To succeed in this new landscape, voice actors should strive for naturalism in their delivery, embracing conversational tones and genuine emotions...
I've been a voice-over casting director and audio production company owner for over 40 years, and have witnessed the industry continuously evolve through various technologies and voice acting trends. Today, we stand at the start of an exciting new era in voice over - one that embraces the unique talents and perspectives of millennial performers. The future is bright, and opportunities abound across digital platforms, political advertising, and various commercial projects.
As the demand for content keeps growing across various platforms, there will be no shortage of opportunities for talented voice actors who can capture the spirit of this new era. From digital platforms like podcasts and streaming services to political advertising and commercial projects, the industry is hungry for fresh voices that can connect with audiences in meaningful ways.
The key is to harness the relatable millennial or Gen Z experiences of navigating a complicated world and let that inform genuine, layered vocal performances. Studying millennial or Gen Z actors can provide inspiration and techniques to try.
Looking forward to hearing everyone's trendy takes!
~ Jim
Here are some ways that voice actors can apply elements of modern Millennial or Gen Z vocal style and tone to your performances:
Embrace naturalism: Strive for a conversational, authentic delivery that feels like genuine speech rather than stilted or overly rehearsed. Practice speaking lines quickly and casually.
Convey complex emotions: Look for opportunities to express multiple layered feelings in your vocal performance, such as mixing humor with frustration, or confidence with self-doubt. Millennials and Gen Z often grapple with contradictory emotions.
Use sarcasm and deadpan humor: Incorporate irony, wit and dry jokes into your line readings to capture a jaded or cynical millennial/ Gen Z perspective. Master conveying a lot with understated delivery.
Suggest vulnerability: Don't be afraid to let cracks of insecurity or uncertainty come through in your voice, especially for younger characters still finding their way. Millennials and Gen Z often struggle with impostor syndrome.
Reflect your background: Utilize any regional accent, dialect or slang that aligns with your character's origins, but do so subtly and naturally. Let your unique voice and identity inform your performance.
Explore stress and intensity: Practice projecting feelings of pressure, being overwhelmed or dealing with chaos through your vocal style, as many millennial/Gen Z characters face challenging situations.
Find your spin: Adapt these qualities to suit the specific project and character you're voicing. Combine them with your take on the material and any unique vocal qualities you possess. Make the performance authentic to you.
Embrace your unique talents, study the work of your peers, and don't be afraid to bring your authentic self to every performance
Strive for natural delivery
To succeed in this new landscape, voice actors should strive for naturalism in their delivery, embracing conversational tones and genuine emotions. They should not be afraid to infuse their performances with humor, sarcasm, and vulnerability, as these qualities help create characters that feel authentic and relatable to modern audiences.
Check out Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu in "The Bear" to see the potential of this new generation of voice actors. Edebiri's natural, fast-paced delivery, layered with wit, sarcasm, and vulnerability, perfectly captures the essence of her character and resonates with audiences. That style represents a shift toward authenticity, complexity, and relatability in vocal performances. Millennial or Gen Z voice actors can learn a lot from studying trends - keep up with whose voices are defining the zeitgeist - Edebiri and others, like Selena Gomez, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and Timothée Chalamet...the list is long.
Draw upon unique experiences and cultural background
Voice actors should be drawing upon their unique backgrounds and experiences to inform their performances. Whether incorporating a regional accent or bringing culture and personality into the read, these elements can help create moments that feel specific and genuine. Get real. Get noticed.
Stay up to date with voice acting trends
The key is to harness the relatable millennial or Gen Z experiences of navigating a complicated world and let that inform genuine, layered vocal performances. Studying millennial or Gen Z actors can provide inspiration and techniques to try. So, to all the aspiring voice actors out there, I say this: embrace your unique talents, study the work of your peers, and don't be afraid to bring your authentic self to every performance. Voice acting is bright, and there's never been a better time to make your mark in this exciting and ever-evolving industry.