We were lucky to catch up with Jonathan David Bullock recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jonathan David , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is definitely something that affects the VoiceOver community a lot. As a VO Talent for over 13 years now, that’s something I’ve dealt with, as well as seen my comrades struggle with. It can be crushing and devastating. There’s also two sides to it as well. There’s the side of “oh man, I can’t believe I’m working on projects like this that I’ve dreamed of for ages” and seeing the talent who are also working on it, which can be a little intimidating and make you second guess your training and talent. The other side is what happens when you don’t book any work for awhile. That’s when the dread comes in. The, “I’m not good enough, was I ever good enough to do this job, and I’ll never book again” kind of dread.
Here’s a secret. You are good enough, you will book that next role, and you know what you’re doing. A VO coach of mine gave me some advice that really opened my eyes when it came to overcoming that stress. “You’re focusing on it too much. You’re an actor, trust yourself that you can act, and let the rest come from inside and flow outward.” What that means to me is that we as humans and VO talent as well (big dichotomy there) do have the skill, talent and training to know what we’re doing. Many of us have been doing this for years and still struggle with “imposter syndrome”. All that is is fear. “False Evidence Appearing Real”. We can get into our heads so much to the point where we self-sabotage, because the thought of success and moving forward from a place where we feel safe, is more terrifying sometimes than being stuck and stagnant in our careers. We have to trust that we know what we’re doing, while still always understanding that there is always more to learn, but its meant to build us up on top of our foundations, and not tear us down.
The next role will come, trust yourself to act and be.
-Jonathan David Bullock
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Jonathan David Bullock is a full-time Voiceover Talent based in Burbank, California. He has been in the business of VoiceOver since 2011, and fell into the craft and has never looked back. Voiceover is his hobby, career, and entertainment. He also like cats, making the perfect shrimp fettuccini Alfredo, guiding people through mental health exercises/therapy techniques and streaming on Twitch @Shaboingled. He has awesome VO roles upcoming in the next year, and can’t wait for you all to experience them. Onward and upward!
If you’d like to learn more about him or hear his work, please visit: www.jonathanbullockvo.com
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When it comes to VoiceOver, the first thing you need to know is that there is a place for EVERY voice in this industry. Many people when they first start are very afraid to be loud or be silly, or make a fool of themselves, afraid to be judged. That is why this industry is so amazing. We get to be behind the mic, and basically hidden from the world, and get the chance to be ourselves without judgement. Our community is so very welcoming and made up of MOSTLY neurodivergent talent for this very reason.
Some tips to get started and what you need to keep that drive are: Don’t isolate yourself. Isolating yourself from the outside world steals opportunities for you to learn and experience the emotions of life, which you can then bring to your performances. Number 2, always be listening to the people around you. Accents are so important and needed when it comes to VoiceOver, and it’s a great way to make yourself stand out. The people around you will have particular ways they say things, and you can take little pieces of the way other people talk, and make a character based on those traits. Last but not least, make friends. This community is very welcoming, even to the most introverted introvert. You can do it. Make friends. I actually live with a VO friend I made over 10 years ago, and we’re still great friends to this day.
Don’t be afraid to be yourself. That very thing, that spark, is what casting directors and projects want to hear. The thing that makes you, you.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
If I’m being honest, God! Moving here from Virginia years ago, I was dealing with challenging circumstances. I got into the Word and began to build a relationship with Him. I was in a very hard place mentally and choosing to follow Him was instrumental in bringing me out of that depression and grief. After experiencing that healing, I can’t help but ask my friends a simple favor.
God wants to know you and meet you. He loves you, and he doesn’t hate who you are, he wasn’t hiding when you went through hard things in your life. He’s there, and he cares for you. If you would, give him a chance to prove he’s real. Even if you’re the most staunch atheist or agnostic, If you really want proof, just ask Him to prove he’s real to you. He will. God loves you, and so do I.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jonathanbullockvo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanbullockvo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanbullockvoiceover
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonDavidTalent
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
