Monster & Creature Voice Masterclass

A two-day intensive for actors and voice specialists

Dive into the art and craft of monster, creature, and extreme voice performance for film and video games. Join monster voicing legend Sébastien Croteau (Canada’s Monster Factory), vocal health expert Karen Esposito (Speech & Language Therapist and Vocal Coach), and extreme vocal coach & singer Aliki Katriou for a rare opportunity to explore the depths of vocal stunt work and vocal effects — while learning how to protect and extend your voice.

What You’ll Learn

A comprehensive toolkit for mastering monster, creature, and extreme voice performance — combining science, artistry, and sustainable practice.

• Vocal health, myth-busting & protection strategies
• The realities and challenges of creature voice acting
• Classification, archetypes & physiological mechanisms behind vocal effects
• Individual coaching to isolate and activate specific vocal structures
• Onos & grunts applied to creature vocalizations
• Creature sync with video animation for realistic performance

Schedule

Two-Day Intensive | 10:00 – 18:00 each day
Lunch is provided both days. Please let us know if you are not an omnivore or have allergies.

Day 1 – Foundations of Creature Voice Work

10:00 – 13:00 | Introduction to Creature Voice Acting and the Science of Vocal Effects (with Sébastien Croteau)

Key Topics Covered

• Definition and key characteristics of creature voice acting
• Realities and challenges of this niche field
• Vocal archetypes and their influence on performance
• Core elements shaping creature voice design
• Debunking myths and misinformation about extreme vocal techniques
• How to classify different vocal effects and recognize their main characteristics
• Vocal anatomy and the physiological mechanisms behind sound production
• What current science reveals about extreme voices and rough vocal effects
• Understanding the limitations of current research — and where more study is needed
• Overview of training methods for developing extreme voices sustainably
• Applying Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (or not) in extreme voice training
• How working with a qualified extreme vocal coach supports progress and vocal health
• Key factors in choosing the right coach for your vocal journey

13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch
Sandwiches, fruit, snacks & sweet surprises.

14:00 – 16:00 | Vocal Health Masterclass (with Karen Esposito)
Karen Esposito takes us deep into vocal health and the do’s and don’ts of protecting your voice. In the voice industry, misinformation abounds — at best, it’s ineffective, and at worst, it can damage your voice. Karen is on a mission to change that. We are honoured to have her share the latest wisdom in best health practice, along with essential advice on how to respond when asked for “a scream too far.”

16:00 – 18:00 | Vocal Technique Lab (with Aliki & Sébastien)
Discovering how to isolate and activate rough or extreme vocal effects can be tricky without expert guidance. Because every voice is unique, the entry point for each effect is different from person to person.

This part of the Masterclass ensures that every participant receives direct, individual attention. While one person is guided with feedback, the rest of the group benefits by observing, as the advice and corrections often apply across multiple vocal effects. This creates a collaborative environment where everyone learns not only through their own exploration but also from the shared experiences of others.

Day 2 – Getting Practical

10:00 – 12:00 | Onos and Grunts: Phonetic Script and Recording Strategies (with Sébastien Croteau)

• The main characteristics of onos and grunts
• Understanding how onos and grunts affect vocal load and stress
• Identifying vocally stressful sounds and classifying them by physiological demand
• Techniques for creating natural, sustainable variations
• Using phonetic scripting to support vocal consistency
• Guided practice with live feedback
• Recording insights and preparation strategies

12:00 – 13:00 | Vocal Technique Lab II (with Aliki & Sébastien)
Further exploration of rough and extreme vocal effects with guided, hands-on practice.

This part of the Masterclass ensures that every participant receives direct, individual attention. While one person is guided with feedback, the rest of the group benefits by observing, as the advice and corrections often apply across multiple vocal effects. This creates a collaborative environment where everyone learns not only through their own exploration but also from the shared experiences of others.

13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch

14:00 – 17:30 | Creature Sync (with Sébastien)
Developing the ability to sync vocal performances — whether creature or human — with visual movement. Through practical exercises and guided practice using short animation loops, participants will learn to time and shape their sounds to match on-screen motion. This process enhances realism, precision, and expressiveness in vocal performance for games, film, and animation.

Key Topics Covered

• Reading rhythm and tempo in animation
• Identifying key movement cues (breath, weight shifts, impacts, recoveries)
• Practicing vocal sync across a range of animated clips
• Receiving live group feedback and correction
• Developing timing, precision, and vocal endurance through repetition

17:30 – 18:00 | Cooldown & Wrap

• Gentle vocal cooldown
• Open Q&A with instructors

Who Should Attend

• Actors wanting to dive into creature and monster work
• Vocal talent seeking to expand into extreme voice performance
• Designers & directors interested in hearing their creatures voiced (observer tickets available)

Observer Tickets

Creature, monster, and alien designers are invited to join as observers.

• Submit a sonic brief (images/video welcome) of your creation
• All submissions will be protected by an industry-standard confidentiality agreement

⚠ Limited participant slots available. Tickets are first come, first served - book early to secure your place!