We were lucky to catch up with Marabina Jaimes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marabina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

When I look back at the last 4 years, I am filled with gratitude. Yet 4 years ago, we had the life altering Pandemic. It’s a blessing to know that I survived the world being shut down, but this huge obstacle was also a seedbed for success for the Creative Risk Takers. This universal “pause” made it possible for so many to write the book, the song, the script, create the film, web series, talk show – albeit through Zoom. And speaking of technology, the geniuses in that space prospered more than ever and we all became quick studies! How? Why? Because Life always finds a way…to grow…to move forward..to survive.
As an actress with a son newly accepted into College, I had to figure out how I was going to survive when my industry had literally been “shut down” . I meditated hard on this, seeking the answer to this conundrum. Out of the blue, I got a call about Coaching Voice Over. I took the risk…wrote the curriculum based on my 25+ years in the Industry in two languages, set up my home studio, got @SourceConnect and I started coaching VO at “Academia De La Voz”, the only Bilingual, Virtual, Accredited Voice Over Academy. Along with my partners – Director/Producer Dantonio Alvarez (All Rise, This Fool), and his father, Spanish VO Legend Tito Alvarez – we’ve had the pleasure of Coaching hundreds of students from different parts of the country and internationally.

Marabina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Many know me as “MARA”, the Emmy Award Winning Host of a little show called “Storytime!” with Kino (Mark Ritts, RIP) which started locally on KCET and aired on PBS in the 90’s. I’m always thrilled to run into fans, who are now parents themselves, and glad to know their young readers have discovered “Storytime” on Youtube! My TV and Film credits include “Bosch: Legacy”, “Casual”, “SMILF” “East Los High”, White Oleander, Coco. Setting my sights on the next Emmy, I’m writing and collaborating on a few On Camera Television projects of my own.
I’m an Omni and Telly Award winning Producer/Host for @TheTrendTalk, which I co-produced/co-hosted during the Pandemic with Bel Hernandez from LatinHeat. As a Voice Over Talent I have recorded hundreds of Commercials – in both English and Spanish – (Taco Bell, Ikea, Wells Fargo, Smart & Final, Old Navy), Animation: Carmen in “Santo Buguito” “Rugrats” , Video Games: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Marvel: Spiderman, Unchartered, Dubbing: several projects for streamers including Netflix’s Love Is Blind: Mexico, upcoming Pedro Paramo, Ayla and the Mirrors, The Manny, and more. I’ve done ADR for hundreds of projects including For All Mankind, Shades of Blue, Lincoln Lawyer, Acapulco, and more. I had the pleasure of Casting and Directing the ADR/Looping for the 2024 Imagen Award “Best Comedy Show” Winner, Chris Estrada’s “This Fool” on HULU.
I have sat on the Voice Over Committee at SAG-AFTRA, been a guest on the SAG-AFTRA Podcast En Espanol, I have participated on many Union Panels on Voice Over, Latinas in Hollywood, and a special screening at SAG-AFTRA of “Now En Espanol” (Directed by Andrea Meller – PBS), a well received documentary I narrate and am highlighted in, about the lives of the actresses who dubbed Desperate Housewives in Spanish simultaneously during its 8 year run. I’m a proud Voting member of ATAS (@TelevisionAcad – Emmys) and honored to sit on the Performers Governors Executive Committee. Delighted to be a SOVAS (@SocietyVoicearrts) Judge and do their yearly “Demo Speed Dating” event.
I believe that “The Voice Does The Buddha’s Work”. Communication is more important than ever, but the confidence to “take the risk” is something that has to be worked on daily. I find that most actors don’t really practice what they want on a daily basis. – so when an audition comes up, its a very stressful event. Voice Acting IS acting – the whole body is involved – therefore I suggest that my students do tongue twisters daily in a particular way to get their bodies involved. Also, there are so many genres of voice over – animation, commercials, video games, audio books, dubbing, narration, ivr, etc…) but many actors don’t drill these different styles, so again, when, let’s say, a dubbing audition comes up, it can be a stressful event. And then of course, actors wanting to do Voice Over work, but not creating a good Demo! If you’d like to know more about my Voice Over technique, in English or Spanish, or VO Demo Production, please follow me at @MarabinaJaimes or visit www.MarabinaJaimes.com.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

LEARNING!!!

“When One Teaches, Two Learn.” Here are my faves:

a) Getting positive feedback from a student is great, but seeing that student thrive and grow and feel resilient because they’ve mastered the art of taking the risk is incredibly rewarding!

b) Taming the Inner Critic – especially important in Voice Work because the Voice doesn’t lie!

c) Accepting that feeling scared is just part of the process. Feel scared, but take the risk anyway!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That I can only be one thing.

While others were trying to “limit” me as a “Spanish” actress (even if I was born and raised in Glendale, California) I made it a point to learn and get hands-on experience in as many aspects of my business as I could. Finding Voice Over, and being lucky enough to work in all of its areas – from animation to video games to dubbing, in 2 languages – made it possible for me to work consistently. No one has the corner on your success….you have to find a way to succeed in your corner!
I tell my students that I believe that actors are like trees: the more branches, the more opportunities.
I encourage my students to drill the different genres of Voice Over, and to also work on Character Voices, Accents, Languages, Placement, etc. And ask for help! People who are good at what they do, want to share!
@MarabinaJaimes
Professional Inquiries: @CornerstoneTal or www.DPNTalent.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.MarabinaJaimes.com
• Instagram: @MarabinaJaimes
• Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/MarabinaJaimes
• Linkedin: https://www.LinkedIn.com/MarabinaJaimes
• Twitter: @MarabinaJaimes
• Youtube: @SesameMusicTelevision/Kinos Storytime on PBS KIds

Image Credits

@VinPixPhoto

@JoannaDegeneres