Here at Such A Voice, we bring together some pretty incredible professionals from all different parts of the world to provide our students with a top voice-over education. Our staff members have such a wide variety of backgrounds and unique personalities. From working VO actors starring in movies, video games, and national TV commercial campaigns, to producers spending their days working on voice-over demos as well as broadcast voice-over work, to copywriters, casting directors and many other industry skills in between! We genuinely love bringing our expertise and our experiences together to create the best programs for our students.
For this week’s staff spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to one of our coaches, Alan Schwartz.
SAV: Hi Alan! We’d love to hear more about you. Tell us a bit about yourself.
Schwartz: I was born and raised in Washington DC. That’s where I learned I didn’t want to be in politics, though I did like the performance art of it. Over the last 20 years, I’ve mostly lived in NYC, pursuing the actor’s life with a specialty in VO. I spent several years in LA in the aughts pursuing on-camera and VO gigs. While I really enjoyed sunny LA, I was fortunate to learn how boring a film set can be! Recently, I settled in Hoboken, NJ – birthplace of Frank Sinatra, and with the best views anywhere of the Manhattan skyline – with my wife and our cat. I am a one-man science experiment, testing out which has the stronger long-term effects: vigorously running 20 miles a week or consuming copious amounts of New Jersey’s finest craft beer.
SAV: What do you enjoy the most about working in the voice-over industry?
Schwartz: The fact that at literally any moment a great new opportunity can arise. And, if I can add one more thing, the dynamic variety of projects I get to work on. Oh, and one last thing: I don’t have to go into an office!
SAV: What has been your favorite project so far?
Schwartz: I’ve been fortunate to work on so many great ones in many different genres, but to date, my most memorable job has been was creating the voice of Alex, for Mac OS and iTunes. I recorded thousands of hours of material – from individual letters and numbers to Shakespeare, and everything in between. It wasn’t the most fun, interesting, or well-paying job I’ve had, but it’s the best for posterity’s sake.
SAV: Who is your favorite voice actor?
Schwartz: Such A Voice’s very own Michael Yurchak!
SAV: Any fun holiday traditions that you have?
Schwartz: I’ve been getting together every year on Christmas Eve with the same group at an old college friend’s home in Dumbo, Brooklyn for the better part of the last decade, where we share in a great deal of merriment. It has become quite the tradition.
SAV: What fictional place would you most like to go?
Schwartz: Ray Kinsella’s Field of Dreams, and hopefully have a catch with my dad.
SAV: Who’s your go to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?
Schwartz: Steely Dan
SAV: What was the best book or series that you’ve ever read?
Schwartz: The World According to Garp
SAV: What movie title best describes your life?
Schwartz: The Man Who Knew Too Much (my wife came up with this one 😉 )
SAV: What are you most looking forward to next year?
Schwartz: I’m not sure yet, but I am always excited to find out what’s around the corner!
