New Urban/Street/Youth reel

Darren Altman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 53

My agent remarked that none of my showreels have my natural speaking voice on them and that apart from the characters and impressions, they are all quite formal sounding.

So I've just finished making this for her to give to clients as she said that she'd always getting asked for a more street/youth orientated voice.... your thoughts?!

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008, 16:03 (GMT) Post subject:

I love your reads...but it's because you sound awkwardly funny to me -- like (don't hate me please!) Hugh Grant. Admittedly, I'm American and have no idea of your market, but I don't know if that'll book for "street/youth-oriented" sounds. You just don't seem to have that kind of energy, attitude or texture to your voice. No one can do everything, so there's no shame.

Further, your script choices were either about youth culture and you sounded very outsider documentarian, or narrative-type reads that had a tongue-in-cheek, "I don't really belong here" self-awareness. That will not sell to the young/urban audience of any nation, I think. It will sell to parents of youth, however. You have a dad sound -- not a youth sound -- here.

I think it's a worthy effort. You have such a wonderful character variety that agents can easily think you're able to do it all. But you might let your agent know that she needs to get off her duff and find the "youth" voice herself and let you do what you do well -- so you can both benefit.

Darren Altman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 53

Thanks for the reply Melba, I appreciate it.

I get what you're saying and you're right, I'm 35, so not 'youth' any more!! But Hugh Grant?!?!!! Shocked

I think what she means is a more edgier sound if I can put it that way an certainly less formal or RP, think cockney(ish) and that will give you some idea. Young people from ordinary state schools certainly don't speak in a formal manner and what I've tried to do here - whether it's the documentary style HipHop read, the 'givaway' ad or the Drum n Bass promo is to capture a roar sound, which is stylistically more in keeping with youth culture and speak.

Let's not call it youth as in children, but Urban - a sound that can be related to by the ordinary teenager, college guy and man on the street who's into fashion, urban music and style.

The Jacamo tv ad that I posted in the general discussion forum (see below) certainly required that sound, even if it wasn't aimed towards kids!

http://www.darrenaltman.com/NewFiles/Jacamo.mov

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008, 16:59 (GMT) Post subject:

I understand the audience is not children. But urban youth is not 35 and caucasian, either. I doubt you would sound edgy or relatable to teens or young men in those clips.

The Jacamo thing doesn't sound edgy either -- it sounds tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top, "wow! look at me and my clothes, aren't I cool!" humourous. That works, too and it's not because you sound relatable, but because you don't. Working opposites for humor's sake is what I hear in that ad -- and it's very effective.

Perhaps that wasn't your intent in the read, but that's how it comes off to me.