VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Patricia Shanks · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject: MY NEW RULE

My new rule - If your audition copy makes my teeth hurt, I pass.

Who writes these things?

Copywriter: Let's see. Those two consonants should never be found next to each other. So let's go ahead and put them together, anyway.

One time my front teeth banged together so hard I got a headache!

Sheesh.
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ccpetersen · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

You know, as a copywriter AND VO, I should know better, but occasionally I still find myself writing such things as "the next steps..."

then I read them out loud and remember why they don't work well together. It's too easy to get wrapped up in the substance of the "message" and that's when these teeth-bangers come clattering out on the screen....
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Bruce · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

Oh, all the writers who never read their stuff out loud. Sheeesh.

And the ones who say they did read it out loud, "I swear!"

"So you read this 225 word commercial in 60 seconds?"

"Yeah."

(I then motor through it and get it to 1:18 and editing breaths and gaps out we can get it to 1:12) "You don't suppose the stations will sell you 72 second slots?"

"I guess not. OK, let's cut some copy. (moments later) We can take out these two words. How much time is that?"

"A half a second."

"Oh."

--- I've had the above conversation or something like it soooo many times I couldn't count.

Hey, it's a living.

B
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Frank F · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

I have trained my clients well. Since I refuse to say a certain word - regularly (I hate that word in high energy car commercials... I digress) - they know I will pass on the spot rather than read the usage.

When I get "teeth clangers" I slow down say each word precisely and move on. It only takes a couple of reads during mic levels tests and they usually get the hint ---"Ooooh, I think we need to rewrite the copy to get this down to :30 seconds", is what I usually hear. I do not even have to say anything.

Toodles

F2
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Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:43 pm Post subject:

Today's: "...the same open hearths that warmed our American ancestors."

"hearths that"

meh.
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asnively · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject:

For me today it wasn't the teeth, but the whole rest of the mouth!
"...like Gwyneth Paltrow, Heather Locklear, and Gwen Stefani."
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CherylFall · Guest

Poorly-written scripts are definitely a pain in the you-know-what. But, I feel super-sorry for the foreign language talents I work with who are voicing a translated script. No matter how many times I pound on the linguist to watch for tongue-twisters and beg them to read the script out lout to themsleves and not in their head, I still end up with talent falling over their lines, crying "Who translated this piece of junk!"

asnively · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject:

(Welcome, Cheryl!)
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Chrissy · Guest

Hello Cheryl, Welcome to the family.

Lizden · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject: Re: I feel your pain...

Edo · Guest

Hi Cheryl, welcome to the throats department!

CarynClark · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:22 am Post subject:

Hi Cheryl! Welcome!

Frank, I hate the word "regularly" also! I've not refused to say it, however. Smile

Maybe someday...

I can relate to the teeth banging. Have had that happen!
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imaginator · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:50 am Post subject:

i don't mind "regularly", "opportunity", or "community", but require an extra five seconds to make them work properly.

and i'm right with bruce on the helpful "edits". ("how about if we take out this 'and' and that 'or'? will that save us ten seconds?")

my usual suggestion...and i have to be careful which clients i use it with...is to have them go back and print the script out in a smaller font so the copy fits.

i had one guy almost start off to do that before he got it. definitely a "print" man....luckily with a sense of humour.
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:42 am Post subject:

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Ah, this thread inspired me to re-record this:

http://www.lanceblair.net/files/RMOG2009.mp3

Don't let the turkeys get you down!
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