Wallace Sound-Alike

[The Voice Chap]

So my agent send me a short script for a Wallace sound-alike for a new Wallace and Gromit game.
I know this is not a perfect 100% match but the question is ... is it in the ballpark? I just can't get that croaky sound without losing something else.

Original and audition below

[JoeActor]

Hey Dave,

Yeah, you're in the ballpark, fer sher.

I think the original has a tad higher tone, with a bilavial fricative (ok, so I made that up)... er, his voice cracks at times. Only other nit-picky comment would be attitude.

He's a tough nut to crack, vo wise...

Hope you land the gig - I'm a big Wallace and Grommit fan!
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com

[Scott Pollak]

I'm a HUGE W&G fan... have been for years, ever since the release of "The Wrong Trousers" and "A Grand Day Out".

I think you're amazingly close, especially on the second sample. Your voice has a slightly higher pitch on that one and a little more warble. If I just heard this without knowing who it was I'd probably think it was the original.

Great job!!!

[The Voice Chap]

Thanks for the compliment.
I am not close on the second sample. The second sample IS the original Wallace - that's the sound I was trying to copy!!!

[voicy1stef]

I think you're going a really good job there. Just watch your dialect. It sounds a bit American, compared to the original (the W&G game fans will catch that straightaway); but the tone is so-o-o-oo-o close!

[MattScan]

how does that work with copyrights? Do you have to have permission to try and duplicate his voice... or can you explain that it's an impersonation of the voice?

[jsgilbert]

This sort of thing is usually done through licensing. It's often much easier and more cost effective to get someone to impersonate Mr. Parks than to have him do the voiceover. It might be for a casual game that is being produced non-union and/or has very few lines.

In some cases, the character voice isn't owned by the performer, but by the project. For example, in the Simpson's if someone decides not to be on the show anymore for any reason, death, illness ireconcilable differences, then they would hire someone to be a sound a like.

A tremndous amount of my work is sound a like. I am currently the new voice for Papa Smurf and the voice of Herme, the elf who wants to be a dentist from Rudolph the Reindeer. I have also perforemd many voices on cartoons and anime, without credit, to fill in for an actor that may have been sick or injured.

It's especially important for people who do sound alike work or impersonations to make sure that ifthey are doing this work they have proper legal protections and it's often a good idea to get a hold harmless agreement from the producers. It basically makes them responsible for handling your defense and possible judgments should any action be taken.

[ChrisMezzolesta]

It's often much easier and more cost effective to get someone to impersonate Mr. Parks than to have him do the voiceover.

The voice of Wallace is by Peter Sallis.