Now Hear This! - 2008, Jan 16-31

[JoeActor]

Hello all,

It's mid-month, and time for a brand new thread for you all to Post Your Auditions!

Have at it,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

p.s. the prior thread is here:
Now Hear This! - 2008, Jan 1-15 (http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/leads-reads/643-now-hear-2008-jan-1-15-a.html)

[Colin]

Ok, so what I'm about to put up was actually going to go into my demo, but unlike the stuff I have mixed before for somebody, demos are their own beasts.

These reads were test reads only, the first couple are scripts from voices.com (when I was a member) and the last for Nilson Technology was one I created.

Hope you like.....

[JoeActor]

Hey Colin,

You have a very natural, youthful sound to your voice. Definitely best for conversational reads. I'd focus on teen to early 20's reads that ask for a "regular guy" feel. With a bit of practice, you could land some roles in that niche I'm sure.

Watch out for popped "P"'s and other plosives, and steer clear of any "Anouncer Guy" stuff. Read, read, and read some more. Your diction gets a bit soft at times, so watch out for that too.

Plenty of practice copy out there. Read books, scripts, ad copy, etc out loud. Record it and playback to get a feel for the copy. Make solid character choices and be sure they stick through the entire spot.

Do you do any Stage or Improv work? I've found that helps me immensely with honing my acting, and also gives me great feedback from others in the productions.

Thanks much for posting! Been a bit quiet around here of late...

Chime in gang! Post and comment!

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

[JoeActor]

Well, time for me to throw one on the fire - here's a 50's style documentary audition:
http://www.voices.com/uploads/audition_files/1201114307_7600___Joe_J_Thomas.mp3

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

[Diane Havens]

Joe --

I love this -- so retro-felt! You had a wonderful nostalgic, resonant quality in your voice on it, too. And just enough nerd.

Yeah, quiet here. Haven't had much time or inclination to do site auditions lately, but soon, I hope!

[JoeActor]

Joe --

I love this -- so retro-felt! You had a wonderful nostalgic, resonant quality in your voice on it, too. And just enough nerd.

Yeah, quiet here. Haven't had much time or inclination to do site auditions lately, but soon, I hope!

Thanks Diane!

Hope we get to hear more from you soon...

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

[VoiceActor]

Here is my take on that same audition. http://www.itsthatvoice.com/documentary.mp3

[JoeActor]

Greg,

Nice. Always amazes me how many different ways the same copy can be read. Like the pacing and intonation.

Did you do some processing to get the olde-tyme effect?
Just curious how you got that sound to it...

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

[VoiceActor]

Thanks Joe. I followed the link to the shy guys movie they were showing and just followed what they did on that one...as far as the read goes.
For the effect, I used one of the presets in Audition called lo fidelity. I learned doing it that the read has to be different than what it actually sounds like once the effect is on. I kind of had to read for the effect...if that makes sense.

[JoeActor]

Thanks Joe. I followed the link to the shy guys movie they were showing and just followed what they did on that one...as far as the read goes.
For the effect, I used one of the presets in Audition called lo fidelity. I learned doing it that the read has to be different than what it actually sounds like once the effect is on. I kind of had to read for the effect...if that makes sense.
Sounds interesting. I'll have to see if Sound Forge has a function like that.

I usually submit my auditions dry, with little or no processing. Partly it's because I lack experience in that area. I've heard some killer auditions that sound like you could just plop them on the radio as-is...

Joe

[roger]

OK, I'll throw my hat (voice) into the fray.
Same '50s style VO. Abbreviated read.

-roger

[VoiceActor]

Joe whenever I send in an audition with an effect on it, I also include the dry untreated read as well. One of these days, I may actually get some work too. At least I can hope

[JoeActor]

Joe whenever I send in an audition with an effect on it, I also include the dry untreated read as well. One of these days, I may actually get some work too. At least I can hope
That's a good way to get around the issue - give 'em both...

Roger: Nice - I swear I've heard you on NPR! Great take on it.

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

[roger]

Joe,
Thanks. If only I had a gig on NPR. I'm just beginning. You probably haven't heard me anywhere.
-roger

[JoeActor]

Hey Gang,

Guess I'll end the week with a little realistic sounding Ahnold audition:
http://voice123.com/mp3/demos/LTK91028454886X%20-%20Joe%20J%20Thomas%20-%20Custom%20Demo.mp3

Have a great weekend all,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

[Diane Havens]

Wow, Joe -- that was so much like him -- you got it all right! I love the way he says Caleefornya!

[JoeActor]

Thanks Diane!

I actually prefer when they ask for "real". After all, everyone does the over the top Ahnold (at least that's what I'm hoping ;-)

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

[VoiceActor]

Good Job Joe!

[JoeActor]

Good Job Joe!
Thanks Greg!

Joe

[roger]

Boy Joe,
Talk about identity theft. Whoa
Well done
-roger

[JoeActor]

Boy Joe,
Talk about identity theft. Whoa
Well done
-roger
I'm just borrowing it (not sure I'd want it permanently!)
Joe

[JoeActor]

Ok, I couldn't resist this one - supposed to be a cross between a ringmaster and a magician intro:
http://www.voices.com/uploads/audition_files/1201624195_7614___Joe_J_Thomas.mp3

Over on Voices.com if you've got a mind for mahem,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

[Diane Havens]

Now why is there never anything wacky like this for the women? At least I'm not seeing them. I might be more motivated then to post here.
Great fun, Joe! I could picture the outfit he'd be wearing on this one too -- that ringmaster-magician hybrid. Good vocal blend for that combo. Real presto-chango-in the center ring.

[JoeActor]

Now why is there never anything wacky like this for the women? At least I'm not seeing them. I might be more motivated then to post here.
Great fun, Joe! I could picture the outfit he'd be wearing on this one too -- that ringmaster-magician hybrid. Good vocal blend for that combo. Real presto-chango-in the center ring.
Thanks Diane - I "borrowed" the character from a cartoon I like.

I'm sure there must be some "wacky" reads out there for women. Then again, the guys don't get the "sultry" ones much.

I also like hearing the variations on straight reads. Always fascinating how many ways one sentence can be read.

What's that in the road, a head?
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

[Diane Havens]

Sultry, you say?

This is a long term work in progress in which I have the honor and the privilege of working with the incredibly gifted Mr. Robert Jadah.

Okay, class, get out your notebooks -- we're studying the medieval masterpiece, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This is the bedroom scene --where noble Sir Gawain and the Lady of the castle (ah, now I've got your attention...)

[JoeActor]

Hey! NC-17!

I like it - it's a mix of prim and sultry.

A bawdy classic indeed...
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)

p.s. Tell Mr. J he's missed over here - stop on by!

[Diane Havens]

... hey this is only the short clip that was rated PG!

Yeah, I was going for hot yet haughty on this one. It is really is a fun piece to do -- for educational purposes only.

(I'll pass word along to Sir G.)

[Robert Jadah]

You're missed too, Joe J....that other place lost a lot of energy when you skedaddled.
And how about that dramatically soaring Ms. Havens? She can emote, I tell you.
(Like a true prima donna, however, note how whe she posted a small clip that had me sputtering and her in full flowing elegance.....leaving the rest of the six-minute bit - in which I was admittedly splendid - on her cutting room floor. Sigh. I'm used to it.)

And this is a nice place, Joe. I like it. But it feels a bit like Disneyworld at 3:00 am.
What it needs is a bit of controversy and clatter.
I'll start by articulating (and illustrating) one truth a day about site seekers.

TRUTH ONE:
Ninety-six percent of seekers think they're impresarios. They actually have no idea what they want. Their directions should ALWAYS read: We have no idea. We'll probably know it when we hear it.

EVIDENCE:
For a computer game, they here asked for a 'maniacal miltary commander, preferably (sic) with an edge to his voice. Alternates between madness and lucidity. Almost over the top, please.'

I thought I delivered.

[JoeActor]

Robert!

Good to hear ya - love the rattle in your voice on the MadCommander bit.
Kill! Kill! Kill!

Truth? I can't handle the truth!
(maybe I can)

Truth One - yep. Can't tell you how many times I've auditioned and tried to get close to what they were asking, only to hear the finished spot and it's completely different. Sometimes I just trust my gut and read it how I think it should sound...

Good to have you over here Moose-Man!
Spice up the site already, will ya!?!?

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

[Robert Jadah]

Well, that didn't ruffle any feathers or otherwise raise a squawk.
Let's try:

TRUTH TWO:

Seven out of ten seekers don't even hire from the site at which they posted.

EVIDENCE:

I just heard from a solid talent that he's gone zero for 365 custom auditions at Voices.com. Personally, I was one for twelve months.
Tote up your numbers, fellow VO's, and I would suggest that - between any ten of us - the ratio would be, at best, six of 2,000.

Now consider that voice sites are very eager to trumpet their dream-making abilities, yet neither V123 nor voices has ever, ever, ever volunteered their percentage of bookings versus postings.

If that number were decent and in any way hopeful, you just know they would.

Cynically Yours,

[JoeActor]

This thread is shutting down, but the party continues in the new one:
http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/leads-reads/743-now-hear-2008-feb-1-15-a.html (http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/leads-reads/743-now-hear-2008-feb-1-15-a.html)

More Auditions!

More Truth from Robert!

More Vitamin Packed Nutrition in Every Bite!

Visit!

Post!

Comment!

Peace-Out,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio (http://www.JoeActor.com)