In a World is a Comedic Look at the World of Voice Over Artists

Just the other day UBN Radio co-owner Ann Walker had our mutual friend Nita Whittaker-LaFontaine and her daughter on as guests right on the heels of their appearance of the NBC talent competition show “…And The Winner Is…”.  What most people don’t know is that Nita is the better half of voice-over legend Don LaFontaine.  LaFontaine was dubbed as “The Godfather of Voice-Over” and his sound was unmatched by any other voice artists in the world when he coined the phrase “In A World…”.    As a result, when Don’s life, career and voice were cut short after a courageous fight with cancer, the search to fill his void was on.  Women who were voice-over artists have had and still have a hard time dominating the world of promo and trailer voice-over work.  To date, the only female voice-over artist to break this mold is Melissa Disney, who is the voice of the “Gone In 60 Seconds” trailer.  Enter Director, Writer and Star of In A World…Miss Lake Bell, who portrays Carol, a voice-over artist/vocal coach proficient at accents and finds herself competing with her Dad for the VO gig of a lifetime.  Being a voice-over artist myself, I found this film to be absolutely true and hysterical!!!  The twists and turns from the Daddy/Daughter competition, love story of the engineer in love with Carol, the hot” vo guy of the moment” dealing with the possibility that his career may be jeopardy and the betrayal of his “best vo bud”  who just happens to be Carol’s Dad and his competition, the reality that Dad is having  mid-life crisis affair with someone the same age as his daughter to finally the marriage of Carol’s sister being in jeopardy of an affair.

One of the funniest moments of the film for me was watching Carol stalk strangers for an opportunity to record various accents for her archives, which results in her being banned from the laundry room of her sisters apartment complex.

At the end of the day, Carol prevails and snags that golden gig from her Dad only to be told by the executive producer for the film that she was chosen for feminists reasons and not because she was the best.  Carol realizing that being the best in voice-over is more a dream for her Dad, she ultimately ends up doing what she does best…coach others into being the best they can be.

Bell, in her feature film directorial debut and winner for Best Screenplay at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is setting the tone for more women to enter the world of directing.  Other notable performances were given by Nick Offerman, Alexandra Holden, Michaela Watkins, Tig Notaro, Fred Melamed, Rob Corddry, Stephanie Allynne, Demetri Martin and Geena Davis, who all help bring the world of voice over to life for this film and had me dying from laughter!!!!

Catch In A World at theatre near you…you won’t be sorry!!!!