Dallas-Fort Worth

This two day course will focus on how to select and record a good introductory voiceover sample or clip for commercial voiceover representation or work.  A trend is emerging in voiceover where a voiceover sample clip is the first thing an agent or client will request, and like a good headshot, it's important that your sample reflects the most marketable and authentic demonstration of your voice.  In the first class, attendees will learn basic techniques for reading commercial copy, discuss how to choose copy, help identify each student's "vocal profile," and record a sample or samples from home. In the second class, participants will listen to students' recordings, touch on basic editing and post-production tricks to make it sound great, and discuss next steps.  A microphone or smartphone is required for recording, and students will be using Audacity audio software during editing and post-production portions of the class. 

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Tessa Auberjonois

Tessa Auberjonois started her voice-over career soon after graduating from the Yale School of Drama and has consistently worked as a voice-over artist while also performing on stage and screen. In 2017 Tessa was nominated for a Behind the Voice Actors Award for best-featured actress in a television series. She  teaches Voice and Speech and voice-over  privately as well as at Berg Studios, AMDA, LACC, and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Tessa has been the voice of several national campaigns, including Princess Cruises, Glade, White Castle, FEMA, and many others. She's voiced video games, revoiced starring roles in feature films with major directors, and narrated audiobooks. She has appeared on How I Met Your Father (upcoming), On the Verge, The Affair, Shameless, Lucifer, I’m Dying Up Here, Modern Family, Law & Order(s), ER, and many other shows as well as feature and short films. On stage, she has performed in many classical and contemporary plays Off-Broadway and at theatres across the country such as the Kirk Douglas and South Coast Repertory, Hartford Stage, Yale Rep, and The Shakespeare Theatre of D.C. among others, and she is a member of Antaeus theatre company. Awards & Nominations include the 2020 Ovation Award win for Best Lead Actress, the 2018 Lunt-Fontanne Award, Best Actress in a play 2017 OC Weekly, Nominated for Best Female Guest Star for a TV Voiced Performance 2018 from Behind the Voice Actors, Sermoonjoy Fund, and Fox Foundation Fellowships, and the Oliver Thorndike Award for excellence in acting upon graduation from Yale. 

REQUIREMENTS 

Participants must be able to attend each of the two (2) classes in this course.  

Class 1 is Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 from Noon - 2 p.m. (PT) / 3 - 5 p.m. (ET)
Class 2 is Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 from 10 a.m. - Noon (PT) / 1 - 3 p.m. (ET)

Particpants must be present for the entirety of each class in this course (see Duration above).  Each class is approx. 2 hours.

This class is open to all that are interested in attending.  VO Lab eligibility is the only prerequisite.  

The instructor will be working directly with a limited number of participants, as a "sample group."  Participants that are not part of the sample group wil have access to the information and can interact with the instructor during the course.

Audacity audio software is compatible with Mac and PCs.  It can be downloaded HERE.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

This workout provides you an opportunity to work on narrating audiobook excerpts with a director and your fellow performers. Share your creative ideas with the group,  make adjustments and receive feedback on your work. You will focus on perspective, characters, voicings, pace and more.  This workout is for all actors that are interested in practicing audiobook material and improving narration skills in a supportive space.

REQUIREMENTS

• The VO Lab will provide the excerpts / reading material.  
• Read the material before arriving for the workout.
• Participants must be present for the entire program (12:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. ET).

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

You bought your mic, hung some egg crates on the wall, and set up your ACX profile. But now what? Join EIF staff member Jason Grimste for a walk through the home audiobook recording process using REAPER. This intermediate level class will cover how to set-up and record takes, edit errors, add basic effects and export a final file that is sure to attract attention. Students must have downloaded Reaper prior to the class and have a basic home-recording setup.

Requirements

Must have REAPER downloaded prior to class. Must have a basic home studio set-up. Participants are required to remain for the duration of the session.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

In these weekly, one-hour live Zoom sessions (beginning at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET), working actor and SAG-AFTRA Foundation staff member Tamika Simpkins dives deeper into questions about actors’ professional pursuits. This live program will mainly address the topics of that week’s Small Group Sessions, and members are encouraged to bring their specific questions to discuss.

Please note that members are highly encouraged to attend Small Group Sessions before coming to this program. The Small Group Sessions preceding this program are: 

Tuesday, Jan. 25: Actor Career Focus

Wednesday, Jan. 26: Representation

Thursday, Jan. 27th: The Audition

Tamika Simpkins' bio:

Philadelphia-born Tamika Simpkins is a television, theatre and voiceover actress inching through a journey filled with purpose and wonderment. She relocated on a whim to Los Angeles to pursue her creative aspirations after losing a bet to a friend. Tamika has performed in regional theaters in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play DOUBT and in DEATH AND THE KING'S HORSEMAN. Her on-screen credits include GRACE & FRANKIE, DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE, NCIS, SOUTHLAND and THE WIRE to name a few. Her love of storytelling has included voiceover performances in audiobooks for independent authors on Audible, video games, commercials, PSAs and most recently, Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER: WAR FOR WAKANDA video game. 

In addition to honing her craft working in front of the camera, Tamika has also worked behind the camera and has written, produced, and edited several independent film and media projects. For a few years, she was also a Commercial Casting Associate in her hometown. She also holds a double major Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and African-American Studies and has worked over two decades in the tech industry with artists and entrepreneurs and major corporations such as Warner Bros Studios and Clear Channel Radio.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

This class will meet REMOTELY. All RSVP'D Members will receive a ZOOM Link inviting them to join the class.

If you have not received the link by the morning of the class, please check your spam, junk, or promotions folders. If you still cannot find the link, please send us an email at thebusiness@sagaftra.foundation.

This class begins at 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST.

SYNOPSIS

The audition is not only how one prepares the material. It is also about the mindset actors have about auditioning, how they conduct themselves in the room and how they let it go. This session will cover the many ways actors can prepare mentally, physically and psychologically for the audition.

Please bring pencil or pen along with something to take notes.

Small Group Sessions are facilitated discussions with the goal of digging deeper into some of the information and advice shared within the panels. These sessions provide a time to break down concepts into practical action items by which an actor can individually apply to their professional pursuits. This session will last for 1.5 - 2 hours. Participants must stay for the whole time.

Click here for details and to RSVP

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

This class will meet REMOTELY. All RSVP'D members will receive a ZOOM link inviting them to join the class.

If you have not received the link by the morning of the class, please check your spam, junk, or promotions folders. If you still cannot find the link, please send an email at thebusiness@sagaftra.foundation.

This class begins at 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST.

SYNOPSIS

Building one's team is an important component to an actor's career. This small group session will cover what an actor has to keep in mind when looking to add a commercial agent, theatrical agent, and manager to their team.

Please bring pencil or pen along with something to take notes.

Small Group Sessions are facilitated discussions with the goal of digging deeper into some of the information and advice shared within the panels. These sessions provide a time to break down concepts into practical action items by which an actor can individually apply to their professional pursuits. This session will last for 1.5 - 2 hours. Participants must stay for the whole time.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

This class will meet REMOTELY. All RSVP'D members will receive a ZOOM link inviting them to join the class.

If you have not received the link by the morning of the class, please check your spam, junk, or promotions folders. If you still cannot find the link, please send us an email at thebusiness@sagaftra.foundation at least 15 minutes before the start of class time.

This class begins at 1p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST. 

SYNOPSIS

There are many areas an actor can pursue within the entertainment industry. By taking the time to narrow down what an actor really wants to focus on it can free them up to deepen their pursuit of job opportunities. In this session, we will examine the different ways an actor can focus their career goals and discuss how one can create a system by which to effectively target the industry professionals within that area.

Please bring pencil or pen along with something to take notes.

Small group sessions are facilitated discussions with the goal of digging deeper into some of the information and advice shared within the panels. These sessions provide a time to break down concepts into practical action items by which an actor can individually apply to their professional pursuits. This session will last for an hour and a half. Participants must stay for the whole time.

Click here for details and to RSVP

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

NOTE: This is a 3 HOUR class beginning at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET

This 3-hour workshop is for members interested in learning how to build and edit their demo reel using Final Cut Pro X, a powerful video editing software that is currently FREE for those with a Mac. 

In this workshop, you will use your own video clips to assemble and edit your own demo reel. You must have the software in order to participate in this online class. You can download a free 90-day trial here: https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/trial/

Please Note: This class is not an introduction on how to use a computer, so basic computer skills are needed.  No exceptions.

Members must have the following prepared in a folder on their desktop:

At least 1 video clips in MPEG-4 (.MP4) or Quicktime (.MOV) format.

Requirements:

• Working knowledge of a Mac.
• Desire and ability to learn to edit digital video footage using Final Cut Pro X installed on their computer.

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

NOTE: This is a 3 HOUR class that meets over Zoom web conferencing. The class begins at 10 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. MT / Noon CT / 1 p.m. ET

This class is designed for members interested in developing and writing their own screenplay. During the first half of the class, members will learn the fundamentals of screenwriting, including development of new ideas, dramatic structure, and character development, among other concepts. During the second half, members will learn screenplay formatting by using various software options, including Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter. 

This class requires basic computer skills. No exceptions. No materials are required.  

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.

NOTE: This is a THREE HOUR class that meets online. The class begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET

This 3-hour class picks up where  Intro to Photoshop Elements 2022 Part 2 left off. In this class, you'll spend more time touching up headshots with various methods of removing blemishes, adding eye light, adjusting skin tone, lighting contrast, adding background and text, among others. 

Please note that you must have previously taken the Part 2 class and you must also have the software, Photoshop Elements 2022, in order to participate. You're welcome to use prior versions of the software, but we will not be able to address discrepancies during the class. Also, using the regular version of Photoshop is not recommended. 

Please Note: This class is not an introduction on how to use a computer, so basic computer skills are REQUIRED.  No exceptions.

Requirements:

• Working knowledge of a Mac or PC
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022

Click here for details and to RSVP.

The products and services noted herein are provided as an informational service to SAG-AFTRA members and are administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA. Any questions must be handled by the provider. This information is not intended to serve as an endorsement nor is any warranty or guarantee implied.