File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_1999/puptcrit.9908, message 400


Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 02:26:03 -0400
From: heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com (Christopher Hudert)
Subject: Re: PUPT: Voices, do you hear voices?


>I wanted to ask if anyone has hints on developing and maintaining character
>voices?
>Such as finding your range and staying in character when you are changing
>character minute by minute.
>This is probably do to my lack of formal training but I sure would appreciate
>any advice!  Thank you!        Lyn  "The Novice"

 Indeed some formal training would be helpful but you can take steps along
the way as well. In addition to the tapes mentioned I offer a source
readily available: practice. I don't mean that meanly, but we often forget
that we have all kinds of time to practice "other" voices.  Imitate voices
on the radio, famous characters from film, life, cartoons, etc.  Then
imagine a physical characteristic to match them to. Once you have a good
stock of voices (not just in vocal "range" ie octives, upper and lower
register, head voice, chest voice, etc., but also texture, tone, meter,
accent, and so on) it will become easier to apply a voice to a puppet.
Often I find a voice that works happens more or less on its own. Once I
have moved the puppet, studied the script, and figured out if the the voice
is going to go with or against type the choices have just narrowed
themselves down and it seems natural. At that point I find it difficult to
accept any other voice for that puppet. Often I base a voice on someone
readily identifiable by me: the giant in Jack and the Giant is based on W.
C. Fields, the swindler in Emperor's New Clothes is based on Jon Lovitz's
liar character from Saturday Night Live, another character on Ed Winn,
another on my own childhood speach impediment, and on and on. When I think
about the puppet character the voice pops in. Staying in voice and changing
voice is a matter of focus. Focus on WHO is saying what and the voice
follows. Focus on the line alone or on what you have to do later in the day
and soon the voices start slipping into each other or just slipping away.
I could expand on this quite a bit if you and/or others are interested.
 Hmm, sounds like a fest workshop in the making here. I'll have to add that
to my list. I plan to be at both east coast fests next summer. Any interest
in a workshop from me on this, live and in person?

On a side note one of my favorite movie lines is from "The God's Must Be Crazy"
when one woman turns to another at lunch and, out of the blue asks; "Do the
voices in my head bother you?"

Christopher




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