The mission of this project is to help develop a deep bench of well-trained queer voiceover actors, ready to meet the growing demand for more diversity in animated and interactive media. Currently, the roster at VO agencies of out trans, non-binary, and genderqueer voice actors is pretty small. This perceived lack of available talent often causes the casting net to widen, sometimes leading to inauthentic casting, especially in cases of intersectionality. Or, when authentic casting does occur, the actor hired may be brand new to VO and find themselves out of their depth. This is a systemic issue with multiple facets, but I think one part of the problem might be a lack of access to voiceover training that specifically addresses how to navigate voiceover as a queer person. And training is one part I can do something about!
We know that the talent is out there. But many queer performers–especially trans, non-binary, and genderqueer talent–have not been able to break into VO. The time for that to change is now. The jobs are out there. And a well-trained group of queer voiceover actors working consistently ensures these roles are not trends, they are the new norm.
In order to ensure this workshop is successful in its mission, these are the bullet points I wish to follow:
1.) The workshop is “pay what you can.” That can mean some dollars, that can mean zero dollars. It’s up to the student. I want this to be accessible first and foremost. Any money I receive from the workshop will go towards future programming.
2.) The workshop is exclusively for the LGBTQ+ community, with priority given to trans, non-binary, and genderqueer talent, with an emphasis on BIPOC. That doesn’t mean that a white cisgender bisexual man can’t apply. Sure he can! But I want to prioritize the most underrepresented among VO actors first, and that does involve an application process rather than the usual “first-come, first serve.”
3.) We will seek to create a safe space where the usual slings and arrows of misgendering can safely be left at the door as we focus on growing as voiceover talent. We will also have frank conversations about our experiences in the workplace and strategize how to overcome issues. Thus, privacy in this space will be essential for open and honest discussion.
4.) Every lesson, every discussion, every bullet point we tackle will be informed by the needs of the class. I will do my best to meet everyone wherever they are at in their voiceover journey. We’ll mold it as we go to suit each person’s needs.
5.) The workshop is not only meant as a place to learn from me, but to learn from each other, and to build a community. I hope we can start to build a professional and queer-affirming network for you in this space.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗬 𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗬
– The workshop will take place over three successive Thursdays (1/21, 1/28, 2/4) at 6:30pm PST via Zoom. Please do not apply if you have existing conflicts for any of those classes.
– Each session will be two hours.
– Each session will be recorded and distributed to students after each class. These are private recordings strictly for educational use. By filling out this application, you agree that you may not post, in whole or in part, the recordings of our class on any social media (public or private), nor may you share them with others.
– To participate, you only need a hands free device for connecting to Zoom with video. Microphones and recording set-ups are helpful but not required.
– For this initial workshop, we ask that applicants be over 16.
