RECOMMENDED INSTRUCTORS
These instructors specialize in concepts that = success!
Here at Abacus, we support other instructors outside of our company. This is a listing of those instructors that we recommend.
Jodi Gottlieb
PROMO INSTRUCTOR
Jodi's roots are in NYC theatre, where she honed her directing skills. From advertising production work with accounts like Campbell's, 3M, Bristol-Myers and more, she moved to L.A. to pursue production and stayed.
Jodi has written & produced award-winning promos for CBS, ABC, NBC, Showtime, TBS, USA, ABC Family and more! She co-authored the industry book "TV: Sex, Lies & Promos" and has been teaching voiceover promo for 20+ years.
COACHING SPECIALTIES:
TV Promo • Commercial Reads & Character Studies
Diakeim Iyles
CASTING DIRECTOR
Diakeim Lyles has been a commercial casting Dir. for the last 20+ years. First at Liz Lewis casting partners for 8 years, working on numerous on-camera commercials and voice-over castings. Diakeim now works independently with various casting houses in the New York area. Current and previous Casting co. include, Brooke Thomas Casting, Envision Studios, House Casting, Allison Twardziak Casting, Liz Lewis Casting to name a few. He recently completed casting projects for All-State Insurance, Spectrum Cable spot (for Liz Lewis Casting) and indie film “The Caller Returns”. Diakeim is a private virtual acting coach for VO and On-Camera auditions and teaches commercial audition classes at Actors Connection NYC, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Wright Way Coaching and other schools around the NYC area. Actors respond to his outgoing personality making them feel relaxed during auditions.
COACHING SPECIALTIES:
Casting • Directing
Dara Rosenberg
AUDIOBOOK INSTRUCTOR
Dara is an accomplished voice-over artist & audiobook narrator, recognized nationally for her extensive work in audiobooks and commercials. Between herself and her romance alter ego, she's narrated over 300 audiobooks.
Dara specializes in coaching audiobook narration and the business of VO as a full-time career.
COACHING SPECIALTIES:
Audiobook Narration
Anne Ganguzza
INSTRUCTOR & PRODUCER
Anne is a powerhouse L.A. Voiceover Talent & Producer, bringing decades of experience to the New York scene.
Anne’s enthusiastic, engaging personality draws clients and students alike – and her no-nonsense approach to the business is refreshing. Through customized coaching sessions, Anne works with voiceover talent to develop a broader range of real-world skills applicable to their careers.
COACHING SPECIALTIES:
Medical Narration • IVR + Messaging • eLearning • Corporate + Tech
Robb Moreira
SPANISH & CHARACTER INSTRUCTROR
A successful working Voiceover Talent who specializes in both Spanish and English Commercial work, Robb is currently the voice of “Pushy the Push Pop” , and has worked commercially with McDonald’s, Lunazul Tequila, Yves Saint Laurent, Pepsi, National Geographic, Fisher Price, AT&T ++
Robb works with students to build foundations of bilingual voice acting success. He focuses on Commercial skills, and offers guidance for today’s multi-cultural voiceover market.
COACHING SPECIALTIES:
Spanish VO • Commercial • Radio Imaging
Melanie Fox
DIALECT COACH
Melanie Fox empowers actors and performers to master dialects of English and Spanish from around the world! She is an acclaimed dialect coach (you name the dialect!) with a Master's Degree in Linguistics. She is also an accent reduction coach, helping both non-native English speakers and speakers of regional dialects of English articulate clear, confident English. She is truly an ACCENT WHISPERER!
Through her brand, Speech Fox LLC, Melanie customizes her classes to fit the unique needs of each client. She can mark up your sides for an audition or your scripts for a role you've landed -- so you nail the accent with an authentic sound and in record time!
Speech Fox lessons are available or via Zoom, and by special request, face-to-face in NYC or elsewhere.
COACHING SPECIALTIES:
Dialect Coaching • Accent Reduction for Non-Native Speaks • Accent Reduction for Regional Dialects • Speech & Vocal Training • Spanish Pronunciation
Zach Betka
VIDEO GAME INSTRUCTOR
Zach Betka is a BAFTA and WGA nominated interactive narrative writer and director. In his decade plus of being in video games he has narratively crafted of some of the most globally resonant products of the medium: from Call of Duty at Activision; to Battlefield and Need for Speed at Electronic Arts, to League of Legends and Valorant at Riot Games (just to name a few).
From working with talent throughout the entire casting process, to writing the game scripts themselves, to directing the voice over sessions, to implementing in-game: Zach is a leader in both the creative and technical pipeline of video game voice over.
COACHING SPECIALTIES:
Video Game VO • Video Game Writing
