LOCAL VOICE AND DIALECT COACH DENISE WOODS HAS A WAY WITH WORDS
Denise Woods is a voice and dialect coach who worked with actors on “The Harder They Fall.” She also has written a book, “The Power of Voice,” with stories from Mahershala Ali, Halle Berry and Soledad O’Brien. Photo provided by Lydia Eady
church service. They would laugh, talk and they would become the people. It was the start of Woods’ journey to becoming a dialect and voice coach.
the spot.
had developed way back at the table on Sunday afternoons with my mom and my sister,” she said.
dialects and accents from different parts of the country. She has worked with Taye Diggs on his Jamaican accent in “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” and Jeffrey Wright on his Dominican accent in John Singleton’s “Shaft.”
education level is considered.
you’re around,” she said.
their drama school training. She teaches the sound and rhythm, as well as where the voice is placed, in the back of the throat or in the nose. It makes a distinct difference.
She decided to write it as a book, and wanted to invite her friends to share their narratives. All of the stories relate to voice, how triumphs and traumas impacted people’s voice. It is crafted so
people can be inspired and empowered, with how-to tools at the end of every chapter. It is part memoir, part anecdotal, part prescriptive.
to reach out to young girls and young boys at a very young age and empower them, as well, to be able to stand up for what you believe in, stand up for your truth,” she said.
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