Voice Over Vernacular - The "Three in a Row" Edition

Term: "Three in a Row"

AKA: "A-B-C takes"

Correct use:
Often used on shorter pieces of copy, a direction of "three in a row" or "ABC" denotes allowing the talent the autonomy to tackle three ideas of a piece of copy within the boundries of the direction set forth by the producer or director. The expectation is for three distinctly different takes from the performer.

Incorrect use:
As quickly as possible, rattling off three of the exact same reads without pausing for air, leaving the listener with a breathlessly urgent feeling.

SomeAudioGuy Gettin All Artsy With Some Photography

Happy Friday!
Just wrapping the week up with some flowers I recently shot at Descanso Gardens, where Mrs Audio Guy and I went to celebrate our anniversary.
Enjoy!

Some Audio Guy Microphone Featured During The Acadmey Awards!

Ok, so I've been sitting on this one for a little while, but I had to wait to make sure everything was clear to use these samples.

This is just flippin cool!

A friend of mine works at the production company that was responsible for doing the graphics and inserts for the Academy Awards. They needed microphones, and my pal called me up (since we already know, I've got a few microphones).

 They rented a Canon EOS 5D Mark II (my current dream camera) to shoot video elements, and I got to snap a few stills with it (reinforcing dream camera status).

Here's a tiny little snippet of how some of the video was used.

Bonus points if you can tell me which mic it is!

I gotta say thanks to Prologue Films, one for letting me man handle my dream cam, and two for letting me see one of my mics on a movie screen!

Why My Wife is Awesome!

She buys me toys!

See, today is our five year anniversary, and to celebrate, she didn't buy me just ANY toy, she bought me a Japanese re-issue Soundwave Transformer.

Why is that special you ask?

Well, it's because Soundwave is the best.
I mean that. There is no cooler example of 1980's robot-that-turns-into-things than Soundwave. Originally voiced by Frank Welker (whose voice was heavily modulated for that cold robotic sound), Soundwave was really the only effective Decepticon. Megatron was always hamstrung by the machinations of Starscream, and all the other Decepticons were really just a rogues gallery of thugs and dullards (OK except for maybe Shockwave, but he was on Cybertron for most of the series).

Yup, it's all about Soundwave. He was not only an effective combatant, but he also had a whole collection of his own minion that included not only warriors but ESPIONAGE units. Soundwave was the only reason the Decepticons ever had any intel on the Autobots, not that they could ever do anything with it.

More importantly Soundwave was my entrance to the world of 1980's action cartoons.


I don't know if my parents would even remember, but our first Christmas after moving from Albuquerque to San Antonio, they gave me a Soundwave. I was five years old, but it's still a very vivid memory. I remember not being entirely sure what to think. I had watched some Transformers, but I had never had a toy like this before. Big robots. Big Guns. Totally Rad! AND IT LOOKED LIKE A WALKMAN! How cool is that!

Peter Cullen is pretty much responsible for me working in voice over today (I'll write more about that later), but I never would've found out about him if it hadn't been for Soundwave.


That's why my wife is awesome!


Just for fun, here's Soundwave doing a little pop and lock:

UPDATE: PRICE DROP!!! One Day Animation and ADR Intensive With Michael Bell and Lynnanne Zager!

***UPDATE: 04-10-2008***

Do to popular response (and the economy sucking) the price of this workshop has dropped to $400!

Only a few spots left!

So, I don't often pimp classes or workshops on this blog, but this one was too good to pass up.

Michael Bell is holding a one day voice over intensive for ACTORS. The focus of the day being on animation and video game characters. My good friend (and one of the savviest business women you'll ever meet) Lynnanne Zager is teaching the portion on ADR.

Between the two instructors, students will have access to over 70 years entertainment experience.
I would highly recommend checking this out (and the price ain't bad LOL)!

Here's info from the flyer:

VOICEOVER ACTORS WORK IN ANIMATION, GAMES & ADR

MICHAEL BELL

TRANSFORMERS, RUGRATS, THE SMURFS, GI JOE 

Be impressed – go to IMDB.com 

TEACHES A ONE-DAY VOICEOVER INTENSIVE

FOR ACTORS

SATURDAY MAY 2, 2009

9AM – 5PM

HOW TO DO THE WORK TO CREATE AND DELIVER YOUR CHARACTERS

AT THE MIC!

ANIMATION, INTERACTIVE GAME AND ADR ANIMATION

$500.

$100 non-refundable deposit to hold the spot

GUEST DIRECTOR IN ADR

LYNNANNE ZAGER

http://lazager.com/ 

RH FACTOR SOUND 

919 N. VICTORY BLVD.

BURBANK, CA 91502

 

LIMIT 12 STUDENTS

CONTACT: 818-516-5726

LAZAGER@GMAIL.COM