How does one get into voice acting/voice overs?

[SunnyD]

I've been thinking about careers lately, just for S&G, and determined that it would be cool to be a voice actor or do voice overs for animated movies, cartoons or games. But how do people get into this field?

Take stage or screen acting for example. Stage acting requires a good memory for your lines, a commanding personality, and unlike most of ATOT you have to look good too. It's safe to say that I won't get into acting any time soon.

Now voice work on the other hand... I know most of the blockbuster animated films tend to star one or more AAA celebs as the starring voices. But most of the supporting cast are generally voice over regulars, generally people fairly unknown to stage and screen. It's these people that I'm talking about... how do THESE people end up in the business and getting cast in flicks and such?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Crono]

Make a voice portfolio on YouTube, look for an agent, start off with small roles wherever you can.

It's usually people with distinctive voices and/or a wide range of voices who "make it".

My favorite voice actor or actress is Tara Strong. She's in practically every animated series.

 

[Schadenfroh]

If you are good at voice acting, please consider helping out with community-made NWN and NWN2 modules, goodness knows they could use it.

Not sure how often stars of community-made content get noticed by the big studios, though.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Audio of your voice nao.

 

[SKORPI0]

http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/ 😛

 

[SunnyD]

http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/ 😛

Wow, that site, while informative, was one ugly flash ad away from an epilepsy warning! (Thanks though!)

 

[Crono]

Wow, that site, while informative, was one ugly flash ad away from an epilepsy warning! (Thanks though!)

Other than that, you can read a ton of individual voice actor biographies online. A good number of them started as stage or screen actors, but not all.