For the legions of Mike Rowe fan-girls (and boys) out there, good news...The quintessential 'everyman' Rowe was tapped to narrate the U.S. version of the "The Human Planet," the new Discovery series produced by the same team as "Planet Earth;" a production four years in-the making.
The voiceover honors in the UK went to someone with a more traditional "nature documentary sound" instead, great British actor, John Hurt, who most Americans know as "The Elephant Man," and the "guy whose stomach the alien busts out of in 'Alien'"...and you thought Mike Rowe was the only one with the "Dirty Jobs"..?
"Hello, Sydney..." C'mon, admit it. Those words still send a little chill down your spine, don't they?
Well, our deeply talented, versatile friend and colleague, Roger L. Jackson, is back...and soon to be scaring the bejeezus out of all of us again in "Scream IV"...
Here's the behind-the-scenes interview featuring Neve Campbell, Wes Craven and Roger himself (in silhouette, naturally), discussing how director Craven kept Roger hidden away from the rest of the cast to keep them unnerved and off-balance when they received mysterious phone calls from "The Voice."
A little additional background not mentioned in the video...Roger was originally cast just to be a "stand-in voice" on set during the shooting of the first Scream movie in Northern California. Wes Craven fully intended to dub someone else voice in later, but Roger's work was so good that he had Drew Barrymore genuinely terrified during their phone exchange, so Wes decided to keep him. The rest, as they say, is cinema history...
We'd also like to thank a couple other friends of InsideVoiceover, voice actors, Chuck Wedge and Kathy Goodin, for calling this video to our attention.
Inside Story/Scream - Phone Call From Hell: "Roger L. Jackson talks about playing the voice of “Ghostface” and making scary phone calls."
Apple + Peter Coyote voiceover = as good as it gets...
Ad copy:
VO: This is what we believe. Technology alone is not enough. Faster, thinner, lighter — those are all good things. But when technology gets out of the way, everything becomes more delightful, even magical. That’s when you leap forward. That’s when you end up with something like this.
The Loop: "Apple's TV commercials are almost as legendary as its products and there is a new one released for the iPad 2. Dubbed 'We Believe' the commercial talks about..."
Thanks to voice actor, David Houston, for posting this fun segment from "Rachel Maddow Show" on the peculiarities and difficulties of pronouncing proper names and certain words properly---even for TV Broadcasters. (e.g., "ar-KAN-zis River" vs. "AR-kin-saw," the state.)
Bonus: Several excellent online pronunciation resources are provided so that if you ever have to pronounce the President of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika's name in a script, you'll actually know how to say it...
David Houston blog: "This segment from Wednesday's The Rachel Maddow Show serves to remind that, even (especially?) for those of us who talk for a living, some words and names are more problematic than others."
Pixar announced the cast and released concept art for its 2012 summer movie, "Brave" earlier today. As long-rumored, "Brave" will be Pixar's first film with a female lead (finally). A fine, fine cast once again. (Interestingly, original lead, Reese Witherspoon bowed out, and was replaced by an authentic Scottish actor, Kelly Macdonald.) BTW, I'd heard of several Craig Ferguson "sightings" around San Francisco over the last year...now we know the reason why...
Entertainment Weekly: "Pixar announces cast and concept art for Pixar’s summer 2012 movie Brave. The film...is set to mark big changes for Pixar, as it is both their first traditional fairytale and their first motion picture featuring a female lead.
Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane)."
Nickelodeon brings back "Saturday morning cartoons" in a big way. Their recently announced jam-packed animation production schedule should translate into lots more opportunities for animation voice actors, too. Contrary to conventional wisdom, most animation directors are open to working with new talent, as long as it's really, really, really good new talent...In other words, why should they take a chance on you when they can hire a proven, reliable talent? You've got to give them a reason to hire you by cutting through with an audition that's strong, compelling and original enough to grab their attention.
NY Daily News: "Nickelodeon will roll out nearly 200 episodes of new animated programming on Saturday mornings in 2012, as part of a larger, three-year commitment to the genre. By the time the three years is up, Nickelodeon will have aired an unprecedented 450 episodes of new animation. 'The stuff that lasts the longest and probably appeals to the broadest audience, really still is animation and always was," says Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon and the MTVN Kids and Family Group. "Even things like 'Seinfeld' come and go and 'SpongeBob' hangs around.'..."
In this excellent 8-minute video from a recent voice acting seminar, veteran voice director, Christine Coyle, the Creative Director from Dick Orkin's famous Radio Ranch, walks two participants step-by-step through the process of looking for clues and cues in the commercial dialog copy that lead them to make more interesting and far funnier choices. You really get a good glimpse into the creative process of this experienced and talented voice director; and how it is that she's been able to consistently draw such great, funny performances out of voice actors for years.
Event sponsor, Danoday.com: "Text analysis is the most vital skill for voice overs. Christine Coyle (Radio Ranch) demonstrates how to get the most..."
Movie stars I get; at least they're actors, but Warren Buffett..? No one can beat him at investing; and children (and their parents) could stand to be better educated about money, that's for sure, but as far as keeping kids engaged and entertained for 22 minutes? THAT is a whole different ball game...sigh...
Media Post: "The Hub, the fledgling kids/family network from Discovery and Hasbro, will debut a limited series featuring an animated Warren Buffett, who also provides the voiceover... As to Buffett's compensation, a Hub representative said that is a matter between Buffett and the production company..."
H/t to Friend of InsideVoiceover, voice actor, Aileen Casas (via Bay Area voice talent, Owen Thomas) for this breaking story; a follow-up to last week's post about Gilbert Gottrfried's firing and AFLAC's plans to replace him through a nationwide open casting search. (http://bit.ly/hWd0vB)
SF GATE: "Aflac is opening the field to people who want to take a quack at doing the new voice of the insurer's ever-abrasive duck mascot. Aflac Inc. will begin accepting submissions on Wednesday..."
Interesting. Most of these tips can be applied to voice acting with a couple of notes/clarifications...
>Pauses ARE extremely important in voice acting, but they should never be forced, or inserted artificially. When you pause, to make a point, after communicating a thought, it shouldn't feel forced or unnatural.*
>While physicalizing is critical to voice acting, what they intend to discourage in this article is flailing about and non-speciifc movement. Any physical movement you make in the booth, should be purposeful and speciifc; when you gesture, it should feel natural and done for a reason.
* True, today is "Talk...like...Shatner. Day"..., but do it on your own time, for fun; not in the studio.
"Actingbiz provides free acting information and resources for actors and actresses of all ages. Includes articles about auditions, agents, managers, casting directors, and more. (RT @castingfrontier: DailyTip: Act with your voice, your eyes, and face. Use your energy to enhance, not detract. http://ow.ly/4evwY)"
Seth Goodin puts into words what many of us have been wondering: "Are the "gatekeepers─the pickers─indeed fading away?"
If so, what are the implications for voice actors?
Those of us who have been around the voiceover industry for more than ten years have already witnessed significant shifts in "gatekeepers," as more and more clients have turned to online data bases (e.g., Voicebank, Voice123) to find talent for their projects; often bypassing traditional voice talent agencies altogether. And with constantly improving, cheaper, and more portable technology, the landscape ten years out may look totally different, yet again...We may have a totally new set of "gatekeepers;" either human, or possibly even digital ones.
At any rate, I think that voice actors would do well to take Seth's advice that you shouldn't just be waiting around for someone to "pick" or "annoint" you to heart, because way too many of us, use this excuse as a justification for doing little or nothing while we wait (present company included). Ultimately there is only one person who is responsible for advancing your career and you don't have to wait around for him or her to pick you. Tag─you're it!
From Seth's Blog: "...It's a cultural instinct to wait to get picked. To seek out the permission and authority that comes from a publisher or talk show host or even a blogger saying, "I pick you." Once you reject that impulse and realize that no one is going to select you--that Prince Charming has chosen another house--then you can actually get to work."
An exclusive interview with "Flight of the Conchord's" star Jermaine Clement at the World Premiere of "Rio" in...where else..? Rio.
Early buzz is that his evil cockatoo, NIgel, steals every scene he's in, and the song he wrote for the film, "Pretty Bird" is being singled out as the best thing in the movie. If so, we can save you the $11; just scroll down to the bottom of the page and watch it.for yourself...You'll thank us for it, because it will put you in a good mood for the rest of the day...
Some very wise advice every actor should heed, from Chicago-based actor/coach, Wendy Braun.
Pay particular attention to # 4: "STOP COMPARING."The author is absolutely right about this being "actor death" I've seen far too many talented actors on the edge of succeeding, blow themselves up because they were unable to let this one go...
Wendy Braun: "A lot of actors...love to blame their agents, casting directors, traffic, and even celebrities for the lack of work/auditions that are coming their way. It’s definitely the easy way out, but it also makes you the victim of your circumstances and makes you feel powerless...The problem is, it perpetuates negativity. You convince yourself you can’t move forward and then gather more evidence from other actors. All this blaming and complaining just makes it easy to stay stuck and helpless."
A MUST READ...Excellent interview with internationally renowned voice coach, Patsy Rodenburg. If you've never heard of her, maybe you're familiar with some of the actors she's coached....Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Ralph Fiennes, Joseph Fiennes, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Natalie Portman, Daniel Craig, Orlando Bloom, Joseph Fiennes, and Ewan McGregor. Now do we have your attention?
The Guardian: "The voice encompasses so many things," she says. "Everyone comes on to the planet with a fantastic voice, but people lose it. The voice is about communicating, engaging, how you show yourself, how you speak, how you listen...Unless you connect to the text, the audience won't be able to connect with you..."
Smart, practical advice from an industry 'insider' on how to interact successfully with your talent agency courtesy of the savvy team at Brainsofminerva.com, "a career and lifestyle guide for the enterprising LA actor."
Though this article is directed more toward the on-camera actor, most of the tips and suggestions apply equally to voice actors: furnish your agent with up-to-date marketing materials; follow instructions carefully; be considerate of others and their time; be well-prepared for auditions and jobs; don't embarrass your agency; use common sense and common courtesy.
Any of you who work at talent agencies out there, are welcome to chime in...
BrainsofMinerva.com: "S.M. is an actress who regularly works in television and voice over and interns for a boutique agency in Los Angeles. She requested that this piece be published anonymously."
To take antihistamines or not take antihistamines...THAT is the question.
I find that Ann Utterback, PhD's web site, OnlineVoiceCoaching.com is a great resource of information on vocal health and how to maintain it. Here's a recent post on how to best deal with allergies if you're a voiceover or broadcast talent...
Even when you think you know-it-all...you really don't. Not only CAN you learn from others in the voiceover industry; you MUST learn if you want to stay relevant, fresh and keep your skills up to date.
The Actors Voice: "You know the type. The actor friend who knows EVERYTHING. She's seen it all. He's done it all. She's heard it all. He's experienced it all. Absolutely nothing you tell these folks comes as a surprise because apparently there are no surprises in their lives, since they're experts on all things, ever...How sad."
This eye-opening article from TalentZoo, which while not specifically written for an audience of voiceover professionals, makes a great and very important point which most definitely applies to voice talent...If your storytelling skills aren't finely honed, and you aren't really engaging, and persuasive to your listeners, your chances of getting the job diminish. Even a great set of pipes and top notch recording equipment can't make up for an uninteresting, detached performance...Time to get reading...
Talent Zoo: "Studies regarding bias and decision-making, initiated by the 2002 Nobel Prize winning psychologist, Daniel Kahneman, find that the “vividness bias” is one of the most persuasive tools in the communication toolkit. Indeed, studies find that “vividness” will sell what analytical tools won’t. And what is vividness? It’s colorful, animated, lively, exuberant information—the stuff found in a good story. Dull stuff may be equally or even more valuable, but it won’t get the hearing of a good story..."
Smart, easy-to-understand advice on what you need to do and what you should avoid doing to keep your voice in top competitive form as you get older.
There are definitely fairly simple things you can do to keep your sound-making apparatus in top shape. The good news is that it DOESN'T require Botox, or other expensive treatments, but like any exercise regimen, it will only work if you commit to doing it regularly.
Ann Utterback, PhD, Online Voice Coaching: "In my last post, I looked at the effects aging has on the voice. Several of my tweeps have expressed concern about how this ..."
Stephanie Ciccarelli from Voices.com makes some very good points in this short video about how you're more likely to be successful at booking jobs from online casting sites, like hers, if you're able to take a step back and view yourself and your strengths as a voice talent honestly and objectively, as an agent would. InsideVO Adds: Same good advice applies anytime you're developing and creating materials to promote yourself---from demos to logos to websites.
Voices.com: "Wish you were booking more of your auditions? When auditioning on your own, it's important to think like an agent. During this video, you'll learn how to ge... (RT @bnjackson: Check out this new video from @voicesdotcom. "
BREAKING from "Voice Actors in the News:" "Thanks to Maurice LaMarche, co-founder and co-creator of International Talk Like William Shatner Day (and creator of the first video), wishing William Shatner a Happy 80th Birthday..."
An interview with veteran voice and video game actor, Rob Clotworthy. Rob, who's been working steadily as a voice actor since he was 15, shares his insights into the process of preparing for and acting in video games. As far as fan interviews go, it's one of the better ones.
DIALOGUE JUNKIE: "We had the privilege of interviewing Robert Clotworthy, the man behind the voice of Captain Jim Raynor in StarCraft and StarCraft II. He answered questions about his life, career, and state of dialogue in the industry. "
Surprising, inspiring video. Blind film critic, Jay Forry, describes how he uses his hearing to "watch" movies... If you're involved in any part of the audio production or sound design process; it will make you look at and appreciate your chosen field in a whole new light...
I think this is good for a person who is in the audio field because it teaches a lot of what you will need to no to be good in your field.Like listening in more and understanding sound.This source is a major helper for anyone thinking about joining the audio industry because it explains a lot you need to no to be successful. It is also a very reliable resource for learning about sound design for music and film.
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