Word of Mouth: A Guide to Commercial Voice-Over Excellence, 3rd Revised and Updated Edition [Paperback]

Susan Blu (Author), Molly Ann Mullin (Author), Cynthia Songe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2006

This title includes a book and CD. The art of voice-over is the backbone of commercials, animation, documentaries, and radio dramas produced for both national and local markets throughout the country. It is an ever-growing, lucrative field, and the demand for well-trained voice-over artists is increasing rapidly in our age of digital entertainment. Now in its updated and revised third edition - this is the primary instructional book in the voice-over field.A clearly written and practical primer for the beginner and a welcome refresher course for the professional, "Word of Mouth" contains voice-over exercises, sample copy, and essential advice about producing a demo, auditioning, self-promoting, getting an agent, and what to expect on the job. It also provides exclusive and up-to-date lists of voice-over agents, coaches, workshops, and demo producers and duplicators. It is the standard text for numerous university communications, television, and acting department courses. The book is accompanied by a 50-minute audio CD that demonstrates various techniques and styles of animation and commercial voice-over performed by ten top voice-over artists.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"What quickly becomes apparent when you are in a Susan Blu session is that she has a better voice and greater skill than you. So the fact that she is beloved by actors is a true testament to her directing chops and her generous spirit."—William H. Macy

"Sue is a voice-actor’s dream! She has a way of helping you pull things out of your voice that you didn’t know were there."—Wayne Brady

"Sue Blu is the real deal. She directs with respect, humor, and the greatest timing on earth. I know because she directed me towards two daytime Emmy nominations, and I love her." —Henry Winkler

"Sue has great honesty that is brought to her work; it clearly brings her directing and teaching skills to a higher level. Voice-overs have always been her passion. She has the ability to understand all the nuances of character and animation. She instantly knows how to bring life and personality to a character’s voice through amazing and helpful exercises. I hope you get as much out of this book as I have." —Lucy Liu

About the Author

Susan Blu is a veteran stage and screen actor who has done hundreds of commercial voice-overs. Recognized as one of the foremost voice-over artists and animation directors, her animation credits include The Land Before Time, Spider-Man, Curious George, Superman, The Magic School Bus, Stuart Little, and hundreds more. She teaches both commercial and animation voice-over in workshops throughout the U.S and Canada. Molly Ann Mullin is a professional writer who has penned more than 20 plays for radio, television, and stage, and has won several national awards for dramatic and comedy writing. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild and a past President of the NBC Writers Workshop. Cynthia Songé is an actress, writer, and voice-over artist/instructor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Silman-James Press; 3rd edition (October 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879505878
• ISBN-13: 978-1879505872
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chapter Two ALONE Is Worth 100 Times the Price of the Book, March 25, 2000

By 

Voiceguy (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Word of Mouth: A Guide to Commercial Voice-Over Excellence (Paperback)

Here in Los Angeles the streets are lined with people who can "read copy," but the choice voiceover assignments go to the select few who add something more to the work - believability, personality, and a strong one-on-one connection with the audience. "A camera does not lie," say the authors, "and neither does a microphone."

That's why this book is so valuable. Although trying to teach voiceover skills through a book is inherently challenging -- sort of like trying to teach driving, or violin-playing, that way -- this book is the most successful one I am aware of. It is without doubt the best single resource on voiceover work in print today.

The key is the authors' relentless focus on the internal process of creating great readings, which they call "The Basic Process."

"Ad copy is more than just a bunch of words strung together to promote a product," they write in Chapter 2. "It is very much like a miniature play, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. One or more characters are involved, and it takes place at a particular time and place. You need to discover all those elements and more to act out the copy."

To get in touch with the reality of the copy, the authors detail their Basic Process: "Focus - Visualize - Commit." Using this process "allows you to make the copy your own little drama or comedy with its own life and vitality." Without it, "all your readings will sound alike -- and that sound will be mechanical and lacking in conviction." I don't know how anyone could lay out this crucial principle more clearly. The detailed suggestions for how to follow the Basic Process are both helpful and understandable.

The book offers a wealth of other information as well, including discussions about refining your reads, developing other voices and characters, preparing for animation work, producing a demo tape, finding an agent, handling auditions, and promoting yourself in your market. Throughout the book, voice actors, casting directors, advertising writers, and other industry experts are quoted extensively with helpful advice and entertaining war stories. Practice copy in various genres is provided. And the appendices contain numerous listings of workshops, agencies, and other resources of interest to voice talent. Every chapter offers tremendous value, all of it written with charm, elegance, and a sense of humor.

Anyone serious about a voiceover career should get this book and devour it.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone starting (or keeping) a voice-over career!, February 7, 1999

By 

Howard Hoffman - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Word of Mouth: A Guide to Commercial Voice-Over Excellence (Paperback)

I always recommend this book. Susan Blu has the credentials: she's an accomplished voice talent, a casting director and a voice acting teacher. Along with tips and tricks, there's a great regional listing of agencies, schools and studios with addresses and phone numbers. She knows her stuff and you'd be doing yourself a favor by following her advice in this book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE book to buy for novices & pro's, October 19, 2001

By 

Johnny George (Fishers, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Word of Mouth: A Guide to Commercial Voice-Over Excellence (Paperback)

I recommend this book to anyone looking to get into this biz. Even if you are already IN this biz, you can never know too much. Susan keeps on track and winds you through the proper elements of building a career and knowing "how to" when it comes to the basics, demo tapes, agents, auditions and more. Susan & Molly also list many contacts with agencies, workshops, etc.

A must have guide to voice work!

Johnny George
VO guy

www.johnnygeorge.com