Comments for Pamela Vanderway's Dialect 411

Comment on Got A Question? by Pamela Vanderway

Pamela Vanderway — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:31:17 +0000

That’s a great question, Scott! Sometimes clients have not honed in on exactly what they are looking for and are using the ‘We’ll know it when we see it’ approach. They also may simply not be aware that they are omitting important actor information in the breakdown. My advice in cases such as this is to first look at the sides carefully for clues. Can you tell what the function of your character is from the text you have been provided? Does the character seem to be sympathetic? Unsympathetic? Truthful? Deceitful? Educated? Uneducated? Affluent? Destitute? Aggressive? Passive? (etc.) Any of these tiny clues can help steer you in the right direction dialect-wise. A second layer to this process is to take into account your own personal brand (some call it ‘essence’ or your ‘it factor’ etc.) If you take a good look at the body of work you have done, as well as the auditions you’ve been called in for you will begin to see patterns pertaining to specific character types and traits. For instance, if you happen to be an actor who is most often called in to play rural, deceitful, uneducated characters and the sides / breakdown for your current audition seem to be in line with those traits, you will most likely want to make sure that your accent blends well with these other components.
Joy to you,
Pamela Vanderway

Comment on Got A Question? by Scott J. Smith

Scott J. Smith — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:11:36 +0000

When a client requests a “British Accent” (with no geographic cues in the breakdown), which dialect gives an actor the best opportunity to book?

Comment on Speech Class: Vowels and Consonants by Ann S. Utterback

Ann S. Utterback — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:11:41 +0000

Pamela–I love how you explain this! BTW I never thought I’d find someone who is as crazy about the IPA as I am :). Ann Utterback

Comment on Cold Reading in a Dialect by Pamela Vanderway

Pamela Vanderway — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:25:43 +0000

I like the way you phrase that, Sarah! (“I don’t have a lot of experience with this dialect but I would love to give it a shot”)

Comment on Cold Reading in a Dialect by Sarah Taylor

Sarah Taylor — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:00:37 +0000

Great advice! Thank you for this.

I would go for the “middle way” if I haven’t previously mastered the dialect. Maybe saying: “I don’t have a lot of experience with this dialect but I would love to give it a shot”. Let’s them know I know my skill level but that I’m willing to dive in!

I love the idea of recording oneself right there. Very helpful.

Comment on Cold Reading in a Dialect by Ann Utterback

Ann Utterback — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:53:17 +0000

Pamela–Great advice for preparing. I especially liked your point about taking a second to center yourself. That can save the day, and most people omit that step! Ann Utterback, OnlineVoiceCoaching.com

Comment on Cold Reading in a Dialect by David H. Lawrence XVII

David H. Lawrence XVII — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:55:01 +0000

Thanks for the mention, Pamela! Anything I can do to help or clarify what you’re doing here, please let me know!

David

Comment on Concentration vs. Awareness by Leah Marks

Leah Marks — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:29:18 +0000

Patsy Rodenburg talks a lot about “Being Present”, and I think it is a similar idea to the awareness you talk about here – it’s SO hard to stop my mind from wandering when I’m reading longer texts, and to instead completely feel what I’m reading. It takes the same amount of brain power as meditation, I reckon, but instead of freeing your mind of all thoughts, you’re filling it up with awareness instead. I suppose the only answer is to keep on practisng!

Comment on Breaking the Language Barrier by Pamela Vanderway

Pamela Vanderway — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:05:19 +0000

Thank you, Leah!

Comment on How To Shop For Dialect Lesson CD’s by Pamela Vanderway

Pamela Vanderway — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:03:43 +0000

Thank you Leah! I have not seen the Dyer and Strong products as they are not readily available in the USA. (Our major dramatists bookstore Samuel French does not carry them, for instance.) You have just made a sale for them! I will purchase some through Amazon and do a future review of them here! The Rowles and Sharpe website looks like a terrific resource as well! Again, thanks!