I promised to update the earlier post about my brief brush with the Star Wars galaxy when Lego’s “Quest for R2D2″ using my opening narration was finished. The animators did a knock-out job with some really cute gags and some spectacular action. Have a look!
One piece of advice I’ve received about marketing and self-promotion is to get out in public and show what you know. So when my friend Shawntel Landavazo at the Museum of Life and Science (Durham, NC) called to ask if I’d participate in their Hollywood Special FX Day, “Heroes, Villains, and Special Effects”, it seemed like the right thing to do. It was, too!
But be warned: demonstrating live sound effects and foley, on your feet for five hours, is physical exercise! I hadn’t thought of that. “Ready for my Icy Hot pain relief creme commercial, Mr. DeMille!“
The Museum show was a big hit, with larger-than-expected crowds. There were stuntmen doing stage combat, a pro make-up artist creating zombies, and computer SFX software developers. I spent my time showing how both recorded and foley (live to picture) sound effects made the visuals more fun to watch. I was surprised that my semi-ad-libbed flow held the attention of both kids and adults. There were a few questions about voiceovers as well.
Speaking of Big Hits…the part of my routine which made the biggest hit, literally, was how to have a pistol that never runs out of ammo! Take one cardboard box, one yardstick, and careful aim. After trying to synch it to an old cowboy movie, I would offer the kids a whack at it…literally.
I’m sure there are many parents now having second thoughts about letting their kids near that crazy old guy with the cornstarch snow-footsteps, the swordfights made with kitchen spoons, and the recording of a woman clearing her throat he slowed down into a dinosaur growl.
"Empire Rules!"
The only bad part for me was that I didn’t get much time to check out the other presenters. But I did realize my hope of getting a picture with one of the Empire’s Best! The Stormtrooper was part of The Carolina Garrison. It’s the North Carolina/South Carolina chapter of the 501st Legion, part of a world-wide group of enthusiasts who craft their own Star Wars costumes and props, and make appearances at charity and community events with the blessings of Lucasfilm.
I didn’t get to meet their Lord Vader, but there were some very convincing troopers, a full-size R2D2, and a Boba Fett posing for pictures with kids of all ages.
It’s anyone’s guess how much this will advance my voiceover career. But it was fun having people interested in hearing what I know and how I do some of the things I do. And I’m sure it didn’t hurt anything that this was one place where the kids didn’t get told, “Don’t try this at home!”
– over and out –
I’ve been a die-hard Star Wars fan since well before that June 1977 story in Time Magazine put the rest of the world on alert as to what was coming.
So you can imagine the thrill I got at becoming even a small part of that much larger world.
The people at Lego have created a new online game
using the characters from the Clone Wars animated series. To promote it, they’re producing a “mini-movie” about “The Quest for R2D2″ which will run on their website (and possibly on Cartoon Network). I auditioned for / and was cast as the sound-alike for the series’ dramatic narrator.
With just a few short lines, I’ve now secured a place (albeit a tiny one) in the Star Wars universe! It’s fulfilled another seemingly impossible ambition of mine…and greatly enhanced my standing with my 11-year-old son and his buddies!
My thanks to TapeWorks for recommending me, and to my friend Wendy Zier for introducing me to Doug and the studio. A link to the finished video will be provided once the project is completed.
– over and out –
Yikes! I knew I’d been buried in my work, but a quick glance at the date of that last post made me cringe.
No, I haven’t closed shop. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. But the project I’m on (while in no way a Star Turn) has kept me at the console almost day and night since the end of January. And I say this with all gratitude, even though I’m exhausted.
Mind you, last fall I had little idea I’d be so busy when others I know are having such a rough time. But through the efforts of a wonderful friend, I was made aware of a 12-month writing/production gig — a 5-day-per-week 1-hour show on XM/Sirius for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Obviously, since I’m now so busy, you can guess I was the one who got the job. And while it’s good to have a dependable retainer for the first time in many moons, some hiccups in the development process saw a two-month lead time evaporate into a week…then a matter of days.
Still, like that bumper sticker which tells you not to complain about farmers with your mouth full…I’m plugging away at editing existing recordings from guest speakers at The Billy Graham Training Center At The Cove, writing the bridging elements for the house announcer to record and send to me, then adding music, trimming, and mixing the finished 1-hour show for delivery via ftp. With the exception of my initial contact, the wonderful Bob Souer, I’ve never even met any of the people I’ve been working with-and-for in the past frantic months.
Mind you, there have been other voice jobs, and the comedy murder mysteries to do in the meantime. But until I finally manage to work ahead to any degree, I think you know what (and Who) has my first priority.
If praying is something you already do…pray some physical endurance for me. If not…good vibes and vitamins wouldn’t hurt anything either!
– over and out –
copyright 2004, 2009 State of Florida
Perhaps disproving the old adage
“an ill wind blows no good”,
the folks at disney i.d.e.a.s. provided me with a fun project,
narrating a kids’ online storybook about tornadoes.
Tom LaBaff’s whimsical illustrations gave me plenty of inspiration (along with the usual expert direction from the studio folks).
Click here to get to the website. Then click on the “Read The Story To Me” picture to start the flash presentation.
I guess all those years of reading to my kids paid off.
…and I guess I should also thank my Mom and Dad for the hours they spent reading to me when I was a little “whirlwind” myself.
– over and out –
Yup, for the next full year, I’ll be extolling the virtues and excitement of the PGA Tour on radio and television, in what has turned out to be the single highest-paying one hour booth session I’ve ever done.
And to add to my sense of humility: after spending close to two years and mucho dinero seeking out self-promotion knowledge, this job came gift wrapped. I had been cast before I even knew about the gig, through the good offices of someone who had my demo and put me forward for the job (thank you, Joe at Procomm!).
Sounds backwards, but sometimes it works better when I stop trying to make it happen!
Excuse me now while I get back to studying this “golf ” stuff. I may need to know how many strikes you get before you’re out.
– over and…uh…out –
Rubber-faced frustration in my first print ad (back when i had hair to pull) about bank service.
…if you can just survive long enough to use it!
Happy New Year, by the way. And it appears as though that may be more than just a generic greeting, the way work is shaping up for 2009. But more on that in another post.
Some of us believe “everything happens for a reason”. Some of us believe that reason is because the Universe hates us. But even cynical ol’ me had to admit today that a number of downright annoying experiences actually have a silver lining (and a paycheck), if only because…I’m a Voice Actor.
Case in point: a job doing some audio character work for a multi-media presentation produced for Days Inn on customer satisfaction. And dis-satisfaction. They gave me a range of scenarios where I was the same guy with a problem which needed resolving. The directors guided me through positive moods like “above and beyond”, to “neutral reaction”, to “slightly aggravated”, to “highly aggravated”.
The scenes involved a tired traveler with a fouled-up hotel stay made worse by a broken air conditioner.
Those who know me have already guessed that I nailed the “highly aggravated” scene in one take. It was the upbeat and appreciative guy I had to work on (but it still only took about three takes for him).
Honestly, I do try to hold my temper with individuals who are trying to help solve a problem they themselves had no fault in creating. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have that invective-laden tirade formulating in the back of my frazzled mind all the while.
Mere mortals must either give vent to their frustrations in the moment, or stifle the urge and compound their frustration by supressing it.
But we…! We fortunate actors (including voice actors) can at least take some small comfort in knowing that if we can file the experience away for future use, those feelings can be channeled back into a script at some future time, adding a welcome element of truth to a performance.
And it can literally provide a “payoff” to life’s rich pageant of frustrations, which most people are never able to enjoy.
…the trick is not to burst a blood vessel or die of a monster ulcer before that payday arrives!
Now you’ll have to excuse me while I phone tech support to find out why those #*@%!! morons haven’t fixed the problem with my *$!@%** DVR yet!
– over and out –
Merry Christmas…to those of you who enjoy being wished Merry Christmas.
Because I ran out of postage funding before being able to send this year’s card to all of you…
…and because my CD budget is also in need of a bail-out, here’s a link to the audio file of the skit which accompanied the card:
http://www.voices2go.com/transfer/temp/santabailoutmixdown.mp3
it may take a few moments to download.
May you find your share of Peace and Plenty in the Year to come.
– over and out –
It’s not too difficult to make a monkey out of me. But never has it been done so creatively.
Tom Morse and the crew at SAS in Cary, NC came up with some clever ways to liven up the product demo to their new data management software. I don’t pretend to understand what it does, but that doesn’t matter. SAS only needed me to provide some voices, which they then put into animation. The style is akin to the Jib-Jab folks…or as my friend and webmaster Lou Dalmaso pointed out, even more like the Terry Gilliam animations for Monty Python. I play both the super-intelligent chimp here (Dr. Peabody, aka Bobo), and the not-so-bright reporter. See if you can guess which looks more like the real RG.
Here’s a second “interview” with the starship’s computer.
Many thanks to Tom (and SAS) for permission to share.
By day…an anonymous Voice, selling luxury autos, extolling the virtues of financial planning or healthcare systems, hawking the latest fast-food sensation, entertaining with a quick audio laugh, or providing sage instruction for the corporate masses.
But by night…Ah! Cloaked in one of many ingenious disguises (although they all seem to be variations on an overweight old man)…the Nemesis of evildoers and murder most foul!
Okay. My secret identity has been blown…exposed in a three-page spread in Southern Living Magazine which profiles “It’s A Mystery!”, a comedy/mystery ensemble I’ve performed with over the past 13 years. We’ve done shows for corporate events and public venues, for audiences as diverse as GlaxoSmithKline, Pinehurst, even the FBI.
And since the group was officially formed by boss-lady and fellow Voice Talent Marjorie Strauss, I’ve been the detective for the majority of our shows (we have eight, some storylines bring in additional talented actors).
It’s part scripted, part adlibbed, with as much audience participation as we can muster…which is what keeps the experience fresh when we’re doing the same programs over and over. Though only a few of the cast are actually musicians, we play together like a fine jazz combo.
The characters are pure stereotype. Living cartoons, some of them. That helps us wring laughs out of an otherwise grim premise. And it gives us not only a license to “kill”, but to assume different voices which match each new outlandish persona.
Mine range from the typical jaded guy in a trenchcoat and fedora, to a lovable-but-clueless good ol’ boy who has a part time security service located “just east of Resume Speed on Route Four”. And, of course, each would-be detective has his own sound. My only limitation is finding one that fits both the character and how I appear in person. No hiding behind the microphone in this case, which is a challenge, but still fun.
Why do I always play the detective in the story? Why, when there are so many other rich characters and caricatures available in each new scenario?
One: unlike almost any other actor I know, I hate “dying”. Tried it. Don’t like it. Won’t do it. I also tend to like being a sympathetic character…which many of our “victims” decidedly are not.
Two: (and most telling) as the detective, I always use a notebook, pretending to jot down clues as the plot unfolds…which makes it perfectly natural to have the entire scripted portion of the show in my hot little hands at all times! Not only am I able to be a prompter for the rest of the cast (though they rarely need it), I haven’t had to memorize a show in over thirteen years! Now tell me that’s not the mark of a true Radio Actor!
Anyway, if you’re unable to track down a copy of the November 2008 Southern Living (and we’re only in the bonus section of the North Carolina/South Carolina Edition), you can uncover more of the secrets of “It’s A Mystery” at their website: www.itsamysterync.com.
Oh, and in case you should find yourself part of our audience in the future…here’s a hint: the Detective never does it…and it’s never Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick!
– over and out –
Rowell Gormon's Clogged Blog