Debra, your voice is in the new Netflix movie Bird Box starring Sandra Bullock. It’s a project any voice talent would like to be a part of. Tell us a little bit about your participation in the film, your performance…
I was so excited to be part of the new Netflix movie Birchbox starring Sandra Bullock. I often get called to audition for parts of news reporter and news anchor. And that’s exactly what happened here. I was told to do a little newscast for the director of Bird Box. Because the director wanted an authentic reporter from Los Angeles. And so I did it from my home studio and the director loved it, and I was hired.
How do you approach such a project? How was the preparation for the challenge?
Well in this particular case, I was given a script. And it was a news report. And I basically did it a few different ways. And the person that I was reading for would give me a little bit of direction, but pretty much they kind of left it up to me. So there really isn’t a lot of preparation.
I imagine that this opportunity will help you boost your career as a voice talent won’t it? Will more clients know you and want to have your voice for other interesting projects?
I’m hoping obviously that more potential clients will hear me in this movie and will like to hire me. Not only can I do news reporting and anchoring, but I can do any kind of voiceover I do all kinds of voiceover work.
What differences do you find between working for movies and for other kinds of projects?
Well, when I go and work on a movie or even a TV show I actually have to go into the studio. Most of the other projects that I do, I do from my home studio.
What are the steps a voice talent should take to end up working in films? What skills would you say are required?
The way I was able to get the job on Bird Box, and some of the other movies and television shows that I appear in, are either through my manager, my agent, or casting agents. So the best bet to get involved in movies or in TV is to have representation, or to get to know casting agents. So a lot of the casting agents in Los Angeles know me especially, because I am a news anchor in Los Angeles. And they know that I also get hired to play news anchors and reporters whether on camera, or as a voiceover artist.
Surely a lot of voice talents dream of achieving what you’ve accomplished! What would you say to those budding professionals?
My advice for people who want to be in the voiceover industry, whether working on a movie, or a TV show, or doing e-learning projects or commercials, that you don’t give up. And that you’re very diligent and you are hardworking and you’re professional. And if you can dream it, you can do it.
You can listen to the complete interview to Debra Mark here.
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