Bettye Zoller Advises Caution When Impersonating Celebrity Voices

Voice actors who are asked to impersonate a celebrity voice in a commercial or other type of voice project should approach that job with caution, advises Bettye Zoller - a top voice talent, trainer and producer.

Her new article entitled, “Celebrity Voice-Over Impersonations: Be Cautious! Words to the Wise,” is located in the Voice Acting section of VoiceOverXtra.com.

Based on her experiences, research and opinions (but not legal advice), Zoller writes that celebrities with recognizable voices are keen to protect the use of their voice and income derived from it.

“It is illegal to impersonate living people in commercials without their permission,” she warns. Thus, voice actors who are asked to impersonate the voice of a living or deceased person should ensure that copyright permission has been obtained.

Celebrities have another reason to protect use of their voice, Zoller notes: contract clauses often prohibit them from doing voice-over endorsements, or from endorsing competing products.

Parodies are different from impersonations, she notes. She advises obtaining legal advice when in doubt about such projects.

Source: OpenPR.com

Therapy Gives Singer Her Voice Back

Emelia Cowans depends on her voice. In addition to radio and voice-over work, she is a PR spokesperson, actress and singer. But early this year, all that appeared to be in jeopardy.

Cowans went to the Duke Raleigh Hospital’s Voice Care Center for help.

“I couldn’t hit all of my notes above middle register C any more and I was like, something is wrong,” said Cowans. “This was effortless before and now it requires a lot more effort.”

Using a specialized diagnostic tool, Dr. Seth Cohen found that Cowans had lesions, or sores, on her vocal cords.

“Vocal cords are very fluid structures and there is really nothing else quite like it in the human body,” said Cohen. “Once those vibratory layers are inflamed or diseased, the body can’t make new vibratory layers.”

Vocal injuries are often caused by overuse, but can result from neurological conditions or medical treatments. Sometimes, as in Cowans’ case, allergies and gastric reflux can cause irritation that leads to injury.

Cohen works with a voice specialist/speech-language pathologist to design a treatment plan for each patient. Cowans has regular therapy sessions to learn new ways of singing and speaking that won’t strain her voice.

“It is in part about building technique,” said Leda Scearce, voice specialist and speech-language pathologist. “But it’s also about working on the voice in a way that will allow the injury to resolve, but still enable that person to fulfill their vocal obligations.”

Traditional treatment for vocal nodes has been complete vocal rest, which wasn’t an option for Cowans, and surgery to remove vocal nodes. Cohen says therapy often allows patients to avoid surgery and the downtime required for the delicate incisions to heal.

Patients at the center range from singers and broadcasters to teachers and clergy.

How Can You Prevent Voice Injuries?

Hydrate. Voice Specialist Leda Scearce of Duke Raleigh Hospital recommends two liters of water per day for singers and anyone who wants a healthy voice.

Minimize alcohol and caffeine. They are dehydrating and make the vocal folds drier.

Minimize voice strain. Yelling and screaming, throat clearing and coughing, and talking in noisy situations are vocal misuse that can lead to injury.

Get proper training. Singers are vocal athletes, should have training whether pursuing it as an avocation or profession.

Learn to use your speaking voice in the same way as a singing voice.

Source: NBC17.com

Rodney Saulsberry Opens New Travel Site for Voice Industry

Voiceover celebrity and author Rodney Saulsberry has launched a travel website called Rodtalks Travel. This new venture is geared to serve the travel needs of his fellow friends, fans and voiceover artists who travel to his voiceover workshops in Los Angeles, as well as other voiceover events across the country and throughout the world.Customers are also able to customize their business trips and family vacations on this user friendly travel website, with great rates comparable to Expedia, Cheap Tickets and Orbitz.

Book your next trip to one of Rodney’s workshops, http://www.rodneysaulsberry.com/register.php or several other voiceover events taking place all over the country at: http://www.ytbtravel.com/rodtalkstravel

Saulsberry– the voice of the Zatarain’s Man as well as several other national television and radio commercial campaigns, is also the author of the bestselling books, You Can Bank on Your Voice: Your Guide to a Successful Career in Voice-Overs and Step Up to the Mic: A Positive Approach to Succeeding in Voice-Overs. Rodtalks Travel office is located in Agoura Hills, California and online at: http://www.ytbtravel.com/rodtalkstravel.

Source: Rodney Saulsberry

Borderline Radio Network Syndicates “Old School With Bryan Cox”

Borderline Radio Network is proud to announce the addition of Old School with Bryan Cox to its blue-ribbon line-up of nationally syndicated programs broadcast to approximately 1 million listeners. Bryan dominates evening radio in more than 70 markets nationwide and internationally - among men and women 25-54.

“I’ve been working with Bryan for a few years and have seen his on-air presence and can’t wait for station reaction,” said Mitchell Keller, President/COO, in announcing the acquisition. “Our talent leads the pack in music programming through the evening for both Country and rock music format.”

“His infectious smile and sense of humor makes him a friend to literally thousands of listeners, proving that women and men will choose radio as their medium of choice in the evening,” Keller added.

Bryan Cox has that smooth-toned voice when it comes to imaging, “The Back Porch Show.” Cox has 25 years of media under his belt, from imaging radio spots to hosting his first radio show, where he called upon Charlie Daniels to be his first interview.

Bryan, a successful comedian who has opened for the likes of Tom Jones and is heard online each week on the feature “Road Stories of the Real Highway Comics” by an audience of 3 million people, prefers working with clients from his home recording studio, one on one.

Source: Bryan Cox

Walt Disney Studios Announces 10 New Animated Motion Pictures Through 2012

The Walt Disney Studios unveiled a diverse and ambitious slate of 10 new animated feature films from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios to be released through the year 2012 at a New York press conference held today by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

The line-up includes new films from Disney and Pixar’s accomplished team of filmmakers, and features vocal performances by such top celebrity talents as John Travolta and Miley Cyrus (”Bolt”), Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson (”The Bear and the Bow”), Anika Noni Rose and John Goodman (”The Princess and the Frog”), as well as return engagements by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and the rest of the “Toy Story” vocal ensemble (”Toy Story 3″). The roster of new animated features includes six new films from Pixar Animation Studios, four from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the first four in a series of direct-to-DVD films featuring Disney Fairies from DisneyToon Studios. Starting later this year with the release of Disney’s “Bolt,” all Disney and Pixar animated features will be presented in state-of-the-art Disney Digital 3-D (TM).Additionally, newly converted 3-D versions of the beloved classics, “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2,” are set to debut in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Among the upcoming animated films on the 2008 release schedule are “WALL*E” (Pixar) from Academy Award(R) - winning director / writer Andrew Stanton (”Finding Nemo”) opening nationwide June 27th; “Bolt” (Disney) from the talented new directing team of Chris Williams and Byron Howard, due in theatres on November 26th; and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of “Tinker Bell,” the first in a new franchise of original entertainment set in the world of Fairies, on October 28th.

The Studio’s 2009 animated slate includes the summer release of Pixar’s first 3-D feature, “Up,” from director Pete Docter (”Monsters, Inc.”) and co-director Bob Peterson, the Christmas Day release of Disney’s original animated fairy tale “The Princess and the Frog” from acclaimed veteran Disney directors John Musker and Ron Clements (”The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Hercules,”) and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of “Tinker Bell North of Never Land” (working title).

2010 brings the highly anticipated return of Buzz and Woody in the Disney Digital(TM) 3D summer release of Pixar’s “Toy Story 3″ directed by Lee Unkrich (”Finding Nemo,” “Monsters, Inc.”); followed by the Christmas arrival of Disney’s version of the classic fairy tale, “Rapunzel,” featuring the directing debuts of animation legend Glen Keane and directing partner Dean Wellins, and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of “Tinker Bell A Midsummer Storm” (working title).

In the summer of 2011, Pixar’s “newt” marks the directing debut of multiple Oscar(R)-winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom. Christmas 2011 brings Pixar’s first fairy tale, “The Bear and the Bow,” from acclaimed filmmaker/writer Brenda Chapman (”The Prince of Egypt”). The Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of “Tinker Bell A Winter Story” (working title) also debuts in 2011.

The year 2012 will mark the return of Lightning McQueen, Mater the tow truck, and an international cast of favorite and new car characters in Pixar’s “Cars 2,” directed by Brad Lewis (producer of “Ratatouille”). Scheduled for Christmas 2012 from Walt Disney Animation Studios is “King of the Elves,” an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story, directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker (”Brother Bear”).

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, “We couldn’t be more proud and excited about our upcoming line-up of feature projects. With so many great films literally on the drawing boards and computer screens, we felt that now was the perfect time to give moviegoers all over the world an update on the state of our art. In a year when our Studio is marking the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse, the character that started it all for us, it seems especially timely to share our plans for the future of animation. With John Lasseter and Ed Catmull guiding our creative efforts both at Emeryville and in Burbank, this is as exciting a time as any in our history.”

Lasseter added, “This is an amazing time for animation at Disney and Pixar, and it’s a thrill to be working on such a diverse and original group of films with such an all-star team of filmmakers. The thing I love best about my job is that I get to work at both Disney and Pixar with filmmakers who are passionate about their projects and who are the absolute best in the business. We’re excited to be pushing the boundaries of 3-D and computer technology to tell our stories in the best possible way. At the same time, we’re drawing on our past to emphasize memorable characters, original edge-of-your-seat stories, and believable worlds. Walt Disney and his creative team taught us how to blend comedy, powerful emotion, and action-filled excitement in our films, and this group of incredible filmmakers is bringing their own originality and sensibilities to the process.”

For press materials log on to http://www.wdsfilmpr.com

Source: PRNewswire.com

audio’connell Voices New Political Campaign for Caleem L. Jabbour

Political candidate Caleem L. Jabbour, running for the 38th District’s Representative seat in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, enlisted audio’connell Voice Over Talent to serve as the voice for his campaign’s advertising.

Peter K. O’Connell, president of audio’connell Voice Over Talent, served as the voice talent for Jabbour’s advertising campaign.

audio’connell Voice Over Talent is a worldwide voice over talent service featuring professional English speaking and foreign language male and female voice talents. Services include providing voices for commercials, animation, corporate narrations, broadcast voice imaging, audiobooks, podcasts and messaging on-hold (MOH) all of which are created for advertising agencies, media and broadcast production companies as well as both large and small businesses around the world.

The company also operates Voice Over Workshop (www.voworkshop.com), which provides professional voice over training to novice and experienced voice talent around the world.

Source: audioconnell.com

Rita Pardue’s Nothing-To-Do Fun Shop Chronicled in new eBook

The Nothing-To-Do Fun Shop was produced in conjunction with California State University-Los Angeles as Rita’s Master’s degree project. The program aired on KWNK in the San Fernando Valley and later was welcomed at KCSN in Northridge, California.

This activity/devotional book chronicles the first season’s activities as they appeared in the Los Angeles Family Magazine. Each activity page includes an inspirational family-favorite Bible verse to memorize. Rita Pardue developed a class curriculum traveling to schools teaching radio-related topics including scriptwriting, public speaking and audio production.

Pardue’s passion for children’s radio programming and ten years of producing this non-profit show earned her the Los Angeles Times/NBC 4 Women Making History Award recognizing her goal to provide children and their families with wholesome entertainment and a love for theater of the mind that only radio can deliver so well.

Rita Pardue, MA, BA Radio/TV/Broadcasting has over 20 years experience in radio and voiceovers. She is the owner of Angel Wings Productions. She was the Mid-day LA Host for KKLA,the number one Christian radio station in Los Angeles, 1998-2004. She is a speaker, author and educator.

Rita has created award-winning production, under her company “Angel Wings Productions”, working with clients that include: Walt Disney Home Video, Fisher-Price, Sanrio, Time Warner, and Living Air Products to name just a few.

Source: Rita Pardue via Christian Services Network

Potential for Voice Acting Can Be Realized, Even in Later Life

As president and creative director of Voice Coaches, David Bourgeois works with voice actors from across the country out of his Schenectady studio. His clients have done work for TLC, Discovery, HGTV and WE.

According to Bourgeois, voice talent today is all about diversity. Companies are looking for voices different from the booming male tones often heard in movie trailers and beer commercials.

“We’ve transcended from being an industry where you used to have to be almost born with the voice to do this. The trick for a voice actor today when they are marketing themselves is to try to figure out what is it their voice is a fit for. Then target that aspect of the industry,” Bourgeois said.

Marketers are looking for voices that represent the people they are trying to reach.

“People are more receptive to a message that they feel is like themselves,” he said.

Bourgeois also said older actors do well in the field.

“As you get older, your voice range actually increases. If I put somebody who’s 60 on the microphone, it’s difficult for me to tell how old they are. They could be 40 or 70. They can play a broader range with their voice,” he said.

Bourgeois describes voice work as a special kind of acting.

“In voice acting, it’s what you hear, not what you see. It gives you a special anonymity. You can be anything your voice wants you to be,” he said.

Voice Coaches will present an introduction to voice acting class at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Adirondack Community College through the Center for Personal and Professional Development. John Gallogly, senior creative director for the company, will give locals an overview of the industry in the 2-1/2 hour non-credit “Getting Paid to Talk” class.

Technology has had one of the biggest effects on the field, Bourgeois said.

“Most people think of voice work as being about commercials. Commercials are part of our field, but only about 10 percent,” he said.

Recent growth in voice acting has come from audiobooks, cable television, voicemail systems, video games and the Internet — an area with limitless potential, Bourgeois said.

“That work didn’t even exist if you go back five or six years ago,” he said.

The ACC class is meant to give interested actors a glimpse of the industry, not make them overnight stars.

“It’s designed as an introduction to the field of acting,” Bourgeois said. “What type of voice do we look for today? Where do you look for work opportunities locally? Pros and cons of the field.”

Those attending, however, will get their shot at the real deal.

“At the end of the class, we give everyone in the class a chance to record a short clip under the direction of our producer,” Bourgeois said.

Source: PostStar.com

Kay Levasseur Makes Entrepreneurship Look Easy in SL

Being a serial entrepreneur can present some challenges, but SL business owner Kay Levasseur makes it look easy.

“I have been an entrepreneur for years, and with that carries the skill of extreme multi-tasking along with a pinch of insanity,” says Levasseur who owns a voice talent company, an architecture and building management firm (Vought-Levasseur Building, which she co-owns with her RL husband and SL partner), and Virtual talent, an in-world talent agency.

Her First Life

In her First Life, Levasseur owns and operates a health club and is a professional voice talent.

Says Levasseur, “Any given day, you will find me at the front desk of the health club on my laptop, working on online projects from Second Life businesses to voice auditions. When it comes time for recording, you might find me in the yoga studio at the club with a microphone in my hand, utilizing my portable set-up, at home in my professional studio or at the local radio station, where I’ve worked for over 11 years.”

Talk about multi-tasking!

Levasseur says that time management helps her – to a point.

“Sometimes you just have to devote your time to the project that is calling your emotional and/or intellectual energy,” says Levasseur. “I’ve found that my work in other areas is just not productive if my mind is on some other idea that needs to be worked out.” She adds that her days are long, and her time off is priceless.

The Good Stuff

Some business achievements Levasseur has had in-world include landing a first tenant before the building she and her husband jointly own was even completed. The tenant took not one, but three spaces, giving Levasseur a boost of confidence. Another milestone was getting a booking for a corporate level machinima within her first two weeks in SL.

Her Bottom Line

Levasseur acknowledges that the SL economy is still evolving so she is doing work for “pennies on the dollar” in SL–something she would never do in her First Life.

Says Levasseur, “I think and hope, as more business people find their way into SL, that will change.”

Her initial in-world investment was $50US, and she is now generating enough revenue in SL to keep her business afloat. And buy a few nice outfits.

“I am still earning my living via my RL efforts. However, I’ve made some very good connections in SL that have translated into RL work. Ideally, SL and RL will be integrated parts of my businesses,” she says.

Advice from the Front Lines

Levasseur gives this advice to aspiring entrepreneurs:

1. Understand that your avatar is an extension of you. Don’t let your avatar do anything that you wouldn’t do as a real person. If you must, get another avatar.

2. Write a business plan for each business. Even if its simple, know what your goals are, who your customers are, determine a marketing plan, set up hours when you will work your business.

3. Learn about Intellectual Property Rights.

4. Remember, behind every avatar, no matter what it looks like, is a human being and potential customer or business partner. Treat them as such.

5. Attend business meetings, classes, seminars, etc. You will learn a lot and meet like-minded people.

Source: SL Entrepreneur Magazine

Bettye Zoller New Voice Speech Coach for Bravo’s “Top Chef”

Bettye Zoller, voice and speech teacher, has been selected as voice speech coach for publicity agents of the chefs on the hit TV show on BRAVO called, “Top Chef”, many of whom now have jobs at trade shows, endorsements for cookware, working TV interviews, personal appearances, infomercials, and more.

When asked about whether or not she worked with the chefs directly, Bettye replied, “If a chef needs voice and speech work of some sort, I am called on to improve that person’s communication skills.”

Bettye Zoller began coaching voice and speech in the 1990s when, with three partners, she formed a corporation specializing in corporate training and coaching activities. The corporation also published many books and audio books, several of which were best sellers.

One title, “How to Get What You Want on the Telephone Every Time” was an Audio Book Club Best Seller and still is sold worldwide. It is one eight-minute CD. Another publication, “TALK: The Toolkit for Talkers” continues to enjoy top sales worldwide. The corporation was legally dissolved in 2002 by mutual agreement with the partners moved on to pursue other projects.

Since 2002, Bettye Zoller has been concentrating on voiceovers, audio recording activities, voiceover coaching and teaching but still accepts corporate and private voice speech assignments. Over the years, she has coached politicians, top officials and countless celebrities from the worlds of film, TV, radio, and pageants.

Recent clients of Bettye Zoller include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blockbuster Video Corporate, Closed Captioning Institute, several U.S. government agencies and celebrities on television.

Bettye Zoller shares, “The thing I like most about voice and speech improvement coaching is that, literally, I CHANGE people’s lives. I have quotes and letters to that effect over the years saying, ‘I wouldn’t have my job without you,’ ‘You are the reason I got my promotion,’ ‘I now can speak in public and I’m selling so many more of my books because of it’ and so on. It’s gratifying! I also teach dialect and accent minimization to the foreign-born (and I also reduce regional accents in one’s native language) and do this for actors as well as voice talents and also business clients not in the arts. One never loses one’s accent or dialect totally, but it can be ‘masked’ and ‘minimized.’”

Bettye also teaches the acquisition of some accents, primarily Italian, German, French, New Yorker, deep Southern U.S. and some others and is a proud member of VASTA, Voice and Speech Trainers Association. A serving member on several college and university faculties over the years, she is degreed through PH.D. studies with two Masters Degrees.

Source: Bettye Zoller

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