Voiceover/Voice Acting Class

Details: Voice Over With Lex Dunn

Previous training or a body of work needed for Levels 2 & 3.

Auditors welcome by appointment

Lex Dunn
Actor & Voice Talent
Copywriter
Commercial producer
Creative Director

Voice Level III

Spotlight Academy’s Voice Acting Class with Lex Dunn Level # class will be starting on
May 30 th - July 4 th 2024

For anyone who has taken Level II or who has some training from other courses, this class is invaluable in preparing to enter the world of working voice actors.

It will focus on:

Finding your vocal niche. Are you characters and/or comedy specialist? Impressionist? Narrator? Audio Book? Commercials? Or are you an all-round generalist? Finding where you best fit gives you direction in building your demo reel. Building your demo reel. Find material that fits your voice. Are you good at accents? Really good? Learn how to create a reel that fits. Find the scripts that fit. Hot tip: If you have a voice agent, they may tell you that many engagers do not seek demo reels and rely on the agent’s experience and reputation. BUT, many agents will want to hear your reel before they take you on. So, learn how to build a good demo.

Home studio for auditioning vs recording. Hot tip: many engagers do not require super high-end production values for auditions, so basic recording will be enough. For recording actual gigs, it is more important.

The homework in Level III will require you to submit recorded assignments. You will get evaluation of your demo reel and your vocal range and strengths.

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Lex Dunn offers a voiceover class from a truly unique perspective. He has been an actor, presenter, public speaker, voice talent and acting teacher/coach for more than 30 years. He also was in the advertising field as a copywriter and creative director for a major multi-national ad agency. While working in the ad biz, he has written and produced hundreds of radio commercials, TV commercial voiceovers, and narration for videos.

From these two perspectives, he knows how to help you sharpen your voice skills from both sides of the mic: how to liftthe words off the page, create characters, understand branding, mic technique and, very importantly, how to work with clients and take direction. This course will give you skills and perspectives. He is also currently a talent agent so he will provide insights into audition techniques as well.

Six Classes:

1. Getting to Know Your Voice: The Basics

• Optimum pitch: finding your neutral starting note
• Breathing and breath control: diaphragm, not throat, not chest
• Articulations: the lips, the teeth and the tip of the tongue
• Resonators: chest, pharynx, head
• Vocal and enunciation exercises
• Basic microphone technique

2. Types of Voice Characters.

• All voice work is about CHARACTER. Yes, commercials, too
• The Instructor
• The Real Person
• The Spokesperson
• The Narrator
• The Announcer
• The Actor Role

3. Commercials:

• Get to know the Advertiser
• Who is the company?
• What is their Branding?
• What is their style?
• Understanding The Script:
• Telling the story: beyond good line readings
• Finding the Character
• Lifting the words off the page
• TV versus Radio

4. Narration

• Documentaries
• Audiobooks
• Marketing/Mood videos

5. Voice Acting

• Overdubbing
• Character voices: animation
• Comedy
• Straight/drama
• Acting in a vacuum

6. Working with clients

• The Audition
• Live
• Self-Tape
• The Home Studio
• Working with clients
• Taking direction
• How to ask the right questions
• Who is in the room with you?
• Being professional