Featuring Bruce Nix
VOICE OVER
Tony Jackson. Phoenix AZ. Scorpio. I love spicy food, heavy metal, and living life. I officially started my voiceover journey late 2019. In addition to being a voice actor, I also write grants for a disability focused nonprofit, have been a power wheelchair soccer ath- lete since 2009, coach, and broadcaster since 2012, and recently began downhill skiing competitively.
TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.
WOW...that could be a small chapter in a book. Long story short, I discovered voiceover at my college radio station (The Blaze @Arizona State University) in the early 2000s. I worked my way to becoming the production director and thought, "people get paid to do this stuff...". Back when online radio was still very underground, I found a heavy metal station based in Alaska and offered my services. They said "yes" and that was my first ever VO gig...and I got paid! Then I didn't pursue it any further. I don't know why.
WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?
15 years after college radio, an acquaintance told me about an "intro to VO" workshop in the area. I had been working other jobs, but voiceover would knock on my door occasionally and remind me it was still there. I said to myself, "it's now or never. Do this or move on with your life. With a friend's encourage- ment and help, I signed up and the rest is history.
SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE IN VOICE OVER.
The moment I got my first paid job and realized people make a living behind the microphone. At that moment, I knew my life had to eventually land behind the microphone.
I face many of the same challenges my fellow voice actors do...building the business into existence, carv- ing out a space within this community, and mouth clicks. Living with a physical disability presents other unique challenges. I had to design a custom booth that can accommodate my power wheelchair. I rely on caregivers to help me live every day, and since they don't live with me, my time is a bit more limited. I can't get up at 3 AM to get in the booth and record. However, I do what I can with what I've got, and it's worked out well so far. If I'm going to pursue this goal, I have no choice but to figure out solutions and make it work.
IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?
I want to voice sports promos in the future. MLB on FOX. NFL on CBS. English Premier League on NBC. College Football on ABC/ESPN. If it's sports on network TV, I want to voice commercials for it. Or if Aqua Teen Hunger Force came back, I would be all over that. C'mon Adult Swim!
PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.
I am working on improving my commercial reads. With my broadcasting background, it has been challenging to knock the "announcer" out of me. I'm much better now than I was (thankfully), but I still have so much more room to improve. Also, I am going to push into more training for promo and radio imaging work.
PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT.
I think that there is still something alluringly magical about Hollywood. Certainly, the mystery behind the curtain has been pulled back over the years, however there is still something glamorous about it.
TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS Although entertainment is much more democratized INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME IT.
and accessible these days, Hollywood still has an impact on us culturally and that's not going to disap- pear anytime soon.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?
A great voice actor makes the listener feel some- thing. They can embody the story and with their vocal folds vibrating air, a great voice actor can influ- ence the way we feel in that moment. It's a powerful human ability.
EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?
I have only ever worked remotely. However, I thrive in group settings, so I look forward to the day when I get to work in the studio.
WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?
I've been training in commercial, TV promo and movie trailer, and a little bit of animation (more recently). I want to dive into radio imaging, which is essentially voiceover that serves as branding for the station. Radio production in college influenced that.
WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR?
Wake up. Get in the booth. Record auditions. Cry. Leave the booth. Send out marketing emails. Cry some more. Eat breakfast. Stop crying because you're not hungry anymore. Send more marketing emails. Get back in the booth and record that audi- tion that's due in 10 minutes. Sometimes book a gig.
HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?
They can email me at [email protected] and visit my website at tonyjacksonvo.com to hear samples.