Phoenix Comic Con 09 Panel - Voice Acting Versus Stage Acting

Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt are two of my favorite people on the planet.

They were joined by Matt Greenfield and Tiffany Grant at the 2009 Phoenix ComicCon to have a panel discussion on the differences between voice acting and stage acting. 

I thought the discussion was pretty interesting, as I got my start in theatre production and performance.

Here are all 6 pieces of the panel from the youtubes.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Growing Up - Going Back to Stanislavski 10 Years Later

So before I was 'SomeAudioGuy' I was 'SomeTheatreGuy'.
One of my biggest influences came my freshman year of college while studying with an incredible acting professor. After a gruelingly intense scene study, focusing on character motivations, we were turned on to Constantin Stanislavski, and my attitude towards performance changed forever.

I read everything he wrote in a period of about 5 months.

His ideas behind emotional imagination, context, and physical action were a personal thought revolution for me. Before reading Stanislavski, I was a firm believer in transference, or substitution.
My characters couldn't experience an honest emotion unless I had experienced something similar.
Constructing the emotional context would often be a more painful experience, but was incredibly effective. Studying the physicality behind characterization (I also studied a lot of dance in college) helped establish a two front attack on any character analysis. These were tremendous tools to add to my repertoire, and really laid the foundations for not only my performance career but also my current directorial career.

It's been ten years since I've picked up Stanislavski.

I've been feeling a little stale lately.
For no good reason I picked up 'My Life in Art' and started paging through it. It's sort of incredible, and there's so much I didn't fully understand reading it in college. It's not only taking me back to one of the most creative, explorational periods of my life, but it's also showing me how far I've come, how much I've grown.
Anyone needing a shot in the arm should seriously take a look.

I'm probably headed for another Stanislavski binge.

It's just so easy to be motivated by those that have led incredible lives.

Well there goes Phase One, AFTRA votes to go it alone...

Well there you have it.
Hollywood Reporter is reporting (it's what they do) that AFTRA will be negotiating contracts on its own from now on.
i agree with comments that this move doesn't seem to be for the benefit of the actors involved with both guilds, but political.
SAG has been making A LOT of noise of late, but recently been backing off, even pulling plans to institute bloc voting and pressuring AFTRA for a more accurately representative split at the bargaining table.
With upcoming contract renegotiations, it leads me to think AFTRA is making a play for AFTRA contracts to be the preferred contracts. Why wouldn't actors want a unified front at the negotiating table? Much like previous contracts (video games for example) I think we'll see a guild ready to expend as much energy negotiating with producers as it will be expending in undercutting rival guilds.

Could we be witnessing the beginning of buy out contracts? This would worry me as both guilds are notorious for setting ridiculous minimums for scale. Combine that with losing residuals, and I just have to wonder how much further we can de-value performance...

Story @ Hollywood Reporter

SAG Watchdog: Aftra Killing Residuals?

someaudioguy some audio guy AFTRA, SAG, Negotiations, Contracts, Phase One, Rogue

Reardon wins full AFTRA term

"Roberta Reardon, a New York-based TV, commercials and voice actor, has
been elected to a full two-year term as president of AFTRA.

Reardon, who was elected by unanimous acclamation
Saturday at the 70,000-member union's biennial convention in
Philadelphia, had been selected by AFTRA's national board in April to
complete the remainder of the term of John Connolly, now executive
director of Actors' Equity.

"I am humbled to be elected as AFTRA national
president," Reardon said. "I am also excited to be able to move
together into future with all of you to improve the lives of AFTRA
members."

Article also goes on to state that NY actor Holter Graham was elected to a 2 year term as a National VP. That's cool. I've worked with Holter and he's a good guy.

Read the rest here @ Hollywood Reporter

Internet Income Big Issue as Hostile Hollywood Labor Talks Begin, Are We Looking at a Strike?

Hollywood Today has a long and well written article on the impending WGA negotiation, and it's impacts on "New Media". I see these being instrumental to the future of the entertainment industry, especially as the people that actually create this content seem to get hosed on every new platform that emerges (Cable, Home Video, etc).
Now some people think that October is going to be the hot month, but I think it's more likely that serious action wont be taken until actors contracts are up in June 2008.

"With the threat of a strike looming, tense talks kick off today between movie and TV producers and unionized script writers over . While aimed at a contract expiring in October, some insiders believe that ultimately the acrimonious battle over digital compensation could push a final agreement to June 2008, when actor’s contracts are up as well.

That could set the stage for an epic labor showdown in Tinseltown pitting corporate owned, bottom-line oriented management — facing a rapidly changing marketplace – against creative talent (writers and actors) who feel short changed seeing their work pop up on broadband, digital, online, wireless and in other new media markets."

While I do believe something NEEDS to happen here, I'm just not convinced that a strike will accomplish anything. One thing I've learned using these here intarwebs, is there's a lot of user generated (NON UNION) entertainment to consume. Just like the last big strike left us in this reality show hell, I think production will find ways to produce content, and will be able to wait the unions out (thereby "winning" the right to shove another crappy contract down everyone's collective throats).

It's just really frustrating, as there's so much more money to be made out there, and production and unions just seem more interested in "winning"...

Anywho, read on. It is a great write up on what got us to this point and what the potential out comes could be.


read more | digg story

I MET A LIVING LEGEND!!!: Norman Corwin Edition

Yup he's 97, and as sharp as ever.

I got to go hang out at the the Museum of Television and Radio yesterday. AFTRA was wrapping up this years mentoring program by having college students perform a radio play, complete with live sound effects. Of course I'm a sucker for this and had to be there. It was only after RSVP-ing that I realized the play they were performing was an unpublished work from Norman Corwin, and that he would be in attendance. To be honest I only had a cursory understanding of who Corwin was, but I knew enough to know that this was a pretty big deal.

I showed up 90 minutes early.

The play was a funny little romp called "The Strange Affliction", and dealt with a woman who couldn't stop speaking in rhyme, and the students had a fun time performing it. After the play we were then treated to the Academy Award winning documentary about the life of Corwin called "A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin".

As it was also so close to his birthday, a reception was held with a cake and refreshments. My favorite moment was Corwin's proclamation post blowing out the candle on his cake, that he couldn't enjoy the cake because of dietary restrictions, but that it was sweet enough knowing there were only some 500 days left for Bush.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon.

For those not as familiar with Corwin's work, first up, check out these Youtube clips of him speaking, the link should direct you to search results.
Then check out his web page here. It has tons of clips of his work in radio.


someaudioguy some audio guy narration voice over production aftra voice acting radio drama plays theater demo audiobooks

BUY DIZ WHITE'S BOOK!

Following up on a previous post

Diz White was kind enough to send me a copy and it's a great read. I will be writing up a full review as soon as I'm done with it (SLOWEST READER EVER), but being about two thirds through I have to say it's chock full of excellent info.

Bout Time the Unions Got Pissed! FIX RESIDUALS!!!

I know, they're technically "guilds"...

Out of the Hollywood Reporter yesterday, Borys Kit writes up a quick article about the WGA possibly hooking up with SAG and the DGA. I've been hearing grumblings of possible strikes happening, but lately it seems that the heat might be turning up soon.
While it would suck for the company I currently work with, I can't say I blame the unions.
Writers, as well as Actors and Directors, were hosed on home video, cable, DVD, interactive, and look to be getting screwed on VOD and "new media". I'm actually surprised that they didn't consider working together sooner...

"Unwilling to go on record for fear of staking out positions that haven't been officially sanctioned by the guild, a number of writers agreed to step forward on the condition of anonymity. Many already are getting their financial houses in order, others are writing furiously to finish scripts for companies that are stockpiling. But one theme comes through loud and clear, and it's a heated paraphrase of the great writer Paddy Chayefsky: Scribes are mad as hell, and they aren't going to take it anymore."I think writers in general are getting sick of being kicked around. There's a lot of fury out there," says one screenwriter who writes for A-listers.
The big issue is money -- specifically, money as it relates to new technology such as Internet downloads and VOD."The model for Internet downloads shouldn't be any different than the model for pay-per-view, or the model for DVDs, or any other means of watching entertainment. What the fuck is the difference how someone watches it? If they're watching it and I've written it, I should get paid for it," the writer says."

Read the rest Here!
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SomeAudioGuy Acting!

One of my first "engineering" jobs. I recorded some station ID's and news casts for a local production of the Bogosian play Talk Radio, then tried to make them sound like they came off the radio.

Admittedly not my best work (I was just figuring out how to mess up audio, desperately needed a vocoder), but it's still one of my favorites.

Vince Farber's Newscast
someaudioguy some audio guy recording voice over performance live theater voice acting radio animation narration

Free Webinars! Free! Go Get Them!

Are you signed up with Voices123?
Then why aren't you taking advantage of their FREE career webinars?
Your grandmother would be so upset with you if she knew. It's a good thing I just don't have the heart to tell her. I mean think of what it would do to her!

AND, why don't you call her more often?
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over voice acting career business

Favorite Voice Roles: Diz White Edition!

Cute write up on British actress Diz White's favorite VO's.
I'm very amused by this one:

"Another time, a while ago, when the wolf had taken a good bite out of my door, I pretended to be French to get a voice-over job that required me to dub with a French accent. I had to keep up the accent for five days. Everything went well until the last day when the producer came by unexpectedly and overheard me, huddled in a corner of the sound studio, doing a phone audition for my next job in broad cockney."

Truth be told I haven't done a lot of work in front of the mic (though if you're good at searching you'll probably be able to find some narration on me), but my favorite gigs were in college doing NPR style news broadcasts for the student website.
What has been your favorite gig? C'mon! Don't be shy!!

Coaching your way to a softer sound?

Just a quick bit on the importance of good voice coaching. According to the Telegraph, Chancellor Gordon's voice has been coached and rendered smoother and more sincere.

Miss Goyder, who listened to radio interview clips of Mr Brown yesterday and after his 2004 Budget, likened his speech patterns to the silky, smooth Bill Clinton, thought by many to be the greatest political communicator of his generation.

What kills me is there is an AUDIO LINK! Go check it out! Tell me what you think of good ole Gordo's voice chops.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over coaching speaking voice acting politics announcer narration

AuidoBooks: Good Business for Some!

Such an obvious title for this story...

The Contra Costa Times (San Francisco?) has a pretty nice story about a successful Audiobook Narrator named Simon Vance (which I think is a made up name).
They also discuss the future of the medium, along with the recent boost in Audiobook sales, what with the whole digital ... thing going on in audio right now.

It really is a good read, though I still can't, for the life of me, find out where this newspaper really circulates.

Concord maybe?

Bookworms like what they hear
Commute makes Bay Area a prime market for audiobooks
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over announcer narration voice acting audiobook audio book speaking reading business career

But I Know DONATELLO!!!

I'm so toked for TMNT it's sick. No really! I'm jazzed and ready. We happen to rep the voice of Donatello, he's a really cool guy, and I really hope this move does well.



Apparently, so does the Hollywood Reporter! They have a huge story posted up now about the film, its actors, directing, production, and history of the franchise. Everything you've ever wanted to know bout the Turtles from a corporate suit perspective.



Check it out!

Simpsons in Spanish, Trouble Ahead?

Little AP Nugget:

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexican voice-over actors who have dubbed "The Simpsons" TV series into Spanish for 15 years are threatening to boycott the cartoon's upcoming movie if they are not hired to dub it.

Read full Story: Simpsons' Spanish Voices Angry With Film
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over animation voice acting cartoons The Simpsons dubbing ADR voice actor negotiations

Actors Obsolete Soon?

She's not real----->>>

Well she is, but that picture of her is a CG render.

This story is an oldie on Digg, but totally worth a read. With advances like this soon coming to video (not just stills), it'll be interesting to see how the voice element is treated.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over cg actors voice acting technology computer animation

Wow, REALLY bad Voice Acting!

And I think we can also safely say bad writing too...

Following up on my last post, check out THIS ARTICLE at Newsweek, for a look at the game Army of Two.

There are some movies on the page.

Watch them.

They are HIGH-larious.

Good voice acting is more valuable than ever...
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over video games voice acting adr dubbing funny videogames

Another day in the Trenches...

Almost quite literally.

I had all these great posts to start this blog off with, and trying to find some fun clips to audio blog, so what happened?

Today happened.

A royal schedule-fuck of epic proportions. From 9:15am to 7:45pm (with a 30 minute lunch), I was bombarded by a constant stream of audio.
AND, while I love my actors, not very many of them were prepared today.

See, the thing is, auditions in voice over land work differently than other auditions. Thanks to digital audio, the game moves MUCH faster, so a lot of talent agencies now run their own recording booths (the reason why I have a full time job). SO, often a job notice comes out with spec for the auditions, then the AGENCY casts the project, the AGENCY holds auditions, the AGENCY narrows the field, and the AGENCY selects the top picks, and then submits the auditions to whoever is running the casting.
That's a lot of overhead for an Agency to handle, especially considering that, for the cost involved, the agency might only make say...$40 booking a client on a radio spot (after taking the time to audition maybe 15 people for the same role).

So what does this business breakdown have to do with why I had such a crappy day?

Well, the "in-house" audition process creates a second problem.
Actors.
When an actor goes "out of house" to audition for something, they have to be prepared. They have to be warmed up. They have to be on their best behavior to maintain a good working reputation. They know they aren't going to get "do-overs" for their audition, and know that they might only get a slate to show off their personality.
When an actor comes "in house", they know it's in our best interest to send an audition which best represents them and the Agency. Those that really work in voice over understand the business margins above, and aren't about to waste our time or their own time, coming prepared like they would for an "out of house", which is probably a major reason why they work in voice over, and book regularly.
Those actors that do take up time range the gambit from newbies that don't know any better all the way to the self obsessed.

Now an extra minute here or there doesn't seem like it would be such a huge deal, but multiply an extra minute or three by the ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY times I pressed record today, and we now have hours of wasted man hours piling up over the course of the week.

So, whats the moral of this little story?
Actors, if you're lucky enough to have a good voice over agent, prepare your copy, warm up, run a few articulation drills, stretch, BEFORE you enter your booth, and give your booth director a big ole hug.

He probably needs it...
some audio guy, voice over, voice acting, talent agency, abram's artists agency, voice over directing, booth director, recording, auditions, rant