High Notes

In this episode of the High Notes podcast, BRAVA master characters coach, Elaine Clark, joins us all the way from San Francisco and talks about her extensive experience in the industry. From starting as a theatre major in college, she then got into advertising and copywriting before moving into Silicon Valley and delving into the corporate world. Her career took a significant turn with the emergence of the video game industry, where she took on various roles from casting and directing to producing and audio engineering. Elaine values her early involvement in the industry and finds satisfaction in identifying potential in her voice-acting students, helping to solve casting problems in the industry. Elaine also talks us through what to expect from the Characters Foundation 6 Week course here at BRAVA.

A Women in Games Special.

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Episode guide

00:03 Introduction to the Podcast

00:52 Special Guest: Elaine Clark - Master Characters Coach

01:44 Elaine's Journey in the Voice Industry

03:51 The Evolution of Voice Acting in Gaming

05:31 The Business Side of Voice Acting

10:26 Elaine's Experiences in Voice Acting for Games

12:13 The Six Week Characters Foundation Course at BRAVA

14:36 Final Thoughts and Goodbye

Read the full transcript here...

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In this fascinating talk, BRAVA Founder, Melissa Thom, welcomes special guest, Sebastien Croteau, an accomplished metal vocalist and extreme voicing expert.

They discuss Croteau's extensive career - his unique skills as a Tibetan, Mongolian, and Inuit throat singer - and his contribution to a huge number of video games, including the recently acclaimed Baldur’s Gate 3, Prince of Persia, Assassin's Creed, and more.

Croteau explains how the fine control and understanding of the different parts of his vocal apparatus, developed through years of throat singing, have made him a sought-after voice actor for creating monster and creature sounds.

He shares insights into the science of different voice techniques, along with demonstrations of extreme voices. Croteau also provides a glimpse into his Monster Factory, a talent agency specialising in extreme sounds. Sebastien offers valuable advice for aspiring voice actors interested in learning extreme voice techniques and highlights the importance of proper training and warm-ups.

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00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:16 Guest's Background and Achievements

01:59 Guest's Journey as a Metal Vocalist

02:40 Transition to Creating Monster and Creature Voices

05:08 Guest's Training and Experience in Throat Singing

06:09 Guest's Entry into the Video Game Industry

07:03 Challenges and Experiences in Voice Acting for Video Games

08:50 Demonstration of Throat Singing Techniques

18:24 Application of Throat Singing Techniques in Creature Voice Acting

27:36 Guest's Experience and Advice on Voice Acting Training

28:59 Debunking Vocal Distortion Myths

30:27 Recommended Channels for Accurate Vocal Distortion

31:04 The Science Behind Rough Vocal Effects

31:37 The Lack of Research in Extreme Voices

33:04 The Importance of Proper Warm-up and Training

33:44 The Role of Science in Vocal Distortion

37:11 The Importance of Vocal Assessment

38:38 The Journey to Creating the Monster Factory

38:38 The Inception of the Monster Factory

41:42 The Future of Voice Acting in Gaming

41:42 The Future of Monster and Creature Voices

45:34 The Importance of Proper Warm-up for Extreme Voicing Performance

45:34 The Importance of Vocal Warm-up

52:16 The Challenges of Teaching Extreme Voices

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In this podcast (taken from an online talk), voice acting expert, coach, and founder of BRAVA: Melissa Thom, provides an in-depth introduction to the art and business of Voiceover.

She talks through the necessary skills, experience, and mindset required to take the first steps into the industry - including the importance of training, understanding budgets, marketing, and finding the right coach.

She also explores different ways of securing work within the industry, such as agents, pay-to-play sites, cold calling, repeat clients, auditioning, and more.

This session is aimed at those who are new to voiceover, or have a budding interest in voice acting.

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00:02 Introduction and Welcome

00:44 Getting Started in the World of Voice-Over

01:34 Who Can Be a Voice Actor?

05:11 Understanding Voice Acting and Voice-Over

07:45 Finding Voice Over Opportunities

10:33 Planning Your Voice Acting Career

21:59 Auditioning and Booking Work

27:15 The Importance of Training and Coaching

29:02 What Makes a Good Voice Actor?

30:17 Conclusion and Next Steps

Read the transcript here...

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Presented by voice actor and CEO of BRAVA (Bristol Academy of Voice Acting), Melissa Thom, High Notes is a podcast featuring conversations on the art and business of voice. From Mongolian throat singing to vocal health, accents, gaming, and more, HIGH NOTES uncovers the craft behind the business.

Brought to you by https://www.brava.uk.com/ 

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