VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[jsgilbert]

Just the other day I was in as a voice on a potentially big tv spot, where I'm playing a guy. Direction was "J.S. you're ths guy and you're just reactiing to what's going on around you".

My praise came when the director shook my hand and said "that was great, nobody wouldever know that you are a trained actor".

Er, um, uh, thanks.

Wish me luck. It goes to focus group testing before it will go out nationally.
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j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

[Nikki]

J.S., hope that went well for you (or will still go well if it hasn't yet!)

And thanks so much, Bob for passing on that sage advice from Philip. I think I'll have that front of mind now even as I think about my niece when I do these VOs and practice until my little heart is satisified to do my demo.

Nikki

[jsgilbert]

Thanks Nikki,
It might actually be a month or two before I will know anythng. What usually happens is you're sitting around one day and a big, thick envelope comes with a mess of checks in it.
Not like it happens all the time, but when it does, it can go a long way towards turning somebody's bad week around.

As for the picture of your neice. I might suggest taking lots and lots of different pictures of people you know - different ages, people you fear, people you love, even a pet and do the same exercise.

As an exercise, try saying the words "come here" and recording yourself. Then add an emotional stance and change the person.

For example as if you are being seductive and whatever appropriate picture that might be

as if you are in need of help and try different pictures. (But be specific about the exact nature of the help you need)

as if you are calling over someone in order to wipe spaghetti sauce from their face.

Often, when you need to reach for a B or C read (something different), simply changing the person you are speaking to will do enough to change the overall tone of the read.

Then, learn how to do this without the pictures. 14 years ago, I used this "trick" to learn how to cry on cue. It takes me about 5 minutes and I can pretty much do it on cue in any booth. Some really good actors I know don't even need 5 minutes.
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j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

"today is the first day of the rest of the week"

[captain54]

Unrealistic and fake performances usually come because we are devoting the majority of our energy on ourselves, "how do I look?" "How does this sound?" Performers are always gonna watch themselves somewhat, with that "third ear" or "third eye", but the best ones actually devote the majority of the focus on who they are interacting with.

I saw a film acting seminar with Michael Caine and he said, in response to how he gets natural performances, that he focuses in on the eyes of the person he is doing the scene with and tries to figure out what is going on inside of them, as opposed to what is going on inside of himself, and then just allowing the other person to affect his performance, as opposed to himself "doing" anything.

I try to look at real life...If I'm on a cell phone, or whatever, speaking to someone in a normal, everyday conversation, I'm not thinking..."how am I holding the phone?" "How is my delivery?" "do I sound convincing enough?"..... I'm pretty much just focused on the conversation and the interaction and business at hand rather than how I come across.

To me, this translates in VO to putting more focus on the task at hand (telling the story)... and then trying to imagine very specifically who you are talking to, and more importantly, what they are doing and how they are responding to what you are saying.

I remember earlier this year doing a health care regional radio spot...it just so happened that the day before the session I remembered reading about how so many older people end up getting jacked around by the health care companies after paying premiums for so many years. When I went into the booth to record, I tried to focus on not "how is my performance", but rather, was what I was going to say reach the person in need, and ultimately make a difference in their lives.

the client and all the creative people were in the control room, and when I finished and came out to greet them, I kid you not, they all stood and applauded.

[Melanie Haynes]

captain54 - excellent info and excellent work!
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