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Coming soon to an electronic device near you...

Writer's picture: Toby SmithToby Smith

I'm a voice actor now, baby!!


This, as I hope you can understand, is a big moment. People say the best feeling they've had in voice acting is when they land their first job. And boy its a rush. I'm still feeling lots of elation and a smattering of glee (most of which centering around the moment I read the email subject: 'Your offer had been accepted'. So, to business.


I'm going to narrate an audiobook.


Its surreal to think that it was only last week I was in London with Gary (voice coach) and recording demos for the first time. Since then, I've been recording for various auditions using my home setup: some commercial ones, some informative ones and a few audiobooks. For an audiobook they basically get you to read and record a section of the book, including character voices, the way you feel it should be done. Sometimes you're given specific direction in the brief and sometimes not. Doing character voices (and characterful stage roles) has been amongst the most fun parts of acting in general for me. There's so much fun you can have with them, and what's better with audiobooks is that what you look like doesn't limit what parts you can play. The fun you can have with that is limitless...!


Zombies, vampires and Werewolves


The book I've landed is called Wherewolf (Book 1 of the Skullenia series) by Tony Lewis. It centres around a half-vampire named Ollie, living in an undead town called Skullenia in an undisclosed location (possibly in the UK - no, not Chatham). He has recently inherited his Uncle's detective agency and the band of misfits that used to work for him. Its a supernatural mystery story with lots of comedy. There are several really distinct characters in the story which I've been able to embellish with seriously wacky voices (as befits the residents of Cha-.... I mean Skullenia). This, as anticipated, has been the best part of the process for me.


Fast forward 5 weeks....


Aaaaand it's finished! What?! - you cry. You'd only started a minute ago when I read the title of your blog post!! Yeah well it turns out blogs can accidentally take a backseat when you're so focused on another project. Turns out I started writing this one at the start of August. Sue me.

Oh the butterflies I got when I was recording the last line in the WHOLE book! *I* finished producing an audiobook! Me!! Please excuse my whilst I do a happy dance. It's not without its boring bits of course. Editing out my stumbles, mispronounciations, laughter and expletives takes a looooooong time. Especially when your author loves words more than life itself. Just how long can a sentence be without a breath? You'll have to buy the audiobook to find out.


Eyes on the horizon...


I'm not entirely sure how long it will take to get the thing out on the airwaves, but as soon as it is, be sure of another blog post where I'll tell you where you can get your sticky little ears all over it. Hopefully someone buys it. I think Mum is going to. That's one at least....


First published 5th August 2019




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