Houston-Austin

Long-form narration hinges upon the ability to tap into the intention behind a work in an authentic and durable way. You have to figure out what is comfortably you in order to both allow the work to shine and fuel the endurance necessary to make it through dozens of hours in the booth. In this session, you’ll have an opportunity to hear how Prentice approaches this challenge, get feedback on your narration, and ask any questions that arise around how to bring your authentic self to audiobooks and journalism.

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Prentice Onayemi

Prentice Onayemi has voiced hundreds of audiobooks, ranging from fantasy and romance to biography and memoir. Notable titles include The Sellout (Man Booker winner & Audie nominee), Behold the Dreamers (Oprah’s Book Club), and Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom (Pulitzer Prize)— and he was an inaugural inductee into Audible’s Narrator Hall of Fame. Outside of narration, he works at the intersection of the arts, community development, and well-being with Grains of Salt and Foglight Farms. He holds a BFA in Drama from NYU and an MBA from Columbia University.

REQUIREMENTS

• Some participants may have an opportunity to read during this program.  Details around that will be shared with all on the RSVP and Waitlist closer to the class date. 
• Participants must be present for the entire program (10 a.m. - Noon PT / 1 - 3 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.

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

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

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.

SYNOPSIS

Do you have a plan for your money? Do you tell your money what to do or are your surprised at the end of the month by how it is spent? By creating a solid plan, audience members will have the steps to create a budget, get out of debt, build an emergency fund and begin to save for retirement. Participants will leave knowing that they can begin their path of financial freedom.

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 1pm PST/4pm EST.

SYNOPSIS

This class will cover the basics of making a professional Self-Tape and how to audition remotely using Facetime, Skype, etc.

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 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST.

SYNOPSIS

Headshots are an actors' calling card, but is it a professional picture that matches with how the buyers see you? Does your picture accurately communicate the product that is being sold? In this session we will discuss what your headshot is communicating and if that matches with what is coming into the audition room.

Please email copies of the headshots (MAX 2) that are submitted the most to thebusiness@sagaftra.foundation, by 7 p.m. the evening prior to the class. The class may not get through all headshots. 

If you have taken The Branding Workshop, please bring a typed copy of your branding sentence. It is not required that you take The Branding Workshop before you take this session.

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 2 - 3 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.

 Join the SAG-AFTRA Foundation for an extraordinary opportunity to pose your audiobook related questions to four of the most celebrated narrators working in the industry today. This one hour Q&A session (5-6 p.m. PT / 8-9 p.m. ET) will be moderated by award winning Golden Voice Emily Woo Zeller. The panel will consist of the multitalented award-winning narrators Vikas Adam, Luis Moreno and Piper Goodeve. Don’t miss this chance to have your questions answered by the best in the business!

Participant Bios

Emily Woo Zelller (moderator)

Named a Golden Voice and a Best Voice of 2019, 2018, 2015, and 2013 by Audiofile Magazine, Emily Woo Zeller has garnered many awards in her voiceover career, including an Audie, Best Female Narrator from the Independent Audiobook Awards; multiple SOVAS awards, and almost two dozen Earphones Awards. Her voice has also been heard in video games, most recently as Panam in Cyberpunk 2077 and in The Last of Us Part 2, and dubbing for dozens of anime series. She most recently appeared as Doctor Aphra in the Star Wars audio drama, and as the narrator in PASSABLE IN PINK.

Vikas Adam

In addition to the over 400 genre hopping audiobooks Adam has recorded, he's an actor, director, and faculty at the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television. He also records for Audm/NYT and Apple News and co-hosts Ask An Audiobook Pro on Clubhouse.  Vikas has won the Audie Award, a SOVAS award, 15+ Earphones awards, is on several “Best of the Year” lists and has the distinction of being an inaugural inductee into the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame.  

Piper Goodeve 

Piper  is an actress, director, and audiobook narrator who has recorded over 250 titles for both indie authors and major publishers, including Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Tantor, and Audible Studios. A three-time Audie Award finalist, one-time winner, well as an Earphones Award recipient, Piper has also taught narration as well as produced and directed multiple audiobooks including #SOBLESSED, read by a full cast of Broadway stars including Brian Dennehy and Race, Sex and Robots read by Amandla Stenberg. She holds an MFA from Brown University, and splits her time between Brooklyn and Vermont with her husband Gabe (also a narrator!) and their sassy cat Caroline. 

Luis Moreno 

Luis is a Spanish-American performer from New York City. He’s worked in Off-Broadway, regional theater, and television since 2006. He's narrated nearly 90 titles for Recorded Books since 2009.

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.

How does an audiobook producer find talent? What exactly makes a good sample? For answers to these questions and more, join us for a very special conversation with beloved former EIF staff members Nithya Rajendran and Iris McElroy. Both of these phenomenal voice lab alumni have gone on to produce audiobooks for one of the top 5 publishing houses in the industry. This lively one hour discussion (3-4 p.m. PT / 6-7 p.m. ET) will give insight, invaluable career advice and resource suggestions from two of the industry’s most dynamic producers. Discussion to be followed by a Q&A.

BIOS

Nithya Rajendran

Born in India and raised all over the US, Nithya Rajendran has been in the audio space for her entire career: from starting in the music industry to doing live sound at prominent NYC venues to most recently running the EIF VO Lab at the  SAG-AFTRA Foundation. She now produces audiobooks of all varieties for a large global publishing house.  She currently resides in Memphis, TN.

Iris McElory 

Iris is a multifaceted audiobook producer, engineer, and all-around audio fan. With over a decade in the biz, she’s had the pleasure of working in all manners of VO production as an engineer and editor, and the business as an assistant agent at Abrams Artists, before settling into a producer role at HarperCollins Publishers and most recently Penguin Random House Audio. One of her favorite jobs however was working in the SAG-AFTRA Foundation voiceover lab in New York City.

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.

Practice reading commercial copy and get helpful adjustments from our VO Lab engineer/booth director and your VO Lab peers.  Be ready to offer constructive feedback and support the learning process. VO Lab workout groups are a great way to fine tune your craft and have some fun hearing different perspectives on your takes. Copy will be provided by the VO Lab.

REQUIREMENTS

• If you are completely new to voiceover, you must complete the VO Lab's Beginner Bundle: Introduction to Commercial VO Workouts class before attending The VO Lab's Commercial Workout.  Beginner Bundle classes are posted at different times during the month just like our other classes.,  so check the Program Calendar regularly.  
• Participant must be present for the enitire program (Noon - 3 p.m. PT / 3-6 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.

VO Lab programs and sessions are open to all SAG-AFTRA members and VO Lab eligible performers that meet the requirements, regardless of your location or the VO Lab program's city of origin. Once you have completed the required Voiceover Lab Application (online), you must complete the Voiceover Lab Orientation (VOLO) in order to begin using the Lab. This 2-hour VOLO covers Lab policies, home recording and other related topics.  There will also be a recording and editing demonstration using Twisted Wave software.

REQUIREMENTS

• Participation in VO Lab programs is open to union members in good standing, regardless of your geographical location or a program's city of origin. Join Details are generally emailed to participants approx. 1-2 Hours before the start time of the program. 
• Attendees must be present for the entire program (12:30 - 2 p.m. PT / 3:30- 5:30 p.m. ET) in order to receive VO Lab eligibility. If you have a schedule conflict, please attend orientation at another 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.

Mastering is the final stage of production before an audiobook is released (or distributed).  During mastering, narrated audio is transformed into professional quality recordings that meet specific standards and ensure that audio levels are consistent. In this class you will learn about RMS, peak values, noise floor and other related aspects of the process.  We will be using Twisted Wave for this class, so if you use Twisted Wave have it with you durating the instruction.  If you are not a Twisted Wave user, the techniques you will learn can be applied using other popular DAWS and audio editors. Our intention is to help you master mastering; join us.      

REQUIREMENTS

• An interest in mastering for audiobook production.
• Knowledge of Twisted Wave.  You can visit twistedwave.com for details about this audio editor.
• Knowledge of other DAWS (Digitial Audio Workstations) can be helpful for context.
• Participants must be present for the entire class 5-7:30 p.m. PT / 8-10:30 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.

Are you finding yourself burnt out with voiceover jobs, or the hustle involved with trying to get voiceover jobs? Do you wish the life of a voice talent was a bit less chaotic? Join award-winning narrator and industry veteran Gabra Zackman for a conversation about how to find some Zen in your career at every level of the business. This engaging discussion will offer invaluable advice on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance while managing your bookings, meeting your deadlines, looking for new work and networking. For anyone wishing to create a sustainable voiceover career, this conversation is not to be missed. 

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Gabra Zackman

Gabra Zackman is a New York City-based actress, audiobook narrator and writer (the Bod Squad Series, Pocket Books 2015; audiobooks co-produced with Rohan Audio for Audible Studios, 2016). She has performed off-Broadway (including Bedlam’s Sense and Sensibility by Kate Hamill), in regional theaters, several Shakespeare festivals (9 Seasons with Hudson Valley Shakes), and on TV in Law and Order, SVU, and AMC as well as a handful of indie film roles. Gabra is a company member of the Upstart Creatures, as well as their Outreach Director. Gabra has recorded over 500 audiobooks in nearly every genre. She has won Audiofile Earphones awards for her work, including a citation for Best Fiction Audiobook of 2017. Gabra’s recording of Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark was on Audible’s Top Ten Audiobooks list for multiple weeks and number one on the New York Times Best Selling Audiobooks list. She is a 2018 Audie Award and Odyssey Award winner for the multicast Sadie. Her newest venture is as co-producer of her original audio series Nice and Naughty with Love Bytes Originals, and she is currently director and co-producer of the No Fear Shakespeare series for Hachette. Visit www.gabrazackman.com to learn more!

REQUIREMENTS

Participants must be present for the entire program 3-4 p.m. PT / 6-7 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.