Post a JobCynthia Songé : Debating the Signature Voice
Links from today's show:
Your Instructor this week:
Voice Over Expert Cynthia Songé
Cynthia Songé grew up in Southern California and graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Theater Arts. She is an accomplished actor, voice actor, voice-over teacher, casting director, and demo producer who loves teaching, her students, the sound of the ocean, watching her “kids” grow up, and her four-legged furry creatures. She calls the Central Coast of California home.
Cynthia has voiced numerous animation characters as well as commercials including such nationals as Mercury Sable, Sizzler, and Nationwide Insurance Campaigns. She has also appeared on television and in feature film roles as an on-camera actress as well as theatrical roles. She is a long standing member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre and a recipient of the Hugh O’Brian Acting Award. Cynthia works with Susan Blu at Blupka Productions as a voice over instructor and casting director. Together, Susan and Cynthia have co-authored “Word of Mouth, A Guide to VoiceOver Excellence, Vol. 3″.
Enjoyed Cynthia's episode? Leave a comment with your thoughts!
Comments
Cynthia,
Awesome as always!
Great to hear you again... Solid advice.
FYI: Cynthia did my current demos, and it was a fantastic experience. Her classes were also invaluable in boosting my confidence and skills.
Hope you're doing wonderfully well,
Joe
Posted by: Joe J Thomas | February 20, 2008 8:48 PM
Hi Cynthia,
I am such a fan of your production work and of your students. I totally agree with you about giving a different sound for a each different character. I rarely get announcer jobs but, I do get a lot of character work for video games. Range has helped me although it does confuse some casting directors that then don't know what "box" to put me in.
I'm in CT but, I hope to meet with you and work with you some day. If you or Susan ever make it to the NYC or CT area please let me know. (I've sent you a recording) Thanks
Your Actress,
Deby Cedars
(203) 735-1235
Posted by: Deby Cedars | February 22, 2008 8:19 PM
Yes!
I couldn't agree more. I've found in casting, that the idea of "signature" has gotten mixed up with some of the more technical ideas of technique. I see this quite a bit with some of my trailer voice guys (for example). They've gotten so wrapped up in their resonance, cadence, and proximity, that there's no brain space left for their own personalities. They're working the mic like crazy, painting the air with broad strokes, and there's no sparkle, no wit.
Cynthia, in criticizing the idea of a "signature" actually nails the idea on the head. Your sig is WHO YOU ARE, not a single read you might have.
At the end of the day, all of our techniques and methods and whathaveyou should be helping us in getting to one thing. As efficiently as possible, what do YOU bring to piece of copy?
Lots of people can say all the words right...
Posted by: SomeAudioGuy | February 23, 2008 6:58 PM
Wow! Thank you Thank you Thank you... Here's to those of us that are voiceover jack of all trades!
Posted by: Eileen Galindo | February 26, 2008 12:05 AM
Cynthia - great debate. I heard your "signature sound" - the sound that your particular head, body, mouth shape, bone density, nasal passages, etc. makes - doing different attitudes, but you were there all the time - no mistake.
I spoke to a top agent in LA a couple of years ago - he wanted a real sound - more than someone who had a great variety of sounds. Someone whose delivery grabbed him by the ears and connected.
Now, that was a general statement - he represents actors who do lots of characters, of course. But the point was that focusing on versatility can lead to being a jack of all trades and a master of none.
Posted by: Connie Terwilliger | March 30, 2008 12:04 AM