Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It's Like Behind the Mic [Paperback]

Yuri Lowenthal (Author), Tara Platt (Author), Candace Platt (Editor), Jerzy Drozd (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2010

A PEEK INTO THE SECRET WORLD OF THE VOICE ACTOR for those curious, daring or obsessed enough to look....This book offers a comprehensive look at what it takes, what goes on, and what it's like behind the mic from two working pros. In this book, you will discover: * The ins and outs of auditioning * Vocal warm-ups and exercises * Tips for reading copy to maximum effect * Hints to help you stand out * Keys to marketing yourself: demo to agent to job * What to expect when you book the job! Filled with anecdotes from 20 VO professionals (actors, writers, casting, directors, engineers, agents) the book is a fun and comprehensive look inside voice-over.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Yuri Lowenthal, in addition to being a giant nerd, is an award-winning actor of stage, screen and voice-over. He has worked on over 200 video game titles, but may be best known for his work in the popular Prince of Persia video game series, in which he plays the titular prince in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. He's voiced Superman and Superman X on the Saturday morning animated Kid s WB show Legion of Superheroes as well as Jinno/Kuma on Afro Samurai. Catch him currently as Ben Tennyson on Cartoon Network s Ben Ten: Alien Force and as Bobby Drake, Iceman, on NickToons in the animated series, Wolverine and the X-Men. Anime fans may also know him from such series as Naruto, RaveMaster, Kyo Kara Maoh, Gurren Lagann, Bleach, Code Geass, and the film, Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. For additional credits, fun facts and information, please visit his Web site YuriLowenthal.com. * * * Tara Platt is not a nerd but is proudly married to one. She has performed internationally from London to New York to Los Angeles in film, TV, animation and theatre. In the VO world, she is best known for her work on the series and video games Naruto as Temari, DC vs. MK as Wonder Woman, and Legion of Superheroes as Dream Girl. Anime fans may also recognize her from animated series and features: Digimon: Island of Lost Digimon, Buso Renkin, RaveMaster, FateStayNight, Rozenmaiden, Tokko; Blue Dragon, Bleach, DearS, Boys Be; and in video games: Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Eternal Sonata, Soul Calibur, Final Fantasy, Desperate Housewives, Halo 2 (ilovebees), Tales of Symphonia, Tales of the Abyss, Persona, and Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria. Tara and Yuri's production company Monkey Kingdom Productions recently finished their first feature film Tumbling After. For more information on her or her credits, please visit her Web site TaraPlatt.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bug Bot Press; First edition (March 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984074007
• ISBN-13: 978-0984074006
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST of the Bunch, July 3, 2010

By 

Briansbro "George" (studio city, ca) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It's Like Behind the Mic (Paperback)

I was asked to teach a voiceover acting class and came to Amazon to look for a good book. I bought three of the top rated ones on the topic. Luckily I read this one first -- which made it impossible to get very far reading the others. This is far and away the most well-written, informative, organized and thorough book on just about every aspect of the voiceover business. The authors write with a lot of humor, but also with a lot of information, presented in a step-by-step way that made pursuing a career in voiceovers sound not only do-able, but a lot of fun. They give brilliant advice on everything from keeping your voice healthy, to what the audition process is like, how to present yourself as a professional, to such minor but important details as "don't touch the mike - the engineer will do it." Hats off to these writers -- don't waste your time with the other books -- once you read this one they will look poorly written and full of bad information.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning Fun, May 16, 2011

By 

Flor V San Roman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It's Like Behind the Mic (Paperback)

This was a pleasure to read as well as incredibly informative. The book is written in a lighthearted tone, but makes its points clearly and thoroughly. I'm just starting out as a voice-over hopeful, and reading this book has made it clear to me how much work is ahead for me as well as keeping the joy for my career choice alive.

There are artistic as well as technical aspects that Platt & Lowenthal tackle and I walked away feeling much better versed in both. I'm eager to employ these tips and tricks!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for the Underdogs, November 29, 2010

By 

Giovannie Menendez Santiago "Giovannie Menendez" (Camuy, PR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It's Like Behind the Mic (Paperback)

I've recently gotten my hands on this amazing book and it is everything I had hoped and more! Yuri and Tara have gotten out of their way to make this the best reading experience possible for anyone interested int he most underrated craft in all of entertainment. I'm an amateur Voice-Over artist and I was deeply impressed by the level of detail presented here, novices and experts will enjoy the book and as it's subtitle indicates they'll learn "what it's like behind the mic". All types of Voice-Over (Pre-lay, Dubbing, Commercials, Narration, etc.) Mic control, studio & audition tips and an easy guide on "how-to" maximize your potential if he or she decides they are cut out for such an awesome craft.

The book itself is well written and often times charming and witty in an easy to read format. It's neither too short or too long. The content feels fresh with multiple reads (a must). The only problem with the book is that once you finish, you crave more... but then again, that's what's intended right? I mean, if you are reading the book or reviews about it, you are probably a VO fanatic and aspire to be Voice-Actor (like myself), so after you are done It's "back to work" on that road to success!