VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Donna · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 7:57 am Post subject: Always wanted to fly

I don't usually talk about my projects, but this one struck a chord, Apologies for the near-blog length!

I am the new Bitchin Betty, the cockpit voice warning system for two military aircraft. The previous Betty had been in service since 1973, and frankly, she was getting a little tired. But she was familiar. So when a new system was designed and the decision made to change the voice, and the audition notice sent round, the specs included “sound like this” and a link to some of the current audio. I listened, noted the general tone of urgency-without-panic, talked into a can, and sent it to my agent.

They booked an all day session to record the 60 or so prompts. I arrived at the same time as another guy who didn't work at the company's media center, but he was looking for the same people as I, so we went in together. Turns out he's a test pilot. We get to the studio, and there are a half dozen or so people there already. I know the producer and the engineer, and am introduced to the program's designers, and a couple more test pilots. They all seem very happy to meet me, which I totally don't get because I'm too busy being star-struck to be in the presence of these guys who spend their days flying experimental aircraft. Very fast experimental aircraft. How cool is that?

Did I mention that this all-day session was for about 60 voice prompts? Being a distrustful Midwesterner, I began to assume there is a very large shoe about to drop.

Why did I get the gig? Every pilot who currently flies these particular craft listened to the auditions submitted, and voted for their favorite. They told me the vote was unanimous. Why? First, they told me I was the only one who apparently followed the specs and gave them what they asked for. Second, they told me that my voice conveyed the appropriate sense of urgency (left engine – fire!) without promoting panic. They – and every pilot for probably the next 35 years - would hear me every single time they flew, so they wanted a voice they could pay attention to without eventually tuning it out, or being so annoyed every time they heard it they would try to tune it out.

Oh, the all day session? Every prompt was discussed by every person in the room before and after each take and THAT'S FINE, because lives would literally depend on it.

We finished the session in a little over 2 hours and they were thrilled “it went so fast”. And Bitchin Betty is now Dangerous Donna.
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Dangerous.

Donna Postel
donnapostel.com
donna@donnapostel.com

heyguido · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 8:02 am Post subject:

Bitchin'!!! Wink

You rock.

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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Always wanted to fly

juliaknippen · Club 300 Joined: 25 Nov 2012 Posts: 348 Location: NYC

What an amazing gig! Congrats, Donna!
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www.juliaknippen.com
Her Voice Will Grow on You

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 8:50 am Post subject:

Fun story and a very satisfying gig.

My favourite cockpit voice prompt on the Airbus A321 is heard a few moments before the wheels hit the runway upon landing. It is a reminder to the pilot that he must power back the engines.

I do not take this lightly and respond accordingly.

VOICE PROMPT - "RETARD!"
Me - "A**hole!"

Monk · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 8:54 am Post subject:

That is SO COOL! Congrats!

I have to chase that dream of mine to be the voice of the subway..."Mind the closing doors..."

Well done!
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roger · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 8:55 am Post subject:

Just when I think I've heard every use there is for VO, another one like this comes along. You're flying high, lady. What an amazing story.
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http://rogertremaine.voices.com/
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. AESOP (The Lion and the Mouse)

Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 9:05 am Post subject:

todd ellis · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 9:21 am Post subject:

.gif" alt="W00T" border="0" /> i LOVE that!
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Donna · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 9:38 am Post subject:

What I found fascinating is that they said I was the ONLY ONE WHO FOLLOWED THE SPECS. Apparently most of the submissions were friendly, conversational, non-announcery, and ad-libbed.
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Dangerous.

Donna Postel
donnapostel.com
donna@donnapostel.com

Jason Huggins · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 9:51 am Post subject:

THAT is an amazing score! I wish I flew military planes, just so that I could say, "Hey, I know her!" Smile

Congrats on knocking it out of the park on that one!

Edit: Phillip razzed me last time I said "planes" in a post. I with I flew military AIRCRAFT!

Scott Lyle · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 10:22 am Post subject:

Great story, Dangerous! I hope they put a painting of you on the nose of the plane.xxxx sorry, aircraft!
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ccpetersen · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 11:11 am Post subject:

VERY COOL!!!!!
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 12:37 pm Post subject:

dear dangerous, may i call you dangerous? congratulations! your telling of story, recording experience, and audition approach are appreciated and you deserve every last bit of high-flying parlousness Wink

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Bish · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 3:13 pm Post subject:

I love this story... well done! It must have been so cool to get that immediate feedback from the people who count and who really value what you do.

There's a moral here... have the chops and do what's asked of you.
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