Episode 355: Grounded and Realistic Character Building
Release Date: 09/24/2025
Episode 364: Choice, Habit, Love: How Actors Build Real Momentum
Acting Business Boot Camp
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Acting Business Boot Camp
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Episode 362: Paywalls, Performances, and the Price of Transparency
Acting Business Boot Camp
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Episode 361: Self Tapes That Book Part II
Acting Business Boot Camp
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Episode 360: Self Tapes that Book Part 1
Acting Business Boot Camp
In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most important topics for any working actor today: self-tapes. They’re no longer an occasional request or a pandemic workaround. Self-tapes are the audition room now. That means your setup, your mindset, and your energy have to communicate professionalism and confidence before you ever say a line. After losing my voice for a few weeks (and getting some incredible help from Mandy Fisher, Rose Marie, and Taylor), I wanted to come back with something that felt useful and practical. Because here’s the truth: the actors who treat...
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Episode 359: Do Not Get Into Voiceover If Any of These 3 Areas Will Be Drained
Acting Business Boot Camp
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Episode 358: What’s a Motto With You?
Acting Business Boot Camp
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Episode 355: Grounded and Realistic Character Building
Acting Business Boot Camp
Hey there, it’s Mandy Fisher. Welcome back to the Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast. I’ve been in the voiceover world for over 20 years, and if there’s one thing I repeat over and over, it’s this: all voiceover is character work. Yes, even that five-second toothpaste ad. Even the audiobook that goes on for twelve hours. Even the one-liner in a loop group session. If I don’t believe in the character I’m creating, the audience won’t either—and you’d be surprised how quickly people can tell when something feels fake. Why Character Work Matters in VO Voiceover isn’t...
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Episode 354: Paula Tiso on Narration for Documentaries
Acting Business Boot Camp
This week’s episode is all about documentary narration. Voiceover actor Paula Tiso joins me to share her journey from sketch comedy in Los Angeles to working steadily in promos, radio imaging, true crime, and documentary series. We talk about training, the shift from “perky” reads to grounded storytelling, and what it really takes to support a story with your voice. About Paula: Paula Tiso is a veteran voiceover actor whose work spans documentary narration, true crime, television affiliates, video games, and more. She’s voiced Smithsonian Channel documentaries, Oxygen and ID...
info_outlineHey there, it’s Mandy Fisher. Welcome back to the Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast. I’ve been in the voiceover world for over 20 years, and if there’s one thing I repeat over and over, it’s this: all voiceover is character work.
Yes, even that five-second toothpaste ad. Even the audiobook that goes on for twelve hours. Even the one-liner in a loop group session. If I don’t believe in the character I’m creating, the audience won’t either—and you’d be surprised how quickly people can tell when something feels fake.
Why Character Work Matters in VO
Voiceover isn’t just about funny voices or nailing impressions. It’s about embodying choices. A toothpaste spot is still persuasion. An audiobook requires sustaining multiple characters. A video game audition? They always want grounded realism now.
The throughline is the same: I’m acting. I’m building a character.
My Six Quick Character Lenses
When I create characters—whether for a 30-second commercial or a video game villain—I run through six categories that keep me grounded and specific:
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Environmental: Where am I? A bar? A dungeon? A grocery store?
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Emotional: How do I feel right now?
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Contextual: What just happened before this line?
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Physical: What am I wearing? Am I tired? Am I strong?
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Psychological: What’s on my mind? Do I have a secret? A conflict?
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Social: How do I interact with others in this world?
Answering even two or three of these quickly can transform a flat read into something alive.
The Power of Substitution
Sometimes I get copy for something I couldn’t care less about—say, an oil change. In those moments, I swap it out in my imagination for something I do care about, something that actually excites me. My body, my breath, even my voice instantly shift. Suddenly, I’m connected, and the listener feels that.
Grounded Realism Wins
Every spec I see these days calls for “grounded” performances. Realism, emotional core, choices that feel intentional. Bold doesn’t mean fake—it means clear. It means believable.
When you make that one strong emotional choice and commit to it, you create something that lasts beyond the audition.
Try This in Your Next Audition
Next time you step into the booth, hit record right away. Play with one big emotional choice. Answer a couple of my six category questions. Even in a short spot, let yourself lean into the invisible audience, into the story you’re telling.
You’ll feel the difference—and so will the people listening.
Want My Checklist?
I put together a 45 Character Question Checklist to help you build characters fast. It’s a quick reference to keep you grounded and connected no matter the script.
📩 Want it? Email me at mandy@actingbusinessbootcamp.com and I’ll send it to you.
If you’re looking for coaching in voiceover or creative entrepreneurialism, that’s my wheelhouse. And if you’re focused on on-camera, legit, or core work, my co-host Peter Pamela Rose is your person—email her at peter@actingbusinessbootcamp.com.
Helping actors tell stories and follow their dreams is one of my favorite things to do. So go kick some ass this week, and remember: all voiceover work is character work.