The word acting is in Voice Acting. Duh. However, for me when I first started out they seemed like two different worlds. In many ways they are, and in many ways they require a lot of the same tools to be successful. When I am first started out in Voice Acting one of my main problems was capturing and expressing the emotion of the script. I would eventually get it, but it took awhile for me to get there. I needed to take the step from reading the script in a specific tone to bringing the script to life. I needed to really capture what the script was trying to say, and how I could make it resonate with whoever is listening.
That is where acting class came in. I was recommended by many of my peers and coaches in the voice acting world to try it. I never aspired to be an actor at the time, but I figured it was worth a shot. A few months ago I started acting classes at the Network. They were game changing.
The coach and the class taught me how to identify what the scene was trying to say, how to best portray and how to most importantly experiment with it. I got more confident doing different tones and characters. The main thing was I quickly learned how to identify the emotion of the scene and perform it in a convincing, authentic and believable way. One acting class led to another and as I did more and more acting, I became a better actor and voice actor.
It also helped me navigate the business world of actors. Actors and Voice actors have to jump through many of the same hoops to make it. Odd hours, keeping a normal job, meeting with agents and casting directors, etc. Through acting class I was able to come up with a business plan to help me navigate this new landscape. Now my voice acting career is improving. Also, I caught the acting bug.
I am now starting acting as well. My love of voice acting is not lost, I simply want to do both. I never thought I would, but you don’t know until you try sometimes. I can’t express enough how thankful I am that I started acting class. It gave me confidence, technique, a new passion and tools to operate my own business.
For any young or old voice actor out there, I highly recommend trying acting class. Acting may not be for you, but it will definitely make you a better voice actor. As a voice actor you constantly need to be improving your technique and your business. Acting class and do both of those things. That’s worth the time and the price to me.