The Brady Bunch of Autism
Join Navah and Matt Asner as they discuss topics relating to the world of autism and family. Navah and Matt have six children. 3 who are autistic. They are the founders of the Ed Asner Family Center. A center that provides arts and vocational enrichments and counseling services and support groups to special needs individuals and their families.
The Brady Bunch of Autism
Encore: Breaking Barriers: Autism in the Voice Acting Industry
Step into the fascinating world of voice acting and discover how the industry is evolving to embrace performers on the autism spectrum. In this illuminating conversation, veteran voice actor Phil LaMarr (known for roles in Rick and Morty, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and countless other beloved animated series) joins Disney casting directors Jennifer Trujillo and Colleen O'Donnell to share insider perspectives on landing voiceover work and thriving in this unique corner of entertainment.
The panel, which includes talented autistic actors Spencer Hart and Dominique Brown, explores how Disney is actively working to create inclusive casting processes. "We've been working very hard specifically with actors with autism and all neurodiversity to make sure that's specifically represented in our cast," explains Jennifer, highlighting their commitment to reading actors with autism for all roles—not just characters explicitly written as autistic.
For aspiring voice actors, the discussion offers practical guidance on getting started without breaking the bank. Phil reveals that voice acting is fundamentally about acting skills rather than just vocal talents: "Voice acting—the term is kind of backwards, because the acting comes first, the voice comes second." The panel demystifies the auditioning process, equipment needs (a decent microphone and clothes closet can be enough to start), and how pandemic-era changes have actually made the industry more accessible by normalizing remote recording.
Perhaps most profound is the discussion around why animated characters might hold special appeal for the autism community. As Phil thoughtfully observes, "If you spend the whole rest of your day trying to read code and all of this intricate stuff and then you get a half an hour where things are clear and fun and simple, like, how welcoming must that feel?" This insight resonates deeply with parents and autistic viewers alike, highlighting animation's unique power to create clear emotional experiences.
Whether you're an aspiring voice actor, a parent supporting a child's creative interests, or simply curious about how the entertainment industry is evolving to be more inclusive, this conversation offers valuable insights into a world where imagination knows no boundaries. Ready to discover how your unique voice might find its place in animation?
www.teafc.org From Our Family To Yours
Welcome to the Brady Bunch of Autism, your source for family parenting and all things. Autism and special needs created by our family for your family live from the Ed Asner Family Center and now your hosts, Nava and Matt Asner.
Speaker 2:Good afternoon. This is another episode of Ed Talks, and we are here today to talk about something really cool and interesting.
Speaker 1:It's the world of voiceovers. Is this our second Ed Talk this?
Speaker 2:is our third.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, okay.
Speaker 2:This is our third, so we have an incredible group of people that we're going to talk to about diversity in the world of voiceovers and voiceovers in general. How do you get work as a voice actor, how does it take place? This is a public service announcement for voiceover actors, basically, so why don't? We kind of run through our introductions. You want to start there.
Speaker 1:Well, why don't we start with these lovely ladies who are next to us to the right of us and are familiar. I mean, these are our girls, but I'd first like to introduce Spencer Hart. And hello, spencer Hart. Welcome to the third Ed Talk. Hi I'm so glad to be here, and this is Spencer's beautiful mommy.
Speaker 5:Jill Frieder-Hart. Hi, great to be here.
Speaker 1:Thank you for having us and we definitely wanted Spencer on. She's an amazing actress in her own right. She is very interested in voiceover, so I really felt like Spencer would be a perfect kind of all around person to be our autistic self-advocate for the panel today.
Speaker 2:And we have another autistic self-advocate and another great actor in Dominique Brown and Dominique Coming to us by Zoom. I think you need to turn on there it is, there's Dominique. Hello, hello, can you hear me? We can hear you. Happy birthday.
Speaker 1:Happy belated birthday.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Dominique and Spencer have both been in the show Atypical among many others. Spencer has just done a short in New York.
Speaker 4:Yes, I did.
Speaker 2:That she was the star of A short film A short film and she's working on a voice in New. York. Yes, I did that. She was the star of A short film A short film and she's working on a voiceover reel, so we'll get more about that in a minute. Dominique, you're in the new season of Atypical Absolutely, and you are a musician as well, and we're always seeing your work on YouTube. Anything else that you want to talk about, that you're doing, that you want the world to know about?
Speaker 6:Well, I recently appeared in my uncle's music video and that should be coming out real soon, and I've also been releasing some TikToks and yeah.
Speaker 1:Have you seen Dom's TikToks? I have seen Dom's TikToks.
Speaker 2:Actually I do dog TikToks every now and then. Yeah, all right, have you seen dom's tiktok? I have seen them really great. Actually I, you know, I I have, like I do, dog tiktoks every now and then.
Speaker 1:So um, you're gonna have to explain that.
Speaker 2:You know, I do, I have a dog and I do dog tiktoks every now and then and you know it's kind of fun and I don't know something I do, but uh, but dominique, dominique. Dominique did a what do you call it? A stitch or something like that with mine?
Speaker 2:a duet a duet he did a duet with the bulldog no, with the bulldog, so okay. So, dominique, great to see you, great to have you here. We got lots of questions, so I'm just going to get through the introductions real quick from Disney. We have two people from Disney, two wonderful casting directors from Disney who are our guests today, who are going to talk to us about diversity and how Disney is actually really working towards bringing autistic people into their fold and giving them jobs, and we want to hear about that. So we have Colleen O'Donnell and Jennifer Trujillo from Disney.
Speaker 7:Welcome girls, how are you guys Welcome? Thank you, yes, thanks for having us. I'm doing well so excited.
Speaker 2:That's my first question, so we're going to come back to you, but first I'm going to introduce Phil Lamar, and really Phil Lamar needs no introduction. Phil is, um, pretty much, uh, the voiceover artist to beat, I think. Right, he's the guy in everything You're in, like all the, all the wonderful DC stuff You're in that you're in Rick and Morty. I think you know Rick and Morty, you're. You're in Rick and Morty. Um, what else is he in?
Speaker 4:You're in Rick and Morty. I think you know Rick and Morty.
Speaker 3:You're in Rick and Morty, all right. What else is he in? He's also in Star Wars, yeah.
Speaker 2:Star Wars, the Clone Wars, yeah, and so, phil, we got a lot of people who wrote in and want to know about working in the voiceover industry and preparing and all that. So we've got lots of questions that we're going to throw your way and I can't thank you enough for being here. So we're going to get started with the first question, which actually is for Jennifer and Colleen, and it's actually from a guy named Matt and a gal named Nava, and we think it would be a great way to start this show to kind of talk about your dedication to diversity in Disney and what's happening, and talk to us about what that looks like. What are you looking for? What's the mandate?
Speaker 7:Gosh, yes, that's a big question. I think we've just realized in recent years that we've been working very hard to create casts that look and sound like the world around us and we've been working really hard specifically with actors with autism and all neurodiversity to make sure that that's specifically represented in our cast. And we've really turned up our efforts in the last year by meeting and working with organizations like this and with other organizations and just making sure that we are reading folks from the autism community on every single one of our projects and every role so that we can reach equity.
Speaker 2:Now, you just said something. You just said something that I think is really important and that is and I always key into this, sorry Jill, I always do, but I always came to this because I think they're not autistic actors, they're actors and each person is different. Each person is unusual, and I think that's a wonderful thing that you just said. So you're treating each person as an individual and you're bringing them in to kind of read for any of the parts. Yes, that's so good.
Speaker 2:I think that's wonderful. So thank you for doing that, thank you for dedicating yourselves to that, thank you for your help in partnering with us. Thank you, disney. Okay, first question.
Speaker 1:Do you want to take the first one? Sure Go ahead.
Speaker 7:I'm going to skip that one.
Speaker 1:I think it's kind of cool. Okay, well, the first question.
Speaker 2:Tyler Berman said, on a scale of one to ten, how awesome is the Ed Asner Family Center? I?
Speaker 1:kind of like that question.
Speaker 6:I like that question, it's pretty darn awesome?
Speaker 5:I don't think you should skip that one.
Speaker 2:I think we've answered it.
Speaker 4:That was a quick one.
Speaker 2:So when reviewing potential talents to cast and so this is for Disney what are you looking for in real content? Is character variety more important than a particular delivery style?
Speaker 7:I feel like Phil can jump in on this as well, but we on our team I wouldn't consider myself an expert on reels we are dealing mainly in actual auditions. The time that we really look at reels or review reels is when we've already hired you and we're looking to see what additional roles you might be able to cover. So in that case we're definitely looking for variety and looking for distinct voices just to tell kind of what your range is. I feel like reels are much more helpful in the getting an agent department and communicating what you're capable of.
Speaker 3:Exactly. I mean, I say that for the first four years of my voiceover career I didn't have a reel. Wow, because it's as you said, it's not about just show me what all the things you can do, it's really about we have a role, can you bring this particular role to life? And I think that's something that a lot of people sort of don't understand about voiceover is that we always have to audition. It doesn't matter if you've never done it, never worked before, or if you've been working for 40 years.
Speaker 5:And also.
Speaker 1:Phil, I don't know if you know my friend Cree Summer. I grew up with her, we used to sing in a band together and she always used to say to me know able to do the character. And you know that was something that I would freeze up. I would just like, oh, forget about it. So it really is about the audition rather than the real.
Speaker 3:Well that's why generally, in voiceover you don't have stars the way you have movie stars, Right? You know like when somebody casts Tom Cruise in a movie, they want him to play Tom Cruise. Like Tom Cruise has a lawyer, it's like be your Tom Cruise star in our picture, Whereas in voiceover, you know, it's like oh, you were really great in that one cartoon, but that was someone else's show. We need to know if you can play our character. Got it so each time. I mean Cree is a perfect example. She's someone with a very distinctive voice, but each time she creates a new character, a new version of herself, Totally Because nobody in voiceover wants to hire you to do something you did for somebody else.
Speaker 2:Now, that's interesting because even my dad auditions. Everything he goes up for he auditions for. It's unlike the acting world, although sometimes the stuff that he goes in for as an actor he auditions for too, but it's less likely than a voiceover. A voiceover is always auditioned, okay. This is from.
Speaker 1:John anderberg hey I get.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm sorry, I'm already in the question yeah, sir talks a lot.
Speaker 1:Uh, okay, this is from john andenberg. And he asks um uh, what advice would you give my high school theater students if they wanted to get started doing voiceovers? And I think should we throw that to Jennifer sure, again, I think that.
Speaker 7:But the main thing I would encourage is just building those acting foundations. You know, take advantage of whatever theater program or whatever theater education you have at school. You know, seek additional training out. I think I mean Phil would agree with me that comedy is so important to what we do in the animation world that if you can find improv classes, just work on those comedy chops that'll help you tremendously.
Speaker 8:But really starting with that important foundation, If I could add on to that as well, there's also really important to research the cartoons that you like and sort of see what it is that they're doing that makes them entertaining for you and sort of take notes almost from your cartoons.
Speaker 7:Yeah, what a horrible assignment. Go watch cartoons. Notes almost from your cartoons.
Speaker 8:Yeah, what a horrible assignment. Go watch cartoons. It's rough, but you know, for the job somebody's got to do it.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 3:Go ahead, phil. I'm sorry. No, I was going to say Jennifer is exactly right. It's the thing that I've always told people who come up to you and say how do you get started in voice acting? It's like learn to act. Yeah, because voice acting the term is kind of backwards, because the acting comes first, the voice comes second. But if you say acting voice, people look at you funny.
Speaker 1:That's the greatest advice I've heard Real quick.
Speaker 2:I want to ask Spencer and Dominique what do you guys love about voice acting?
Speaker 4:Like I'm like doing acting itself and, yeah, being in a studio that's so fun. Yeah it's my first time being in a real life voice acting studio.
Speaker 7:That's sweet right.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Awesome.
Speaker 6:Dominique, you know, in front of a camera, you're just being you, You're just. You know people are actually seeing you as into voice overacting. You know you get to make up these pretty amazing crazy cartoons and you get to voice them how you want to voice them. Yeah, it's an amazing experience.
Speaker 2:Cool, Thank you. The next question is for Phil Lamar Phil this is a really tough question, Really really tough question why do you think you work so much?
Speaker 3:because the internet doesn't put dates on things. People see the list of work and go, wow, look at all those jobs. Like if you divide them by 30 years, it's a little less impressive.
Speaker 2:Well, they didn't leave a name, so you know we can just say that I asked that. Okay, Next question.
Speaker 1:The next question is from Chelsea and she asks, perhaps, maybe, what agencies are paving the way for voice actors on the autism spectrum? Colleen, do you want to?
Speaker 8:Absolutely. I mean, I think that we're all just everyone is making strides and trying to do better. But I would say like, like particular shout out to Gail Williamson at KMR. She's sort of like an iconic figure for sort of taking these. I'm trying to rephrase this Gail is amazing and she is amazing at what she does and she's really leading the way, I would think, in sort of advocating for those with autism and who are neurodiverse. She's sort of the one who we've had wonderful interactions with, and also Ed Asner, I would say, is probably doing a fantastic job as well. I feel like there's a lot of people who are taking strides and it's just slowly but surely.
Speaker 1:And that's Spencer's agent.
Speaker 5:They clapped when you mentioned Gail's name. She's a pioneer. She was the first and she's been doing it a long, long time.
Speaker 2:Well, let's talk about that a little bit, cause Gail Ford Williamson is a is an agent in the business in the biz KMR diversity, kmr diversity she heads their diversity program. Yes, and her job as an agent is to get autistic and other actors with a disability jobs in the entertainment world. Yes, I think she said that when she first started.
Speaker 5:I think she said that when she first started. I think they made her department made about $50,000 in a year and last year it was over $3 million Wow, so it's grown so much. I mean, it was when she started that department. It really wasn't a thing, you know, people weren't calling her. Now she's the go-to person. Whenever there's a role, diversity, role everybody comes to Gail.
Speaker 2:I think she should hire you. Actually I think she should hire Colleen too. I don't know.
Speaker 3:That's so fantastic that she's been ahead of the curve on that. Yeah, such a trend and is now seeing the benefit, now that the rest of the business is starting to catch up to where she was.
Speaker 5:That's right.
Speaker 1:She's a pioneer, and so she herself is a special needs parent, so she has been in it since his birth, and so she comes from a very unique perspective, like all of us.
Speaker 2:And that is one of her clients. Yes, yes.
Speaker 1:I think her her first client. That's right, yes, that's how she started everything.
Speaker 5:Yeah, yeah, a lot of I mean.
Speaker 7:We do work with a ton of wonderful agents, though, and they are all making great strides. It's just yeah. It's just yeah. Gail was first in the game, and she's also just a wonderful advocate for her clients and just so knowledgeable about just everything, as far as I can tell.
Speaker 3:That's key. I love that KMR has a diversity division. You know, I hope every agency if they don't already eventually will agency if they don't already eventually will, because I mean I've been doing professional acting since the late 80s and to see the growth and the progress on so many fronts. There's an award in comic books called the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics which is named after a friend of mine who was a writer, producer in animation and cast me in a couple of shows before he passed away, and the motto on his diversity award is from invisibility to inevitability.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, I love that.
Speaker 5:That's perfect, that's great, that's really wonderful, perfect, perfect, perfect.
Speaker 2:Milo, can you get that question that you just had up there? So let's see. Caroline, caroline, caroline, caroline Caroline, did your dad go through an audition for the Pixar movie up? Matthew Asner? The answer to that question is no.
Speaker 1:Shocking.
Speaker 2:That is the one part.
Speaker 1:Request casting.
Speaker 2:He did not go through an audition.
Speaker 1:They actually went to see him Envisioned Carl as him right. Well, yeah.
Speaker 2:They were envisioning this film up and they went to see him in a play about the Holocaust, which is not a very uplifting piece of work. But they, they heard his voice in that and and immediately just said that is Carl. And so that was that, was it? So they kind of took my dad and they took Spencer Tracy and they kind of molded them together and and that's that, that became carl friedrichson. Interestingly enough, that was uh, 2008, I believe. Uh, I think that was 2008. Um, and he, so he now he's like a, you know, a couple years older, and as he's gotten, as he's gotten older, he actually becomes more and more like Carl Friedman.
Speaker 7:And he acts more and more like Carl Friedman.
Speaker 2:So he's, he's become the part for sure. So okay, you want to take the next one.
Speaker 1:All right. What, beyond talent, do you feel one needs to book, work and keep working? That's a good one, that's that's a hard one, but yes.
Speaker 2:Phil, why don't we go to you with that one real quick?
Speaker 1:Beyond talent, what do you think somebody needs to book, work and keep on working?
Speaker 3:Temperament is the second most important thing beyond talent, because the truth is, in show business you will always face some level of rejection. There are always going to be more parts you try out for than you get. And if you, on an emotional level, don't like that or can't take the fact that they never call you to say no, they only call to say yes. So all of all of those little things, it becomes very difficult to keep going because you audition more than you work. The work is fun when you're working oh, I could do this forever for the rest of my life, every day. But it's the in-between times and that requires a self-confidence and enjoying it enough when you do work for that to carry you over to when you know through the times when you're not. But that to me, I would say that is the second most important thing is temperament being able to support yourself or have a family or a group of friends that support you. You know, through the lean times or just the boring times great, great answer.
Speaker 2:Um, this is for our actors, um, and it's. It's actually we've kind of touched on this, but I think we can go deeper into it. What in your life experience was most helpful to you in becoming a voice actor? Now, you just talked about temperament, um, so we can talk about that, or or was. Is there something else that you can point out that that was important to you in, in shaping you as a voice actor? So let's go to our other actors first and see if they can add dominique, let me put another way. Why, why, why do you, why did you gravitate towards acting? What made you, what made you journey over to the acting world?
Speaker 6:well, my, my, what made you journey over to the acting world. Well, you know my. Well, you know you know my, my great great uncle he was, he was a huge performer, marvin Gaye. You know he, he was, he was like, and you know he, he did a huge performer, Marvin Gaye. He was like, he did all that stuff. He, he acted and he sung and I just wanted to give up to his talent and you know I just wanted to be that person.
Speaker 2:You know, dominique, I think you just spilled your drink. But what's funny is, as soon as you said Marvin Gaye, everyone spilled their drink. That's amazing, that's amazing. That sure is a reason to kind of go into that world, um, because what, what an incredible talent he was. Uh, what an, what a shining example of talent for you.
Speaker 3:Uh, and to see, someone who shines so brightly and to have a personal connection to that someone and make that level of performance seem oh oh. I know someone who does that. I think for most of us we see performances on a screen and I mean to answer your question, matthew where the thing in life? That's a tough one, because for a lot of us it's. I was one of seven kids and nobody paid any attention to me, so I had to be loud and I became an actor. For me it was my junior high was doing a production of a book that I loved. I was a bookworm. I was not a performer, I was the quietest person in my family and I said I want to be part of this book and I auditioned for the play and wound up getting one of the leads. And that first moment on stage, having the energy of an audience sweep over you, just fried my brain in such a way that I could never go back to being a normal human.
Speaker 1:Wow, what was the play, phil?
Speaker 3:It was the Phantom Tollbooth, I don't know if anyone has ever read that book, but it's wonderful.
Speaker 2:Okay, awesome, spencer, do you have an answer for me?
Speaker 4:Yeah, you know I just love to act, Since I did my first school play. It was the Wizard of Oz. I was Dorothy Gale, the lead role of the Wizard of Oz.
Speaker 2:Yes, that was cool.
Speaker 4:It was so fun and also I did Oliver and also I did Shrek the musical in school.
Speaker 2:Wonderful.
Speaker 4:In Aladdin.
Speaker 2:Like Phil. It was school. It was school theater. You know it's funny because Nava did not go into voiceover acting, but you know she actually comes from a tremendously talented family.
Speaker 1:I'm kind of like Dom. I'm kind of like Dom.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you guys are going to spill your drink again.
Speaker 1:Okay, get ready to spill your drink.
Speaker 2:Nava's uncle is none other than the voice of Milo.
Speaker 1:Kiewit.
Speaker 2:Get that picture up.
Speaker 1:It's actually my great uncle.
Speaker 2:That's right. Oh wow, Nava's uncle is none other than Mel Blanc.
Speaker 1:And it's so funny.
Speaker 1:Bill, I have to tell this story, and I'm going to go really quick that there was a very small period of my life where my kids went to a little tiny school with all these incredible voiceover actors and I became very close to them maurice lamarche, uh, tara strong, um cree. I had known before eg daly and debbie dairyberry and all these, all these friends. We were just friends and when I would mention mel, they would, they would literally spill their drink and say, well, he's our god. I mean, maurice actually said he's my god. And to me growing up, uh, uncle mel, it was actually his wife, estelle, who was our blood relation, but uncle mel was just uncle mel and you know we would go over to his house.
Speaker 1:He had a bugs bunny pool. He had a mosaic of the bugs bunny in his pool, um, but he was the sweetest, kindest, wonderful. You know, I, I knew him as an old man already and um, just a really sweet, sweet guy. But it is in in the world of around us, phil and I are friends with a lot of the same people they really admire. I mean, he is there for me it's david Bowie. He is there, david Bowie, but you and I are a lot alike, dom, because it's you know we're related to the greats.
Speaker 2:So you know, I look, I look at Mel Blanc and I think probably you know everyone wanted to looks like Uncle Mel. So Marcy.
Speaker 3:Booth has a question from Ryan Booth.
Speaker 2:This is directed to everyone, really. So whoever wants to answer this, what would be the best way for someone who's trying to make it in the industry to get their name out there? That's a great question. So, jennifer or Colleen, do you want to start?
Speaker 7:Yeah, get their name out there. I mean obviously doing the work, doing the auditions and you know, even if you don't land something the first or second time, you know, just introducing yourself to those casting directors can kind of get you in their head and you know, maybe they'll bring you back for roles in the future. Colleen, maybe you can talk a little bit about just online presence and how you know we are looking at places like TikTok as well.
Speaker 8:Yeah, exactly. I mean, I think as long as you're creating content that you enjoy, other people are going to see it, and I think that having an online presence is really important. I'll be honest, like I definitely, when I'm on TikTok, I'll just go through and see someone. If I think they're funny, they stay in my head for a really long time. It's not like you haven't quoted your favorite TikTok with your friends, like they stay in your head for a really long time, and if you think that they're really funny and they have a great voice, it might be someone that your name is out there, then it's in our heads. It's good to remember.
Speaker 7:I think for me, the message there is not that you need to be, you know TikTok famous or anything like that, and have a huge following, but be making content that you're happy with, whether that's putting up a play, um, or you know doing an improv theater, that kind of thing, or you know putting yourself online on tiktok and that kind of thing, just um doing it, I guess, yeah, no better term, just getting yourself out there and getting in front of in, in front of people, and, and the more you get yourself out there, the better.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, and I also think that acting is a metaphor for life, really, because it's all about self-confidence. Phil mentioned this earlier. It's all about self-confidence. It's all about having the confidence to put yourself on the line and experiment and put yourself out there, because that's what happens in life as well. You do that in every job and I think the self-confidence self-confidence is the key ingredient, I think, for everyone is having the self-confidence to kind of push yourself into areas where you're not necessarily comfortable.
Speaker 3:Well, matthew, that's something that's a really interesting point that you just touched on there, because the idea of being a performer is getting up in front of people, which is either the most wonderful thing in the world or the scariest, depending on where, where your brain is and where your self-confidence is. If you're confident and you stand up, like these people are mine. If you're not confident and all of these people are staring at you like, oh my God, everyone's looking at me, right, but it's funny because I think there's some sort of mutation in the gene that makes an actor flip one way or the other, because there is something about being there in front of the audience that gives you strength, that triggers fun ideas and that makes the audience want to watch you more. Um, but if you're not in that frame of mind, being in front of people, people they say what is that? That's some people's most frightening thing A lot of people. I would say yeah.
Speaker 2:Sure.
Speaker 1:I would say most people. Yeah, we're talking about the autistic community. You know some of our community are starting out with some pretty serious wouldn't you say challenges. You know a lot of my friends autistic adults just being in where we are seated, you know the lights are a trigger and you know overstimulation Sometimes when you put the headphones on if you're in a voiceover booth. So I would say, another great thing that I just wanted to add is just to continue trying, because each time and I'm directing this at our friend Ryan, who was in our voiceover class Each time you do this, each time you take a chance and you do something and push yourself a little bit out of your comfort level, you are going towards that goal of being a Phil, because Phil had to start somewhere too, and the only way that you can learn is with experience, and some of our guys need extra help, and that's what we're so, so excited about that Colleen and Jennifer are helping and accommodating our community.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I just want to remind people. We're the Ed Talks. This is the Ed Talks. We're talking to Phil Lamar and Jennifer Trujillo and Colleen O'Donnell from Disney and Dominique Brown and Spencer Hart. We're talking about the world of voiceover.
Speaker 5:And Jill Hart and Jill Hart. Sorry, I didn't mean to forget.
Speaker 4:Watch it.
Speaker 5:And this is my co-founder oh wow.
Speaker 1:You don't even remember my name.
Speaker 2:I do remember, wow. So this is an interesting question. I'm going to let Nava answer it Now. I'm going to let you ask.
Speaker 1:Oh, has the pandemic changed the way that you do things as a voice actor or a voice actor casting person, that's?
Speaker 2:I'm sure that's a great question because we're a year and a half into the pandemic and and we're not out, we're not out, we're definitely not out. We're not out so. So, jennifer and colleen, let's start with casting. Um, yeah, has it changed the way you guys, um, do casting or produce?
Speaker 7:Yeah, I mean it's definitely changed the recording process. Colleen can talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 8:Yeah, I mean we're doing a hybrid at this point in time. When the pandemic first started, you know everyone on the team was like really great about trying to adapt to the record from home situation because we were doing that, I think, for the first four months Jen, something along those lines, that's right. And you know Jen was amazing at getting everything Right. And you know Jen was amazing at getting everything sort of getting all of our bearings for that and all of the talent and the agents and everyone was so incredibly helpful in sort of making it work. You know we had to, but now we're back in studios partially. We're in a sort of hybrid situation. So those who maybe don't feel comfortable going into a studio, those who maybe aren't near a big studio, that we can utilize.
Speaker 8:It's great because it's more accessibility now than it was earlier on, because now, if you have the equipment at home, no problem, just log on your computer at 5 pm, we'll see you there. We'll get some voices from you.
Speaker 7:And as far as the casting side, you know, obviously we haven't been able to. A big part of our jobs is to scout new talent, is to get out there, see things you know, introduce ourselves to new people, and going to the theater was, going to comedy shows was such a big part of that. That hasn't been happening as much in the past year, obviously. That hasn't been happening as much in the past year, obviously. So we transitioned to scouting talent online, going on social media to find new people and working with organizations like this to be introduced to folks that we should know. So that scouting has still been happening.
Speaker 2:just from my living room Scouting has still been happening, just from my living room.
Speaker 3:Phil, as a voice artist, has the pandemic changed the way you audition or work? Actually, it has made almost no change in how we audition. The process of auditioning for most voice actors was from home prior to the pandemic, so you had to figure out a way to record yourself and email it to your agent. The recording process has changed, but even that change has been much less than my friends who do on camera acting, and also because animation didn't stop. Really, they sent all the animators home and said, ok, draw from home and then email it to us. So the cartoons kept going and they did have to figure out.
Speaker 3:You know how to record everyone from home, because not everybody had a good setup or knew how to press the right button. I know how to make the voices, but I don't know how to record it. So it was definitely tricky at first, but now people have seemed to have gotten into a groove and, like you said, like Colleen said, part of it is from people recording from home, part of it is people recording from studios, although it was funny because I went into a studio for the first time two weeks ago and I was the only one there. Everyone else was still on Zoom.
Speaker 7:Oh my gosh. Yeah, we're still. Sag guidelines are such that for recording sessions we really aren't supposed to have people in studio unless we've arranged for all sorts of any production personnel in studio, unless we've arranged for testing beforehand. Animation moves pretty fast as far as the recording schedule is concerned, so it would be pretty hard for us to test folks. But luckily, like a lot of wonderful actors already had equipment, we sent equipment to folks that needed it as well and, yeah, we were able to transition.
Speaker 1:But one of the positives I would think about COVID is, like Colleen could see somebody amazing on TikTok and even if they're in Baltimore, you know there's no, there's no change. You can be, you know, really excited about somebody and be able to zoom them in and still utilize that person. So I think I think it's expanded the platform a little bit.
Speaker 7:She mentioned accessibility, not just location accessibility, but folks that are not comfortable in a recording booth. We can make that happen for them now too. And it was a big hurdle. I don't know if Phil experienced this, but like folks had very good booths before the pandemic and could and were fully capable of recording from home. It took studios a pandemic to get really comfortable recording people from home on a regular basis, because we had to. To get really comfortable recording people from home on a regular basis because we had to. Two years ago, you know, disney really wouldn't have recorded from someone's home booth. We just needed to kind of control everything and make sure we were going to get perfect audio. But we've really learned and that in and of itself makes it just a much more accessible medium.
Speaker 2:Let's go with that for a minute because we're going to. Actually there's another question that we want to ask too, but let's go with that for a second because there's a question here. I have a son on the spectrum and would love to do voiceovers. What equipment does he need, what classes does he need to take and how can he audition? So let's go with first with equipment and, phil, since you're, you know, doing that all the time and you probably have a great setup, let's, let's, let's start, let's start with you and give me, maybe give some suggestions on what, what equipment people need.
Speaker 3:Well, I mean first of all, I would say you start with what you need to get started, which is an audition setup, and you don't need thousands of dollars worth of equipment. What you do need is a good computer and Internet access. You need a microphone that captures your voice well enough. You know you don't want to sound like you're on a phone, because then they can't really hear your voice and hear what you're doing as a performer. So you know, a good microphone, but not a crazy. You know big studio microphone with giant. You know equipment and a room. Now I'm lucky enough I have an actual booth, but I have friends who you know, professional voice actors, who are recording in their closets. But it's, it's got to be a closet with clothes in it.
Speaker 7:I've seen a lot of people's clothes in the past year, yeah because you need.
Speaker 3:You need a room. Don't do it in the bathroom. You don't want echo, because echo muddies up the sound and again, they can't hear your performance. So if you can find a good room, that's sort of dead. If you stand in the middle of that room and clap your hands and all you hear is your hands, that's a good room. If you hear it, echo and bounce, you know not so much. And as far as classes, like Jennifer said earlier, an acting class you know, I think is is more important, especially starting out. That'll teach you how to read a script, how to create a character, make choices that make the words on the page come to life. Um and so. So what do we say? Microphone, computer coats and acting clothes and.
Speaker 1:I'm sure that mom is happy to hear Phil say she doesn't have to bankrupt herself to get her son, no, exactly and I've actually bought those microphones for Wolfie and they do. They go from this to outrageous.
Speaker 2:Just so you know. Ed Asner does his from the pantry.
Speaker 7:Oh man.
Speaker 2:So that's where he does his.
Speaker 3:Boxes of pasta.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, it's the same thing. It's the same thing.
Speaker 8:It's a dampening effect, another reason to love pasta as if we did. It's the hot dog buns.
Speaker 2:I think it back. Another reason to love pasta.
Speaker 6:It's the hot dog buns. I think it's the hot dog buns.
Speaker 2:So, Jennifer and Colleen, does someone, does an artist that wants to go out and audition?
Speaker 7:do they need an agent? It's definitely helpful, but, like I said, we're looking all over. We're not just reliant on talent agents to bring us talent. We really are out there scouting, working with organizations. So no, I think the most important thing is that you're performing and finding outlets and continuing to educate yourself and just performing, just performing and and that's not to say that like um, that'll be a quick there. There's no kind of quick answer, I guess, um, but just working on your craft and um, you know, hopefully eventually you'll work up to getting an agent, but it's not necessarily necessarily the only pathway, I guess Great.
Speaker 5:Awesome Um the only pathway, I guess. Great Awesome, that's a good question.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, Somebody has actually written in to our live and has said. Before I leave, here's a question that may be of interest Are voiceover directors becoming more adaptive to understanding the most encouraging way to work with autistic actors? Do they let them perform their role as characters in a way that lets them be less self-conscious about their speech or habits and lets them concentrate more on creating an interesting character, especially if the character they are portraying may be special and different? Certainly, so, giving those accommodations.
Speaker 7:Yes, I mean that's very important to us making sure that we are accommodating all talent and letting them bring their creativity to the roles. You know it's definitely still very much a work in progress, but yes is the short answer yay and that's the answer we want.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's a learning experience for you, for you all as well.
Speaker 1:Right, this is something that yeah, very cool um thank you for that, scott let's see uh oh, that's a good one.
Speaker 2:You think that's good?
Speaker 1:I'll let you have that one. Really, is that a good one?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's kind of controversial, this is an interesting question and I really want everyone to answer this question because it is kind of controversial. It is Do you think voice actors should disclose their diagnosis when auditioning? That's an interesting question. Should disclose their diagnosis when auditioning? That's an interesting question. So let's start with. I want to actually start with. Let's start with, I would say, with the casting. Yeah, with Jennifer.
Speaker 7:Sure, I mean, I would say it's entirely up to you. It's, you know, it's not necessary on our end. You know we will have roles that are specifically characters that are on the spectrum and you know, if you happen to be able to authentically play that role, great. But that's not to prevent you from playing any neurotypical roles either. So it's really just preference on your side. If you feel comfortable, go for it. Or if you, if you feel like you need other accommodations and you want to let us know ahead of time, please go ahead and do that so that we can be, you know, able to do that. But really up to you.
Speaker 2:Anyone else have an answer to that.
Speaker 3:Well, it's interesting that you said that's a controversial question. I think it's less controversial than enormously complex.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's better work. Thanks for saving me, Phil.
Speaker 3:No, it speaks to the fact that we're in a period of change, positive change, but it's still. There are people who remember the old ways of doing things and there are people who are pushing for new ways of doing things, and a lot of people in between. You know it's funny, you know disclosing. I remember when I first began doing voiceover, in terms and we're talking about diversity in that point the, the idea was more, you know, in terms of ethnic diversity. And it was a strange question for actors of color because, especially in voiceover, they might not know.
Speaker 3:But then there was the question of, okay, as an actor, the vast majority of the roles were not characters of color, but usually an actor of color would get in because there was one, and it was important in those cases because that might be the one time they were actually looking Right. And you know, jennifer, as you were saying, if a character is a character on the spectrum, that might be a time when, oh, that's my chance to get my foot in the door. Yes, I'm qualified to play that role. But then of course you wonder well, will they consider me for the other roles? And the problem is if you're working with Jennifer and someone who is open-minded and understands, then you're fine. But you don't know, is this person on the progressive end of the thought or are they old-timey?
Speaker 3:It's like no we only cast actors on the spectrum to play characters on the spectrum.
Speaker 2:It's true.
Speaker 7:It's true.
Speaker 7:Well, I do want to mention and maybe calling you can jump into your tier too but a lot of the industry took what's called the ruderman pledge last year, um, which you know asks casting directors to specifically make sure that actors, um, you know, who are neurodiverse and who have have disabilities, are reading for roles of all types, whether or not the character stipulates that or not.
Speaker 7:So a lot of at least the very big studios are making efforts in that way. So I do feel like people should feel safer in this day and age to disclose you know things about themselves, whatever those may be, without fear of, you know, discrimination. Because I think it's think it's all positive. You bring you to the table and your uniqueness and casting directors will notice that and want to keep you in the mix and keep you reading for things. So that's not to pressure you. It really is up to comfort level, but I do think it's hopefully. Maybe that's just optimism on comfort level, but I do think it's hopefully. Maybe that's just optimism on my part, but I do think it's a little bit safer and more comfortable these days.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:I don't think it's optimism. Well, it is optimistic, but I think the wonderful thing about acting and specifically about voice acting because you are invisible. There is no body, there's a perceived body. It's not there really, and the wonderful thing about acting is, as a voiceover actor and any acting, you have a clean slate. You have a clean slate. You are not the person you are. You can make any person you want and it's your. The only limit is your own imagination and and and that's the beauty of acting and and when I see, when I see autistic do something that they might find in their own personal lives just completely out of bounds for them. And so let's ask I think that's a good segue let's ask Dominique and Spencer have they done anything as actors that has taken them outside of their comfort zone specifically? So, dominique, let's take Atypical as an example, maybe. And have you done anything, working in Atypical, that is, let's say, outside of your comfort zone, that has made you do something that you weren't necessarily?
Speaker 1:That was really hard and pushed you to.
Speaker 2:And you can also. You can also answer from a musical point of view, because you're an adventurous musician I.
Speaker 6:I don't know if I could answer that I it's kind of a.
Speaker 1:It's kind of an open-ended question. Well, it is an open-ended question.
Speaker 2:Spencer, how about you? I mean, is there something that you've done as an actress that has taken you outside of your comfort zone?
Speaker 4:When I did the short film Sissy Uh-huh, I was like the character her name is Mary and she has CP and bipolar and it took way out of my comfort zone because I had to be all angry, mad and it's very intense. It's a very intense world again.
Speaker 2:And for those of you who don't know Spencer, being angry and mad is not necessarily you know.
Speaker 4:That is pushing her out of her comfort zone.
Speaker 2:So were you proud of yourself.
Speaker 4:Yeah Cool. I'm proud of you and we're excited to see it, because I was my authentic self.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's great, that's great, that's great. So that's the beauty of acting, and of acting with your voice, because you have no body to limit you.
Speaker 5:Superhero, you have no body.
Speaker 2:Okay, so next question.
Speaker 1:Where are we? Are we on 20?
Speaker 2:Go ahead, that's a good one.
Speaker 1:For Disney. How will you give people on the spectrum equal opportunity and will you give them more time to prepare an audition? I think we've already answered that one.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think we've already answered that one. Yeah, I think.
Speaker 1:I mean, everything you guys have told us today has been so incredible. And you know, as a community we're thanking you for giving not just a chance to our community and our actors in our community, but giving them that safe space, like you said, where they can feel like they can go in and really let their guard down and be, like Spencer said, their authentic self.
Speaker 7:Yeah, I think the main effort for us has been just broadening our pool of talent, and that's been the main hurdle because folks are woefully underrepresented as far as the agency side of things is concerned. So just realizing that we needed to be more proactive and get out there and find talent and make sure that they were given access to read for our stuff was kind of the big hurdle.
Speaker 1:And I think the amazing thing is Matt and I are autistic. We have three autistic sons and there is a natural kind of attraction to cartoons and voiceovers, and I'm not sure if it's because they're so into YouTube or the echolalia where they repeat everything and they script. But there are so many of our autistic community who are really drawn to this, this, this platform, and and it's so exciting that that they're able to have this opportunity yeah, and and Phil, I know you.
Speaker 2:You go to a lot of conventions and and and you, you, you press the flesh with, with people all the time. Well, maybe not lately, but but you have you, I mean you. You probably see the autistic community well represented among your fans.
Speaker 3:Oh, definitely, and it's funny because I, you know, we have family friends who are on the spectrum and I know that some of them you know, if sometimes, you know, especially as younger children, have trouble reading people's faces and all the small stuff, and I realize that animated characters are simpler it to. If you spend the whole rest of your day trying to read code and all of this intricate stuff and then you get a half an hour where things are clear and fun and simple, like, how welcoming must that feel? And I, I don't, you know, obviously I'm not a and I've done no studies.
Speaker 3:But I've always said that that's part of the appeal.
Speaker 2:Well, I think you just hit it on the head. I mean, we all live in a coded world and cartoon characters don't necessarily live in that coded world. And you're right, it's all there for everyone to see, easy to digest, and that's really an important point. He wanted to make a point and he wanted to say that is exactly why I like the idea of voice acting. I can be someone different than who I am, amen.
Speaker 1:I like who you are, ryan, I do too but, I understand that.
Speaker 3:It's the different sides. That's why most of us enjoy acting is because you get to either be yourself or some other kind of version of yourself. And with voice acting it widens even more because I mean to me, the whole point of face acting or voice acting or whatever kind of acting is to take a story and bring it to life for the audience, and any actor you know should be able to do that. But of course, when people are looking at you, they have a set of expectations based on what they are seeing. But with voiceover that half of it goes away and it's just what you can make them feel. You know through what they're hearing. And of course you have the artistry of the. You know the artists and the animators helping you build your characters Like, yes, draw me with big muscles and nine feet tall, and then I will add the voice and then I will add the voice.
Speaker 2:I keep asking Steve, our producer, to put the big muscle lens on me. They never do. I don't know, but Joey Morelli wants to just say Phil, that is one of the most profound things anyone has said about autism. Two sons on the spectrum here. So you know, you hit on something there, phil. That is one of the most profound things anyone has said about autism. Two sons on the spectrum here. So you know, you hit on something there, phil, and it's interesting. It's very true.
Speaker 2:Paul Obedencio, thank you for all your wonderful insights. So I want to just thank everyone for joining us today. This has been an incredibly informative time. I hope you all had fun, from your living rooms or wherever you are joining us today, and I want to say that the Ed Talks are provided free by the Ed Asner Family Center. The Ed Asner Family Center provides enrichments and mental health services to families, special needs individuals and their families, and we're here for you, this is for you, and we offer this free for you to digest, and we operate off of your funds. So please donate, please donate. What are you looking at there? Thank you, matt and Nava. You're welcome, but thank you all, thank you all.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, Phil, Thank you Jennifer, Thank you Colleen, Thank you everyone. Thank you, amazing, amazing ad hocs and next month let's talk about next month.
Speaker 2:Next month we'll be hitting the entertainment world again with the. It's the final season of Atypical, a show that has certainly pushed the boundaries for autistic actors and autistic life representation on screen autistic life representation on screen so we'll be talking with cast members and people that have been on the show. Maybe you guys can join us again.
Speaker 4:Cool.
Speaker 2:And until next week. Yeah, definitely Okay, Dom.
Speaker 1:And that's going to be August 10th, same time, same bat time.
Speaker 5:Same bat time, same bat channel. You knew I was going to say that. Thank you guys so much. 10th, same time.
Speaker 1:Same bat time, same bat time, same bat channel. Thank you guys so much and we will talk to you very, very soon, everyone out there. Thank you so much for attending the third Ed Talk and please, please.
Speaker 2:Well, I just want to say thank you, Disney, and thank you and thank you, everyone else who is highlighting diversity in the entertainment uh world uh and highlighting inclusion uh it's so important and I love hearing the discussion about um bringing autistic actors in to play other parts. That is a wonderful progressive discussion.
Speaker 1:And I think people should go out and join an acting class, because I think that's what I take classes. That's what I was going to say when my my peanut butter brain just went sideways. We have camp running right now, by the way, so we're I'm in full camp mode, but take an acting class. Like Phil said. You know, inspire yourself, Move out of your comfort zone.
Speaker 2:Move out of your comfort zone. So until next time. This is the Ed Talks signing off.
Speaker 4:We'll see you next time. Bye, bye, thank you.
