Defining the Voice Acting CV
The term CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, a Latin phrase translating to “course of life.” It represents a comprehensive document detailing a professional’s background and artistic journey. In the voice acting industry, the CV serves as the formal document that agents and casting directors require to evaluate a performer’s suitability for various roles. It provides a structured overview of an artist’s development, training, and capabilities, showcasing dedication to the craft before they are invited to audition.
Key Components of a Professional Voice Acting CV
Training and Education
The training and education section demonstrates a voice actor’s commitment to continuous improvement and skill acquisition. This area should list specific acting coaches, workshops, and specialized classes focused on different voiceover genres like commercial, animation, or narration. Listing the names of reputable coaches and institutions provides immediate credibility. Ongoing training, even after an actor has established a career, proves they are actively refining their performance techniques and staying current with industry demands.
Performance Credits and Experience
Performance credits document the actor’s professional track record and are typically organized by project type to be easily scannable for casting professionals. Common categories include:
- Commercials
- Animation/Gaming
- Corporate Narration
- Audiobooks
- E-Learning
When an actor is starting out and lacks major credits, they can include relevant non-paid experience, such as student films, pro-bono work for non-profits, or performances from training showcases. Listing the role, the production company, and the genre offers a snapshot of the actor’s experience across different mediums.
Special Skills and Voice Characteristics
This section highlights unique attributes that can lead to niche casting opportunities. Actors should list fluency in foreign languages or proficiency with specific regional dialects and accents, indicating range and versatility. Other specialized skills, such as singing ability, musical instrument proficiency, or the capacity for realistic sound effects, should also be included. Describing specific vocal qualities—such as a deep texture, a bright and energetic tone, or a particular character voice style—helps casting directors quickly identify potential matches for unique roles.
Home Studio and Technical Capabilities
Technical setup is considered a professional requirement, and the CV must detail the actor’s recording environment. Actors should specify the primary microphone model used, the audio interface, and the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software they are proficient with for recording and editing. Connection methods for remote direction, such as Source-Connect Standard or Pro, professional-grade phone patch systems, or video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Skype, must be listed. Providing these technical specifications assures producers that the actor can deliver broadcast-quality audio files from a professionally treated space.
Distinguishing the Voice Acting CV from a Traditional Resume
The voice acting CV differs significantly from a traditional corporate resume, which focuses primarily on employment history, job duties, and measurable performance indicators. A traditional resume is typically constrained to a single page, prioritizing brevity and relevance to a specific job opening. Conversely, the voice acting CV emphasizes artistic development, comprehensive training history, and a detailed list of performance credits accumulated over an entire career.
This difference in focus often results in the voice acting CV extending beyond one page, commonly running two or more pages to fully capture the totality of artistic experience. While a corporate resume might detail salary history and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the voice acting CV prioritizes showcasing versatility and dedication to the craft through specific project examples and coaching details.
Strategic Use and Submission Best Practices
The completed voice acting CV is used primarily during initial outreach to agents and when submitting for major casting calls that require documentation beyond an audio demo reel. When preparing the document, professional formatting is necessary, utilizing standard, easily readable fonts like Arial or Garamond. Saving the CV as a PDF file ensures that the layout remains consistent regardless of the recipient’s operating system or software.
Maintaining the document requires regularly updating the training section with new workshops and immediately adding completed professional projects to the credits list. A strategic approach involves slightly tailoring the CV for specific submissions without altering factual information. For example, when submitting to an animation agency, an actor might shift the animation credits and related character voice training to the top of the performance credits section for immediate impact.