BLOG
A VOICE
OVER JOURNEY - IN SEARCH OF CHARACTERS
Looking back at my voice over journey in the character genre and considering
the classes and workshops I’ve immerse myself into lately, it’s interesting to see how much I did
quite by instinct. In reality voice
acting is just acting and if you have a background in acting you have a good
foundation to begin with. My experience as an actor has given me that
foundation. However, I also discovered how
much more there is to learn in building a multi-dimensional character in voice
overs. There is clearly a difference
between acting and voice acting. But let
me tell you how I
found my first three characters for my storytelling podcast The Kit Bull Story.
Understanding the Characters
Since I wrote the story and created
the characters, I knew them very well and knew exactly what I wanted from
them. So, naturally I took my first cue
from the personalities of the three characters I had created and would play.
All were female, each one of them completely different from the other in
voice type and age, ranging from young tween, to a middle-aged woman with an
accent and one with a mature, matronly voice.
Sustaining Voice Style
I didn’t want to hurt my voice in
terms of tone and pitch. This was something I had read once on a blog on
animation. Not only did I have to feel comfortable, but I also had to be able
to sustain the voice characterizations long term without hurting my vocal cords
and it had to feel natural.
Breathing Life into Characters
It was fun discovering where the
voices would go as I layered each character with emotional range; anger,
surprise, sadness, joy and so on. By adjusting pacing, tone and nuance
and incorporating unique qualities and distinctions the characters became even
more defined. It was like creating a person! Being a voice actor is more
than just having a nice voice; it's about infusing life into stories and
characters, giving them breadth and depth. For Kit it was her sweetness, kind
and inquisitive nature, for my French lady Fran it was her eccentricity, warmth
and friendliness, and for Mrs. Stern it was her icy demeanor and snooty
manner—they're not just roles; they're the expression of emotion and narrative.
The Journey Ahead
Looking ahead, I see a canvas filled with possibilities, characters
waiting to be discovered. Each voice whether for animation, commercial,
corporate narration or other type of voice acting is a new adventure, a fresh
exploration into the world of imagination. As a voice actor, you’re always
learning and taking classes. It is an ongoing process of discovery and a
constant dance between vocal artistry and storytelling.
So, as I wrap up this chapter of my voice-over journey, I'm profoundly
grateful for the vibrant characters that have sprung to life in The Kit Bull
Story Podcast. Kit Bull, Fran, and Mrs. Stern go beyond mere voices—they're
living expressions, embodying the artistry of storytelling through sound. See for yourself and listen to the podcast www.thekitbullstory.com