Jennifer White | Film, TV & Theatre Accents

ABOUT

Hi, I'm Jennifer

Below you'll find details of my background, training and a list of the Dialects & Languages I've coached.

Dialect Coach Jennifer White Globe Theatre London

At the Globe Theatre, London

Background

I'm an Australian born woman, but grew up as a child in Vanuatu speaking 3 languages ... French, English and the island creole language Bislama. I was surrounded by people and voices from all over the world and that's where my deep love and fascination for accents, culture and human expression began.

I went to French primary schools in Vanuatu and Australia so I have a lived experience of what it's like to completely and authentically change your voice, accent, language and the expression of your personality. My father also spoke 9 languages so I grew up mimicking those even though I didn't speak them fluently.

Before training as a Coach, I was a professional actor, singer and voice-overs artist touring Australia/New Zealand so I've walked in a performer's shoes and know what directors, casting directors and producers require from their cast.

I've performed in 2,000 seat theatres, been the solo Guest Singer at a VIP Dinner for the Prime Minister of Australia, and recorded voice-overs for leading brands such as NRMA and Prouds Jewellers.

As a Coach, I've coached feature films, television, theatre, musical theatre, cabaret and internationally televised live events watched by millions of viewers globally. My production credits can be viewed at Dialect Coach. I've also taught and lectured at prestigious professional performing arts training institutions in Australia, and am a long term casual teacher at the renowned National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.

" This above all: to thine own self be true"
Shakespeare

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Qualifications & Training

Voice

Post Graduate Diploma (Voice): National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney
* Trained in voice, dialects, phonetics, anatomy, linguistics, script work, Shakespeare, poetry, singing, voice overs, microphone use, voice for screen & ADR, character voice, and more

Acting

Bachelor of Arts (Acting): University of Western Sydney (Nepean), Sydney
* Trained in acting, voice, singing, movement, improvisation, Laban, Suzuki, Shakespeare, Chekov, stage combat, fencing, mime and more

Singing

Professional musical theatre and cabaret singer
* Over 25 years' training and professional experience in musical theatre, opera, jazz and cabaret

Voice Overs

Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS)
* Short course: booked within 2 weeks by leading voice-overs company recording with them for 10 years for leading brands including NRMA, AMP, Prouds Jewellers and Kennards Hire

Teaching & Lecturing

Teacher

National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney.
* 2009-current: long term casual teacher for Masters of Fine Arts (Voice) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) degrees. I teach full time students in: voice, dialects, voice overs, text work, dialects for screen work, vocal direction for the theatre, and coach 3rd Year Acting's public productions
* Past NIDA teaching includes: Masters of Fine Arts (Directing), Diploma of Stage & Screen Performance, Diploma of Music Theatre and NIDA Open Program general public short courses

Lecturer

University of Western Sydney (Nepean), Sydney
* Bachelor of Arts (Acting) degree: Lecturer in voice, dialects, text & performance for 3 years
Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS), Sydney
* Bachelor of Arts (Directing) degree: Guest Lecturer

Guest Teacher

Australian Institute of Music (AIM)
* Bachelor of Music (Music Theatre): teacher in voice, dialects, Shakespeare & voice-overs
Screenwise
* Guest Dialects Teacher: General American accent

ACCENTS & DIALECTS

Coached to Date

I've coached actors and singers to speak or sing in 50 dialects and 18 foreign languages.

Australia & NZ

Standard Australian, Educated Australian, Broad Australian, Greek Australian, Standard New Zealand, Wellington, Maori

UK, Ireland & Scotland

Received Pronunciation (RP), Advanced RP (Period), Standard British, London, Cockney, West Country (Gloucester & Somerset), North Country (Liverpool, Manchester, Yorkshire & Lancashire), Northeast (Geordie), Dublin, North Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Europe, Asia & Africa

French, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Swedish, Danish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Lebanese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Indian, African & South African

North America

General/Standard American, Los Angeles, New York variants (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Jewish, Latino), Midwest (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois), New England (Boston, New Hampshire), Southern variants (Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia, Texas), African-American, Puerto Rican, Standard Canadian, Gander, Newfoundland

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Coached to Date

I've coached singers and a choir to sing in foreign languages for internationally televised events

Productions

Actors and singers have been coached to speak or sing in the following languages for their roles in film, theatre and musical theatre:

French, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Hungarian, Serbian, Polish, Yiddish, Arabic

Events

Singers have been coached to sing in foreign languages for internationally televised live events broadcast to millions globally:

Netball World Cup: I was the Foreign Languages Coach of National Anthems for the Opening Ceremony at Sydney Olympic Park. I coached Australian choir 'Vox' in the sung pronunciation of the national anthems of Malawi (Chichewa language), New Zealand (Maori), Samoa (Samoan), Singapore (Malay), South Africa (Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho & Afrikaans), Sri Lanka (Sinhala) and Wales (Welsh). All anthems were sung live at the Opening Ceremony and televised globally.
International Rugby World Cup - Australia vs. France: I coached leading lady of music theatre Patrice Tipoki (Fantine in Les Misérables) for the French national anthem "La Marseillaise", sung live at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne in front of 50,000 people.