CODE orig march 3 2011

Check out some of the wonderful reviews we’ve been receiving.

We’ve been called a “viable addition to the working actor’s bookshelf…” to being lauded as a “must own!” We’re proud of the fantastic reviews that have been pouring in for VOVA.

Great review for the Warm-Up mp3/CD by Megham Weimer

from the On Route to the Booth VO blog Click here to read

by Meghan Weimer January 13th, 2011

Do You Have a Routine Before Voice Over Sessions?
I’ve been thinking a lot about routines as they relate to voice over: you know, that methodology that gets you into a good physical and mental state, prepared to deliver the best read of your life.

Surprisingly–if you know me–it’s not something I’ve given much thought until recently. I’ve been thinking about routines because I had a couple private voice over coaching sessions that just weren’t optimal. One so-so session is acceptable, but two? Let’s figure out what the issue is!

Even as I was doing it, I have been keenly aware of rushing from point A (work) to point B (VO locale) so that I would get there in time. Granted, my coach provides a chunk of time to settle in and prepare scripts, but I’ve never intentionally given myself time to prepare both my mind and body for an hour of rigorous practice.

Recently, I discovered Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic, a new voice over book by professional VO’s Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt. The husband and wife team have also produced The Warm-Up, available in CD or mp3 format. I haven’t yet read the book, but I scooped the mp3 and so far so good.

For less than five bucks, Lowenthal and Platt lead you in complete full-body, facial, vocal, and breathing exercises, as well as tongue twisters. What I love most about The Warm-Up is its four-minute “Condensed Complete Warm-Up”–perfect for those days when I’m rushing (but trying not to) from work to practice.

Mike Rhode’s Review of Voice OVer Voice Actor the Book, Washington City Paper

Washington City Paper, Review of Voice Over Voice Actor, the book:

Posted by Mike Rhode on Dec. 7, 2010 at 9:45 am

Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt (Bug Bot Press, $19.95) may be a good gift for a teen hooked on animation or cosplay. The married authors have provided voices for animation, video games, and commercials and give what appears to be good information on how the processes and industry work. They also get anecdotes from others in the business, including Wil Wheaton, who notes, “I’m never going to be the guy who can do interesting character voices, but I am the guy who can create interesting characters using only his voice.” If facial warm-ups, demos, and “Just gimme a couple more, wild” make you curious, consider checking out this book. I have no interest at all in being a voice actor, but I’m finding the book charming. It’s also got cute comic strip illustrations by Jerzy Drozd and an extensive website.

PlaybackSTL , Sarah Boslaugh
Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt/ Voice Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic
Bug Bot. 2009. c.216p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-9840740-0-6. pap. $19.95. 256 pages. Emerald Book Company, 2010. $19.95 (paperback)
“Even if you have no aspirations towards a career in voice-over, there’s a lot you can learn from this book.”
“…What I like best about this book is the informal yet business-like tone taken by the authors: they don’t offer shortcuts or “secrets to success” but point the way down a path which can lead to a rewarding career. And they’re not afraid to have some fun in the process: anecdotes, cartoons and fun facts are salted throughout the text, along with sidebars from other industry professionals which offer advice, war stories and other information about working in the voice-over business.
If you think you know something about voice acting (and even more so if you think it’s easier or somehow a lesser skill in comparison to conventional acting) I invite you to listen to the demo reels of Yuri (YuriLowenthal.com) and Tara (TaraPlatt.com). Pretty amazing, huh? Not only do these demo reels demonstrate the versatility of these two actors, they also provide examples of how to assemble clips to showcase your talents briefly and effectively.
You can learn more about Voice-Over Voice Actor from the book’s web site:
(VoiceOverVoiceActor.com/) which also offers bonus materials like exercises to improve your skills.”
Read the entire review at PlaybackSTL

Library Journal Review, Barry X. Miller
Lowenthal, Yuri & Tara Platt. Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic. Bug Bot. 2009. c.216p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-9840740-0-6. pap. $19.95.
“…new guide, with a specific focus for different audiences, address the practical needs and concerns of actors seeking voice-over work. First-time authors (and husband and wife) Lowenthal and Platt have extensive professional voice-over credits and offer a thorough nuts-and-bolts guide to all facets of the profession. Introductory chapters delineate the diverse voice-over spectrum, provide useful information to identify and strengthen vocal quality, and list necessary preaudition considerations. Middle chapters examine the hellacious realm of auditioning, technical aspects of the voice-over process, and the business side of entering the field (e.g., the demo, securing an agent, self-promotion and marketing, and ongoing practice). Written in a breezy, conversational style, the text includes numerous sidebars featuring anecdotes from working professionals, cheesy cartoons, inane inspirational quotes, and technical factoids.
VERDICT … their guide is a viable addition to the working actor’s bookshelf…”

Technorati Book Review: Voice-Over Voice Actor
Author: Jon Herrera July 26, 2010
Voice-Over Voice Actor is written by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, who have been doing voice-over work for 12 years and have steady gigs doing cartoons and video games. They also take any other work for which their voices are suitable. The best info in Voice-Over Voice Actor is that any kind of voice can finds its way into the profession, as there are now so many products and roles needing to be filled.
With chapters like Finding Your Voice, The Audition Itself, What To Do To Get Started, The Demo Yuri and Tara, the book manages to cover all the basics. It includes a number of exercises and tips, and a nice glossary of terms common to the world of voice-over acting. There are also some sample copies for practicing. There are cute little cartoons at the end of each chapter, and the overall tone of the book is a nice mixture of informal and informative.
The only thing missing from Voice-Over Voice Actor was a CD in the back of the book with vocal exercises and examples of the kind of work that the authors do. Voice-Over Voice Actor’s companion website is colorful and has a few additional voice exercises.

GoodReads Review
By Jason Milligan
Voice-Over Voice Actor reads easily and quickly and that is good. Its conversational tone keeps you interested and learning without being didactic or dogmatic. This book makes the material fun, yet crams copious amounts of information into a mere 230 pages. A reader can finish this book within a few hours and then spend many years following its advice and building a career instead of squandering months trying to wade through verbose text and redundancy.
Yuri and Tara intend this book for aspiring Voice Actors, but I think it is useful to anyone who intends to work in animation, video games, or other areas of entertainment requiring voice work. I only occasionally do voice work (primarily when necessary or when doing puppetry), but I do often direct or work directly with voice actors. After reading this book, I feel like I better understand the industry and can work more efficiently with voice actors. I also find the advice for building a career as a VO is germane to many areas of entertainment outside of voice acting.
If you want to be a voice actor or work with voice actors, it would be irresponsible not to read this book.

SomeAudioGuy Blogspot
Book Review – Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind The Mic
There’s a new book available for people interested in Voice Over, and I’m liking it a lot!
Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind The Mic is hitting bookshelves now, and I was fortunate to get an early copy to review.
Written by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, two voice actors at the top of their careers, VOVA is an excellent resource for those beginning their VO journey, while including enough helpful resources to also aid more experienced performers.
VOVA chronicles Tara & Yuri’s entrance into the craft, while at the same time providing practical advice for not only the art of voice over, but the business of VO as well.
The book is a fairly comprehensive introduction including sections on styles of VO, auditioning, home recording, demo preparation, and advice for scoring an agent/manager. They of course are not promising you a career in VO by reading their book, but you get a really in depth look at the industry as it stands TODAY.
That’s one of my favorite things about VOVA. There is a lot of very good literature out there for VO, but this is easily one of the savviest books written on the subject in this modern era of digital recording. It’s one of the most up to date accounts of what it’s like working in this field right now. Yuri & Tara are both working talent at the top of their game (each with an incredible list of credits), and every chapter is augmented by other working professionals including directors, engineers, producers, agents, and other talent.
The book has a really fun voice, with information cleverly and intelligently delivered to readers of all skill levels. Voice-Over Voice Actor is a really easy book to recommend to those interested in trying the craft, and those already working in it.
You can buy the book at their website VoiceOverVoiceActor.com, and people who purchase will also get access to online resources including practice copy, warm ups, and additional content not found in the current edition. I’m already quite impressed with Yuri & Tara’s commitment to keeping the information available on VO as current as possible.
You can also follow them on Twitter as VOVoiceActor.

Feathered Quills: Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic
By: Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt Publisher: Bug Bot Press
Publication Date: January 2010 ISBN: 978-0-9840740-0-6
Reviewed by: Pamela Victor Review Date: February 17, 2010
Though brisk sales hopefully will profit Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, I get the impression that they have written Voice-Over Voice Actor because of their love of voice acting, not to mention their all-around niceness and super-heroic good will towards all. The authors don’t hold back secrets of the field, which would be understandable given the competitiveness of the acting world. On the contrary, Lowenthal and Platt write with abundant generosity, welcoming those new to voice-over acting with open arms. If you are contemplating or starting out in voice-over work, Voice-Over Voice Actor is a must-own. I mean it, folks. And I’m not just saying that because I like talking in funny voices.
In fact, I had hardly dipped my toes into the roiling waters of this book before it became crystal clear that Voice-Over Voice Actor is an essential, invaluable treasure that the voice actor will return to again and again. This book provides a plethora of vital guidelines to make any newbie look more like a seasoned professional. A mere sampling of the topics include: understanding your voice’s range, exercising your voice and maintaining vocal and over-all health, identifying your vocal signature, preparing for the audition, making a demo reel, and what makes Christopher Walken and William Shatner so entertaining to listen to. As the authors suggest, “Hmmm. Christopher Walken as muse…William Shatner as muse. Ponder that for a while.”
In addition to the basic topics, Lowenthal and Platt offer bountiful tips of the trade, such as how an audio engineer wants you to relate to the mic, why it’s a good sign if the producers ignore you, how a teeming walk-in closet can work for you, and why a Granny Smith apple might be your best friend. These are gifts to the voice actors that will dramatically increase chances for success.
Are you familiar with any of these terms: “Popper Stopper” “walla bed,” “loop group,” “flaps,” and the all-important “three beats”? Within a working context as well as in the glossary, the authors provide definitions to the terminology a voice actor needs to know, so when someone says to you, “Give me a slate,” you won’t look at them like a blank slate. And this sentence will make perfect sense: “If you can master the skills required for dubbing, you’ll look really good in a pick-up or ADR session for a pre-lay animation project.”
This treasure trove of knowledge is presented in a casual, chatty and humorous style that puts the reader at ease, open and ready to soak it all up. From the Roy Lichtenstein-inspired book cover to the eye-catching comics and the retro-styled shout outs peppered throughout the book, Voice-Over Voice Actor sparkles with energy, youthful enthusiasm and wit. We feel like we could hang with Yuri and Tara, and maybe even geek out with Yuri over sci-fi comics if that’s your bent. Because, after all, “Yuri’s been a prince of Persia, a man of steel, and a boy who smacks his watch and turns into ten different aliens; while Tara has repelled inter-dimensional invaders with her Lasso of Truth, fought ninjas, and saved the universe by dreaming the future.” Pretty cool work if you can get it, don’t you think?
Quill says: For the fledgling voice-over actor, this book is a must-own. It’s just that simple.
For more information on Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic, please visit the book’s website at: www.VoiceOverVoiceActor.com

The international book tour for Voice-Over Voice Actor is going gang-busters with great signings in the US and abroad. Next up, stops in:

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA Join us at The Drama Book Shop for a FREE voice-over workshop and talk as well as a book-signing this Friday, October 8th at 5pm. The Drama Book Shop is located at 250 W. 40th St., NYC, NY 10018.

More stops to be announced soon for California, and possibly Florida .

We’re also in various local stores throughout the United States, so stop by Barnes & Noble or Borders to pick-up/request your copy today, order online via Amazon or our website as well as the new eBook on lulu!

We will add details and more cities as soon as they are confirmed, so check back to get more details!

Coming soon:

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA. Stop by soon for more info!

In the meantime, need reviews on Amazon.com which YOU can help us with! So if you’ve read the book, we’d love for you to review it for us, CLICK HERE and write your VOVA Amazon review. Thank you

Below is a list of places we’ve visted and done book signings or voice-over talks! Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

MONTREAL, CANADA at Fantastic Film Festival, doing a VO talk and book signing, July 17 & 18

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, USA, at ComicCon July 22-25, please check Comicon schedule.

LONDON, ENGLAND, c/o London Expo Saturday/Sunday May 29/30, at Excel London, E16 1XL

DUBLIN, IRELAND Saturday June 5th from 12 noon – 2:30 pm at at Forbidden Planet Dublin, 5-6 Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA, Super Happy Tokyo Love, 8p-10p Sat March 8, Royal T, 8910 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA90232

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, USA – CANCELED DUE TO ILLNESS, our apologies!!

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, c/o Supanova Con Saturday & Sunday April 10 & 11, RNA Showgrounds

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, c/o Supanova Con Saturday & Sunday April 17 & 18, Melbourne Showgrounds

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, USA
The Comic Outpost, 12:30-2:30, Sat. March 13th, 2381 Ocean Ave, SF, CA 94127

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA
Alternate Reality Comics, 3:00-5:00pm, Sat. February 20th, 4800 S. Maryland Pkwy, LV, NV 89119

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104 – The Big Renaissance [86:54m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Posted By Jerzy on August 25, 2009

We’re celebrating our two-year anniversary with an interview with two excellent examples of the kinds of renaissance creators we independent cartoonists should be!

Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal are actors, writers, producers, and voice actors who never stop working.

In addition to recently completing pre-production work on an independent film, they’ve also just finished work on a book about voice acting called Voice-Over Voice Actor, What it’s Like Behind the Mic (featuring comic strips and illustrations by me!).

Tara and Yuri spend some time with us to discuss the challenges of managing a collaborative project, why it’s important to always be working on something, their process of writing, and how they find and develop characters with their voices. Tons of great food for thought for any independent creator out there.

If you enjoyed listening to the discussion this week, be sure to check out their book!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Voice-Over Voice Actor, What it’s Like Behind the Mic – Now available for pre-order!
• Tumbling After, Tara and Yuri’s independent film
• Tara Platt’s website
• Yuri Lowenthal’s website

New Voice-Over Book by Yuri Lowenthal & Tara Platt

The husband/wife voice acting team of Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt have a new voice-over book scheduled for release later this year. Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic “offers a fun and comprehensive look at what it takes, what goes on and what it’s like behind the mic from two working pros who started from scratch,” according to the publisher’s website. This behind-the-scenes look at the industry has already gotten praise from some notable voice actors, including Phil LaMarr, Dee Bradley Baker, and John DiMaggio, as well as voice director Andrea Romano. The book is scheduled to retail at $19.95 when it is released November 1st, but a special discount of 15% is available if you pre-order your copy now. Autographed copies are also available.

]]> http://bugbotpress.com/2009/08/19/voicechasers-blurb-about-yuri-lowenthal-vova/feed/ 1 http://bugbotpress.com/2009/08/05/voice-actor-kick-start-interview-with-tara-platt/ http://bugbotpress.com/2009/08/05/voice-actor-kick-start-interview-with-tara-platt/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:56:39 +0000 Tara http://bugbotpress.com/?p=85

Voice Actor Kick Start Interview with Tara Platt

Written by Ayu, Tuesday, 04 August 2009 17:01

Would you believe that some people still write books these days? Well they do, and anyone looking to break into voice acting will definitely want to check out this one, co-written by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt. We had the opportunity to ask Tara a few questions about the book and voice acting in general. 1.) Okay, standard question first. How did you get into voice acting? Well, both my husband [Yuri Lowenthal] and I were actors first (theatre, film, television…) and we were trying to expand and explore other options within the industry and we actually just took a voice-over class, loved it, and the rest…was history! 2.) Could you tell us a little about the book you wrote? What’s in it? Sure, the book, Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic, is a book filled with tips, tools and information on how to be a voice actor, how to get into the business, how to market and promote yourself, as well as exercises and practice copy. It is also filled with anecdotes on various aspects of the world of voice-over from 20 other industry professionals (actors, writers, directors, agents, casting directors, engineers…) . 3.) What inspired you to write it? Yuri and I were each getting so many emails and calls from both friends of ours in the entertainment business interested in branching out into VO as well as fans of our work looking to get started. We always try to share what’s worked for us, and what we’ve learned and we were sending out lots of emails each week and giving the best information we could, but we quickly realized that a lot of people were interested in this information, and we had enough of it to create a book. We began the process last November, and when it comes off presses this November, the whole thing will have taken us the better part of a year! 4.) Did you each write a part individually, or did you collaborate on the writing? Actually a bit of both. We sat down and did a rough idea of the table of contents and what we wanted to cover. Then I wrote the first draft alone, poring over all the things we knew we wanted to hit. I took notes and expanded them as well as writing new sections and details. Then I turned the first draft over to Yuri to go through (since we have such different methods of writing, this was easier than sitting together). Then when he was done, we read the entire manuscript aloud together to find inconsistencies and make sure that the voice of the book was consistent and clear. Then we actually had a wonderful team of peer reviewers go through the book on their own and give us notes on what they felt worked/didn’t work and we did another pass together. 5.) It sounds like a great starting point for any aspiring voice actor. What suggestions to you have for someone after they’ve read the book? What’s the next step that people should take if they’re serious about this? I think it is a wonderful tool not only for an aspiring voice actor but anyone who’s even curious about the world of voice-over. There is a whole section of the book on what the next step should be for someone interested in building a career. I would just say, once you’ve read the book, look at the variety of options we explore and see what feels the best to you. Whether that is getting into a class, moving to the best VO city for you, or getting your demo together. Everyone is at a different place and has a different comfort zone and focus. We try to make sure to offer a lot of ideas on what the next step might be for every person’s situation. 6.) Thank you so much for your time. If I may be so bold, could you share a gem of wisdom from your book for our readers? Sure. You are most welcome. A gem of wisdom, huh. I guess it would be to always follow your heart and your dreams, don’t let other people’s ideas on the way the world works interfere with your passion. Do what you feel is the best thing for you so that you can be happy, confident and enjoy your life! Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic is available currently through http://www.BugBotPress.com and we’re offering a 15% pre-order discount on all orders by October 31st, 2009 (before it comes off presses November 1st).

]]> http://bugbotpress.com/2009/08/05/voice-actor-kick-start-interview-with-tara-platt/feed/ 0 http://bugbotpress.com/2009/07/27/sdcc-09-book-launch/ http://bugbotpress.com/2009/07/27/sdcc-09-book-launch/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:38:20 +0000 Tara http://bugbotpress.com/?p=82 Launching the book for pre-order at the 40th San Diego Comic Con this past weekend was an amazing success. As soon as the announcement went live, orders started coming in.

Then, during the autograph signing and surrounding SDCC events, we handed out several hundred pre-order %15 discount cards to friends and fans. (The discount still applies to all web pre-order purchases as well.)

Several publications have picked up the story and articles, interviews and review-interest is starting. Yuri and I (as well as Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic and Bug Bot Press) are thrilled.

Pre-Order Your Peek Into the World of Voice-Over with New Book

VO Pros Write Comprehensive Book about How to Get into Voice-Over

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2009 — Have you ever watched a cartoon, played a video game or heard a movie trailer and wondered just who are those folks behind the mic? Maybe you’ve wanted to get into the business and become a voice actor yourself, but wanted to know where to begin? Coming this November, you can get answers to those questions and more with a new book about the world of VO written by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, two working pros with a long list of credits and a stellar reputation in the biz. The book is being launched this coming weekend at the prestigious San Diego Comic Con.

With insider tips and in-depth discussion about this exciting profession, the book, Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic, is also peppered with anecdotes from stars in the field like Phil Morris (Secret Saturdays), Wil Wheaton (Batman: The Brave and the Bold), and Dee Bradley Baker (Spongebob Squarepants), and with a foreword by Eisner Award winning comic book writer Paul Jenkins (Wolverine: Origin). This book is sure to open your eyes and entertain.

“So many people have asked us how we got into [VO] and how they can do it too,” Yuri says, “and in the book we do our best to tell them all about what we’ve done.” Tara adds, “But more than that, we let them know what they might be able to do on their own to break in.” The book includes everything from mic technique and the auditioning process to suggestions for voice exercises and tips on self-marketing.

Several VO celebs have already praised Voice-Over Voice Actor. Phil LaMarr (Futurama), no stranger to acting and voice-over, says, “People always ask me for advice on how to get started in the VO business. My advice: Get this book.” Emmy award-winning voice director Andrea Romano (Avatar: the Last Airbender) lends her endorsement by adding, “Anyone wishing to pursue a career in voice-over will be more prepared and have a better chance of success if they read & heed the wisdom contained in this book. Were I teaching a class right now, this book would be a required text.”

Lowenthal and Platt have a long list of voice-over credits from animation to video games, commercials, narration and more. Some of their recognizable credits include Yuri’s Superman (Legion of Superheroes), Ben (Ben 10: Alien Force), Jinno/Kuma (on the Emmy-Nominated Afro Samurai: Resurrection), and the Prince (the Prince of Persia series of video games) as well as Dell, Coca-Cola and more. Tara’s credits include Wonder Woman (DC vs. Mortal Kombat), Dream Girl (Legion of Superheroes), and Temari (Naruto) as well as commercial work for clients like Subaru, Budweiser and McDonald’s.

While at SDCC this week, Platt and Lowenthal will officially announce pre-orders for the book. Voice-Over Voice Actor is published by Bug Bot Press, and 15% pre-order discounts are being offered on the Web site before the book comes off presses November 1^st. For more information, visit www.BugBotPress.com to pre-order your book now.

Contact:

Tammy Lynn

Spotlight PR

SpotlightPRinfo@aol.com

310.867.1952

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