you do, IMO it’s also good to add the basics.
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#VO tip: To stand out when auditioning, try an unexpected approach to the emotion given. If the direction is “Angry”, what’s a different take that others might not do?. Let’s practice. Try saying this sentence angrily in 4 different ways. “I never want to see you again”.
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#VO tip: Today’s assistants will be tomorrow’s industry leaders. Be kind as they learn the ropes. Everyone has to start somewhere.
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#VO tip: if you start to lose you character voice at a record, you can always stop and ask to hear your audition reference or a line from the beginning of the session. It is never an inconvenience.
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#VO tip: Try this if you really aren’t sure how to approach an animation audition tonally- . If you use a wacky/cartoony voice for the character, consider a more grounded acting performance. If you use a more “natural” voice, you have a little more leeway for broader acting.
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#VO tip: Unfortunately, casting dirs. & agents receive so many auditions, they aren’t able to give individualized feedback for each read. If you’re questioning if you’re on the right track, some VO coaches will review past auditions in bulk to give notes & find ways to improve.
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#VO tip: I thought it might be interesting for you to see the timeline of a project I recently cast. I went out with 8 auditions at the end of October. Did callbacks for 2 characters mid- December & made offers on the roles the end of January. 6 roles cast off of initial reads.
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#VO tip: if you decide to do a second take, don’t just change up the voice, change up the acting as well. Laugh in a different spot, try a new ad lib, change the cadence. Use the second take to show your range. Ps- you don’t HAVE to do a second take.
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