Boticelli’s Goddess of Love and Beauty, as depicted in the classic painting, The Birth of Venus, walked into my office for an accent lesson. Her name was Jo Newman. All I could think was that I hoped she could act as magnificently as she looked.

She could. Could she ever!

Jo Newman is a New York trained actor who recently made the move to Los Angeles. After graduating from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, Jo landed roles on television shows such as The Sopranos, Gossip Girl, Law and Order: SVU, and Guiding Light. 

November 2010 will mark Jo’s feature film debut working under the direction of the illustrious Edward Zwick in Love and Other Drugs. She appears as Bree in a scene with star Jake Gyllenhaal. The film also stars Anne Hathaway.

I did mention that she just graduated from Tisch, didn’t I? The résumé she has compiled is impressive for any actor, especially a recent graduate.

Jo’s dedication to her craft led her to me. With her cascade of red/ginger tresses and green eyes, she wanted to be prepared to play an Irish lass. She came to learn an Irish accent. And yes, it was voted as the world’s sexiest accent. You can thank Colin Farrell for that, I believe. And Jo Newman had no intention of winging this beautifully lilted sound.

She wrote…

“Walking into your office was one of the best decisions I have made for my career. Your infectious energy, clear knowledge of accents, dialects, and colloquialisms in our hour session made me feel completely prepared and confident to walk into any audition speaking like a real Irish woman.
 
You have an impeccable ear and are so in tune with the voice, that the work sounds completely natural and easy. I cannot wait to continue our work together.   

I feel as though my time with you has added an invaluable skill to my arsenal. Every actor should master their accent work with you!”

 
Jo Newman is not one to rest on beauty to get her noticed. I compare her to Halle Berry, whose career launching role as a crack addict in Jungle Fever amazed Hollywood and audiences. Jo dives into her work unconcerned about pretty lighting and make up. She is an actor eager to embrace all roles, regardless of their lack of glamour.

In the short, “Expired” directed by Mike Colton, she plays a drug addict’s girlfriend who is self absorbed and lost and cannot comprehend the desperation of her situation.

I was blown away by Jo, not solely with her incredible ability to master the Irish accent but her acting chops are just so powerful. Incorporating accent with character is extremely important. She got that. This elegant creature transformed into an Irish working-class girl seamlessly and believably.

Even Colin Farrell would have been impressed.

Jo Newman is represented by Josselyne Herman and Associates in New York and Los Angeles.

Check out her website.

www.Jo-Newman.com

“He’s a wonderful actor.  He can [do] the accents and the whole thing.”

Jodie Foster
 

“One of my favorite characters…one of the real treasures…”

Roger Ebert
 

I’m a firm believer that having a passion for accents, dialects and language is key to being a great accent teacher and I am happy to bring P.J. Ochlan on my team to help me help you. P.J.’s love for words and people make him a tremendous coach that translates to great results for you. His keen ear and ability to recreate dialects has enabled him to land various accented roles and after decades of honing these skills P.J. is now helping others do the same.

P.J. uses the techniques that I use which are focused completely on how the individual student learns. I have developed a strong and quick process for accent learning which encompasses the spelling out of new sounds sometimes derived from your natural accent. And P.J. uses IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) if that is more comfortable for you, whatever elicits the right sounds.

P.J. was born in Long Island, New York to Italian American parents and like me, was surrounded by many cultures in his neighborhood. He speaks German, has a good command of French (2 years of French Intensive at UCLA) and is learning Mandarin, so his aptitude for foreign sounds is extensive.

As an actor, P.J. has worked under directing legends that include Jodie Foster, Garry Marshall and Tommy Schlamme, producing icons including Scott Rudin, David E. Kelley, Brian Grazer, Carsey/Werner and Aaron Spelling, and for every major studio and network.

Among P.J.’s big screen achievements are several notable films including the role of Damon Wells in Little Man Tate, for which he was submitted for an Academy Award nomination.

On television, P.J.’s been a four-time series regular, along with guest and recurring appearances on numerous other top shows, resulting in several network submissions for Emmy nominations.

He’s also done over 30 national commercials and many voiceovers for which his skill at accents was a big plus.

P.J.‘s stage highlights include a Broadway production nominated for three Tony Awards and a critically acclaimed performance in Joseph Papp’s historic New York Shakespeare Festival.

On radio, P.J. currently serves as an on-air personality and Creative Director for several stations, where his extensive voice work includes several regular shows and features.

Among the other hats stacked up in P.J.’s career closet are stand-up comedy (including headline engagements at L.A.’s legendary Comedy Store), sketch comedy, hosting, writing and directing for both stage and screen. He also has frequent speaking engagements and serves as an announcer and emcee for special events and arts organizations.

Member of:

ATAS (Academy of Television Arts & Sciences)
SAG (Screen Actors Guild)
AFTRA (American Federation of Television & Radio Artists)
AEA (Actors Equity Association)



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