Word of Mouth: A Guide to Commercial Voice-Over Excellence

by Molly Ann Mullin, Susan Blu, Molly A. Mullin, et al.

Book Overview

Book & 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,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0938817329
• ISBN13: 9780938817321
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Pomegrante Press (CA)
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

word of mouth

the book was really helpful for preparing myself for recording dates and auditions. it has many useful techniques in it that work amazingly well. I recomend this book for all voice talents cause its a wicked rad book.

THE book to buy for novices & pro's

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 GeorgeVO guywww.johnnygeorge.com

BULLS-EYE!

Word of Mouth is a must-read for anyone interested in voiceovers as a hobby or profession. Susan and Molly hit the target on this one. I had a hard time putting it down on my first reading. In fact, most current VO folks should read this book just to renew their base. Many good observations, suggestions, avenues of interest, etiquette and a good number of leads on several agencies and studios. Plus** Good suggestions on auditioning, making your demo and more!If you're on your way up - add this reasonably priced referance book to your libary. If you're an established pro - get this anyway to hon your skills and memory.

Chapter Two ALONE Is Worth 100 Times the Price of the Book

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.

A must for anyone starting (or keeping) a voice-over career!

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.