Why I don't do narration

[Jacoby]

Eric, did we get separated at birth or something???

[voicy1stef]

I'm very much in favour of acting classes, and particularly improv classes. You can never take too many. Each time you go, you work with different people and different scenarios.

It keeps me on my toes. There's an art to doing it well. So I learn something each time. I love it!

[connieterwilliger]

Speaking of acting...I just got cast as Sheila Carter in Relatively Speaking - Alan Ayckbourn. It goes up early January at PowPac in Poway CA...a few miles up 15 from San Diego.

[JoeActor]

Originally Posted by connieterwilliger

Speaking of acting...I just got cast as Sheila Carter in Relatively Speaking - Alan Ayckbourn. It goes up early January at PowPac in Poway CA...a few miles up 15 from San Diego.

Break-a-Leg, Connie ;-)

Joe "wants to do a show but can't find time" Thomas
www.JoeActor.com
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com

[Diane Havens]

Yep. Those stage shows are demanding -- you have to actually go somewhere day after day after day. That's like -- work!!!

(Enjoy it, Connie -- nothing like the stage, and worth every minute!)

[Diane Havens]

And. getting back to narration and documentary style in particular -- if you have ever seen the Nature series -- wildlife filmmaker who also appears and voices them, Simon King -- is wonderful, and his passion for the subject matter is what carries them dramatically. I saw one on cheetah orphans last night that had me in tears. Such a moving and fascinating piece. And incredible African beauty. These films are important work to encourage others to help conserve these beautiful creatures.

[Jacoby]

Update:

Since I posted this, I've actually done a little narration-stuff. Would've done a lot more if "that gig from that controversial organization" had happened.... anyway, today I saw a part of a BBC-series on the first steps in space-flights. It was about how the German V2-rocket scientists from the WW2 was "recruited" by either the Americans or the Russians.

It was narrated by British actor Robert Lindsay.

Yup.... I still suck.

[TomConklin]

The performance of Jeremy Irons and Sigourney Weaver withstanding... it's probably a good bet that they got those gigs because they are Jeremy Iron and Sigourney Weaver. If they were unknow actors... maybe not.

That being said.. I believe on an acting background very much. No matter who you ask or what forum you might be reading... it's a common theme. I've been searching for a coach or some kind of acting group here where I live in the the Berkshires (Massachusetts). We have a lot of acting companies and a lot of great actors that visit here to do performances... but finding a group or coach to work with is tough here.

But... I'll find one and work hard at it when I do.

Keep up the good advice folks... we appreciate it.

Tom Conklin

[Scott Pollak]

Originally Posted by TomConklin

I believe on an acting background very much.

I believe in it totally and completely. I think - bar none - it is THE most essential element that lifts someone from being a decent voice, to being a voice actor/voice artist. It is critical to breathing life into words printed on a page, whether for a documentary, animated film or even a car commercial.

[Jodi Krangle]

Not to lessen the importance of taking acting classes, but you do get that same "being on stage and vulnerable" thing from being a performing musician. While I could definitely use more in the way of acting instruction, being a singer and songwriter and performing music on stage has helped me IMMEASURABLY in this business whereas starting out cold might have had me floundering a LOT longer. Being a musician gives you a good ear for the natural ebb and flow - the cadence and tone - of conversation and the speaking voice, too. Again - NOT lessening the importance of acting training. But musical training can also be very useful if you have any inclination towards it.