(Is the class full? Fear not! Sign up on the waitlist -there are always last minute cancellations, so luck is on your side!)
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In this workshop the emphasis will be on character development for voicing video games. The techniques learned in this workshop can also be applied to animation and commercial work. Veteran voiceover performer from the West Coast, Neil Kaplan, returns to help actors access and shape characters by understanding the goals and emotions within each actors's own life experiences. Regardless of a character's species, origin, shape or size, each incarnation will have its roots planted in reality.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Neil Kaplan is an American voice over actor known for his work over the last 20+ years in animation, video games, television, film, audiobooks, amusement parks and anime.
Currently, he is the voice of EMPEROR ZARKON on the highly anticipated Dreamworks Animation production "Voltron: Legendary Defender" on Netflix worldwide.
His earliest work included voicing background characters, henchmen the occasional villains-of-the-week on the television classic, "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers". (As well as "The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie") However, Power Rangers know his best for voicing the memorable DIABOLICO, the evil lieutenant to Queen Bansheera in "Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue" and GLUTO, the not-so-bright henchman to the villainous Rancik, on "Power Rangers: Time Force".
During this same time, he worked on other fan favorite shows including Digimon in which he voiced numerous chapters including the popular Digimon, HAWKMON, as well as all of his derivations. In 2001 Neil was cast to be the second actor to give voice to the iconic Autobot leader OPTIMUS PRIME on FOX Kids' "Transformers: Robots in Disguise". Although it only lasted for one season, the impact of that series on fans around the world is still discussed today. His current work in the world of anime includes the charismatic villain MADARA UCHIHA on the popular long-running series "Naruto: Shippuden".
Over the past decade plus, Neil has worked on dozens and dozens video games, often creating incredibly memorable characters including the roguish anti-hero TYCHUS J. FINDLAY in both "Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty" and "Heroes of The Storm", the mysterious star dragon AURELION SOL in "League of Legends", the hulking, brutish, bounty hunter companion SKADGE in "Star Wars: The Old Republic", as well as IMPERIAL GOVERNOR ADELHARD in "Star Wars: Uprising" and BENDAK STARKILLER in "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic". He can be heard as SABRETOOTH and VENOM in "Marvel Heroes", KRAVEN THE HUNTER, GORILLA GRODD, (DECEPTICON) LONG HAUL, NORMAN OSBOURNE and THE GREEN GOBLIN on various video games as well as hundreds of non-descript background characters who help bring the background to life.
His video game credits include The Skylanders series of games, "The Last of Us", "God of War: Ascension", "Diablo III", "Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor", "Elder Scrolls", "Guild Wars 2", "Gears of War 3", "Bioshock Infinite", "World of Warcraft" and many, MANY others.
Neil's other work includes the voice of the talking, stuffed Care Bear teddy bear called FUNSHINE BEAR. Since 2010 he has been the main narrator for the young adult book series "I am Number Four". Neil's voice can heard daily at Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, California. He was thrilled to say YES when producers of the cult hit "Robot Chicken" asked him to play in their sandbox as the LEADER of GI JOE EXTREME and Hogwart's beloved headmaster, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE.
Most recently, Neil completed a guest spot for season two on Disney XD's "Penn Zero, Part Time Hero" as well as numerous characters on video games still falling under NDA.
