Hollywood dialect coach speaks at York

Posted on Wednesday 26 November 2014

Andrew Jack, whose film credits include working with the cast of The Lord of the Rings, Troy, Calendar Girls and Batman Begins, will speak about his working life in the Hollywood film and TV industry.

A leading dialect coach in the UK and USA, Andrew Jack began acting before moving into teaching, giving him a distinctive insight into performers’ needs. Working with actors including Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Scarlett Johansson and Hugh Jackman, he has a wealth of experience in a unique area of film production.

Dr Dominic Watt, Senior Lecturer in York’s Department of Language and Linguistic Science, said: "Coaching actors and voice-over artists in how to do different accents and dialects without the cracks showing is a key element of creating the illusion of reality or authenticity in films, TV shows, and advertisements. The training that Andrew Jack and his fellow dialect coaches give their clients may be 'invisible' in the finished product, even though the quality of the entertainment we enjoy owes a lot to their skills.

“The convincingness of the American accents used by British actors in US TV shows such as The Wire is a testament to the effectiveness of current coaching techniques, and it reveals a perception in the entertainment industry that getting an accent or dialect right is something worth investing a lot of resources in. We are delighted to be hosting Andrew for a public lecture here, not least because it will give our students a fascinating insight into one of the many applications that a training in linguistics and phonetics can be put to."

The lecture will take place in the Bowland Auditorium, Berrick Saul Building, University of York from 4.00 - 5.30pm on 3 December, followed by a reception of mulled wine and mince pies. Tickets are free but currently sold out.