VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Bruce

Another fine example of where less is more, where subtle interpretation will make for a great performance. I'm thinking of the recent ad campaign from the Oregon Department of Tourism. Here's the signature spot from the series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9vrNRAqEkU&list=PLd7Qf9ipRYq4428WmyBjTBjX8ESW7pJ0h&feature=share

Don't know who the voice is, but I'm listening carefully to learn.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

DGates · Contributor Joined: 01 Mar 2014 Posts: 28

Very well produced. Makes me want to go to Oregon.

samowry · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 9:38 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you'll need some dental work to match that read.

DGates · Contributor Joined: 01 Mar 2014 Posts: 28

heyguido · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 1:06 am Post subject:

Jed Alger, freelance writer and former creative director @ Wieden & Kennedy in Portland, where the campaign was created. Writes some pretty good copy.... Starbucks, Nike, Coke, and plenty of others.

His interpretation more than makes up for any other aspect of his performance.

A fine read. Captured it.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

DeadDillo · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 4:38 am Post subject:

This is one of those spots where the quality of the copy makes up for the quality of the voice.

Im really surprised that the client accepted this. I couldnt get past the loose denture sound for the first few seconds. Then the copy pulled me in.

Very strong stuff.
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:43 am Post subject:

Great stuff. Now knowing what Don added, Mr. Alger is very much along the lines of the late, great Hal Riney (minus the denture effect, which does go to making this about as "real person" as we can get).

Thanks, Bruce!
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

graemespicer · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:51 pm Post subject:

The Oregon spot reminds me a lot of the Pure Michigan campaign (Tim Allen) or the Canadian spots for Newfoundland and Labrador voiced by my friend (and literally next door neighbor) David Wallen. Have a listen.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=44wMG9b2_JY

Which makes me ask - do you need to have a lisp to sound authentic? I don't think so, and I found it distracting.
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Graeme Spicer
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DGates · Contributor Joined: 01 Mar 2014 Posts: 28

Just great, Graeme. Now I've got that song stuck in my head.

---Diary diary uppity diary, diary diary uppity diary---

ballenberg · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:31 am Post subject:

Yup, it's a nice read--and based on something else I've heard, I suspect that isn't a lisp, but an artifact of an overly aggressive de-essing treatment

heyguido · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 10:47 am Post subject:

And Bill gets today's attaboy. Good ear. Wink

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

Quicksilver · Been Here Awhile Joined: 29 Oct 2012 Posts: 217

To me, it sounds like him and not the processing, but I don't have the kind of ears to make that judgement.

Just goes to show, producers often want a person that is genuinely passionate about the copy and sounds like a distinct individual.

If he does have a lisp he's one smart (and brave) cookie to pursue voice work. I'm sure that holds him back from some copy but it works amazingly well on stuff like this. Brilliant and I'd bet controversial pick by the producer, a total original voice and spot.

Reminds me a little of those new Turbo Tax ads with John C. Riley, in that the VO is the opposite of who you think they would pick for a pitch man. Riley sounds like kind of a moron, he's known for it in every movie he's in. But it got noticed and I'm seeing him in specs consistently now. Not comparing a lisp to being slow but they are both things that most would think would disqualify you from ad work and it worked beautifully in these cases.

Be yourself and stick with it and you will find your niche eventually, I suppose.

Thanks Bruce.

heyguido · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:23 pm Post subject:

Just so there's no confusion.... Jed's not a VO.

He's a writer and creative director. Over the years, he's written some iconic campaigns. Remember EA Sports "Get in the game"? HP's" Let's do amazing"? Levi's "Go forth"? Nike's" This is not a running shoe"? Plus Starbucks, Coke, Ivory soap, Miller High Life, and countless others. Tarantino hired him to work on Inglorious Bastards. The guy's a writer. To my knowledge, this is only the second time his voice has ever been used on a campaign.

My guess is he read the copy as a scratch track, while pitching the campaign....

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