Democratic Platform Issues

Native and Indigenous Voice Actors

March 8, 2024 by Maria Pendolino

If you’ve thought about hiring Native and Indigenous Voice Actors…

Blue Wave Voiceover Krysta Wallrauch — Krysta Wallrauch

Now is the time to see what they can offer! In the past few years, Native representation has expanded in American pop culture. From Martin Scorcese’s film Killers of the Flower Moon, which brought a dark part of American history to cinemas, it also introduced Lily Gladstone who is now the first Native woman to be nominated as Best Lead Actress for an Academy Award. Recently the final season of the groundbreaking TV show Reservation Dogs wrapped up its story of Indigenous kids living on an Oklahoma reservation. And in the latest season of HBO’s True Detective, actress Kali Reis, whose heritage includes Wampanoag Native ancestry, plays a detective in an Alaskan Native community.
Although better representation of Native culture and history may be new for some, their participation in US politics has been vital even when it’s been historically denied. Championing diverse talent such as Native and Indigenous voice over actors at Blue Wave Voiceover is part of our collective’s mission to reflect how America looks today.

Amplifying their voices in politics and storytelling is critical as the 2024 presidential election begins. Hiring indigenous voice actors can really give your campaign credibility and authenticity this election season.

Diversity That Goes Beyond Stereotypes

Unlike old Hollywood stereotypes, Native culture and people are not a monolith. In the US, there are 574 federally recognized Indian Nations and 115 spoken indigenous languages. Although 99% are in danger of extinction, Navajo is the largest spoken language with 170,000 speakers. Casting across such a wide array of people can be daunting and writing specs for your spot is important to find the right talent that suits your needs. If it’s your first time hiring talent for a political campaign, we’re here to help.

What is the appropriate terminology for such a diverse group when nearly 10 million people identify as American Indian or Alaskan Native?

Addressing a Diverse People with Correct Terminology Today

Blue Wave Voiceover Carolina Hoyos Business — Carolina Hoyos

Native people prefer to be called by their specific tribal name according to the National Museum of the American Indian. The term “Native American” is still used but not widely accepted by groups instead opting for Native Indian, Indigenous American, or Indian. “Native” is used officially and unofficially to describe people from the United States (including Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians) and as a descriptor (Native lands, Native traditions, etc). If you’re ever unsure how to address a person, notice how they address themselves or ask their preference.

Contemporary Representation on Social Media

One way Native people have fought for social justice or amplified their community’s stories is through Tiktok . These infuencers are part of a wave of content creators who are sharing information on a powerful platform that has grown beyond just bite-size dance videos. Depending on which study you read, 10% or 74% of Gen Z users prefer using Tiktok as a search engine. #NativeTikTok alone has received more than 3.4 billion views (and that’s in 2021!). Harnessing the power of these digital platforms, Native people have found ways to spread their history and message to large followings. In an intense election year, understanding how some generations and communities are finding information online is critical for a blue wave.

The System Isn’t Made for Us

Blue Wave Voiceover Javier-Prusky — Javier-Prusky

Some of the challenges that Native and Indigenous voters face today is not wanting to participate in a system that wasn’t built to ensure their political participation as voters. For many they believe that the system was built to destroy their communities.

Before Native people were formally granted citizenship in 1924 by the US government, they often had to relinquish their rights to their own land or prove “civilized” assimilation in order to gain citizenship. But after decades of voter intimidation tactics, similar to what African Americans experienced, it wasn’t until the 1960s when the Voting Rights Act for Native Americans granted them the right to vote in every state.

Fast forward to 2020, six Native American and Native Hawaiians were elected to the House of Representatives – a record breaking number! One of those representatives, Deb Halaand, was appointed by the Biden administration to be the Cabinet Secretary of the Interior Department in 2021. As a member of New Mexico’s Laguna Pueblo, her position meant that she was in charge of the Interior Department – a branch of government that was historically instrumental in stripping away land rights from tribal nations. This hugely symbolic and historic appointment made national news.

Native People’s Voting Power in the 2024 Election

This year in Arizona, Young and Native People are an enormous influence on whether or not President Biden wins this battleground state. Democrats have noticed and mobilized on national and local levels in swing states. Yet more can be done. There are close to 5 million Native voters according to the US Census Bureau and they lean democratic. As Young Native voters decide how to wield their electoral power they say that politicians on both sides haven’t taken the time to get to know their communities. Issues like jobs, inflation, abortion rights, water access, and poor infrastructure are top of mind but voting challenges remain like driving hundreds of miles to the nearest polling station…if you have access to transportation.

Where handshakes and relationships are so important, politicians seem to not make the investment out of fear of not knowing how to approach tribal communities. The result is Native people being the biggest group who receives the least outreach from political parties. But these voters are a powerful electorate in tipping ballots when voter turnout is so critical.

Hire Professional Native and Indigenous Voice Talent

Blue Wave Voiceover Jason_Grasl — Jason Grasl

Casting Native voiceover talent is a great way to elevate your message for your campaign. Every one of our Native talent is unique and reflects the diversity of indigenous nations. Jason Grasl, another Blue Wave Voiceover member, is an indigenous Native American talent who has voiced spots for Comcast, Toyota, and McDonald’s.

“We all sound different, so similar to African Americans, what people ‘assume’ we sound like isn’t exactly accurate”, says Blue Wave talent Krysta Wallrauch whose heritage includes Crow and Blackfoot.

If you’re looking to hire a voiceover actor who can speak an indigenous language, Carolina Hoyos may be able to lend her Quechua skills to your campaign. For her it’s important that Native voice actors be heard in political spots, “Native rights are human rights. States that surround and inhabit Native land should represent all those affected by laws and who we elect to represent us weighs heavily in the political landscape.”

Additionally, Javier Prusky has indigenous roots from the Charrúa Tribe in Uruguay. He recommends that it’s best to be specific and not generalize when casting for different cultures. “I am Latino, Indigenous, American, so my range and possibilities of playing shouldn’t be limited to one culture. I am a human being with many different sides and complex upbringing and customs, so it is important for the industry to not just see me (and us) as the ‘Native’ or ‘Latin’ one.”

If you’re Native or Indigenous and looking to get into voice over, here are some tips from our actors:

Carolina Hoyos: I’m a fan of training and development programs that can help to give us a boost in skills so we are going in with a competitive edge. Learn about the many different kinds of voice over work there is and find out what you like, get practicing, put together demos and once you’re ready, start your outreach.

Diverse Gen Z Voiceover Talents

August 30, 2023 by Maria Pendolino

Wondering Why Hiring Diverse Gen Z Voiceover Talents For Your Political Spots Is Important?

Let’s See Who Gen Z Is And What They Care About!

Diverse Voiceover Talent! But, Who Is Gen Z?

Born between the 1990’s and 2010s and coming after the Millennial generation and before Generation Alpha, Generation Z (also known as Gen Z) has become an influential demographic in the political landscape of the United States. Gen Z is considered to be one of the most diverse generations in US history, largely due to increased immigration and increased birth rates among non-majority groups. A Gallup survey noted that about 21% of Gen Z’ers who have reached adulthood identify as LGBT.

What Matters to Gen Z?

Andre Santana image for diverse gen z voiceover talents article — André Santana, Hispanic & Latino Bilingual Voiceover

An estimated 24 million Gen Zers were eligible to vote in 2020, making up 10% of the total voting population. An article by The Hill attributes the strong young voter turnout to a number of factors that include “racial injustice, global climate change, and voter suppression, as well as increased efforts by educators to reach students and connect them to the issues and to voting resources.” The Gen Z voter turnout will only continue to grow with coming elections.

As the most racially and ethnically diverse voters, Gen Z has shown over the past few elections to favor progressive policies and candidates, including Democratic positions on topics such as abortion and reproductive justice, and inclusion. Having grown up with limitless access to information and news through social media and the internet, Gen Z has developed a heightened sense of social responsibility and concern about issues such as climate change, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. It will be critical to understand and address the key issues that matter to Gen Z who not only care about societal and cultural issues but are engaged and want to see change happen.

Authenticity in Social Media Captures Gen Z Votes

By 2028, Gen Z and Millennials will make up the largest voting demographic, with Gen Z becoming the voting majority in the next five or so years. As Gen Z continues to become a strong voting demographic, it will be important for candidates to reach this younger audience through non-terrestrial media channels such as TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube with compelling campaigns, messaging, and positioning in order to secure the Gen Z votes not only in the near future but over their lifetime.

As the generation that has grown up deeply surrounded by technology, social media, and the internet, Gen Z are often referred to as “digital natives,” easily navigating digital platforms and online communications, and becoming early adopters of new apps and social media trends.

An estim

ated 60% of Gen Z voters leaned Democrat compared to 33% who leaned Republican, highlighting a generational divide in political ideologies as compared to previous generations. According to this article, Gen Z’s voting influence led to Democratic victories in battleground statewide contests, secured majority seats in the United States Senate, and President Biden’s 2020 victory.

For progressive and Democratic candidates, this momentum offers an opportunity to secure long-term support and a strong voter base for years to come from Gen Z. Actively engaging with this population and advocating for policies that align with their values while effectively communicating stances on issues that resonate with this population will make the difference in future election cycles. Gen Z is known for valuing authenticity in all aspects, including content they consume.

Work with Diverse Gen Z Voiceover Talent for Your Next Campaign

Amplifying this message by working with a Gen Z voiceover actor who is a part of this target audience establishes credibility and builds trust in campaigns and television or radio spots. When it comes to campaign content, working with Gen Z voiceover actors who can convey genuine emotions, relatability, and sincere passion for a range of social issues that are important to this audience can enhance your campaign’s impact.

With Gen Z at the forefront of the latest trends, memes, and cultural references, the professional Gen Z voiceover artists at Blue Wave Voiceover understand and incorporate these elements to add relevance and connect with this influential audience.

The wide range of Diverse Gen Z Voiceover Talents at Blue Wave Voiceover includes a diverse group of male, female, and non-binary professionals ensuring that your campaign has the authenticity that this demographic wants. Explore demos or request samples from the experienced roster of talent including, but not limited to, Allegra Verlezza, Cherie B. Tay, Sura Siu, Javier Prusky, and André Santana.

Meet Gain Power

July 19, 2020 by Maria Pendolino

Amy Pritchard Launches Gain Power to Connect Left-Leaning Professionals

Do you want to enact political change in 2020? Meet Gain Power. You can do more than vote on Election Day! Blue Wave Voiceover recently spoke with Amy Pritchard, the founder of GAIN POWER, a new online collaborative community for creative change-makers, campaigns, socially conscious businesses, influencers, activists, disrupters, creative artists & more. Blue Wave Voiceover is proud to be listed in the directory at Gain Power as a progressive voiceover collaborator available to work on political ads, mission-driven spots and Democratic content.

“We’ve built a platform to facilitate professional networking, marketing, jobs, storytelling, professional development, shared events, resources, and market space for the people working to gain power in US electoral and legislative politics,” Amy says.

You can use Gain Power to find professional opportunities in the political sphere. “There are so many different ways to be impactful,” says Amy. “It just depends on your skills and interests.” If you have skills in graphic design, photography, illustration, coding, writing, social media, data and more, you can be an asset to a political campaign. Your passion also helps!

Why Now

GAIN POWER is ready to take part in what will be a historic election – on the federal, state and local levels. Campaigns are spending more money than ever – and voters are dealing with unprecedented issues. “2020 is a perfect storm of unique and historic moments colliding,” says Amy, who first launched the organization Democratic GAIN in 2003. GAIN POWER is the group’s next generation and new iteration.

“We have a Presidential campaign happening at the same time as our census and preceding the next redistricting. We are operating during one of the largest global pandemics in our lifetime which has already crashed our economy and raised unemployment to levels this country hasn’t seen since the great depression,” she continues. “All the while being led by the most divisive President our country has ever had.”

Democrats and progressives can make real change in 2020 – but getting through to voters may be a challenge.

Important Political Issues in 2020

Amy predicts that a number of issues will be important to voters in the 2020 election. “I think if we get COVID-19 under control, then managing rebuilding our economy will dominate the debates and discussion with health care closely following that,” she says. “It will be interesting to see how voters feel about progressive issues like Medicare for all – raising the minimum wage, earned paid sick leave, a universal minimum income or any other issues change as a result of the fall out from this pandemic,” she continues. Amy also predicts that student debt and climate change will be influential issues in the election but notes that no group is a monolith. Differences and priorities among voters of various backgrounds shouldn’t be overlooked.

Reaching Voters with Effective Ads

To connect with voters in this ever-changing political landscape, campaign ads (and the people behind them) will need to be innovative and creative. “Good storytelling with a powerful message and messenger is the basic foundation,” Amy explains. But to really add a hook and take your ad to the next level, you should “add humor, heroism, tragedy or any other strong emotion.”

“There is so much content in every media competing for voter attention right now,” she says.

You can find more information about GAIN POWER at its website: https://www.gainpower.org/

How Will the Election be Affected by Coronavirus

March 13, 2020 by Maria Pendolino

Political Messaging During a Pandemic

All across the country, large cities and small communities are taking the advice of government officials and the CDC to restrict large gatherings to try to stem the spread of the Coronavirus. As more and more towns follow suit, the question of how this will affect the 2020 election cycle — and workers, from public servants right on through the gig economy — is ever prevalent. Of course, we are in the early days of these bans, but we don’t know how drastic the effects will be in the long run for political campaigns or how the election will be affected by Coronavirus. If rallies, events, and canvassing are not possible, it is important to consider the problems that might arise and how we can tackle them head-on so information can reach voters.

No doubt campaigns for elections all over the country are putting their thinking caps on to figure out a way to get important messages about their candidates and causes out to those who need to hear them. With restrictions on movement and quarantining, many voters will be getting to know their candidates through political commercials and radio spots and robocalling. This means there will be a greater demand for voiceovers — and in particular, freelance home studio voiceover talent.

How the Election will be Affected by Coronavirus and Political Voice Talents with Home Studios

Voiceover artists live every day in a fast-paced and quick-turnaround industry: we might have to provide a demo for an audition, book a job, and be required to send in the final, edited recording all in the same day. Because of this, most voiceover talents have their own broadcast-quality home studios. With soundproof booths, high-end microphones, soundboards, and the best audio software to produce top-quality audio, they are streamlined, self-sufficient studios, able to get jobs done quickly and effectively. Better yet, they don’t need to come into contact with anyone outside of their own home, making the CDC-recommended precautions easy to fulfill.

This is all to say that the show must go on — indeed, will go on — and if spreading political messages has to go fully digital, the voiceover talents at Blue Wave Voiceover are ready. Each member of the collective at Blue Wave Voiceover is able to produce high-quality voiceover recordings for political commercials with a fast turnaround time, because everyone in the Collective has a professional home studio, is flexible and understands the needs of ad agencies and producers and their tight deadlines.

How Voiceover Can Help with COVID-19 Preparation

As companies from every industry are trying to advise employees and consumers on new safety regulations and new policies of operation, they will need to send out videos, phone messages, commercials and all kinds of messaging that feature voiceover. Blue Wave Voiceover has diverse, experienced, and bilingual voiceover talent with home studios, who are all well versed in medical and scientific terminology.

It is times like these, where we are looking at policies with a close and critical eye, that campaigns have the opportunity to prosper. It might be that politicians and causes will have to change the way they reach their voters, but technologies and social media are on our side. With clear messaging and an expansive outreach, we can get a candidate’s ideas out and within the voter’s reach. Through quickly produced, yet exceptional quality voiceover, Blue Wave Voiceover is dedicated to showcasing the voices of every voter in an effort to bring forth a Blue Wave in November. Our voice talent of all ages, races, genders and sexual orientations — voices that look and sound like America today — are all prepared to work even harder to elevate the voices of reason.

The Shifting Electoral Map: This Isn’t Your Parents’ Red State

February 17, 2020 by Maria Pendolino

Demographics are Changing, and the Voting Patterns

The 2016 election brought a shock to the shifting electoral map. States that were previously thought to be part of the “Blue Wall” were no longer the safe havens they were once thought to be. But some states, though impervious to Democratic advances, have also begun shifting, creating new challenges for candidates in these changing districts to reach potential voters. Especially with shifts in the media ecosystem making it harder for political advertising voices to cut through.

Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were all part of what had previously been considered firmly Democratic states, ensuring a Democratic presidential candidate a considerable number of electoral votes, with Ohio being the Rust Belt state that was often considered a swing state and a huge focus for political advertising dollars. But 2016 upended those preconceptions, with all 4 states failing to go Democratic, albeit by slim margins in the former “Blue Wall” states.

Introducing: Purple States

However, Democratic fortunes in formerly unassailable states like Virginia and Arizona are raising hopes of activists there. Arizona is trending toward a much more purple state, with victories both on the state and local level by Democrats, including Senator Kyrsten Sinema, 5 of Arizona’s 9 U.S. House seats, and the Secretary of State. The party remains in the minority statewide however, holding only 42 of 90 State Senate and House seats, and lost the governor’s race in 2016 by 15 percentage points.

Virginia is in the process of becoming a fully blue state, with all major statewide seats, both Senators, and the majority of both houses (by the slimmest of margins) held by Democrats. Growth in the metropolitan areas around Washington D.C., bolstered by influxes of northern transplants have fueled this change. Residents of these states can expect to see a huge surge in Democratic political spots hitting their airwaves and streaming platforms.

Other southern states like North Carolina have experienced similar changes. It became a firmly purple state in 2008, when Barack Obama won the state, and in 2012 when he lost it by a very slim margin. Growth in Charlotte and the Triangle area has fueled the balance, though it may be some time, if ever, before the state consistently votes Democratic.

They Do Say Things Are Bigger In Texas

The biggest prize is still out there: the purple-trending state of Texas. The Lone Star State has been solidly red for decades, but some cracks have started to appear in the expected areas: high growth urban areas like Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, all fueled by the same migration patterns that have brought northern transplants to other Southern states. Democrats have pushed to move the state into their column for years, and are hoping to see this shift happen in the next 20 years. Given the number of electoral votes at stake, residents of Texas can expect to hear political voiceover in their living room right up until Election Day 2020.

For political voice actors supporting and voicing for progressive and liberal causes, ample opportunity is available, as these areas are and will continue to be flooded with advertising in this high-stakes electoral season. These states are growing more diverse; in Virginia, 3 in 4 new residents are people of color since 2000. But growth in diversity is not limited to the South: U.S. News and World Report states that Colorado Springs, CO and Henderson, NV have some of the fastest growing diversity rates in the country.

And as advertisers and candidates look to reach out to this growing, diverse population, finding the right voices to reach all segments of these areas — with voice actors who look and sound like the people moving into and living in these regions — will be the key to reaching voters for decades to come.

George Washington III is an 18 year veteran of the voice over industry based in Charlotte, NC. His voice has supported many national and local brands in television and radio, on the web, and on Internet radio like Spotify and Pandora. He has called Charlotte home for 22 years. You can find samples of his work at voevolution.com.

“Us Kids” — A New Documentary, Directed by Kim A. Snyder

February 13, 2020 by Maria Pendolino

After the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 students and teachers on February 14, 2018, survivors of the tragedy mourned, then gathered and organized a movement of activism. Us Kids, directed by Kim A. Snyder, follows the Parkland students as they move across the country rallying for common-sense gun laws and the end of school shootings. The film produced by Impact Partners will be a part of the Sundance Film Festival in 2020. Gun control remains a central issue in the overall Democratic platform and candidates, campaigns and organizations alike continue to look for ways to get the message out in their political spots.

Not Her First Rodeo

This isn’t Snyder’s first documentary film about school shootings. Her film, Newtown, about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016 before being presented at festivals worldwide and on PBS’s Independent Lens and Netflix. It went on to win a Peabody Award. Her short, Lessons From a School Shooting: Notes From Dunblane, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018. The short won the DocDispatch Award at the 2018 Sheffield DocFest, and a Grierson Award nomination. It is now available to stream on Netflix in 196 countries.

Gun control and gun safety would appear to be a cause close to Kim A. Snyder’s heart. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter Snyder said of her upcoming film, Us Kids, “We’re very inspired right now with the youth movement. We’ve been doing a new project based in Parkland with some of the students here, so our body of work is really a trajectory of five years — probably more — of really trying to put a narrative on this sort of, hopefully, tipping point in our country that addresses gun violence.”

The Beginning of A Movement

After the shooting, survivors started March for Our Lives, a movement of activism that aims to “harness the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives,” according to the website. Activists have led marches around the country to bring attention to the epidemic and to support legislation for tighter gun laws.

According to CNN, there have been 31 mass shootings at K-12 schools since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida. There have been 142 mass shootings since Newtown. 100 Americans are killed every day as a result of gun violence. It is through activism and in survivors telling their stories that we can hope to bring about positive change.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/parkland-doc-works-newtown-director-kim-a-snyder-tribeca-film-festival-2018-1106925

https://marchforourlives.com/mission-story/

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/14/us/school-shootings-since-parkland-trnd/index.html

A voice talent and co-founder of Blue Wave Voiceover, Debbie Irwin can also be found at DebbieIrwin.com.