James Hofsiss

James, I was impressed with the gorgeous deep resonance of your voice! You have a strong, commanding tone that records beautifully and an easy going sound that connects nicely with the listener. Really good command on pitch variety as well - your instincts are solid on the basics here! Really nice to listen to.

Your pacing is ... great for most types of copy. You're naturally articulate ... It was clear that you understood the general concepts of V.O. delivery ... You did a good job hearing mistakes when they were made; having well-trained ears is just as important as having a well-trained voice. ... you used a good amount of variety which made your performance interesting. ... You had good cold readings, which is a great skill ... you were comfortable in front of the microphone, which helped you sound more natural and relaxed. ... you seemed willing to take risks, ... you will be able provide a variety of reads for a copy and may stumble a on certain angle that the director had not considered or knew would work. Taking risks also shows a comfort & confidence in your talent and ability.
You have a definite natural talent. ... Your ear is fantastic. ... you have one of the best tuned-in ears of most students I have worked with. ... you're very good and have potential to do voice-over full time! Your voice is marketable, your reads are great, and most of the basic techniques come easily to you. It’s not every day that someone gets told this, so congratulations!

James has a great sound with minor Southern regionalisms - fantastic reader and takes direction well. We worked through one piece slowly, identifying the sounds that 'place' him in the South, and going over their neutral counterparts. His accent will be great for some spots, and ... he'll be able to adjust easily to neutral for others. When he goes into 'voice over voice' he's practically there; ... neutral in a more natural delivery.