People

So much changes when we get a new perspective. I’ve been meaning for a few days to point you to my friend Rowell Gormon’s Clogged Blog for a very well written post that, I suspect, will help you get a new perspective on things; even though it has very little to do with voiceover, at least directly.

My friend Andi Arndt emailed me with a really cool link to a PDF file illustrating directions on how to build sound baffles (put enough of them together and you make a booth) made from carpet samples.

My friend Jeffrey Kafer is one of the principles of the Platform Biased gaming podcast. The great Bob Bergen is featured in their latest edition, just released.
(edited to fix typo and add link to Jeff’s site.)

John Florian, the driving force behind the excellent VoiceOverXtra site, has (for reasons known only to him) decided to feature an interview with me (this is part1) on his site. And, Part 2 of my interview with John is now available.

I hope you enjoy. I’ll post a further update when part 3 is available. Or, subscribe to VoiceOverXtra and you’ll get an email as from John as soon as it’s published.

Every now and then an audition will come along that is so perfect, you can almost tell in advance that you’re going to book the job. At least, I’ve had this happen a few times. Most recently it involved an audition for someone looking for the sound of HAL, the computer in the classic Science Fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The reason that I was so confident about this one goes back to an audition I’d all ready booked for that voice quite a few years ago when I lived in Pittsburgh. At the time, the Pittsburgh Symphony was doing a series of concerts attempting to introduce classical music to a wider audience than the usual crowd. So the put together these events that featured an interesting mix of pop culture references and great orchestral music. One of them featured music from the Kubrick film, and also featured an appearance by Keir Dullea, the actor who starred in the film in the role of Dr. Dave Bowman. With Mr. Dullea there, they naturally needed someone to play the role of his nemesis, HAL. I won the audition for that part, and thus got the remarkable joy of taking part in a life performance of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

They’d created a wonderful image of the glowing red light that is the “face” of HAL for the performance, and at the end of the concert they actually gave me a pull over shirt with that light painted on, and then called me out for a bow. What an amazing, fun night that was.

So, when this audition came through a few weeks ago asking for that voice, I had it in my back pocket. And indeed, I booked the job.

How about you? Have you ever looked at an audition and knew that you would book?

My friend Anthony Mendez has posted video of a new NBA Summer League promo he’s voiced. Very cool stuff, Anthony.

As it happens, my friend Connie Terwilliger (who lives in San Diego, CA) is in upstate New York on family business at the moment, but that’s not the actual point of this blog post. The real point is that there’s yet another of those tasty, short, videos now available from The New Yorker, with Connie supplying both voices. Good stuff, Connie. I love these.

… has now been posted by Dan O’Day on his blog.

Joe Cipriano has posted his new Ask Joe Week 10 video to the Voiceover Universe.

Find more videos like this on voiceover universe presents…

And if this video doesn’t play for you, try clicking through to the Voiceover Universe site and see if you can get it to play from there.
(Edited to fix a coding problem.)

Mel Blanc’s name rests in the highest echelons of voice talent, having given voice to the vast majority of the classic Warner Brother’s animated characters, along with many, many other great vocal performances. For example, I love his many contributions to the Jack Benny Show; though except for a few die-hard fans, not that many of us remember them.

My friend Rowell Gormon got a chance to meet Mel in person many years ago, and in honor of the anniversary (yesterday) of his passing, Rowell has posted some memories of his encounter on his blog. Happy reading.

John Florian, the driving force behind the excellent VoiceOverXtra site, has (for reasons known only to him) decided to feature an interview with me on his site. Seriously, I had a wonderful time chatting with John and I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did talking.
(edited to fix typo)

Dan O’Day has leaped into the blogosphere with both feet, offering thought-provoking ideas about radio programming and advertising on a regular basis. If you’ve visited his blog, you’ve seen that Dan is a superb writer. He’s bright, funny and very willing to tell it like it is, though I appreciate that he always does so courteously. (And with, truth be told, a healthy dose of snark now and then.)

Dan happened to mention to me today that he’s hoping to put a video up on his site, adding that he’s never used video on his blog previously. (Actually this is technically untrue since this post includes a YouTube video of the great Gary Burbank.) In any case, I got a chance to preview his, honestly, shocking video. It’s a tour of The Famous Radio Ranch, where the legendary Dick Orkin works along with his happy team of creative ranch hands, crafting radio and television commercials for clients all over the world. Again, it was more than a little shocking. I had a hard time sitting through the whole thing. But ultimately the video was so strangely fascinating that I watched it all the way through twice.

So, assuming Dan manages to figure out how to post a video of his own on his blog (an open question, since Dan isn’t the most technically savvy guy on the planet) and assuming you stop by his blog this weekend (or better still sign up for his blog’s syndication feed) you may have a chance to see this for yourself.

By the way, while I’m writing about Dan O’Day and Dick Orkin, I’ll take a moment to remind you that Dick is one of the featured guests this the 13th Annual International Radio Creative and Production Summit. Check out the details of the Summit and if you decide to go, and if you put my name as your reference in the comment box in the on-line registration form, I’ll receive a commission from Dan, assuming this is your first time at the Summit. Now, if you don’t want me to receive the commission, just don’t put my name is the comment box. Either way, your price to attend will be the same.

And whatever you decide, don’t miss this video.

A rolling stone, as the old saying goes, gathers no moss. In this case, the Stone in question is my friend Steve Stone and he emails today with news that he’s now in a new studio, with top drawer equipment and the best environment for Steve to concentrate on his work.

A few days ago, I recorded one final session of pick-ups and corrections for the Bible narration project I started in late August of 2007 for Thomas Nelson Publishers. That’s right, this monumental narration project began 12 months ago, and now appears to be completely finished.

And on this subject, two of my friends have had similar projects. My friend Dan Lenard has been cast to narrate an English language translation of the Torah through Voice123.com. (Side note, my project for Thomas Nelson was cast through Voices.com.)

And my friend Robert Jadah has just completed a recording of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in both the King James and New King James versions. (Side note, my project was also the New King James version.)

Congratulations Dan and Robert. As you guys know, it’s a project of Biblical proportions (pun intended); but well worth it in my view.