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Article #152: Ethnicity and regionalism in voice over, is your race or culture a burden?

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This article has been on the shelves in ultimately end up talking about them.
the back of my mind for a while. I was Our natural character, more than how we
waiting for the time to write it as much sound when we speak, is what makes us
as I was waiting for the right words and whole. Though some of us might not
phraseology to come to the forefront. entirely like ourselves, when we are free
This is and always will be a sensitive to be ourselves we seem to be most at
subject so I will attempt to treat it as ease. When it comes to the business of
such. I was further inspired to get it on voice over, being at ease is one of the
paper now, by the recent departure of main keys to success in front of the
Isaac Hayes from the hit comedy cartoon microphone. We want to be relaxed. We
South Park. Though the story of his want to be able to focus and concentrate
departure includes religion and politics, on the task at hand, both of which are
neither one applies to this article. quite difficult when a portion of our
Isaac Hayes was the voice of the energy is spent trying to be someone we
character Chef on Comedy Central's are not. The best example would be the
animated series because of who he was and type of discomfort a singer experiences
what he sounded like when he spoke. Why when they try to sing a piece that is out
he left the show has nothing to do with of their range. That experience is
this article, but his situation while identical to the experience of the voice
working for the show may have some over talent who is trying to bury an
correlation. It seemed now was just as accent or dialect, and sound like someone
good a time to write it as any other, he or she is not.
with a little national attention being However, if our natural character is one
given to a topic in the same family. that speaks with a southern draw, an
So ok already, enough with the urban accent or foreign dialect, any time
justification for writing it. Get on with we speak as ourselves, we will be
it... speaking in fashion not very well suited
In several years of learning the ins and to performing voice over here in America.
outs of the voice over business, I have So what are talents of various regions
always wondered if voice over might and ethnicities to do? To answer that
someday become a great pillar of question we need to explore the
equality. Something that leveled the implications of hiding or learning how to
playing field for the diverse perform around who we really are. That
multicultural society we call America; a brings forward the dilemma I alluded to a
business with open doors for all, few columns back; how do you wake up,
regardless of where we came from or what look in the mirror and accept that the
color our skin happened to be. As I way you were born into this world isn't
continue to ponder the possibilities of good enough to participate in this
such a level playing field, the answer to business? It's a rather tough pill to
the overall question is a resounding no. swallow.
It will not be a playing field of On every forefront, in every corner of
equality anytime soon, but maybe not for our society forces are struggling to
all of the same old reasons you might preserve their culture, and this industry
suspect. in many more ways than one, asks that you
In no other business would it be abandon it. Not to say there aren't
acceptable, or for that matter legal, to opportunities out there for people of
post a job opportunity or listing with different culture, color and dialect, but
criteria or parameters such as "Wanted, the majority of voice over jobs are going
African American male or female." or to the average Joe or Jane who speaks
"looking for north American Caucasian with a typical middle America type
male for this job."; job postings that in affect.
their limits not so subtly say, "No My first opportunity to coach an African
others need apply." American student came several years ago.
But in the voice over industry, the She was a young woman, very poised with a
ability to pick and choose between male charming smile. She came to my studio
or female, black, white or Hispanic is with a fair amount of acting experience
not only an every day occurrence, it is which was a true advantage for her. Due
the way business is done. Producers and to some of her Shakespearian stage
casting directors are at liberty to be as experience her regionalism and dialect
finite as they like in their pursuit of were only very subtle attributes to her
the perfect match for their part. Does voice. I found her to be a very pleasant
this make them evil, horrible people? No. speaker, and after hearing her behind the
But there is no shortage of talking microphone, thought that with a little
points when it comes to how equally tweaking, we could produce a demo reel
opportunities are spread among performers that had no identifiable characteristics
in the movie and television industry. that would announce to the listener what
Imagine the front doors of a large she looked like, how tall she was, what
American corporation covered in posters kind of shoes she liked to wear, and yes,
to this effect: "wanted, computer what color her skin was.
programmer must be black female with a After some discussion about the concept
slight urban tinge to her voice." The of having her demo be ethnically neutral,
idea should be so far from the realm of she and I both agreed we would work to
possibility as to be laughable, at least have it not be completely neutral, but
in this day and age. But in the voice instead trickle some of her natural
over industry there are daily postings flavor in with the more mundane,
that don't imply or infer this. They come conservative reads on her reel. It was
right out and say it. important to me that she was able to
No one will ever be able to tell the true demonstrate her ability to turn her urban
intentions behind the people hiring for dialect on and off, and not have it lean
the project, and for our own sanity we more in one direction or the other. I
might as well assume their intentions are didn't want to suppress or try to hide
good and with merit. With all of the that fact that she was a young,
attention and criticism Mel Gibson dignified, intelligent black woman. I
received for his hand in The Passion of wanted her demo to show that she was a
the Christ, I don't think the thought of young, intelligent, dignified woman who
a black male lead ever crossed the minds by the way happened to be black.
of the people in the casting department, We both wanted to embrace her culture. My
and oh what a ruckus there would have overwhelming desire was that she got a
been had that been the direction they fair shake when someone listened to her
decided to take that movie in. Did they demo. I wanted them to get a few tracks
cast a white male lead actor for the part in before they discovered that there were
of Jesus in order to preserve the more layers to the product. My primary
accuracy of the story? If so, there are concern was that someone would pop in her
many in this country and the rest of the demo reel, hear the first track and
world that question that accuracy. disregard it as an ethnic demo, or add it
Wait a minute... I can feel this article to the black pile if there was such a
spiraling... Apply breaks, return to thing, or worse throw it out. We
original intention, and get back to the discussed all of these possibilities and
topic... took them into consideration when
Ok, I think I got it. crafting her demo. I knew from the
Suffice it to say, that people's true beginning I was treading in ethically
intent is generally buried so deep it is unknown territory by bringing these
pointless to begin looking for it. If we issues to the forefront, just as much as
want to move beyond the possibilities of I am by writing this article. But I felt
prejudice and exception in this business, as strongly then as I do now, that until
we will have to find a way to fool the society finds a conscience and some
directors and casting people. A way to decency, or we can turn back the hands of
beat the system that may or may not be in time, it may do more harm than good by
place. A way to overcome, so to speak, an choosing to pretend the world isn't the
obstacle that to this point remains way it is.
faceless and so illusive it may never be When it came time to select cover art for
tackled. We wont know what we are her demo reel, the question became
fighting, or if we are fighting anything whether or not she should put her
at all. Not a very bright prospect. headshot with her demo. My answer to that
Breaking Down Barriers. question was not to. After all, this
When I have the opportunity to coach business is called Voice-Over, not
voice over talent with ethnic backgrounds Face-over, or Where-Did-I-Come-From-Over,
different from my own, my mind opens to or What-Color-Am-I-Over. In this
the fascination of the unknown. I am business, as with any other business, it
peering into a crevasse so deep and should make absolutely no difference
different from my own, that my receptors where you come from or what you look
are on high alert. Inside that crevasse like. The only thing that should matter
are many things I haven't ever seen, and often does is what you sound like.
culture I may have never witnessed, Isolating your abilities
beliefs and experiences that I may have One of my greatest concerns when a new
never considered. Many are portions of talent comes to my studio is that they
human existence that I have never understand the difficulty of achieving
encountered, and as they have shaped this success. It takes a great deal of
person, might shape me a little as well. investment, time and energy to move
I must witness them, learn from them, forward in the industry, and informing a
feel them and hear them in order to talent of what obstacles stand before
better mold my approach to teaching this them up front before they ever get
craft. That is usually much easier said started, or ever spend a penny on the
than done. Many times I encounter actors business only seems fair to me. Most
or broadcast talent who have fought so people have the same obstacles when
hard to suppress their regionalism, getting started: Lack of experience, cold
ethnicity or nationality that getting read ability, and audition technique,
them to lower the wall they have been at lack of technical knowledge when it comes
times forced to create, is not an easy to editing and uploading files to servers
task. and configuring home studios. All of
Much of my ability to break down these those obstacles are pretty general. But
barriers is simply a developmental when a talent has a regional, ethnic, or
approach to building trust. You may ask cultural background that directly effects
why I would try to break these walls down their delivery of voice over copy, it
at all; why not just leave them be and becomes much more of a challenge for them
skim over them? Probably for the same as a talent and me as a coach.
reason when I speak to someone I want In my early days of coaching, commenting
them to look me in the eye. As a coach, on someone's cultural background as a
it is my job to dig as deep as I can to hindrance to their success felt a little
find the raw talent. Then I need to bring like walking a tightrope. I wasn't
that talent to the surface where it can exactly sure of what approach I should
breathe, grow and flourish. This is a take and saying anything at all was a
performance art, a human business, an art little uncomfortable. But when I
form that requires people be their true considered the alternative of not telling
selves. I am trying to teach voice actors the student and letting them go into
how to create characters, not teach one their training only to have someone tell
character how to become another. I need them later, I felt I might as well take
to be able to see the real person. It is the risk and tell them up front. Each
there I will find the voice I am trying time I have had to do it, there has been
to coach. I cannot coach the person a mixture of responses, most of them non
adorned with a shallow façade. I need to verbal so it is hard to tell exactly how
talk to the real person behind the wall. the talent perceived what I was saying. I
Reality dictates that societal pressures can think of no easy way of saying it. So
and socioeconomic status along with up to this point I just come right out
cultural background will be the strongest and tell people that their accent or way
influences governing how a person of speaking is going to have a negative
presents themselves to others. In the far impact on their success as a voice over
from Utopian community of commercial talent. I usually try to explain the
voice over talent, producers, and process of installing a switch that
companies that hire freelance talent rather than completely ridding them of
outright, if the above mentioned factors their natural style of speaking, enables
lead you to speak anything but "The Kings them to turn it on and off. Installing
English" (along with his accent) the this switch takes time and effort, and
world of opportunity in voice over will time of course in the pursuit of coaching
be forever very small for you. The way we costs money. Money continues to be the
speak, our intonation and the regional one major prohibitive factor that keeps
artifacts in our sound play a huge role people for entering this business or
in whether or not we see any success in continuing to pursue it for very long.
this industry. When someone considers the prospect of
Becoming better versions of ourselves. spending some of their coaching budget on
So many people pursuing voice over or getting rid of something they never saw
broadcasting careers are forced by some as a problem in the first place, it
unwritten word of law to mold their sound occasionally prompts them to throw in the
into something considered more user towel early and decide this business
friendly. Who makes those laws or sets isn't for them.
that policy is unknown to me, as well as Though it may sound cruel or untoward,
the rest of us, but more often than not when most students decide to back out at
it dictates that: Urban accents and this point I am elated. Turning tail and
dialects are eliminated or suppressed. running at the first sign of difficulty
Culture is lost and regional flavor is is what keeps everyone and their brother
buried. What is left over is a completely from having a voice over demo on the
manufactured sound which in turn becomes market. But when a talent from an
the person's permanent public or ethnically diverse background decides to
professional voice. Many times it sounds back away upon being informed of this, it
forced, which in turn makes it sound hits me a little closer to the core. I
fake. When it sounds forced or fake the can't help but feel that I am just
announcer sound starts to creep through. another in the long chain of people that
Forced, fake announcer style reads are has said throughout the course of their
not at the top of the hit list in the lives, "I am sorry, but because you are
voice over business. (place ethnicity here), this business
Producers and even regular people who isn't right for you." One, it is not at
might be casting voice talent are looking all what I am saying and two; it couldn't
for the voice and/or feeling of real be further from the truth. Though on a
people; the guy or girl from the coffee human level, this is what it feels like I
shop, a person they met at the bank, the am saying and I never wanted to be a
people who provide their daycare person who said things like that.
services, the people at the deli's and I have known for a long time that the
small shops they frequent. In essence, truth hurts and people's perception is
people they choose to interact with their truth. How people perceive what I
during their normal course of business. am saying can lead to it being be
When many voice over jobs are cast, it is misconstrued. I have also known that in
the feeling we get when we see a familiar order to be a leader you sometimes have
face or hear a familiar voice that to make some very unpopular decisions.
producers and casting people are trying This is why I continue to follow a path
to recreate. of honesty, and provide assessments of
When we see a familiar face, or hear a how I see this business to all comers and
familiar voice and it is one we want to how I feel they will fit into it. I find
see or hear, it is generally comforting. it an act near criminal to take a
When something is foreign to us, or person's money, push them through
strange and unrecognized, we are usually training and launch them into the world
anything but comfortable. That in a with less than the appropriate tools and
nutshell is why we don't want our voices barriers standing in their way. I am
to be strange, unrecognizable or foreign afraid that not all in this industry
to the general audience. Our ability as share the same foundation of principal.
voice actors to create the desired This is certainly something I think voice
imagery with our voices is what gets us over talent with ethnically diverse
hired and lands us jobs. What gets us backgrounds should be aware of when
overlooked if not pigeon-holed completely entering this marketplace.
is not being able to deliver these voices If you are a voice actor who feels some
without some sort of regional, urban or of the characteristics of your voice may
ethnic affect. When a voice actor have something to do with your lack of
auditions with any of the above artifacts success in this business, then I try to
in their voice for a job that does not offer you a hand of understanding. In
expressly require or request them, they such a detail oriented business where
most likely will not get the job, and the even the slightest variation in our voice
person hiring for that job, by making a can mean the difference between getting
discriminate judgment, will have in hired and not getting hired, it is of the
essence discriminated against them utmost importance we are able to analyze
because of the sound of their voice. our product and see if there is anything
Understanding the brisance of the word holding us back. If we lack the ability
"discrimination" I ask that you please to self analyze, it is a process that can
entertain all definitions of that word be learned through steady coaching. Also,
before going off the deep end over my use don't feel as if your natural style is
of the word. It is not at all meant to something that needs to be crushed, wiped
imply the producers in the world are away or stuffed into some deep dark
directly discriminating against anyone corner because it doesn't. Look at it as
who sounds as if they are anything but a tool, another arrow in your quiver, and
white. That was not the intention of the another voice with which to demonstrate
comment, but the reality of that idea, is your versatility. Try to look beyond it
we will never know if they are or not. as your only voice and see it as one of
The only way to remove it as a the many things that make you unique,
possibility is to subvert it by becoming diversified and intriguing. It can be a
a better, more versatile voice over very valuable piece of your portfolio,
talent and learning to speak with or but as your only piece, may be a
without our regional or ethnic affect. detriment to your success.
Essentially through training and practice There are walls all around people of
becoming better versions of ourselves. culture in this country, let alone the
Embracing our natural character. world. Some are made of granite; some are
I can think of nothing more hurtful, not so easy to see. Some have fallen in
insidious or nefarious than telling a the last 25 years and some are still in
person of any color, culture, race, the process of being constructed. Some
nationality or creed that the way they are meant to keep people in, though many
were born into this world isn't good now are meant to keep people out. These
enough to participate in - and prosper are the realities of the world in which
from its harvest. However, that is the we live. They may continue to be
message received daily by people of realities for as long as we live. Though
various cultures from directions and this doesn't mean we have to bow to them,
sources that are too many to name. There or attempt to tunnel our way beneath
are some who may conclude by my simply them, we only have to imagine there are
writing this article, I have become one ways to rise above them and make them
of those sources. I beg to differ, but at disappear. In the faceless world of voice
this time decline to argue. Once again, I over, a little training can go a long way
will not allow this article to spin out toward creating a new reality. A reality
of control. My only comment is this: The where we are not judged buy the color of
longer we go on without talking about our skin or where we come from, but by
these issues, the longer we will the content of our demo tape.






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