Episode 51 - Racial Identity in Voiceover

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This week on the VO School Podcast we are tackling a challenging subject - race. How does ethnicity play a role within an industry that could (or should) be considered colorblind?

Joining us to discuss this are voice actors Tiffany Copland and Mara Junot. They lift the veil on some of the barriers to entry for people of color in the voiceover industry.

Mara and Tiffany discuss how the casting process can perpetuate cultural stereotypes, how talent who impersonate other races can exacerbate this problem, how representation (agents and managers) and casting directors can play a role in encouraging authentic casting, and how disparities in the wider culture mean that already marginalized groups have a much harder time breaking through.

Mara DuRousseau Junot is an African-American voiceover actress. The former Voice-Over Coach & Telephony Specialist at Edge Studio attended The University of Southwestern Louisiana for Liberal Arts, Vocal Training and Honors English. Junot grew up in Denver, Colorado in the snowy mountains, and later moved to Los Angeles, California. She has done voiceovers for Fortune 500 companies worldwide and can be found in a range of media from video games to animated movies. Junot is known for her "shapeshifting voice". Junot's voice is featured in various well-known brands including, but not limited to, ESPN, Nintendo, Minecraft, McDonald's, Google, Coca-Cola, The Walking Dead, and Target. She became the first female voice actor to narrate E! True Hollywood Story in 2019. The show originally premiered in 1996. She is represented by William Morris Endeavor

Tiffany J. Copeland is an actor, voice actor and voiceover career coach. She hosts a SOVAS Voice Arts Award nominated podcast discussing voiceover from the African American perspective titled Black Girl Voiceover World. Her most recent voice over work has been featured during the 2019 NCAA Big East Conference. Her voice credits include: CAT, Louisiana Lottery, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ohio Lottery.