11.21.12 Recommendations

7/30/2019 11.21.12 Recommendations

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Mary McDonald-LewisDialect Coach Recommendations

[email protected] 503.705.1363 www.marymac.comRave reviews from selectedfilm, television and theater projects on which I have served as dialect coach.

FILM & TELEVISION DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS, WRITERS

Tourette Syndrome, Front of the Class, Hallmark Hall of FameNeither Jimmy Wolk or Dominic Scott Kay had Tourette Syndrome in real life... they had a dialectcoach to work with them the entire time. Mary McDonald-Lewis, also the voice of OnStar... wastheir coach. She did an amazing job working with them for over 5 weeks. Brad Cohen, real-life subject ofFront of the Class, a Hallmark Hall of Fame Production

Watch MaryMacs work on Front of the Class: http://tinyurl.com/bfwx57n Various dialects, accents, languages, Leverage, Electric EntertainmentYour services were invaluable, and you'd only think I was flattering you if I told you about all the

great feedback we got from both the actors and writers who worked with you. I look forward toseeing you again during Season 3. John Rogers, Creator, Leverage

Watch MaryMacs work on Leverage: http://tinyurl.com/a6zepxk

FILM & TELEVISION ACTORSPlease see the end of this document for a longer letter from star of Leverage, Gina Bellman!

Italian accent, Leverage, Electric Entertainment

I did an Italian accent in the season opener and I had to speak Russian and a little bit of German.They have an amazing dialect coach. Jeri Ryan, Guest Star ofLeverage

Various dialects, accents and languages, Leverage, Electric EntertainmentSophies natural accent is the English one I use in the show although my own accent is a hybrid ofNew Zealand and British. Sophie is a woman of mystery -- she has a repertoire of accents that shechanges as easily as changing clothes (helped along by my brilliant dialect coach MaryMcDonald-Lewis). Gina Bellman, Star, Leverage

Vampire accent, Being Human, Muse Entertainment EnterprisesI had my ideas as did the show runners, and we were trying to find a balance as far as what shesounds like. Fortunately I work with an amazing dialect coach, Mary McDonald-Lewis. She and Idesigned an accent and a voice for Suren that was a little bit American as well as a little bit British.We modernized her voice slightly and made it slightly more youthful than Mothers. One of mymain priorities on the first day was communicating with (executive producer) Adam Kane aboutwhat they were looking for and how I felt about the character. Then it was a matter of bringing inMary McDonald-Lewis to communicate with the show runners and with me so that we were allspeaking the same language and finding the characters voice.


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Dichen Lachman

North Carolina, Tidewater region circa 1945, Valley of Light, a Hallmark Hall of Fame productionMaryMac approaches the work not only as a coach but as a fellow actor with a director'sunderstanding. In our project together she was extraordinarily diligent, ever-present, alwayspositive and personable and quickly became a highly-valued member of the cast & crew family.She is just the kind of person we all want on our project to raise the level of our game. Jay O. Sanders

North Carolina, Tidewater region circa 1945, Valley of Light, a Hallmark Hall of Fame productionMary was always available and very supportive. Ready with instructions on how to improve, butdid not make you feel stupid or uncomfortable if the dialect was difficult for you to achieve. It wasa pleasure to work with her. Betty Moyer

STAGE ACTORS

German/Yiddish circa 1935,Address UnknownWhile working onAddress Unknown playing Max Eisenstein, Mary guided me through aGerman/Yiddish accent. Mary understands the importance of embracing the accent as an essentialpart of the character. She gave me the skill to incorporate the dialect without giving me any sort of"line reading." The sound of the substitution, the placement in the mouth, where the soundresonates -- these were all key. It was crazy, but at times I felt I was German speaking with anAmerican accent. I have asked Mary to help me since and will in the future. Michael Mendelson

Southeastern Texas, Laundry and BourbonMary was there to help the actresses quickly hone in on the different shades of a Texas accent over

a very brief rehearsal period. Her ear is amazing and so is her readiness to share her knowledge ofdialect resources. Being able to listen to a native speaker outside of rehearsal at the websiteMaryMac sent me to helped me deliver a decent dialect rendition for the play's Texas setting. Siobhan Caverly

Western Ireland, Sea MarksI was very happy to have had Mary's assistance as a dialect coach during the Mt. Hood Repertoryproduction ofSeamarks, by Gardner McKay. Mary helped me to create a believable Irish dialectfor a part of Ireland that doesn't exist. Basing it on the separate dialects of two geographically close- yet culturally disparate - regions of Ireland, Mary worked with me in a manner that was both

rigorous and patient. By the end of our session together, I felt ready to tackle my character in amore detailed and grounded manner. Thank you, Mary. Patrick Wohlmut

County Devon, England, House and GardenMaryMac has the ability to take complex and seemingly impossible dialects and make the soundchanges simple and doable. Recently, I went to her in desperation for a difficult West Countrydialect that I wasstruggling with, and though the theatre had hired a dialect coach, it was Marywho gave me useful and specific advice. As an actor, she understands that dialect is more than justchanges in sound, but also in rhythm. She worked with me so that my character sounded like a


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real person and not just an actor doing a dialect. Eleanor O'Brien

County Offally, Ireland, By the Bog of CatsMary McDonald-Lewis coached Irish dialect for a production ofBy the Bog of Cats in which Iappeared. She quickly and efficiently found and recorded speech samples from - not one - but twoCounty Offaly men for us to cut our teeth on. She guided us through individually, and as a group.The result was as authentic a rendering of the speech from the exact Irish locale in which the playwas set as could be had - an opinion that was echoed by more than one native speaker of thedialect. Chrisse Roccaro

Llechryd, County Cardiganshire, Wales, Scotland RoadMary's instruction in the Welsh dialect was absolutely amazing. She gave me both the big pictureand the little things to hold to tightly. Her ready knowledge of resources was invaluable as it let melook here and there for voices that spoke to me while keeping me on the right path. I highlyrecommend her services. Teela Lebrum

American Mid-Atlantic, Scotland RoadI very much appreciate the assistance Mary McDonald-Lewis provided for me for my character inScotland Road. Mary's process of modeling for me and her supportive correction was invaluable. Iam most thankful for the pointers she gave me, and I am appreciative of her further effort to helpme by providing websites to give me more listening and modeling practice. Arlene East

Farsi, BetrayedI got a last-minute call from the Sound Designer for GableStage asking me to record the voices ofthree Iraqi translators. How fortunate for me that I have a friend in MaryMac! Although wereseparated by some 3,000 miles, within a few hours Mac provided me with numerous tips andresources. They were spot-on exactly what I needed to turn the assignment around with speed andaccuracy. I had all the tools I needed to surrogate-coach the talent; it was as if Mac was sittingbeside me. She made me a hero in the eyes of the Director. And, how flattering to read thefollowing from the Miami Herald review - the very first sentence: "This is like a drop from the seaof sadness," one Iraqi acknowledges in his plea for U.S. asylum, a haunting voice-over fromGeorge Packer's play, Betrayed. Dave Corey

STAGE DIRECTORSAntique Received Pronunciation, The Importance of Being EarnestIve had the fortune of working with a lot of dialect coaches over the last 20 years. MaryMac is inthe top two of my list, the other now serving as the coach for the Guthrie in Minneapolis. Chris Coleman, Artistic Director, Portland Center Stage

German and Received Pronunciation, KinderstransportMary McDonald-Lewis provided dialect coaching for an actor involved in a performance I directedofKindertransportby Diane Samuels. The actor, a diligent young teen, needed to be fluent with


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both a German and RP dialect.Mary's approach to coaching is gentle, progressive and comprehensive. Mary disarms anddemystifies the dialect, by providing clear anchors for the actor. She gives a clear intellectualoverview, efficiently trains the actor in basics and swiftly incorporates the dialect into the text.Mary models and provides the practice that enables the actor to gradually find their feet with thedialect, build confidence to independent work. Mary's supplemental resources - a CD with the textlaid down with explanations, provided continued guidance for the actor for review andclarification and continued practice.Our experience was immediately gratifying. Mary is a consummate professional and I would workwith her again. Sacha Reich, DirectorCockney and Received Pronunciation, Robin HoodMary's work with my cast was impeccable. Each member was given individual attention. I can'timagine a better value for the money. I learned a lot just listening from the background as sheworked with the actors.I had several comments from the cast about her professionalism and approachability the next day.We were very happy with Mary as our dialect coach.

Brian Allard, DirectorWelsh and Mid-Atlantic English circa 1914, Scotland RoadMary McDonald-Lewis provides an amazingly accessible way to learn dialect and properpronunciation. Using contemporary techniques like finding appropriate films and recordings, Maryalso has the deep- rooted knowledge of where particular sounds originate from in both the body'sgeography as well as the earth's geography.Moreover, she can assist with finding the "proper pronunciation" for various contemporary soundsstyles, like mid-Atlantic and new British.Mary provides excellent support tools and coaching, with the ability to record dialogue in accent,and to follow up and apply precision to early work with dialects. She is a resource for an entirecast, even if only one character's dialect is present in the project. Watching and hearing Maryteach the dialect allows other cast members to watch a level of work and commitment that thencreates a desire to emulate their own voice work for their character voices.Best of all, Mary is joyful in her love of sound, and the bodies that carry them. She provides anaccuracy that surprises audiences. I felt I tapped only a small slice of all the knowledge andexpertise she possesses. Mary provides not only voices, but vibrations from the past. She shouldcoach every actor, if only to experience her love of characterization. Rebecca Lowe, Director

CRITICS

By the Bog of CatsIrish playwright Marina Carr's By the Bog of Cats is lush but long-winded,beautiful but bitchy. Like Medea in ancient Greek mythology, Hester Swane (Marilyn Stacey)dabbles in fratricide and laments feelings of abandonment.The play takes place in the Midlands of Ireland on the day her ex-lover Carthage (Jason Maniccia)is to marry the lovely young Caroline Cassidy (Amaya Villazan).... much of the accent work issurprisingly clean and lyrical, thanks to dialect coach Mary McDonald-Lewis (who also playsCatwoman in the show). Joanna Droubay, Critic, Willamette Week


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Robin HoodI was very impressed with the dialect work on Robin Hood. ...fine work with the entire ensemble.They all seemed very comfortable in the Sherwood Forest world. Not only was the tone right, butclarity was never sacrificed. Altogether, the actors' speaking had a consistently clean, "right" soundfor me. Richard Wattenberg, Critic, Oregonian39 StepsOne final tip of the tam o'shanter to longtime Portland dialect coach Mary McDonald-Lewis who'sdone wonderful work here, especially with Pierce and Smith. Michael McGregor, Critic, Oregonian

The Body of an AmericanThe Body of an American is the story is about the relationship between two men, Dan OBrien, awriter, and photojournalist, Paul Watson. The twenty or so characters are played by just these twoactors. And they do it exceedingly well! Goaded along, Im sure, by not only the director, butalso by the Dialect Coach, Mary McDonald-Lewis. Dennis Sparks, Critic


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Thanks to Skype and the internet, Marys brilliant dialect coaching can travel the world with me,in more ways than one!Gina Bellman Leverage TNT

To Whom it May Concern,

When I first approached the role of Sophie Devereux in TNTs Leverage, I did so with a littletrepidation. The character was described as fluent in at least twelve languages and capable ofmastering any accent or dialect at the drop of a hat! We were often scheduled to complete anepisode in less than seven days. Averaging two accents per episode, this left me virtually no timefor preparation.

I have had the privilege of working with many fine dialect coaches in London and Los Angeles, butnone as effective and enthusiastic as Mary McDonald-Lewis. She is tenacious in her research,making recordings and providing aural, visual and editorial references. For my benefit, she haslearned speeches in Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Arabic, coached me through Boston,Minnesota, New Jersey, Atlanta, Georgia and General American as well as France, Egypt, India,Scotland and countless other countries!

Her particular strength, apart from having an outstanding ear is her flexibility in terms of adaptingto the actors particular technique. In my case, I hear dialect in a visual way, as if reading sheetmusic and have my own range of symbols and arrows that I apply to the text. Mary has been ableto adapt her teaching technique to accommodate my strange symbols and has embraced my

personal approach to her teachings.

I look forward to collaborating with MaryMac throughout my career. She has provided me with afantastic repertoire, confidence and a library of cds and reference folders that will be invaluable inthe future.

Very sincerely,

Gina Bellman

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11.21.12 Recommendations