Whose Taken UCB Voiceover Classes?

[nathanielbates]

I was curious about UCB Voiceover classes. Other than improv I'm not focus on acting as a career but people tell me all the time I have a radio voice, (the football, sport-talk kind or dumb-cartoon type), to a point where I was thinking about taking these classes.

How are they? Do they lead to $$ or at least teach you how to get into the professional field? Does improv play at all into it?

I am interested and won't be pissed if nothing happened after taking this class, but I wouldn't do it just to do it, so I would love to hear how others found them.

 

[DougMoe]

I haven't taken the class, but I know Carrie and Soundlounge. She's a sweetheart and a for-real casting director. And Soundlounge is a great/busy VO casting office. So I think if you're interested in VO, she'd be a great person to learn from.

 

[B-Ram]

Hey Nate -
I too know Carrie and can vouch for her coolness. I think, like anything else, getting VO work is a process and takes a little time. The more unique your voice is - and I know that you have a pretty unique voice - the easier it is to move up through the ranks. I would advise taking the UCB class because it's low impact and Carrie has been known to call people in if they fit her casting specs.
Hope this helps.

 

[nathanielbates]

Well off both your comments and some else I ran into in pratice convinced me to sign up, but in the last 24hrs the class (that had been open for a month+ now) filled up. Oh well. I will though keep your advise and the next time UCB offers it I will enroll. Thanks for the insight guys.

 

[Matt N]

You won't get any work if you don't already have a headshot.

 

[nathanielbates]

Yeah, that's the one negative I had heard about the class or should I say the voiceover world. Seems very odd. Why the hell would you need a headshot for VO work? I understand a reel of audio but why do you have to be pretty to sound good?

Lord knows I ani't cute

 

[R and R]

No voiceover people I have worked with want a headshot. In fact, they advise people NOT to put pics in their reel since it can influence the way people hear your voice.

 

[Matt N]

I'm just talking about the UCB class, where we were asked for a headshot and acting resume.

 

[Hal Phillips]

I've considered taking that class, and I have a question for people with voiceover experience (or just knowledge of the industry).

I definitely do NOT have a "voiceover voice". You will never hear me narrating a film trailer or a commercial. But I've wondered how feasible it is to get into voiceovers anyway, since, just like with acting, people need different types for different projects. Or in the words of the UCB class description, "If you have a voice and a personality, you can learn how to audition for voice overs."

What do people think? Is it only worth pursuing voiceover work if you have the rich, deep, masculine voice I've always coveted? Or are there voiceover jobs out there for voices of all kinds, so long as you do it well?

 

[JBob]

I'm currently taking the class right now. I think it's well worth your time because it helps you polish that very specific part of your performance.

Carrie is great too, and gives good direction. She also has an insider's view of the industry, so she's able to answer a lot of questions, as in, "Where and how do I get my reel made?"

The class is mainly about three things:

1) Getting familiar with the booth and all the equipment involved, proper use and etiquette when dealing with someone elses' very expensive sound equipment.

2) Reading copy clearly and correctly from the first take on. Making sure your intonation is correct. Using great detail to examine the pronunciation of words so that meaning can be derived from it. Reading different types of copy from slogans to commercial dialogue.

3) Finding your range and adding your own personal touches. Some successful VO actors have only one voice, some successful VO actors have a huge range of voices. This class helps you find out what you're capable of.

I would say this would be a good start to VO if you've never done it before. Don't expect to get auditions right out the door though, it's extremely competitive from what I hear.

But, if you're looking to sharpen that specific part of your performance, and learn about the biz along the way, then take this class.