VOICE2008 Creative Experience (ahem) Article

[Diane Havens]

Not surprisingly, I care much about education -- of all sorts, and I think the energies you are putting in that direction are admirable, J. S. (No "Society membership" intended, just an observation.) It is always difficult when trying to educate anyone on anything to know exactly how to begin, and even more difficult to know how to end -- because there really is no end, as our lives' aims, both professional and personal, are moving targets. As I said, unless we are constantly updating our skill sets we become stale, irrelevant and old. As the article I read in Newsweek says, "Eighty is the new fifty" -- when you've proven yourself, kept up with trends, and stayed valuable and viable.

In my college coursework, years ago, things I learned in media, education and the theater, seem quaint reminiscences. (My old lighting class seems like Ancient History study now. Sound? Heh! You "projected"! ) I learned on the jobs, really, and grew up along with them. I would accept nothing but excellence from myself -- and others.

Forward thinking, being a futurist, is tricky stuff to begin with -- finding how to best prepare diverse individuals at all levels with an infinite variety of variables for an ever changing world in VO or anywhere, well ... is quite a challenge.

Here's to the future!

[Scott Pollak]

I just got through reading the last two pages with interest. I actually haven't ready much of this thread initially because I didn't attend Voice2008 and didn't really care to. Not due to ego or anything like that, it was more of a financial and priorities decision.

So I won't add anything to the many excellent points made on the past two pages.

However, prior to reading this I just watched another half-dozen or so episodes of "Scrubs" with my son. We have every season on DVD and it's one of our favorite late-evening pastimes. And then I come up here and read this thread and it hits me:

J.S. is the Dr. Cox of the v/o world.

Now J.S. knows me and knows I consider him a friend, so he'll no doubt see this as a compliment, albeit a somewhat awkward one.

But Perry Cox, as universally unloved within the confines of Sacred Heart Hospital as he is, is also looked to for tough answers that come from his years of experience. And like J.S., Dr. Cox is never at a loss for words. And when he tells you what you need to know, it often stings a bit, and Cox doesn't care. He's not asking for your friendship. He's asking for you to think about what he's saying.

I still think Elliott Reid is damn hot, though.

[Diane Havens]

I think you mentioned her a few times before at Savvy, Scott. Nice way to work her into the conversation here along with her glam shot. (I too am a fan of that show.)

I don't think this thread is about J. S., though -- I can see the Cox comparison. . But Scrubs could be a good metaphor for our virtual community (And does that make Todd Dr. Kelso?) Only, if we screw up, nobody dies. I'd like to see a musical based on it myself -- you know, like "A Chorus Line" only for voice actors.