Now Hear This! - 2008, Jan 1-15 [Archive] - Voice-Overs.com - A discussion forum for the voice-over industry

JoeActor

01-01-2008, 10:12 AM

Happy New Year Everyone!

To kick off 2008, here's a brand spankin' new thread for you all to post your daily auditions.

Simply post a link or attach an mp3 of your audition, and the fun begins!

2008 is gonna be GREAT!,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

(here's a link to the prior thread: http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/leads-reads/578-demo-day-week-s-12-10-thru-12-31-a.html)

Dina Monaco-Boland

01-05-2008, 01:30 PM

This is one I did through Vic Harris' Airwave Talent. I'm quite interested to get critiques regarding take 3 which is a Spanish version. I did the best I could but I'm pretty darn sure it screams "white girl". Can anyone help me in my pronunciation?

Diane Havens

01-05-2008, 01:47 PM

Dina --
I don't speak Spanish, but I for one am very impressed! Also the other two takes -- very solid. Well paced and toned. Good going!

JoeActor

01-05-2008, 01:49 PM

Hey Dina,

Well, I can't comment on the Spanish version (except to say it flows well ;-). Hopefully one of our bi-lingual VO's will chime in on it.

On the first two, I like each for different reasons. The first is nice and chipper, and the second has a more natural feel from the second sentence on. I'd almost like a mix of the two. A little chipper, a little "mom", and a bit of natural.

Let us know if you get the gig!

BTW, how's Vic been? Haven't heard from him in a bit.

Cheers,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

JoeActor

01-08-2008, 11:17 AM

Ok, been off for a while, but let's get back in the saddle...

Here's a voices lead that I just did:
http://www.voices.com/uploads/audition_files/1199811871_7448___Joe_J_Thomas.mp3

... and one from yesterday:
http://www.voices.com/uploads/audition_files/1199742885_7422.mp3

Enjoy!,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

Diane Havens

01-08-2008, 01:45 PM

Hey, happy new year, Joe!

You know, I heard someone else's aud of Brando Marlin, and he took a similar approach as yours. Good rough and regular NY type guy on yours. I was just wondering if they maybe were looking for a Marlon Brando read, ya know, with the name and all. I enjoyed it, though -- nice energy.

The other three reads I thought were perfect, any of them -- classic horror characters, more fun than scary.

Hope you land a big one,

Dina Monaco-Boland

01-08-2008, 01:57 PM

Thanks Joe & Diane! I appreciate you guys giving a listen. We'll see what we see.....

Joe, hope you got a chance to talk with Vic. Also your reads.... I dunno but you did sound like a fish to me. It's not often that I can see the actual character in my minds eye but I immediately could see a blue marlin up there talking-- pictured the whole spot in my mind!

I also liked your variations of the horror thing. Very well done. Although we know these are an immitation of Karloff and Lorre it wasn't done in the typical sophomoric way, ya know? It wasn't just on the surface-- there was depth to these voices.-- PS, I think I liked Karloff best because you captured the tiniest hint of a lisp that he had. Bravo!

Robert Jadah

01-08-2008, 10:49 PM

I didn't try the fish, Joe; I wasn't convinced they paid to scale.
I know you tried it just for the halibut.

But the Scarefest came through from a Canadian site; where they sought a "straight, subtle spookiness a la Vincent Price."

I took a run at that. Really different from your laudable efforts.

Diane Havens

01-09-2008, 06:22 AM

Greetings, FR! More subtlety here, yes. Not at all scary, just a touch spooky. Not at all kooky. Mysteriously ooky.
Seriously, I think it works well, very hypnotic!

JoeActor

01-09-2008, 09:12 AM

Diane: Yeah, they specifically asked that we not do Marlon Brando (or Joe Pesci, as if they are close!)
Thanks! I had a bit of fun with the Horror read. They wanted Price, but what the hey...

Dina: I'm an old time horror buff, so I really appreciate the Karloff comments. He's always been a favorite of mine.

Mr. Jadah: Hey! Nobody told me you were gonna read! I quit! Seriously, nice and creepy feel. Very low-key and Price-esque. Easy to picture with some spooky background music... plus you're punnier than I am!

Oh, and thanks everyone - nice bump in thread activitiy. Let's keep it going. Post away!

Off to install software,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

Dina Monaco-Boland

01-09-2008, 11:43 AM

I hate to have a pity party for myself but that's exactly what I'm having here. I got my first 1 star rating. I'm devastated...

Here's the craptastic read...

And although, sure, I'm looking for a pat on the shoulder telling me it'll be alright... please, please... be brutally honest with me was this a "1" read?

Don't worry, I'm not really poised to open a vein.

Diane Havens

01-09-2008, 12:33 PM

bigbry

01-09-2008, 12:39 PM

I too took a shot a Brando the fish...had a little fun with it
Bry

Dina Monaco-Boland

01-09-2008, 01:38 PM

Dina --
Was there any direction? What was it for? Good young voice for it -- teen, right? As for the 1, in VERY RARE instances is that appropriate. It should be reserved for totally unprofessional submissions. You're a pro, and it sounds it. So, no, you absolutely DON'T deserve a 1!

Thanks Diane,

Yeah, it was for a teen. They said no angst, no agonizing, just trying to figure out who she is. Holy smokes.... it still stings... Let's hope I eventually get over it... (sigh) Why do I hang on to the negative and immediately dismiss the positive?

JoeActor

01-09-2008, 01:43 PM

Dina: I'm not hearing a "1", that's for sure... Unless they asked for you to read it as a 5,000 year old alien male with a bass voice. Don't take it too personally. I've gotten a "1" myself, and didn't think I was anywhere near that bad. The Voice123 rating system is, and has been, a big issue. In many cases, the seekers use it to do their own internal ranking, not to rate us. Why? Because that's how Voice123 tells them to use it! (don't get me started) You're fine. Not a "1" by any stretch...

Bry: YES! You've struck comedy goldfish! Let us know when they hire you, funny man ;-)

Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

bigbry

01-09-2008, 02:05 PM

Your read was much better I've got as much chance of getting that as I do of getting a full time exclusive VO Agent.....LOL

Diane Havens

01-09-2008, 09:16 PM

Jon Morss

01-10-2008, 12:50 AM

Joe and Bry -- Funny, I took a shot at the same Brando spot that you guys read for. You guys did a great job. I gave them two reads since I could not decide on which to send in. Here is my take(s) on the spot.

bigbry

01-10-2008, 07:14 AM

Very well done Jon...I really like the second one.
Bry

JoeActor

01-10-2008, 09:14 AM

Dina --
Don't feel bad -- Joe's right. Let's say they got 100 submissions, and used the 123 way of ranking their first 5 choices: you could have been the 5th best of the 100!!
I don't think half the seekers over there have a clue about how those numbers affect us, and the other half don't seem to care.
Hang in, girl!

:offtopic:
For true enlightenment, here's what Voice123 has to say on the topic:
Voice123: How Does the Audition/Proposal Rating System Work? (http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/s-6945595/cmd/kbresource/kb-5902602742320454344/view_question!PAGETYPE?documentid=239602&action=view)

I'll leave it to the individual reader to answer the question posed...

I don't want to derail this thread, but we can always take the discussion to a new one in the review section if you'd like - just lemme know.

Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

JoeActor

01-10-2008, 10:01 AM

Very well done Jon...I really like the second one.
Bry
Hey Jon,

I like the second one better also...

My ears are picking up a tinge of Australian accent in both reads - intentional? Mostly around the "A" sounds.

My 2 cents,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

Dina Monaco-Boland

01-10-2008, 11:56 AM

Nice work Bry!! I like the tough guy approach. Well done! (just like I like my fish!!)

Jon,

I liked the second one better as well. Now, to get a little picky.... I didn't hear you finish the word "fish" the first time you said it. Also, I too am picking up the Aussie accent. If it's not intentional and you were trying to hide it, it didn't work (sorry, I'm not trying to be mean). If it was intentional then I'd say you need to commit to it more-- make it bigger. I mean, geez, this is a talking fish here! Make it as wacky as you can-- it would be a very viable alternative. Plus we women will tell you... there's nothing sexier than a man with an accent! (swoon!)

:offtopic:

Joe,

First, I wish I knew how to post a quote in the middle of a post. Second, I read your link and I have more I can add if you think it would be beneficial. Thing is, I don't think it would change a thing. I do know I'd like to talk about it but maybe that dead horse has been beat enough. I will say this-- got some interesting info on database searches so.... if you want to move to the other topic area.....

Diane Havens

01-10-2008, 01:14 PM

Bry -- liked your stand up comic fish -- very comedy clubbish.

Jon -- Always like hearing you here, Jon! Your first read started out with one voice and kinda morphed into something else toward the middle. The second was stronger, but as Dina suggested, could have been bigger. I wonder if they were just looking for another Charlie the Tuna character from days long past?

Joe -- sorry I strayed off topic! Good moderating there. I did want to make sure Dina felt better about it, though, before leaving that subject.

JoeActor

01-10-2008, 01:52 PM

Hey Dina and Diane,

:offtopic:

If you'd like to continue the discussion about Voice123 Ratings, there's an old thread from August '07 that we could bring back to life:
So much for V123 understanding our complaints about ratings (http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/review-online-services/83-so-much-v123-understanding-our-complaints-about-ratings.html?highlight=rating)

A lot of good information is there already, plus you can get a feel for the general frustration level at the time.

"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
- George Santayana

Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

Diane Havens

01-10-2008, 02:41 PM

Sorry, Joe -- so I'll get us back on track here. Not much fun or even interesting leads for me lately, but here's one I did yesterday.

Diane Havens

01-10-2008, 02:53 PM

Meant to add this.

JoeActor

01-10-2008, 03:15 PM

Hey Diane - who knew there were schools just for Magnets???

You remind me of one of my teachers... a good sound for this spot.
The flow is nice and easy too...

Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

Diane Havens

01-10-2008, 05:20 PM

Thanks, Joe. (I think -- I hope you liked that teacher!)
Yeah, magnet schools -- and I hear they're very attractive, too.

Jon Morss

01-10-2008, 11:44 PM

Hey, guys thanks for the feedback on the Brando Marlin thing. This is very helpful.

Bry -- Thanks man. I just gave it a shot.

Joe -- Cool. Aussie accent? Well, if there was one it was not intentional. I was just playing with the words like "ya" just to be different.

Dina -- Great feedback. Thanks for listening with such a detailed ear. Your ear is certainly more refined than mine. Do you provide coaching? |8>) The Aussie accent again. This certainly was not intentional. Just playing with the words a bit to get a different sound other than the typical New Yorker sound. Maybe more Long Islandish. Again, thanks for the tips.
I really liked your Wakening Narration. For me, I would have preferred if you had varied how you ended each phrase. At the beginning they seemed to be a bit repetitive. Very nice read otherwise.

Diane -- Yeah. Its always fun to post here to see what happens. You are correct with the Charlie the Tuna character thing. That was mentioned but I just could not remember what he sound like. I guess I could have looked it up on YouTube. Considering the voice in the second take it was a bit tough to try to make it bigger. It sure would have made the spot a bit better as you guys have pointed out.
Love your Magnet schools read. Very real and nicely read. Did you get the gig? Maybe it is just me, but the volume seems to keep going up and down. Are you hearing this as well. Also, for me at least, it would be nice if there was less sibilance. Great read.

I hope I didn't miss anyone. Thanks all.

Diane Havens

01-11-2008, 06:14 AM

Jon -- Thanks. Didn't hear the volume fluctuation, but I do have a cold so I might have been a little more essy, and more nasal, than usual.
I can't really remember exactly what Charlie the Tuna sounded like either, but I believe it was some brusque NY accented character. I do recall the tage line about "remember Charlie sent ya!" Very retro, if they wanted that!

bigbry

01-11-2008, 10:10 AM

Diane...nice job on Magnets. I agree nice flow. There is alot of Positive and Negative points about Magnet schools....You really did bring all the postive points in that read
Bry

Dina Monaco-Boland

01-12-2008, 07:59 AM

Dina -- Great feedback. Thanks for listening with such a detailed ear. Your ear is certainly more refined than mine. Do you provide coaching? |8>) The Aussie accent again. This certainly was not intentional. Just playing with the words a bit to get a different sound other than the typical New Yorker sound. Maybe more Long Islandish. Again, thanks for the tips.
I really liked your Wakening Narration. For me, I would have preferred if you had varied how you ended each phrase. At the beginning they seemed to be a bit repetitive. Very nice read otherwise.

Jon:

I hope I wasn't being too picky. I can't believe that you're not Australian! You've really got a knack for that accent! How come I didn't hear it on your character reel? (yeah, I peeked) It would be a nice addition.

Thanks for giving my thing a listen. To be honest, it wasn't one of my better efforts. I just didn't think it deserved a "1" and I was feeling sorry for myself.

Everybody:

Join in! The water's great!!

Jon Morss

01-12-2008, 12:10 PM

Dina -- You were not being too picky. I loved your feedback and I really appreciate the comments. The Aussie thing again. Again not intentional. I love the people (met a few in my life) and I would love to go to Australia at some point, but I am certainly no Aussie. That would be cool though. I have plans to add more dialects to my demo, so thanks for reminding me.

This maybe a bit of topic, but when it comes to the ratings on the sites that do provide them, you really have to consider the source. Are they professionals in their own right? What qualifies them to provide the rating they give? Also, what is the rating based on? Your voice, the quality of the recording, your price, the alignment of the Moon to Mars or what? Rodney Saulsberry has a great comment with regards to comments or ratings on your voice. "Beauty is in the ear of the beholder". Each person will have a different interpretation on your recording. Don't dwell on a gig you did not get or what someone rated you on. All you should focus on is doing the best you can do and be done with it and move on to the next audition.

Jon steps off of the soap box....

Good luck.