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Question
I am looking to get into voice over work. How would I go about doing that? I am in Houston.
Hi Angelina,
You're lucky! Houston is one area that has lots of classes for acting
and probably voiceover, although I can't recall seeing them on the emails I get from Michelle Fitzgerald, who sends the Houston updates.
I would check with the Houston Film Commission and the different acting studios there. Maybe the Alley Theater?
In Austin we have Lanie Frasier, who is the voiceover queen. She has two classes, a beginning, which is fairly low cost as it is introductory and fills you on what you're getting into, and then she has the advanced class, which books studio time and you wind up with a VO demo CD at the end, which cost upwards of $300. as of the last time I checked. I took her first class and she was very good. She was very honest about the kind of money you can make at it, which isn't BIG money unless you get to be the next Dan De LaFontaine (or Dana, I should say!). She said you could expect anywhere from $100. to $500. gigs locally. Now if you are a known person or DJ, that could be higher because of name recognition. We have a few Video Game firms here who call my agent on occasion to do voices for the games, that pays a little better...
Best,
Taylor
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Answers by Expert:
Taylor Sheppard
Expertise
I can answer questions: on starting a career in acting, mistakes in acting, etiquette when dealing with industry contacts, finer points on how to act, and things to avoid in the field.
Experience
I have been a professional actor 21 years, with appearances in TV, Film and commercials. I have made good decisions and potentially damaging mistakes. I believe anyone who has a dream deserves to explore it, and I take their aspirations seriously. That being said, I do not pull punches. I try to be tactful, but I will not lie to someone, honesty is more effective. My last film role was in "Teeth" which was picked for Sundance in January 2007. It was sold to Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. for somewhere over 2.5 million. The role was "Mr. Griffith", a sex-ed teacher.
Organizations
Ciao Agency-Austin/Georgetown, Texas. (Formerly known as Donna Adams Agency. Matthew McConaughey was a good friend and fellow member. I also have belonged to agencies in three other Texas cities, but they have since closed.) TXMPA -Texas Motion Picture Alliance. Various other internet networking web rings as well as Actors Access. I was instrumental in advising actress Krista Allen on getting her career in acting started in Austin,Texas (we worked at the same Health Club in the early '90's).
Publications
Previously wrote on a now defunct website such as this one. I enjoyed helping new actors.
Education/Credentials
I have acted for 21 years. I studied under James Nelson Harrell as well as other talented actors at Southwest Texas State University. After college, I have taken classes with Julliard graduate Mona Lee, Bill Johnson, Van Brookes, Marco Perella and others in Austin Texas. I am constantly attending classes to maintain my edge and explore new directions. In addition to attending strictly acting classes, I have also taken business workshops with respected casting directors, such as Shari Rhodes ("Jaws","Close Encounters", "Raggedy Man".) Barbara Brinkley, Jo Edna Bolden and Donise Hardy, (Castingworks LA).
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