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Voice Coaches Radio #683 – Richard Relished The Opportunity
[00:00:00] Voice coaches radio, everything voiceover.
Marissa: Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio. My name is Marissa and, uh, I've been waiting and waiting and just waiting for somebody to want to talk and hang out with me and, uh, I've. Finally I found my victim. It's, it's Richard Rello. What's up, my man?
Richard: Hi, Bruce. I, I find it impossible that nobody wants to talk to you.
Marissa: Well, you know, everybody's busy. It's fine. Uh, but no, I'm glad that you could, you know, carve out a little bit of time and, and hang out with me today for. You and you know, you, you were absolutely fantastic going through the program here with voice coaches.
Thank you. So it was just like, it was a duh thing for me. But you know, obviously getting schedules to work, like I said, I mean, hey, either, either I smell or, or people are just busy. Um,
Richard: you smell great. Um, no, it's this summertime. It's gotta be summertime. It's got, you know, maybe,
Marissa: maybe that's what it's all about.
[00:01:00] But gotta be the summer time. You are a little bit different of a beast coming into this, this program. 'cause like, you know, we have it so anybody at, at any point in their life with any kind of background can hop on in and learn about voiceover. Right. And, uh, for you, you come with a fairly heavy acting background and, uh, and, and that I think set you up in a, in a bit of a different way.
So I, I guess, you know, before we get into anything, like I, I just, I wanna know. Where did you get your starts? Like what, what got you going and, and into this direction? Like, I mean, the acting part of you? Like where did all that begin?
Richard: Well, you know, I have been, um, singing since I'm a little kid. My dad recognized it as a, as a young boy that I had some talent in that, in that area.
And he really, um. He really encouraged it. He really helped me focus it, [00:02:00] uh, some discipline around it. Uh, and then I started singing in church. Um, and then it was kind of, sort of a natural progression to doing. Falling in love with musical theater. And again, my dad really was, um, instrumental in, in terms of helping to shape all that.
That's why I took the name Richard Relier Jr. My dad, really, I'm not a junior. Um, but, uh, my dad really paved that way for me, and I, I'm forever grateful, um, for his love, um, in my life. Um, I miss him and, um. So that's where a lot of my love for the arts started and came from. And, and then of course, I, I went on and I, I, I'm, I'm very blessed.
I'm very blessed with how my, my life has been. Um, and I got into graduate school. I got into an acting program for undergrad. Uh, and, and that's when I really started like focusing in on, on really on acting as opposed [00:03:00] to leaning so heavily on my voice, um, my, my, my singing voice to open doors. For me. I really started to focus on the craft of acting.
Um, and, and my, it was my dad again, who, who encouraged that. He is like, look, you got a gift here with the singing, but if you're gonna stay in this field, you know, you want to round out. What?
Marissa: Right. You don't wanna be like that one trick pony. I, you know, and to, to give your father credit. Not all parents are that way.
Richard: No.
Marissa: You know, like, there's so many that are like, oh, you don't wanna do that. Don't you wanna do something that's safer, that's gonna get the money to come in? And, you know, you could, you know, so I, and I, and I get, I understand that too, but I think that's a little bit of their own personal insecurity coming in of like.
I know I couldn't do it, so, you know, my kid probably can't do it either. But your dad obviously,
Richard: oh, and those outside voices, I mean, they're powerful and, and, and so, so often. I find myself having that [00:04:00] voice. 'cause I think it's natural.
Marissa: It is.
Richard: I, I think, I think we allow that voice to come in and then I start saying to myself, well, where is that coming from?
Right. I wasn't brought up with that voice. So that's some type of outside voice that I've heard, somewhere that I've allowed to enter into my mind and being that needs to go away because I'm a creative being. I know that. Uh, and that will just inhibit that creativity. It will inhibit that sensitivity. It will inhibit that, that ultimate joy, right?
And peace that I think all humans are looking for in life.
Marissa: So I think it pops up sometimes too, even when somebody isn't necessarily. Like saying you can't do it or you're doing poorly with something. Like it can still creep in, in like, 'cause I feel like I had it. Like I was like, you, like let's go. Like I'm creative, like I'm having fun with this.
And then it was like budget cut, budget cut and you know, and nobody was saying anything about my performance. [00:05:00] But then it started to make me feel like there must be something with my performance. And then what happened? I got to Boston and that's when I started questioning myself. I'm like. I remember talking to myself going like, how, how can I question myself now?
Richard: Yeah.
Marissa: When I'm in a major market like that makes no sense. So yeah,
Richard: that, that imposter syndrome. Yeah.
Marissa: Yeah.
Richard: It, it's not the stories that we tell up here, and this is so powerful. The, the, the stories that are going on up here in our mind, um, and just making sure that we're quieting that because it's not, it's not always reality that.
It can become reality if we're not careful. Yeah. Both in a positive way and a negative way. So, you know, it's really important to, you know, I'm a big advocate of, of mental health and I spent a lot of time in that space, um, as well as prayer, uh, spirituality, because this is such a, [00:06:00] uh. A field that doesn't have like one path to it, there isn't one path you can follow and you can say, oh, I can read the Tom Cruise book of success and I'm gonna go be as successful as Tom Cruise.
No, everybody's path is different to whatever that ultimate success is. So making sure that you're, you're spiritually anchored and grounded and mentally grounded and anchored. It is so important because there is gonna be so much of that noise from, from colleagues that you're in in projects with, from just industry seminars that you're at that noise of, Hey, this is really difficult.
There's a low percentage of people that are gonna be successful here. You know, you have to be really strong in your faith. And um, those are some of the things that [00:07:00] I've. Really learned in my older age. Yeah. Where you're just like, no, this is, this is where I'm supposed to be. These are the things I'm supposed to be doing with my life, and I'm gonna stay committed and focused on that and not let.
Too much outside noise influenced me. I'd rather influence people.
Marissa: Mm-hmm.
Richard: In a more positive direction and a peaceful existence.
Marissa: Yeah. I bet your dad is a big part of why you feel that way too. You know, and having a little bit extra of, of that positivity and that, that positive mindset to set you forward in a good way.
Richard: I wouldn't even be doing this if it was my father. There's no, there's no question in my mind that the trajectory of my life, I couldn't even imagine what my, my life would look like without being born into the family that I was born into. Yeah. Um, both mother and father, they were just incredibly supportive and my mom still is, uh, of, of the things that I felt [00:08:00] passionate about.
And then of course, just introducing me to things that, again. I would have no awareness of without their, um, their influence. So I, I, I don't take it for granted how, how that, that huge blessing that I was given, uh, you know, uh, at birth. So, yeah.
Marissa: So when you were, you were just, you started on musically when you started doing acting and, and the success that you've had there, I mean, what are some of the, what are some of like the coolest things that you've gotten to do?
Would, would you say so far, just on that side of things?
Richard: Just on the actings. I, I, I've, again, very, very thankful and grateful, um, for, for everything I've been given. But on some of the acting stuff, the, the most recent one is I got a chance to share screen time with, uh, Sylvester Stallone now as an Italian-American.
Marissa: Right, right.
Richard: That a, that a child of the eighties, you know. [00:09:00] That was, that was a dream. That was a dream. Look at list,
Marissa: man.
Richard: Yeah. It was a dream come true. And, and sometimes they say to you, don't meet your heroes. There's that noise again. Right?
Marissa: Yeah. Right,
Richard: right. There's that noise again, Don. You don't wanna meet your heroes.
Well, look, I met one of my heroes and he was everything I, I had hoped he would be, and especially as a, as being a professional in the industry myself, right? Like. And trying to be a certain type of professional at this stage of my life. I watched him on those days, um, and he was exemplary. He just was exemplary.
He, he treated the cast as well. As the crew. There was no difference with how he was talking to the people at craft services at than, than his co-stars, his guest stars, you know? Um, and [00:10:00] that was amazing. And then to have the honor of playing his nephew, um, and, and, and. Sharing a two scenes with him. My goodness, what a, what a gift that was.
And as I said, uh, just, just being there in, in person with him and listening to some of his stories that he was so gracious to share. Um. All really, really special and that that one's gonna stay with me for a long time.
No,
Marissa: I'm sure. I'm sure. So, I mean, it's
Richard: Rambo, you know what I mean? The
whole
Marissa: brain
Richard: beyond
Marissa: Rocky.
Alright. Right. So it's like you have, you have these amazing experiences as is what decided, like ma what, what was the deciding factor for you of like, alright, I've gotta take this next step and I gotta start, you know, branching off again. Now towards, uh, another path. And that is voiceover. What, what led you in this direction?
Richard: It's, it's great question. Um, I had been working for, uh, [00:11:00] Yahoo, uh, the last 10 years or so. One of the things that I did in between acting jobs was I was really good technically. Um, so I worked as a crew for stage, uh, as well as film. Um, and. When my first daughter was about three years old, I had an opportunity, I was working crew, uh, in between acting gigs and uh, Yahoo was one of the teams that I worked for regularly and a lifelong friend of mine, he was, he was my boss at that time said to me, Hey, would you like to work full time here?
And I prayed on it, thought on it, and I was like, you know, I should take advantage of it. My daughter. Three. And I was touring a lot and I was like, okay, I could use some stability at that moment in my life. And that moment turned into 13 years later and I actually, I actually wound up [00:12:00] as the head of studio operations.
Marissa: Wow.
Richard: Um, you know, during my time there. But the company was sold and we had new management and, uh. I was looking for a change. I was, it was no longer, I sort of reached the level, the highest level that I felt like I was gonna reach there. Yeah. Um, which was amazing. Managing three studios in New York, London, and la um, uh, 50 people, $10 million budget.
Uh, it, it was incredible. And, and it was an also a, a dream of mine, uh, to do, but the company wasn't. We just weren't aligned anymore,
Marissa: right? Yeah.
Richard: Myself and the company and what I wanted to do. So I made the change to get back into acting full time, and my, my partner gave me a birthday gift. Honestly, I've taken a seminar, um, and voiceover, and [00:13:00] because I can always make silly voices, I, I, I entertain the kids by making silly voices and reading silly.
Books and doing that kind of thing. And she's like, you should really look at this and 'cause you got, you have talent in that area and, uh, especially if you're gonna get, get into acting, uh, full time again.
Marissa: Yeah. Make it, make it a twofer, you know, make it, make it film, make it, you know, video and make it audio.
Why not?
Richard: A lot of the, you know, especially the things that I'm gravitating towards is storytelling, right? Yeah. So it's just a, it's just a different. Mechanism for telling that story, but you're still creating characters. You're still defining the shape and progression of that piece of copy in a very similar manner as you'd be preparing, you know, a set of sides for, you know, a Dick Wolf show.
It's not much different in terms of, uh. [00:14:00] Skillset again, and especially the what I'm gravitating towards voiceover work.
Marissa: Yeah. If, if anything, honestly, it'll, I think showcase your acting even more so because there's no visual. So, you know, because I've said this to, to many before that have come through and they've got that acting background.
It's like. It's definitely gonna play a benefit for you that you have that background. Because that is one thing, it's like many people are coming in, they're like, oh, I've read before. You know, but they've never acted before. So it's like bringing any kind of emotion or, or character or like perspective, like sometimes that can be a really hard thing to, to bring to the table right away, but that's something you automatically kind of come with, except there's no props, there's no visual.
So it's like now you have an added layer to. Really, honestly, again, showcase the skill and the talent that you have.
Richard: Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, and and it's such a good point [00:15:00] too, like it also allows you to play a whole new. You're, you're not limited by what you look like.
Marissa: Yeah.
Richard: You can play all sorts of different characters if your voice will allow you to do that.
So that's also really interesting to me as well, to be able to sort of transcend race and creed if you voice. Allows you to, to do that, which is
Marissa: wonderful. Hey, you could still be Sylvester Stallone's nephew, but you could also play a fish in a kid's book. Uh, you know what I mean?
Richard: Right. And that is awesome.
That is, there's something really powerful about that, especially for somebody who loves. Telling stories that you don't really just wanna be limited by your, your physical attributes all of the time. Right. Actually, most of the time I don't wanna be limited
Marissa: Yeah.
Richard: By this five foot eight body, you know.
Marissa: So you tell me then, like what, what do you think was, if anything, like the most challenging or maybe something that you weren't expecting [00:16:00] coming in as, as somebody with the acting background and understanding how to dissect copy and stuff like that already, you know, coming into this program, what do you think was.
Something that was either unexpected or, you know, per poten, potentially a little bit more challenging than, than expected.
Richard: I think it always comes back. Uh, you know, I, I know the answer to it, which is my own ego, Marissa, my own ego gets in the way of so much and has gotten in the way of so much of my craft, my art.
And a certain amount of ego is important and healthy, right? Like you have to believe in your work, you have to believe in your talent, um, and, and your abilities. But then you have to have the discipline, especially when nobody's watching, to continue to put in the work because that's really when your craft gets home, is when nobody's watching you, right?
Marissa: Yeah.
Richard: That's when your craft,
Marissa: yeah. When there's no [00:17:00] audition on the line, there's no project, can you still keep it up and keep it going and keep your craft to that same level?
Richard: Yeah. I mean, and you're a sports fan, so you, you know this because you've heard these stories over and over and over again of these athletes taking shot after shot thousands of shots.
Marissa: Yep.
Richard: When, when there are no cameras, when there are no lights on, right. Like that's. You need to apply that same rigor to your artistic endeavors. Right? Like, so that I think is, has been a, a sort of a hurdle on the, a stumbling block on the early part of my career. But now that I am older, you know, I, I bring a little bit more experience to.
This, this process at this point where I, I understand that, hey, you have to put in whatever that 10, [00:18:00] 15 hours looks like. You have to do that every single day. And, and it's not, it's not just a matter of, oh, I gotta work on copy. No. Like, what else is it? You have to take care of your body. You have to stretch, you have to exercise, you have to eat well, you have to do these things to maintain your instrument because that's what it's, it is your instrument.
And the minute that it starts. Breaking down, it will inhibit your ability to execute, especially over long periods of time, which recording books is going to take long periods of time for you to do that, you know? Yeah. Um, so you have to maintain all of that. Drinking plenty of water, minimizing your sugar intake.
Like that's the, that's. That's what you win. You don't just need, well hold up
Marissa: on the sugar intake, my friends. Alright, listen,
Richard: it's a vice. It's my last one I think.
Marissa: Don't take away my cookies. Uh,
Richard: it's my last vice. I see. Gummies are the problem for me. I've never outgrown. Gummies.
Marissa: [00:19:00] Listen, you know, my fiance laughs every time I head to a softball game, I grab my a pack of Sour Patch Kids from the Cupboard.
So like, you know, it's just, I'm like, I got my thing, let me be. So at Christmas time, I get a giant box every year now, but, um, so just because I, I know what time it is and we both are, are on a bit of, of a schedule. Um, you've gone through everything. You got a demo, like that's in the process if you don't have it already, uh, that you've recorded and, and like, what, what is your.
What's your like, overall goal you think, um, you know, when it comes to voiceover and what are some of the steps that you're already taking?
Richard: Hmm. Another great question. The, the overall goal is to
help other people, whether that's chase their dreams, realize their visions. Um, it's, it's bigger than just for, for me, it's bigger than acting. It's bigger than, [00:20:00] um, voiceovers. It's, it's, it's larger than that. It's how can I influence the world? What can, what can I do? And I don't even know necessarily that I'll, I'll ever know.
Right. But
Marissa: sometimes we don't until after the fact. Right. You don't know the impact you have until after.
Richard: And sometimes you never know
Marissa: that that is also the case,
Richard: right? Sometimes you never know both good and bad, right? Right. So I, where I've gotten to with my goals is more, is more in line with that, and that's what I'm hoping to leave is a positive impact on, on everybody that I speak to in any capacity.
Now, when we get more specific. Which I think what you're looking for, which is, Hey, what's your, what's your goal in this area of the work? I think the steps that I'm looking at, Julian put me on to, um, a CX.
Marissa: Okay. Yep.
Richard: Um, that I'm, that I'm working on, uh, trying to. [00:21:00] Get my foot in the door with Audible. There seems to be a lot of opportunity.
Marissa: There's
Richard: so much on
Marissa: there
Richard: opportunity, like
Marissa: paid and unpaid. Like it's, it's just great to go on there just to just dabble if at the very least, you know.
Richard: Yeah. Get experience, right? Yeah. Get the
Marissa: rest. I mean, that's what I've done. I've gone on there simply for the experience of it all and to, to hone craft.
Richard: Yeah. And, and, and that's so important, right? Like that is just so important. It helps you. When you, inevitably, when you get the job, because I believe if you, it's inevitable, right? Yeah. You're doing the work. You, you have the be, you have, right?
Marissa: Yep.
Richard: You're doing the work, you're being the person that you want to be.
The work is going to find you. Um, and then it's a matter of. How are you showing up when that work comes? What are you, what are you showing up as? Are you showing up the way that you had, had envisioned, had intended? I believe if your roots are deep enough, you are. Um, and, and that comes from doing the reps, right?
That comes from doing, doing the [00:22:00] work when, when the lights are off. Um, so that's. That's the sort of bigger answer, and then the, the more granular one is, okay, straight off the bat, I gotta get my workup on my reel up on actors access because I've gotten. Um, I have an actor's access profile from my acting obviously, and, and submissions and things like that.
But getting my demo up there because I have gotten hits for, um, voiceover work before, but I, I don't have a voiceover
Marissa: demo. Right. Yeah. That's the thing is you don't have anything to show. It's hard to then get to the next step.
Richard: Yeah. Because you're competing against,
Marissa: right.
Richard: The best of the best and tools like this was so readily available.
Marissa: Yeah, right.
Richard: You know, so you not only are you competing against the best of the best. But then the tool, it's so accessible nowadays. You're not, you don't need to go into a casting director's office in Manhattan. There's, there is more availability for people to go out there and swing for the fences, and that is awesome.
But that, by the same token, [00:23:00] that means that you have to be that much more disciplined about your work because there is that many more people. That you are competing against. It's not a small market anymore. None of it. Um. So, yeah, that's, I think that's the, the bigger, broader answer from sort of my life vision and goal, and then getting a little bit more granular.
Yeah. Um, with, uh, what I hope to do in the, in the voiceover industry, which is, uh, you know, really cartoons. I love cartoons, children books. I got, I have a 3-year-old, again, I have a 17-year-old, and, and that's always been a huge part of my life. Reading to them and making them laugh.
Marissa: And that's the stuff that you haven't.
Haven't been able to do yet. You know, so it's like, you know, you just kind of put things on a bucket list and let's roll with it, you know?
Richard: Yeah. Work towards that. Yeah. Right? Like work towards those, work towards the things you want and then dissect it backwards. Okay. What do I need to do in order to make, in order to be in a [00:24:00] cartoon on Netflix?
What do I have to do? Okay. Probably gotta. Work on my acting. 'cause they're acting on there and, and if you look at it, there's a lot of actors doing voiceover work at the highest of levels. Right. So, okay, well they probably took some acting classes. Okay. Then they probably got a voiceover demo together.
Okay. Where are they posting that, you know? Right. It gets a little bit easier and then, and then you manage what's in your control.
Marissa: Mm-hmm.
Richard: And, and really. If you can manage that. Like, I can't even manage not having gummies, you know what I mean? Like where
Marissa: Yeah. It is the small steps that lead to the, the big results.
And I mean, you've, you've been doing this time and time again, it's, it's everything that you've already been doing. It's just. Now with a different goal in mind on a different side of, of the adventure. You, you know what I mean? And, and I, you know, I've been doing it myself and it's scary at first 'cause it feels like a new world.
But in reality it's, it's just [00:25:00] like anything else. You just gotta put one foot in front of the other and then it becomes old hat at some point. So, I mean, I'm very excited for you. I'm glad that you've got everything ready to go and, you know, don't be a stranger. You, you keep me updated on stuff. Okay.
Richard: I will.
Thank you so much. Really, you and Julian have been just wonderful. I, I, this has been such a great experience. It's a great, it's a great investment, uh, both of time and money. Um, coming outta here with something very tangible at the end of it. Besides the relationships with the, which the relationships are.
More important than anything, but you're also coming out with that tangible piece that I've been coached on. Um, and, and I'm just very, very grateful that I've, I've met you all and, uh, how fortuitous it has been. So thanks so much.
Marissa: Yeah. Hey, well, the feeling is mutual, my friend. And, uh, thanks. We're gonna have, uh, you know, plenty more coming up here on The Voice Coaches Podcast.
Any questions can always be, uh, directed [email protected]. And, uh, until next week, stay safe everybody. [00:26:00]
Visit voice coaches com for more voiceover news and information.
Marissa: Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Coaches Radio. My name is Marissa and, uh, I've been waiting and waiting and just waiting for somebody to want to talk and hang out with me and, uh, I've. Finally I found my victim. It's, it's Richard Rello. What's up, my man?
Richard: Hi, Bruce. I, I find it impossible that nobody wants to talk to you.
Marissa: Well, you know, everybody's busy. It's fine. Uh, but no, I'm glad that you could, you know, carve out a little bit of time and, and hang out with me today for. You and you know, you, you were absolutely fantastic going through the program here with voice coaches.
Thank you. So it was just like, it was a duh thing for me. But you know, obviously getting schedules to work, like I said, I mean, hey, either, either I smell or, or people are just busy. Um,
Richard: you smell great. Um, no, it's this summertime. It's gotta be summertime. It's got, you know, maybe,
Marissa: maybe that's what it's all about.
[00:01:00] But gotta be the summer time. You are a little bit different of a beast coming into this, this program. 'cause like, you know, we have it so anybody at, at any point in their life with any kind of background can hop on in and learn about voiceover. Right. And, uh, for you, you come with a fairly heavy acting background and, uh, and, and that I think set you up in a, in a bit of a different way.
So I, I guess, you know, before we get into anything, like I, I just, I wanna know. Where did you get your starts? Like what, what got you going and, and into this direction? Like, I mean, the acting part of you? Like where did all that begin?
Richard: Well, you know, I have been, um, singing since I'm a little kid. My dad recognized it as a, as a young boy that I had some talent in that, in that area.
And he really, um. He really encouraged it. He really helped me focus it, [00:02:00] uh, some discipline around it. Uh, and then I started singing in church. Um, and then it was kind of, sort of a natural progression to doing. Falling in love with musical theater. And again, my dad really was, um, instrumental in, in terms of helping to shape all that.
That's why I took the name Richard Relier Jr. My dad, really, I'm not a junior. Um, but, uh, my dad really paved that way for me, and I, I'm forever grateful, um, for his love, um, in my life. Um, I miss him and, um. So that's where a lot of my love for the arts started and came from. And, and then of course, I, I went on and I, I, I'm, I'm very blessed.
I'm very blessed with how my, my life has been. Um, and I got into graduate school. I got into an acting program for undergrad. Uh, and, and that's when I really started like focusing in on, on really on acting as opposed [00:03:00] to leaning so heavily on my voice, um, my, my, my singing voice to open doors. For me. I really started to focus on the craft of acting.
Um, and, and my, it was my dad again, who, who encouraged that. He is like, look, you got a gift here with the singing, but if you're gonna stay in this field, you know, you want to round out. What?
Marissa: Right. You don't wanna be like that one trick pony. I, you know, and to, to give your father credit. Not all parents are that way.
Richard: No.
Marissa: You know, like, there's so many that are like, oh, you don't wanna do that. Don't you wanna do something that's safer, that's gonna get the money to come in? And, you know, you could, you know, so I, and I, and I get, I understand that too, but I think that's a little bit of their own personal insecurity coming in of like.
I know I couldn't do it, so, you know, my kid probably can't do it either. But your dad obviously,
Richard: oh, and those outside voices, I mean, they're powerful and, and, and so, so often. I find myself having that [00:04:00] voice. 'cause I think it's natural.
Marissa: It is.
Richard: I, I think, I think we allow that voice to come in and then I start saying to myself, well, where is that coming from?
Right. I wasn't brought up with that voice. So that's some type of outside voice that I've heard, somewhere that I've allowed to enter into my mind and being that needs to go away because I'm a creative being. I know that. Uh, and that will just inhibit that creativity. It will inhibit that sensitivity. It will inhibit that, that ultimate joy, right?
And peace that I think all humans are looking for in life.
Marissa: So I think it pops up sometimes too, even when somebody isn't necessarily. Like saying you can't do it or you're doing poorly with something. Like it can still creep in, in like, 'cause I feel like I had it. Like I was like, you, like let's go. Like I'm creative, like I'm having fun with this.
And then it was like budget cut, budget cut and you know, and nobody was saying anything about my performance. [00:05:00] But then it started to make me feel like there must be something with my performance. And then what happened? I got to Boston and that's when I started questioning myself. I'm like. I remember talking to myself going like, how, how can I question myself now?
Richard: Yeah.
Marissa: When I'm in a major market like that makes no sense. So yeah,
Richard: that, that imposter syndrome. Yeah.
Marissa: Yeah.
Richard: It, it's not the stories that we tell up here, and this is so powerful. The, the, the stories that are going on up here in our mind, um, and just making sure that we're quieting that because it's not, it's not always reality that.
It can become reality if we're not careful. Yeah. Both in a positive way and a negative way. So, you know, it's really important to, you know, I'm a big advocate of, of mental health and I spent a lot of time in that space, um, as well as prayer, uh, spirituality, because this is such a, [00:06:00] uh. A field that doesn't have like one path to it, there isn't one path you can follow and you can say, oh, I can read the Tom Cruise book of success and I'm gonna go be as successful as Tom Cruise.
No, everybody's path is different to whatever that ultimate success is. So making sure that you're, you're spiritually anchored and grounded and mentally grounded and anchored. It is so important because there is gonna be so much of that noise from, from colleagues that you're in in projects with, from just industry seminars that you're at that noise of, Hey, this is really difficult.
There's a low percentage of people that are gonna be successful here. You know, you have to be really strong in your faith. And um, those are some of the things that [00:07:00] I've. Really learned in my older age. Yeah. Where you're just like, no, this is, this is where I'm supposed to be. These are the things I'm supposed to be doing with my life, and I'm gonna stay committed and focused on that and not let.
Too much outside noise influenced me. I'd rather influence people.
Marissa: Mm-hmm.
Richard: In a more positive direction and a peaceful existence.
Marissa: Yeah. I bet your dad is a big part of why you feel that way too. You know, and having a little bit extra of, of that positivity and that, that positive mindset to set you forward in a good way.
Richard: I wouldn't even be doing this if it was my father. There's no, there's no question in my mind that the trajectory of my life, I couldn't even imagine what my, my life would look like without being born into the family that I was born into. Yeah. Um, both mother and father, they were just incredibly supportive and my mom still is, uh, of, of the things that I felt [00:08:00] passionate about.
And then of course, just introducing me to things that, again. I would have no awareness of without their, um, their influence. So I, I, I don't take it for granted how, how that, that huge blessing that I was given, uh, you know, uh, at birth. So, yeah.
Marissa: So when you were, you were just, you started on musically when you started doing acting and, and the success that you've had there, I mean, what are some of the, what are some of like the coolest things that you've gotten to do?
Would, would you say so far, just on that side of things?
Richard: Just on the actings. I, I, I've, again, very, very thankful and grateful, um, for, for everything I've been given. But on some of the acting stuff, the, the most recent one is I got a chance to share screen time with, uh, Sylvester Stallone now as an Italian-American.
Marissa: Right, right.
Richard: That a, that a child of the eighties, you know. [00:09:00] That was, that was a dream. That was a dream. Look at list,
Marissa: man.
Richard: Yeah. It was a dream come true. And, and sometimes they say to you, don't meet your heroes. There's that noise again. Right?
Marissa: Yeah. Right,
Richard: right. There's that noise again, Don. You don't wanna meet your heroes.
Well, look, I met one of my heroes and he was everything I, I had hoped he would be, and especially as a, as being a professional in the industry myself, right? Like. And trying to be a certain type of professional at this stage of my life. I watched him on those days, um, and he was exemplary. He just was exemplary.
He, he treated the cast as well. As the crew. There was no difference with how he was talking to the people at craft services at than, than his co-stars, his guest stars, you know? Um, and [00:10:00] that was amazing. And then to have the honor of playing his nephew, um, and, and, and. Sharing a two scenes with him. My goodness, what a, what a gift that was.
And as I said, uh, just, just being there in, in person with him and listening to some of his stories that he was so gracious to share. Um. All really, really special and that that one's gonna stay with me for a long time.
No,
Marissa: I'm sure. I'm sure. So, I mean, it's
Richard: Rambo, you know what I mean? The
whole
Marissa: brain
Richard: beyond
Marissa: Rocky.
Alright. Right. So it's like you have, you have these amazing experiences as is what decided, like ma what, what was the deciding factor for you of like, alright, I've gotta take this next step and I gotta start, you know, branching off again. Now towards, uh, another path. And that is voiceover. What, what led you in this direction?
Richard: It's, it's great question. Um, I had been working for, uh, [00:11:00] Yahoo, uh, the last 10 years or so. One of the things that I did in between acting jobs was I was really good technically. Um, so I worked as a crew for stage, uh, as well as film. Um, and. When my first daughter was about three years old, I had an opportunity, I was working crew, uh, in between acting gigs and uh, Yahoo was one of the teams that I worked for regularly and a lifelong friend of mine, he was, he was my boss at that time said to me, Hey, would you like to work full time here?
And I prayed on it, thought on it, and I was like, you know, I should take advantage of it. My daughter. Three. And I was touring a lot and I was like, okay, I could use some stability at that moment in my life. And that moment turned into 13 years later and I actually, I actually wound up [00:12:00] as the head of studio operations.
Marissa: Wow.
Richard: Um, you know, during my time there. But the company was sold and we had new management and, uh. I was looking for a change. I was, it was no longer, I sort of reached the level, the highest level that I felt like I was gonna reach there. Yeah. Um, which was amazing. Managing three studios in New York, London, and la um, uh, 50 people, $10 million budget.
Uh, it, it was incredible. And, and it was an also a, a dream of mine, uh, to do, but the company wasn't. We just weren't aligned anymore,
Marissa: right? Yeah.
Richard: Myself and the company and what I wanted to do. So I made the change to get back into acting full time, and my, my partner gave me a birthday gift. Honestly, I've taken a seminar, um, and voiceover, and [00:13:00] because I can always make silly voices, I, I, I entertain the kids by making silly voices and reading silly.
Books and doing that kind of thing. And she's like, you should really look at this and 'cause you got, you have talent in that area and, uh, especially if you're gonna get, get into acting, uh, full time again.
Marissa: Yeah. Make it, make it a twofer, you know, make it, make it film, make it, you know, video and make it audio.
Why not?
Richard: A lot of the, you know, especially the things that I'm gravitating towards is storytelling, right? Yeah. So it's just a, it's just a different. Mechanism for telling that story, but you're still creating characters. You're still defining the shape and progression of that piece of copy in a very similar manner as you'd be preparing, you know, a set of sides for, you know, a Dick Wolf show.
It's not much different in terms of, uh. [00:14:00] Skillset again, and especially the what I'm gravitating towards voiceover work.
Marissa: Yeah. If, if anything, honestly, it'll, I think showcase your acting even more so because there's no visual. So, you know, because I've said this to, to many before that have come through and they've got that acting background.
It's like. It's definitely gonna play a benefit for you that you have that background. Because that is one thing, it's like many people are coming in, they're like, oh, I've read before. You know, but they've never acted before. So it's like bringing any kind of emotion or, or character or like perspective, like sometimes that can be a really hard thing to, to bring to the table right away, but that's something you automatically kind of come with, except there's no props, there's no visual.
So it's like now you have an added layer to. Really, honestly, again, showcase the skill and the talent that you have.
Richard: Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, and and it's such a good point [00:15:00] too, like it also allows you to play a whole new. You're, you're not limited by what you look like.
Marissa: Yeah.
Richard: You can play all sorts of different characters if your voice will allow you to do that.
So that's also really interesting to me as well, to be able to sort of transcend race and creed if you voice. Allows you to, to do that, which is
Marissa: wonderful. Hey, you could still be Sylvester Stallone's nephew, but you could also play a fish in a kid's book. Uh, you know what I mean?
Richard: Right. And that is awesome.
That is, there's something really powerful about that, especially for somebody who loves. Telling stories that you don't really just wanna be limited by your, your physical attributes all of the time. Right. Actually, most of the time I don't wanna be limited
Marissa: Yeah.
Richard: By this five foot eight body, you know.
Marissa: So you tell me then, like what, what do you think was, if anything, like the most challenging or maybe something that you weren't expecting [00:16:00] coming in as, as somebody with the acting background and understanding how to dissect copy and stuff like that already, you know, coming into this program, what do you think was.
Something that was either unexpected or, you know, per poten, potentially a little bit more challenging than, than expected.
Richard: I think it always comes back. Uh, you know, I, I know the answer to it, which is my own ego, Marissa, my own ego gets in the way of so much and has gotten in the way of so much of my craft, my art.
And a certain amount of ego is important and healthy, right? Like you have to believe in your work, you have to believe in your talent, um, and, and your abilities. But then you have to have the discipline, especially when nobody's watching, to continue to put in the work because that's really when your craft gets home, is when nobody's watching you, right?
Marissa: Yeah.
Richard: That's when your craft,
Marissa: yeah. When there's no [00:17:00] audition on the line, there's no project, can you still keep it up and keep it going and keep your craft to that same level?
Richard: Yeah. I mean, and you're a sports fan, so you, you know this because you've heard these stories over and over and over again of these athletes taking shot after shot thousands of shots.
Marissa: Yep.
Richard: When, when there are no cameras, when there are no lights on, right. Like that's. You need to apply that same rigor to your artistic endeavors. Right? Like, so that I think is, has been a, a sort of a hurdle on the, a stumbling block on the early part of my career. But now that I am older, you know, I, I bring a little bit more experience to.
This, this process at this point where I, I understand that, hey, you have to put in whatever that 10, [00:18:00] 15 hours looks like. You have to do that every single day. And, and it's not, it's not just a matter of, oh, I gotta work on copy. No. Like, what else is it? You have to take care of your body. You have to stretch, you have to exercise, you have to eat well, you have to do these things to maintain your instrument because that's what it's, it is your instrument.
And the minute that it starts. Breaking down, it will inhibit your ability to execute, especially over long periods of time, which recording books is going to take long periods of time for you to do that, you know? Yeah. Um, so you have to maintain all of that. Drinking plenty of water, minimizing your sugar intake.
Like that's the, that's. That's what you win. You don't just need, well hold up
Marissa: on the sugar intake, my friends. Alright, listen,
Richard: it's a vice. It's my last one I think.
Marissa: Don't take away my cookies. Uh,
Richard: it's my last vice. I see. Gummies are the problem for me. I've never outgrown. Gummies.
Marissa: [00:19:00] Listen, you know, my fiance laughs every time I head to a softball game, I grab my a pack of Sour Patch Kids from the Cupboard.
So like, you know, it's just, I'm like, I got my thing, let me be. So at Christmas time, I get a giant box every year now, but, um, so just because I, I know what time it is and we both are, are on a bit of, of a schedule. Um, you've gone through everything. You got a demo, like that's in the process if you don't have it already, uh, that you've recorded and, and like, what, what is your.
What's your like, overall goal you think, um, you know, when it comes to voiceover and what are some of the steps that you're already taking?
Richard: Hmm. Another great question. The, the overall goal is to
help other people, whether that's chase their dreams, realize their visions. Um, it's, it's bigger than just for, for me, it's bigger than acting. It's bigger than, [00:20:00] um, voiceovers. It's, it's, it's larger than that. It's how can I influence the world? What can, what can I do? And I don't even know necessarily that I'll, I'll ever know.
Right. But
Marissa: sometimes we don't until after the fact. Right. You don't know the impact you have until after.
Richard: And sometimes you never know
Marissa: that that is also the case,
Richard: right? Sometimes you never know both good and bad, right? Right. So I, where I've gotten to with my goals is more, is more in line with that, and that's what I'm hoping to leave is a positive impact on, on everybody that I speak to in any capacity.
Now, when we get more specific. Which I think what you're looking for, which is, Hey, what's your, what's your goal in this area of the work? I think the steps that I'm looking at, Julian put me on to, um, a CX.
Marissa: Okay. Yep.
Richard: Um, that I'm, that I'm working on, uh, trying to. [00:21:00] Get my foot in the door with Audible. There seems to be a lot of opportunity.
Marissa: There's
Richard: so much on
Marissa: there
Richard: opportunity, like
Marissa: paid and unpaid. Like it's, it's just great to go on there just to just dabble if at the very least, you know.
Richard: Yeah. Get experience, right? Yeah. Get the
Marissa: rest. I mean, that's what I've done. I've gone on there simply for the experience of it all and to, to hone craft.
Richard: Yeah. And, and, and that's so important, right? Like that is just so important. It helps you. When you, inevitably, when you get the job, because I believe if you, it's inevitable, right? Yeah. You're doing the work. You, you have the be, you have, right?
Marissa: Yep.
Richard: You're doing the work, you're being the person that you want to be.
The work is going to find you. Um, and then it's a matter of. How are you showing up when that work comes? What are you, what are you showing up as? Are you showing up the way that you had, had envisioned, had intended? I believe if your roots are deep enough, you are. Um, and, and that comes from doing the reps, right?
That comes from doing, doing the [00:22:00] work when, when the lights are off. Um, so that's. That's the sort of bigger answer, and then the, the more granular one is, okay, straight off the bat, I gotta get my workup on my reel up on actors access because I've gotten. Um, I have an actor's access profile from my acting obviously, and, and submissions and things like that.
But getting my demo up there because I have gotten hits for, um, voiceover work before, but I, I don't have a voiceover
Marissa: demo. Right. Yeah. That's the thing is you don't have anything to show. It's hard to then get to the next step.
Richard: Yeah. Because you're competing against,
Marissa: right.
Richard: The best of the best and tools like this was so readily available.
Marissa: Yeah, right.
Richard: You know, so you not only are you competing against the best of the best. But then the tool, it's so accessible nowadays. You're not, you don't need to go into a casting director's office in Manhattan. There's, there is more availability for people to go out there and swing for the fences, and that is awesome.
But that, by the same token, [00:23:00] that means that you have to be that much more disciplined about your work because there is that many more people. That you are competing against. It's not a small market anymore. None of it. Um. So, yeah, that's, I think that's the, the bigger, broader answer from sort of my life vision and goal, and then getting a little bit more granular.
Yeah. Um, with, uh, what I hope to do in the, in the voiceover industry, which is, uh, you know, really cartoons. I love cartoons, children books. I got, I have a 3-year-old, again, I have a 17-year-old, and, and that's always been a huge part of my life. Reading to them and making them laugh.
Marissa: And that's the stuff that you haven't.
Haven't been able to do yet. You know, so it's like, you know, you just kind of put things on a bucket list and let's roll with it, you know?
Richard: Yeah. Work towards that. Yeah. Right? Like work towards those, work towards the things you want and then dissect it backwards. Okay. What do I need to do in order to make, in order to be in a [00:24:00] cartoon on Netflix?
What do I have to do? Okay. Probably gotta. Work on my acting. 'cause they're acting on there and, and if you look at it, there's a lot of actors doing voiceover work at the highest of levels. Right. So, okay, well they probably took some acting classes. Okay. Then they probably got a voiceover demo together.
Okay. Where are they posting that, you know? Right. It gets a little bit easier and then, and then you manage what's in your control.
Marissa: Mm-hmm.
Richard: And, and really. If you can manage that. Like, I can't even manage not having gummies, you know what I mean? Like where
Marissa: Yeah. It is the small steps that lead to the, the big results.
And I mean, you've, you've been doing this time and time again, it's, it's everything that you've already been doing. It's just. Now with a different goal in mind on a different side of, of the adventure. You, you know what I mean? And, and I, you know, I've been doing it myself and it's scary at first 'cause it feels like a new world.
But in reality it's, it's just [00:25:00] like anything else. You just gotta put one foot in front of the other and then it becomes old hat at some point. So, I mean, I'm very excited for you. I'm glad that you've got everything ready to go and, you know, don't be a stranger. You, you keep me updated on stuff. Okay.
Richard: I will.
Thank you so much. Really, you and Julian have been just wonderful. I, I, this has been such a great experience. It's a great, it's a great investment, uh, both of time and money. Um, coming outta here with something very tangible at the end of it. Besides the relationships with the, which the relationships are.
More important than anything, but you're also coming out with that tangible piece that I've been coached on. Um, and, and I'm just very, very grateful that I've, I've met you all and, uh, how fortuitous it has been. So thanks so much.
Marissa: Yeah. Hey, well, the feeling is mutual, my friend. And, uh, thanks. We're gonna have, uh, you know, plenty more coming up here on The Voice Coaches Podcast.
Any questions can always be, uh, directed [email protected]. And, uh, until next week, stay safe everybody. [00:26:00]
Visit voice coaches com for more voiceover news and information.
This week on Voice Coaches Radio, Marissa chats with former student and professional actor Richard Rella Jr! It’s not every day we have someone come through that has something additional from their background that can benefit as much as Richards acting career can with voice over. So, how did it help him? What did he find more challenging within the field? We’ll find out and much more!
