VU

Lani Minella

Ask a Casting Director

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Ask a Casting Director

I've cast hundreds of computer games and directed thousands of actors. Voice acting is much more demanding than voice overs. Happy to help anyone interested.

Members: 312
Latest Activity: Nov 6

Discussion Forum

CJ Adams

feedback on my work from a casting perspective 3 Replies

Started by CJ Adams. Last reply by Lani Minella Oct 9.

Lani Minella

How much time is "normal" to respond to a casting notice? 8 Replies

Started by Lani Minella. Last reply by M J Lallo Oct 9.

Comment Wall (185 comments)

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185 Comments

Mary Morgan Comment by Mary Morgan on October 24, 2009 at 5:13pm
Hi Lani,

Randall Ryan introduced us through e-mail but I thought I should post here. I'm slowly breaking into the video game market in Texas but I very badly need to redo my demos and have one made especially for video games. I plan to visit Burbank in January to record my animation track in person with my producer. If you ever come to Dallas I'd love to have a workshop or a private session.
And thank you so much for the zip files you posted for Aug. 27th. I'm definitely going to study it.

Take care!
Lani Minella Comment by Lani Minella on October 24, 2009 at 4:58pm
Hi Tim and all. If you scroll down to Aug 27th you can still find two zip files with a huge range of characters and lines that exemplify what kinds of range are needed for computer games and animation. Hope that helps. If I need to repost I will.
Happy Haunting!
Tim Van Dyk Comment by Tim Van Dyk on October 15, 2009 at 1:39pm
Hey All! I'm new to VO work and this site! I do VO for local commercials, as I'm a radio producer, but I'm very much wanting to get into something more creative! Games? Cartoons? Whatever! I want in! Any good idea where to start?
Here is a demo of a little show I do for my station (No worries, no IDs or adverts!):
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1545125/Viewer%20Mail%20-%202009%2010%2008%20-%20Show.mp3
I do all the writing and production, but I only voice the cab driver. Any thoughts? Critiques? I'm all ears!
M J Lallo Comment by M J Lallo on October 9, 2009 at 4:17pm
How much time to respond to a casting director---NOW
Its' to competitive to wait!
Lani Minella Comment by Lani Minella on October 8, 2009 at 11:22pm
Happy October everyone! I hope we can all somehow cross paths soon if you're interested in voicing games since we may be entering the slow down period soon. I'm looking into retiring from that aspect of VO---casting.....but so far the world isn't letting up on me yet. Good news for all of you!
Hugs to everyone!
Don Jewell Comment by Don Jewell on October 7, 2009 at 9:40am
Great stuff on here. I was having a blast with the Male Character sampler doc.
Chip Joel Comment by Chip Joel on October 2, 2009 at 7:44am
Lani,
Thank you, it's funny how when you think you are giving people what they want, it's not what they need. All those voices that you said to include are natural voices to me. Growing up in NYC, you hear and imitate almost every accent and mannerism. Being half Italian (don't let the last name fool you) a mafia voice is easy; in fact I have a demo reel of "Wise Guys". Thanks again for the advice.
Chip
Lani Minella Comment by Lani Minella on October 2, 2009 at 4:47am
To Chip----Cartoon scripts would be the worst thing to use to put together a character demo, since most cartoons are flailing badly due to the boring influence of reality shows diluting the creative process of imaginative characters. I can tell you the most common things people put on character demos that is least used. For women it's the wicked witch and southern belle. For men it's the cowboy and Monty Python British voice. I'd suggest something Brooklyn a la Mafia, Russian accent, possibly Asian like a Samurai warrior of even David Carradine's version of Kung Fu, the evil Alan Rickman type, or Patrick Stewart Brit, Hispanic or Gang Bang Black, and if you can do African or Scottish, and possibly a Red Neck Bubba deep voice...those would be a start.
Hero voices are again more boring than heroic and the radio puker voice might be usable but so many announcers can ONLY do that, it wouldn't set you apart.
Hope that helps a little.
Chip Joel Comment by Chip Joel on September 24, 2009 at 12:28pm
Hey Lani,
Happy Autumn to you. Do you have a source to download short cartoon scripts so that I can record a new Character Voice demo, the one I have was an adlib. I want to punch it up. Also, remember me when the flood of games come, ready when you are.
Chip
Lani Minella Comment by Lani Minella on September 23, 2009 at 9:29pm
Happy Autumn Everyone! Before I get blitzed with more games which are upcoming, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have here. Anything from what should and should not go on demos to what not to say to a director or how to ask questions to get the fastest results without being frustrated.
Take care and good luck to everyone!
 

Members (312)

Lani Minella Steve Stratton CJ Adams Sharon Garrison radiorox Will Barnes Haneen Arafat Jay Sawyer Sean West J S Gilbert James Clamp Heather Costa Roxanne Hernandez Annie Silver Michael Murphy DC Goode Kathleen Deadmon Bonnie Engel Lee Erick Abraham Jon Thomas Tom Vernon Susan Berkley Celena Arter M J Lallo maxmcgill Eric Morgan Joe J Thomas SamA Joey Pepin Penny Abshire
 
 

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