Earlier this week, I decided on a whim to slap together an intro for Dale Dudley's upcoming off-air podcast. This one won't be the "official" intro; however, Dale liked it enough to not only play it on the morning show, but to give my site a plug at the same time. This was really nice to hear, not just as a VO artist grateful for the publicity, but also as a longtime fan of the Dudley & Bob show. Here's a clip of that show segment:
FaffCon is a voiceover "unconference"; instead of being locked in to seminar or workshop content dictated by others, you get to choose what aspect of voiceover work gets discussed/worked on/et cetera. Congrats to FaffCon's organizer, Amy Snively, on the success of the (un)conference!
If you didn't watch the clip, or even if you did, read on. You might know Hicks better by his unintended nickname "Afro Ninja". (I confess that I hadn't seen the astonishingly popular clip until the Current TV piece aired recently.) The great thing about Hicks' audition isn't that it inadvertently led to publicity and an indie film --- though those things certainly aren't bad for him --- it's that after the spectacular face-plant and subsequent crashing stumble, he got up, gave it another shot, and landed the gig. Few could have blamed him if, after the disaster, he'd left the audition while apologizing for wasting everyone's time. Instead, he managed to forget about the mistakes and deliver a performance that earned him the job.
This, naturally, is not to say that every producer or casting director will overlook mistakes of such dangerous magnitude. I'm sure some would have crossed him off the list no matter how superb a second try he turned in. But if he hadn't given it another shot, with all the confidence and skill he could muster, he'd never have known.
Remember this the next time you find yourself going blank or mangling words at an audition. If that guy was able to put that beginning out of his mind and start over, surely you can do the same. Probably without even smacking yourself in the face.
Just when I started to think my near-gig experience with the 007 franchise had firmly settled into the archives, a funny thing happened.
Without going into details that can't be revealed (for various official purposes): a good friend of mine and his wife were in London recently on a mini-vacation. There, she met up with a friend who works in the same rather important line of business. The talk somehow turns to my Bond near-gig, and it's learned that the London friend's boss communicates directly with Daniel Craig on a fairly regular basis.
My friend, tongue firmly in cheek, asked that Mr. Craig be informed of his inadvertent burgling of a nifty gig from a poor, hungry actor. While I have no doubt that he delivered the request properly, the way these things go, by the time it gets to Mr. Craig --- if and when it actually does --- he's likely to have been told that some sod named Davis in the city of Houston has invited him to go on a dig.
That would be in keeping with my luck regarding the whole affair.
P.S. I recorded my parts well before Saturday Night Live's Don Pardo announced his retirement from that show. Consider this a tribute of sorts.
P.P.S. Note to prospective clients: I'm not really that expensive.
On second thought: yes, he does.
(From The Yorkshire Post:)
A doctor was sent confidential voiceover scripts for a top TV show and Hollywood blockbusters after a bizarre e-mail mix-up.
The 57-year-old medic jokingly replied that he was more used to treating patients than providing the soundtrack to various shows but was astonished to receive further mails from X-Factor asking him to grandly announce "Attention X-Factor Fans".
Dr Dickson then realised that he was accidentally being sent a deluge of offers meant for professional voiceover artist Peter Dickson – the instantly recognisable deep voice who introduces the Saturday evening talent show and countless movie trailers.
Now I'm fearful that my voiceover scripts will be sent to Hulk Hogan's attorney by mistake...
Seen today in a Craigslist ad entitled "Voiceover professional for my voicemail":
I would prefer someone with a good english accent (preferably Male)
Or an older/mature voice that sounds something like Anthony Hopkins.
If you call this number it should sound something like this: [phone number listed]
I need it for my office phone (regular greeting and on hold greeting) and my cell phone
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
* Compensation: no pay
Professional.
If I may quote the inimitable Inigo Montoya: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
Other fine voice talents featured on this clip are Maureen Egan, Philip Banks, Connie Terwiliger, Jeff McNeal, Dylan Guptill, and Mary McKitrick.
How do I know? Because we're now fodder for The Onion:
Gotta love that our fictional VO guy's name ("David Cavanaugh") is the name of a minor character on the series. (Very minor, actually, since he only appears in a deleted scene.)
It's a funny read in any case, but sometimes satire isn't really satire:
"It's a daunting task, especially since you can't rely on such actorly tricks as facial expressions and body language," Cavanaugh said. "All I have is my finely tuned instrument and its subtle tones of honesty and vulnerability that envelope the viewers and make them feel safe and informed."
It's 100% true, even if he's putting it in flowery terms...
For what it's worth, the real "Previously on Lost" VO guy is Andy Geller.
After reading a recent post* by Philip Banks on the VO-BB forum, I whipped up this graphic using an online logo generator:
To my surprise, several of the members demanded to have this emblem on a t-shirt. VO-BB Board Czar D.B. Cooper informed me that it's a done deal.
I now proudly (?) add "graphic designer" to my many hats.
(Said garment can be purchased here if you're so inclined...)
*Since that part of the forum is closed to non-members: the phrase on the emblem was uttered by Mr. Banks, without any exlcamation or excitement, during a business phone call upon being prompted by his dog to play fetch with a favorite toy. The other party, according to Philip, laughed hysterically...
Specs provided for a recent audition:
[male, age range 40-55, caucasian & african american talent, no dialects or ethnic sound, lower register - Dennis Hasert was referenced authoritative yet warm, sincere, reassuring, compassionate paternal sounding - but without sound old a "we'll help you take care of this" kind of sound / read without being saccrine-y.]Just before my brain finished processing the question "why the hell do they want me to sound like (former Speaker of the House) Dennis Hastert?", I recognized that they were asking for the smooth tones of actor Dennis Haysbert.
I'm hoping that VOs everywhere aren't trying to dig up reference audio of the first guy.
