AudioBook Demo - The Last Battle

[P.R.E.Z.]

I've been doing a bit of research into the area of audiobooks and it's been an area of the voiceover industry that I've wanted to break into for a while now. I actually wanted to do this and movie trailers more than anything (cartoon animation is coming in at a close third there).

With Scott Brick's contest, I've decided to focus on it even more so as well as create a full audiobook demo. I also got advice directly from Scott himself which was don't send a full produced demo (SFX and music). Guess those who listen don't like that. Which is just fine. Less work for me.

That being said, I have a demo for the contest. It's a three minute recording of the first chapter of The Last Battle, the conclusion of the Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis (and the one I believe will come out next if they should choose to do another movie). Would like to get your input on this if you have the time.

Thanks so much.

God bless.

[Mike Sommer]

This is an interesting interpretation for Narnia. I would have expected more of a Christopher Plumber style of read, rather than a Curious George story book. Not bad, just interesting. I guess what I'm getting from this read is a rushed "hurry up and go to sleep" bedtime story- though you sound like you're enjoying the story.

I noticed a few enunciation and pronunciation problems. Your first Narnia sounded like there is a "r" on the end.
Some of the pacing is a little rushed.
You might try giving the words depth "tasting them." Example: When you say "cleverest," be cleverest. Give a little eyebrow raise to the word.


Just my 2 cents.

[Diane Havens]

You have a gorgeous voice! But I agree with Mike. Since it's a Brit classic especially, articulation must be crisp. The read on it may also be a bit too young (being a middle graders book) in delivery -- tone it down a tad. Love the character voices, but even those are a bit too high energy for the style of the book.

Lots of potential here, though. Work it.

[P.R.E.Z.]

Thanks for the input.

I hear what you're talking about on that first Narnia. No idea where that came from (who was that masked mean?).

I did approach this as more of a children's book because...well...it's a children's fantasy series. Not trying to be facetious but I think a lot of people miss that reality with the popularity of the movies. C.S. Lewis wrote it for children unlike Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings.

You lost me on the "cleverest' line. Not sure what you're trying to convey there.

Thanks again.

[P.R.E.Z.]

Thanks Diane for the compliment.

Well, maybe it might be time to do a demo for a different book. I just love the Narnia series and I had done that demo last year but never really submitted it anywhere except as a sample to business clients. Christipher Plummer...I can see that.

I have a ton of fiction books that I've read that I could put together a demo for. Decisions, decisions.

Thanks.

[Mike Sommer]

Let's look at the whole sentence.

"He was the cleverest, ugliest, most wrinkled ape you can imagine."

This sentence is virtually a story in itself, so you should take your time to bring each of the adjectives to life. And don't for get the verb imagine too.
(Basically this is the character description, and you should take the time to breath life into the character, so the listener can form a mental image of this ape.)

When you see the word "Cleverest" what comes to mind? Quick? Intelligent? In this context, cunning possibly sly, are how I visualize it. So these are the feelings I would try to inject into the delivery of the word.
So when you say cleverest, feel, be, act out cleverest, say it in a sly and cunning fashion. Hence the eyebrow lift.


The same goes with ugliest and wrinkled. Think ugly. Think wrinkled. Taste the words, bring them to life.


I got this line the other day:

"The evil, began in the monkey house."

I set out to make my dilevery of the word evil sound as if there is more evil going on in that monkey house
then I was willing to tell.

Then there is the line that followed: "The meat hung from the trees like coconuts."

All good fun. Yea Words!!

[P.R.E.Z.]

Ahhh. Now I get ya. Totally agree. Unfortunately, gonna start from scratch with another book until I find my groove but that advice can be applied to just about any book.

Thanks for the advice.

[Mike Sommer]

You should add depth to everything you perform. This is an opportunity to add a layer that makes for more interesting and memorable performances.

Like yummifying ingredients, in food commercials, or warming up cold institutions like banks, hospitals and funeral homes.

Of course there is always a fine line to over do, it is after all about the story.