Last weekend I attended a conference dedicated to voice over in video games called Get Your Game On Los Angeles. Presented by the Voice Over Network, the conference was an all-day event with incredible presenters who are well-established in the video game industry, including voice actors, casting directors, and voice directors. Suffice it to say, the day was jam packed with content and impossible to unpack in a single article.
The final panel of the day featured an array of the day's speakers who were all asked "What's one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring voice actors?" Here are their responses:
Simple, yet powerful, and something we all probably need to hear from time to time. And coming from the Senior Casting Director at one of the biggest video game companies in the world, I think it's safe to say this advice is universal and needs to be heard by everyone from the beginner to the seasoned VO veteran.
Dave urges us to remember that "our characters don't have scripts." We, the actors, get to read our lines over and over again, but each time the character says it, it must be as if for the first time. And playing a character honestly comes down to strong acting.
You should love the learning process. It is full of self-discovery and personal growth. The actors who best connect with their characters are those who have learned to connect with themselves.
Focus instead on what you can control:
Everything else is out of your hands. The performance that you bring to the table is just one part of the larger puzzle.
Don't make the mistake of trying to be who you think other people want you to be. When you do that, you leave behind the one thing that sets you apart from everyone else - yourself.
In addition to letting go of what you can't control, do yourself a favor and stop dwelling on what isn't happening for you and shift your focus to the positive, to the little things you achieve every day. Okay, so maybe you didn't book the part, but you got the audition! Celebrate that!!
The perfect quote to button up this list. Just... wow.
Andrea Toyias also revealed the number one thing missing from auditions right now (drumroll, please)....
Let that sink in. Acting. Storytelling. Truth. Among the hundreds of auditions she receives, less than 10% have good acting! And you'd be sorely mistaken if you think that only applies to the lead roles, she says, "because even if you're an orc, troll, demon, or goblin, video games are about the human experience."
Well, there you have it. Good voice acting, it turns out, requires good acting.
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Mary Lynn Wissner, Award Winning Casting Director
Join us for a free webinar! March 17, 10am PST
One of the most highly influential players in voice acting history
A change in perspective can really change what you bring to the table!
Dani and Lee speak about their histories with Anime, representation in voice acting, and inspiring fans to follow their dreams.
Cheryl Rosenthal, Video Producer and Director!
Check out what we have in store for you in February!
Join us for a free webinar! February 4, 10am PST
We get to see how the VO Boss assesses a high quality corporate narration spot.
Jim Edgar shares some perspective on resolving changes in your space's sound over time.
Ann Richardson shares suggestions on audiobook narration that can help you and others in the process.
Sally suggests letting these four words become your mantra for 2021.
Practical Advice for Achieving your Goals in Acting
Check out what we have in store for you in January!
Tiburon Actress Discusses her Role in Pixar's Soul.
An intriguing evolution of a Voice Over career
This holiday season put a little voice over in your gift basket!
Listen to two wonderful demos fresh out of the studio! (plus learn more about our Demo Production process)
Lake Bell talks about getting into the VO business and what it means for her.
Announcing December's Professional Invitational guest!
Texas-based company is making more opportunity for English dubbing beyond Anime
Check out what we have in store for you you this coming month!
Prolific voice actors of animation talk about their careers
by Clay Robeson October 1, 2020
Announcing October's Professional Invitational guest!
As a voice actor, you are your brand, but you can also become part of a company's "brand voice"
Check out what we have in store for you you this coming month!
A quick look at classes starting this week and next week!
Voice Actor phenom here to teach our VO Master Class
A quick look at classes starting this week and next week!
Voice One's new line of "Vocal Athlete" t-shirts are now available in red and black in the Voice One store!
Announcing our first Professional Invitational guest of the Fall 2020 Semester!
Angeli Fitch e-laborates on her experiences in E-Learning
Don't worry, a lot of people think that...
Check out what we have in store for you this month!
A quick look at what's coming to Voice One next week!
A quick look at what's coming to Voice One this week!
A quick look at what's coming to Voice One this week!
A quick look at what's coming to Voice One this week!
Join our official server! Open to current students, Voice one alumni, and prospective students too!
Sign up for both of our Advanced Character classes in June and save $50!
Download the Summer Brochure and check out our July-August classes!
Join Sally every Wednesday morning and start your day with a free 20-minute Vocal Workout!
We are excited to announce our new guest instructor for Anime Mania!
Our next "Nailing the Audition" guest is from outside the Bay Area!
Three 2-hour "deep-dive" sessions have been added to the class calendar. Join one, two, or all three!
Starting in just a few weeks, this class is the perfect class for beginning and intermediate voice actors.
We've got four incredible workshops coming your way next weekend! Find out more in this update from Sally!
We've moved this class on the calendar to better suit the online format
How to Manage your Training and Career During Social Distancing
Look who's coming to Voice One next week!
Join Sally in the morning or evening for an 8-person 2-hour voice over workout!
For the time being, all Voice One classes have been moved online. Here are the confirmed dates.
