I recently had an actor come to me and wanted to work privately as there were some things that his Agent was criticizing in his animation auditions. This was a top Los Angeles agent who teaches animation, so you would think that she would know what she meant.

The Agent’s critique of the actor was, “You need more efforts.” He was constantly given this note on animation auditions from this same Agent. “You need more efforts,” was always her only critique. This actor asked me what that meant.

Effort SOUNDS is what she meant – but even that was a misunderstanding. The Agent meant that this actor needed more ADDED SOUNDS to the text for the authenticity of the character. Effort sounds are what are requested mostly from video game characters, although animation characters use those sounds as well.

Effort sounds are the sounds you make when you pick up something heavy, pull something weighty towards you, or push something away that is hefty. Throwing a punch, taking a punch, or even pulling your body up the side of a cliff are examples of EFFORT SOUNDS.

Animation actors need ‘added sounds’ and ‘effort sounds’ while effort sounds are usually asked for specifically. ADDED SOUNDS are the sounds we make when we want to say something you are thinking – instead, change your mind and say something else. An added sound is SLID into the words so that we barely notice.

ADDED SOUNDS

“Where are you going?” could become “Ah-where are you.. Eh-going, hm?”

How do you make the added sounds authentic? By adding subtext. Say this phrase internally before the added sound line – “this is hard for me to ask you but…” thinking that you don’t want the other person to leave –

“Ah-where are you.. eh-going? hm?”

ADDED SOUNDS are made SUBTLELY so that we barely notice you have added the sounds. The added sounds are SLID gently into the words. Most animation voice actors are scared to do this because no one ever told them they could. Come to class and see how we can use your flow of musical lines to add those sounds in a way that other actors auditioning never would.

Remember that your job is to give us what no one else can in the audition – not just to read lines and sound like everyone else but to sound uniquely like YOU.

EFFORT SOUNDS

Pretend to pick up a 5lb weight. Now add 20 lbs to it. Add 20 more and 20 more. What sound would you make executing that effort if you did make sounds. Those are ‘efforts.’

That Agent’s job might not let her know the difference between ‘added sounds’ and ‘effort sounds,’ but YOU SHOULD KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. Now you know the difference.

Paul Liberti
https://paulliberti.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceOverTuneUp

Actors often see auditions as trying to please someone else – casting, but the truth is that you already please those casting by being yourself. Actors will often see an audition as a chance for validation of what they are doing as ‘right.’

An audition is not there to emotionally satisfy you as valid – but it is the reverse.

You are auditioning – not to get approval for what you do – but to validate casting! WHAT?? How can that be?

Your audition is the first time casting hears this text brought to life. You are showing the writers, producers, and casting – possibilities in the text. You are strong in your process enough to show us a point of view. Casting is trying to GET IT RIGHT.

**You are not auditioning for validation of the value of your work – YOU AUDITION TO VALIDATE CASTING – TO KNOW THAT THEIR MATERIAL WORKS.

**That is the truth behind your daily auditions. They are infused with confidence, knowing you have the skills to bring this copy or character to reality. It is YOUR HUMANITY in auditions that validates the material. If you need more skills in bringing that work to life, it is time to return to class and refresh your confidence in your voice-acting skills.

On your next audition – know that you are the solution and not the one on the chopping block – the material and casting are on your chopping block.

Understanding and seeing the audition process in a new light will often give you renewed energy to do the next audition. And the next. And the next.

You are not auditioning to get it right – you are auditioning to show us your understanding of what YOU see as right to bring the copy to life.

Paul Liberti
https://paulliberti.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceOverTuneUp

All of the characters in animation stories – are connected.

One of the great lessons we learn in Animation Character Creation – is that all of the characters in animation stories – are connected.

The Hero and the Villain balance good and evil in the story and must balance each other. The story’s antagonist defines the protagonist’s limits and vice-versa, and the depth of the Hero’s strength is defined by the villain’s strengths – and weaknesses.

When given the opportunity, you must learn all you can from all the characters in a story as they must balance each other out. If the Hero can easily conquer the villain, there is no story. Often it can look bad for the Hero – but with some conquering of their weakness, they define their storylines.

There is always a story ‘payoff’ promised to the audience that we must understand comes directly from the balance of those characters. Learn and understand your character and how it fits in with the others as the story unfolds.

This Character Balance carries over to audiobook narration, Video Game Characters, and all character acting. In any story – discover everyone in the story that your character balances against – The villain, the love interest, the Hero, the best friend – and you will begin to find your story arcs and have a strong balance as you start telling your story.

Paul Liberti
https://paulliberti.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceOverTuneUp

There are so many resources available to actors. Here’s a short list of a few of our favorites that we think ALL actors should know about!

The Entertainment Community Fund- Formally called The Actors Fund, The Entertainment Community Fund specializes in supporting performing arts and entertainment professionals. They offer affordable insurance, affordable housing, career trainings, a health clinic and so much more! They are always running informative seminars and sharing resources with their community. Everyone who works in entertainment should be aware of the amazing resources here! They even offer emergency financial assistance programs for some individuals financially impacted by the strike! For more info: entertainmentcommunity.org/

Up To Date Actor- It’s important to regularly research opportunities as an actor. To make smart audition choices, you should be aware of trends, know the people who are hiring, and explore all the opportunities that are available to someone with your skillset. On top of that, you should be tracking your audition data to make sure you are always making the best choices for you. This online platform will do it all for you. It’s basically a virtual personal assistant for actors! It’s run by a hardworking mother/daughter team. For more info: https://uptodateactor.com/

Google Alerts- Got a show you are following? A director you want to work with? Looking for theatres to release their season announcements? Setting up google alerts for these things are a great way to stay on top of that knowledge! Set-up a google alert and always receive info about that topic! To learn how to set-up a google alert, go here: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/4815696?hl=en

Drama Book Shop- Need to find great new material? Looking for something to self-produce? Trying to learn more about the most produced playwrights? Maybe you need to read the script of the show before your audition or callback. Or you need to find a new monologue for your acting class. The Drama Book Shop is here to help! The Drama Book Shop is located in NYC but you can order online and have your products shipped! https://dramabookshop.com/

The Casting Actors Cast- This podcast is produced by Jeffrey Dreisbach from McCorkle Casting. Each episode is BRIMMING with content, info and tips for professional actors. Jeffrey is extremely generous in these episodes. He’s a marvelous educator and presents info with great energy and kindness. These are great resources for schools and individuals alike! Give them a list today: www.castingactorscast.com/podcasts

Written by Colleen Kahl, President, ActorsConnection.com

Special thanks to Jon Tyson for the featured image! 

Just throw it away – when we hear that phrase, we get guilt that we have held on to something too long, and it is time to DISCARD it. Cleaning out a closet is a great way to get rid of things you don’t need anymore.

When you get the direction to ‘throw a take away‘, it means something very different. Throwing a take away is to RELEASE the idea with simplicity or a shrug. I have given that direction to actors, and they tend to disconnect an idea and let go if it rather than release it and allow the words to do the work.

Words don’t capture us – they RELEASE what is inside of us. I don’t play the piano to make music – I play because it releases the music that already exists inside my head and heart, and I am expressing an attitude or a feeling in my music that I already have inside – i.e. contemplation, fear, joy, or playfulness. The same is true with text; text lets go of the thoughts, feelings, and points of view you already carry.

Pick a product name. Any product name and say it out loud.

‘Randy’s Hardware’
Now say it as you shrug your shoulders.
‘Randy’s Hardware.’

By releasing it with a shrug, you are saying how easy it is to find this product, or how simple it is to own one yourself.

NOW say it as though you hate it and never want to see it again and discard it.

That throws it away because you want to get rid of it. See the difference? So many voice actors never make that distinction. They think that they do, but in truth, they denigrate it.

To ‘throw a phrase or word away’ is to RELEASE it with a shrug and NOT DISCARD IT WITH DISGUST. That shrug is always there on everything – EVEN THE SLATE (if there is one).
Words don’t capture – THEY RELEASE

Paul Liberti
https://paulliberti.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoiceOverTuneUp