Let’s Talk Voiceover - Episode 36 - Gillian Brashear The Voice Director Presents: Let’s Talk Voiceover

LTVO has a new host! An actor and director with production chops, Gillian came from the stages of New York City to the big (Chekhov and Maria) and small screens (CSI: Cyber, Criminal Minds, Legends) in Los Angeles before delving into voice acting, and then directing.  She also narrated the Emmy-winning series Wonder Women.  Her vo credits include Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded, Lord of the Rings Online, Chivalry 2, Vacation Simulator, and World of Tanks.  Smart, curious, glib and with a wicked wit; she's the perfect person to sit in the virtual cocktail bar and converse with anyone in the industry.  So, welcome, and Let's Talk Voiceover, Gillian Brashear!
Gillian Brashear:
When I was in New York, there was, oh darn it, a show that it was all about the nudity, but I was seeing it probably 20 years past its prime.  So, I was this acting student…
 
Randall Ryan:
Like Emmanuel?
Gillian Brashear:
No, it wasn't that, I…OH! (laughs)  I see…is it Oh Calcutta?  But no, it's not that.
 
Randall Ryan:
No that was, wasn't it?
 
Gillian Brashear:
It is Oh Calcutta?
 
Randall Ryan:
Yes, as soon as you said it, it’s like yes
 
Gillian Brashear:
it was still going in New York.  It was…you know, when you go to the strip bars like we do and ther're tired gals, they've done it a lot, it was a bit like that.  Like yeah I'm naked, I'm on stage. Meh (laughs) It just was such a bizarre experience in New York going, okay,well uh, yep, that's a job, I… I guess that's acting.  I don't know!
 
THEME MUSIC
 
Randall Ryan
Let's talk so Let's Talk Voiceover, Gillian Brashear.
 
Gillian Brashear:
(laughs) Okay let's do it.
 
Randall Ryan
Welcome to this thing that we do called Let's Talk Voiceover, and thanks for doing this, and thanks for wanting to get in and do this. So, I'm curious because even though we talked about it and it's like, would you like to do this thing and you're like, I'd love to do this thing. We never talked about why. So why?
 
Gillian Brashear:
Why do I want to do it?  Well, ultimately I like to play and you're a great play partner.
 
Randall Ryan:
Yes!  you're already better than Brian!
 
Gillian Brashear:
And I love learning about people. I'm excited to hear people's stories. I am excited to hear what they know and what they want to share and what they want to talk about, and actually, honestly, there are questions that I have for people that I've done their work, worked on their work, shall I sa,y on their files and what not that we've recorded and I've worked on, and I have things I want to know and that I want to ask them.
 
Randall Ryan:
Right.  So you're talking like some of the people that you've worked with, the kind of things where you say, I don't know why she chose or he chose to do this, but that's really interesting?  Or are you talking more the techniques that they use to get a specific sound or specific delivery out?
 
Gillian Brashear:
I think both.  You know, when I'm working on somebody's recording, I get into the world that they've created and I become very curious.  Sometimes it's I'm curious how did you come up with that as your portrayal? Sometimes it is literally, how do you make that sound with your voice?  ‘Cause I don't even understand how that comes out of anybody's human body. Yeah. And then sometimes I notice people have incredible technique and I'd like to know about that.  A lot of things.  Sometimes they just sound like they're really fun and I want to hang out with them for a while.  So this might be as close as I ever get.
 
Randall Ryan:
You never know.  And the thing that's really interesting to me listening to the comments that you've said back to me about stuff, because again, you come at this from being an actor, and this may not be accurate, but in my head, you really come at it first from being stage actor and everything else kind of came 2nd 3rd, or is that accurate? Is that not accurate?
 
Gillian Brashear:
Yep.  When I decided that I wan