In search of Voice Over Classes: London and LA

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Philip Banks on January 15, 2009 at 3:44am

If you are an actor then all you need to know about Voice Over work can be learned in an afternoon as long as you are prepared to study on your own.

Spend your time and money attending acting classes held by experienced actors. Buy "The Stage" newspaper and the world of acting will open to you.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Taylor on January 16, 2009 at 10:44am

Piotr!!!! Have fun in old Blighty! I love London. In LA check out Pat fraley's weekends....intensive, great guest instructors...and Pat alone is a powerhouse. Put yourself on Bob Bergen's waiting list for 8 week animation course.....Marc Cashman is stellar for commercial stuff, and more....MJ Lallo also puts together some outstanding master classes with great guest directors and agents. These instructors have not only been mentors, but they have also become friends....they are good people. Your talent is tremendous, you are so wise to take your natural facility with impressions and add great acting to the mix. You know you can fascinate people with your arsenal of impressions but that's like doing card tricks....the real magic is in the ACTING. So save your pounds and pences in London and bring a piggy bank to LA to invest in workshops. I would also suggest checking out improv at BANG, the Groundlings and Upright Citizen's Brigade. Your Young and Baby Faced-ness is a great asset in Hollywood. If you work on playing well with others in improv comedy it won't be long before we are buying tickets to Piotr movies. It's goin to be fun watching you grow Piotr. I'm excited for you! and call me when your here in LA...we'll get some VU peeps together and grab a bite....someplace cheap.....after all, we're students. :-)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Piotr Walczuk on January 16, 2009 at 11:36am

I was thinking about taking only a few classes here, with strengths in the British styles... it is still expensive here for classes, so LA would be a better deal! When I arrive I'd be happy to meet up with you and other VU peeps, I am really excited for that! I try to stay modest with my talents, I see it as a door opener; I have a lot to learn in this vast business!

I haven't been conversing on here as much but I think it is time I did so!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Cooper on January 25, 2009 at 2:12pm

Hi Piotr. The simple truth is that we don't go in for voiceover classes here in the UK on anything like the scale that they do the other side of the pond. Whether that's down to the market being smaller, the population being smaller, or some belief that we don't need them, I don't know.

There are a couple of places in and near London which I've heard of, but which I can't personally vouch for one way or another, having had no experience of them.

The City Lit (www.citylit.ac.uk) runs a "Voiceover and radio workshop" every few months which aims to give you the basics. Follow that link and check out if it's the kind of thing you want. Their courses are government supported and therefore cost less than many others. The standard of teaching is generally good, and the City Lit generally attracts people with actual professional experience to tutor there.

Short of getting voice coaching from a professional voice coach who might coach actors, and charge possibly more than you want to spend, I could think of only two other people. I just Googled a guy called Bernard Shaw, who has been providing this service for some years, but his web page sadly tells me that he passed away just before Christmas. If you feel like supporting the family then you could always order up a copy of his book, "Voiceovers - A Practical Guide" which is a pretty good starting point for self study. It comes with a CD, which (IMHO) isn't that great, but the book gives you some useful starting points to approaching copy and treatment.

The other one that comes to mind is Gary Terzza's Voice-Over Masterclass. Gary has been around for many years and is best known for his work on television as a continuity announcer (currently on the national network, Channel 4). I've not heard of anyone that's taken his Masterclass, but perhaps someone else here can comment. I'm confident in saying he's certainly not a fly-by-night charlatan who'll disappear in a puff of smoke though.

There are other companies who will produce showreels for you (including Jean Paul Orr at The Showreel in Chiswick), but they're not classes and you might not want to go straight into a studio to record at this stage – even though they may offer to coach you through the session. That said, The Showreel's website does have a rather good forum and resources, which you might want to sign up and look through.

Do beware of anyone who tells you that you'll make a fortune if you spend an afternoon being coached by them, though. There are plenty of those around and it's easy to get sucked in by the fast talking…

If I can help any more, do let me know!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Piotr Walczuk on January 25, 2009 at 2:37pm

Thank you for checking into this for me Mike! I will be checking out your suggestions..

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Cooper on January 30, 2009 at 3:49am

One more thing I forgot to say (and reading J S Gilbert's post in another thread has just jogged me!) is that regular acting and improvisation classes may be just as helpful as "Voiceover Classes", so do check them out. Maybe have a chat with the prospective tutor and explain your situation, and they should be able to give you a steer on whether what they're offering is right for you.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Debbie Munro on January 29, 2009 at 3:03am

Hello Piotr
Pleasure to meet you

I am a voice coach (in fact I know that John Taylor would put in a good word for me as well) I"m coming to LA Feb 28th. Too bad you're not going to be in LA then?

I don't charge as much as many of the locals in LA. I teach in Canada primarily and now across North America. I've taught SEVERAL students in London and beyond via Skype and my TeleVoice training (Privates online....I record both sides of the conversation) It works really well. Remember this is an audio industry...I only need to see you, not hear you.

Anyway, I'd be more than happy to help you in the right direction. What is it you want to pursue the most? This will also help in which coaches to train with. We can always get you set up with some private sessions while you are here as well. That gets expensive but well worth every penny. Another good coach is Bill Holmes in LA. As well as Joyce Castellanos for promos and Trailers, Rodney Saulsberry, Promos/Trailers and Brian Cummings.

So we're all here to help and any of what John suggested and I have suggested will be great options.

Here is the info on my LA workshop
Voice Trax Studio West.
Feb 28 & March 1st
9 - 5 p.m. both days
$345.00 US (Earlybird)
$395.00 US after Feb 14th.

I hope we get the chance to work together. Feel free to check me out via my website. Listen to my podcasts, tip of the months (in my newsletter section) and the newest Chanti Casts for tons of info regarding VO. I hope you will find some of it useful. It will also give you an idea of what i'm all about

Good luck in your journey
Send me an email if you'd like
ALl my best
Deb Munro
www.MicnMe.com
www.DebbieMunro.com
workshops@MicnMe.com

▶ Reply to This