Tina Marie Murray
My Voice Over Origin Story
How did you get started with VoiceOver? That's the question every one wants to know.
I started writing at Interlochen Arts Academy high school in Michigan where the study and practice of creative arts became a lifelong pursuit. After an Art for Social Change BA Program in San Francisco, I acted in local theater, indie and corporate films. I played multiple characters in plays and was challenged with roles that required accents. I discovered the world of voiceover through my San Francisco agent. I put voice demos together mailed them to producers and I'm still doing this crazy thing I love....talking. I use my voice to inform, teach, influence, entertain and make you wonder. You've heard my voice on tv commercials, radio retail, teaching you a course at the Academy of Art College or a training through e-learning websites. You've also seen me in commercials recently for Humana and in an indie film or two or three. Voiceover always felt like a niche I could call home and I could do it from home while working in global markets. Acting is a full body experience. Working on camera is how I started and it's fun when I get to exercise the craft and use all of my talents!! I'm a character actor to my core whether I'm Voice acting or working On Camera. Technique applies to both.
I've voiced heroines and villains for video games, ADR with loop groups for Minority Report and Zodiac Killer at Skywalker Ranch. A favorite documentary I narrated, "Love at First Site" is how the Peace rose came to America during WWII. I use accents and character voices for books, e-learning, corporate films, and animation, and occasionally on camera. I've narrated a book for a Nigerian author about a girl captured by the Boko Haram and a children's version of the Old Testament for the church of Latter Day Saints!! That's the world of Voice Over projects. It can be a lot of talking in a lot of genres!! As many as you're curious to explore. The craft of acting and voice acting is a lifelong pursuit. It was a dream for me as a kid to be inside my television set dancing the line with the soul train dancers. This dream is still unfolding. And if it's yours.....be Unstoppable!! Our voices can be our most powerful tool!!
In between gigs I've been fortunate to travel to amazing places. The Ivory Coast of West Africa, Morocco, Haiti, Rwanda, Uganda, Costa Rica, Panama, and Dubai, participating in mission trips, aid and educational ventures or just spending time discovering a new place and culture with friends.
Travel is how we learn the most about the world.
Promoting sustainable solutions is a passion. I have an MBA in Sustainable Business from St Marys College in Moraga. During my study we helped an International NGO, Gardens for Health in Rwanda, find more partners to share their programs with fighting childhood malnutrition and food scarcity.
As a spokesperson and Brand Ambassador for products and corporations I've been fortunate to work with a few producers and brands over a period of time. My goal has always been to make memorable work with clients and create entertainment we are all proud of in ads that reach people and inspire them.
For fun I sing, write and record songs. I have two cds on cdbaby.com you can buy them and download a free song on my voice demo page. Are you a music supervisor looking to place songs or do you know one? I'd love to get them placed. Check out my JINGLE demo using original music behind Pharma ads.
During the pandemic, I rediscovered my love of tennis, got trained as a coach through the USTA and l learned how to surf. Spending time in Nature is the best mental reset. The VO booth can be a lonely pursuit with everyone working from home studios and actors having to self direct. My hope is in the future we can return to working together in the same room. It's more fun that way. Creating is a team sport. Creatives thrive when inspired by colleagues.
This planet is an incredible home and we are its' stewards to keep it safe for future generations. Thanks for listening! Spread Love, Kindness, and Laughter to All. A little goes a long way. I'm sharing some photos of memorable travel to Uganda, Rwanda, the Ivory Coast and Haiti.
One Love, Tina
