Starting a new chapter: Voice-over actor Michelle Campbell continues work in NM with on-camera training

Sometimes, good things must come to an end.

In the case of Steve Corona and Michelle Campbell, the pair began Southwest Voices during the pandemic.

The pair met on the set of the Netflix series, “Daybreak.”

During that time, the pair realized that they did voice-over work.

Starting a new chapter: Voice-over actor Michelle Campbell continues work in NM with on-camera training

“When the pandemic hit, Steve and I had already been teaching VO courses around town and decided to team together to start a new venture,” Campbell says. “He’d teach audiobooks and dialects, and I’d teach animation and commercial VO. Low and behold, Southwest Voices was born via Zoom in October 2020.”

Campbell says the pair had their work cut out for them, as New Mexico didn’t have a voice-over industry.

“We received pushback from some local talent agents, from actors even — who were skeptical and demanded to know why they should invest in VO if New Mexico didn’t have a VO market.” Campbell says. “We had a lot of educating to do.”

She says with the right space, voice-over work can be done from anywhere.

Over the course of her teaching, Campbell taught 140 students over 33 classes. Meanwhile, Corona taught 140 students over 28 classes.

The pair even taught a free 3-part course facilitated by Bobbie Shelton and Shane Hartigan of Alessi Hartigan Casting, which allowed them to gain a greater reach in the New Mexico film community.

“Steve and I have hosted guest classes with some extreme VO heavy weights: Jay Preston, Meg Hensley, Emmy winner Daniel Ross (most notably — the voice of Donald Duck), and Joe Hernandez,” she says. “These are just some of the incredible folks I knew from my previous 11 years in LA before moving to New Mexico. I was in the VO Industry in LA and I brought everything I knew with me.”

Campbell is continuing the partnership with Central New Mexico Community College’s Digital Media Program.

“The ever so awesome Rod Sanchez has been incredible — exchanging with me the audition, casting and feedback process that benefits both his students and mine,” she says. “Outside of what my VO students receive from this process: a credit, and a tangible piece of work that they can share on their social media/website. Actually proof that they are, in fact, a VO actor.”

With the dissolution of Southwest Voices, Campbell has started Michelle Campbell VO, as well as an on-camera coaching business with Matthew Menalo at mattandmichellecoaching.com.

“As the years progressed, Steve and I have gotten increasingly busy in our respective careers — pulling us away from the once ocean of time we had to devote to teaching and guiding students — and the upkeep that comes with it,” she says. “As we speak, Steve has 10 audiobooks lined up. He’s booked solid for months — with his star meter only going up from here. I have parlayed my work as a coach to more on-camera work, as I’ve not only found more demand there, but a kismet calling in working with young actors for audition coaching and technique classes.”

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.