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Michelle Falanga

Voice Talent

Actor

Writer

Michelle@michellefalanga.com

617-461-3424

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Michelle Falanga

BRAVERY, Sometimes needs a little PUSH

February 15, 2022 by Michelle Falanga

I consider myself a Brave person… and many who know me would say the same.  I have had my share of challenges in this lifetime, (more than my share), and at the end of the day, I always choose to get back up, dust myself off and move forward.  When I was laid off from my full-time job back in the Fall of 2013, I came to a fork in the road. I had always had a full-time job and did Acting and Voice Over on the side.  My choices consisted of two paths:

DOOR #1:

Get a new full-time job with security, benefits, a weekly paycheck and a 401K.

OR

DOOR #2:

Jump boldly into the abyss of uncertainty & fear of the unknown.

Now Michelle ABSOLUTELY was going for DOOR #1, you see, I AM A SAFETY girl.  I have lived through some pretty crazy traumas (including my house burning to the ground, some major health issues, 8 retina surgeries and other traumatic events that have made THIS GIRL crave a SAFE life).  I am kind of embarrassed to admit that, it doesn’t sound very cool, fun or sexy to crave safety, but if I am honest, that is how I really feel.  Add to the mix that in the Fall of 2013, right after being laid off, I had 2 new surgeries on my eyes (which is a story for another time).  The result of these surgeries has caused a strobe effect in my vision field that never stops… even as I write this today almost 9 years later… it’s there, EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.  So, when I came to this fork in the road, DOOR # 2 felt SCARY AS HELL.  This is where my husband Tony comes in.  At this very crucial crossroads, which was a very difficult and challenging time for me, I was blessed to have someone in my corner to cheer me on, to push me to try the unthinkable and be BRAVE, to choose DOOR #2 and take that chance, even if I fail, with no judgement.  The truth is, HE BELIEVED IN ME more than I believed in myself.  I feel quite confident that I would never have taken this chance on my own.  Around the same time, my mother gave me a beautiful bracelet that said, “Leap and The Net Will Appear”, another sign from the universe that I should take this chance…. So, I DID!!!!! I went ALL IN, and it has been a crazy ride.  The truth is the first year was terrifying and the second year, was only slightly less terrifying.  The third year I had a very bad fall and could not use my arm for many months and lost some momentum, and the year after that I came back strong.  You should know, just like any new business, it took me a full five years to make what I was making at my full-time job… 5 years of working very hard every single day, nurturing relationships, building client trust, marketing, auditioning, grinding.  The 6th, 7th and 8th year have surpassed all my expectations and I love what I do beyond measure…but I would never have gotten there if I had given up year 2…. THIS CAREER IS NOT FOR THE WEAK AT HEART… it really is FOR THE BRAVE.

Who would have ever known the crazy ride this job as a Voice Actor would take me on… the amazing projects I would voice, the interesting clients and colleagues and friends I would meet and work with.  The countless beautiful cinematic videos, commercials, corporate videos, and live music shows I would lend my voice to… it feels like so much more than a job, it feels like a calling, and I may have missed that calling had I not had that support, that nudge, in the direction of uncertainty.  This makes me ask myself, what other callings or opportunities does this “safety” girl miss… but most of all, it makes me grateful for those who push us outside of our comfort zone, who nudge us in the direction of our dreams.

Because sometimes BRAVERY needs a little PUSH.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Bravery, Career, Female Voice Actor, Voice Actor, Voice Over

IMPERFECTION-THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORD IN THE WORLD

August 9, 2019 by Michelle Falanga

IMPERFECTION-THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORD IN THE WORLDMy favorite noise coming from an acoustic guitar is that squeak that happens when the fingers hit the strings in a weird way. This noise is kind of a mistake and some people try to angle their fingers in such a way to make this noise less obvious. To me, this noise is what pulls me in, what perks my ears to want to listen. It feels intimate and personal and it is the imperfection (i.e. the brokenness) of it that allows me in and makes me feel like the song is just for me. The same holds true for when you fall in love. Have you ever noticed that when you fall in love with someone, it is never because they have a perfectly symmetrical face…it is the goofy laugh they have, or the space between their front teeth…it is something unique (and usually) imperfectly perfect about them. I find this to be true in my life as well as in my Voice Over Career. I cannot tell you how many jobs I have gotten because the producer “fell in love” with the imperfection in my audition, an unexpected laugh that wasn’t in the script, my voice breaking in a weird way that invited them in and made them feel like I was speaking just to them, or something intangible but imperfect that stood out to them. Imperfection makes you relatable, real, authentic, believable, dare I say “human”. There are plenty of Voice Talents out there who sound perfect and polished, but I am not that voice, and I am good with that. Perfection is over-rated and I think maybe, just maybe, you should embrace yours because it is beautiful. Instead of trying to sound perfect, try to relate to the copy and connect with the words and meaning in the script. Try to forget about “sounding” good, just bring the REAL you to the audition, because the “real you” in all of your glorious, unique, and messy imperfection, is EXACTLY what the world needs more of.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

VOICE OVER IS THE FROSTING ON YOUR CUPCAKE

November 24, 2016 by Michelle Falanga

I love analogies; they just resonate with me, so I use them all the time and in all areas of life.  As a professional female Voice Talent and Actor who also happens to be a Writer, I am constantly thinking of them in my work life as well.  Recently, when I was having a discussion with a fellow female Voice Talent, we were discussing the value in what we do for a living. We discussed how it is the voice that really finalizes a project; how it draws people in and makes them pay attention. In my case, it is the warm, real, relatable quality of my voice that is my sweet spot. I have had producers say – “I just believe what you are saying Michelle”, and that is something you can’t teach. Connecting with a script is a skill set, it is not something just anyone can do, and that is VALUABLE. Voice Over really is the final piece that pulls the whole project together – so why is it often the last piece of the puzzle that is thrown in at the end – kind of an afterthought…and usually the piece with the smallest budget? Voice Over for your project is the foam and caramel drizzle on your cappuccino, the shiny red bow on your birthday gift and my favorite analogy of all…. Voice Over is the Frosting on your Cupcake (talk about a SWEET SPOT).

Your project is not complete without that final piece to pull it all together…the crowning jewel that draws someone in to want to listen and taste whatever it is you are selling or showing or informing.  I mean sure, you could eat a cupcake without the frosting – and some people do (GOD BLESS THEM-I DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOU PEOPLE).  For the rest of the world and for the people you want to watch your commercial or video or trailer – YOU NEED GOOD FROSTING. I am not talking about frosting made with fillers and Crisco (something you can buy in a jar) – I am talking real ingredients, like butter, sugar, milk and love – mixing in your grandmothers big bowl that she passed down to you with a wooden spoon you have used for decades… Authentic, Delicious home made frosting.

All the ingredients are important…

The ingredients to make the cupcake are the people who put together the video or commercial (the writers, the producers, the editors…all the creative team around the concept and project). The cupcake is masterfully mixed together and baked to perfection – a delicious cake on a cooling rack awaiting its final step. What will this be?…well it depends on the project. Some cupcakes call for a cream cheese frosting, others need a dark chocolate ganache to bring out the true essence of the cake and still others want a simple vanilla butter cream to really make that cupcake shine without competing with it…harmoniously blending together in a simple, yet powerful delicious treat. So value the frosting and understand it’s importance in your project… and now that I am completely craving a cupcake – I will end on that note….and if anyone asks where I am….I’m in my home studio….making frosting.  www.michellefalanga.com/voice

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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