VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Bruce · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 2:37 pm Post subject: VO Documentary

It says this has been around for a year, but this is the first I've seen it.... a short documentary on some of the top VO people who do trailers and such:

http://vimeo.com/55505545

Thanks to all who posted this elsewhere.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

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

yarg28 · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 3:02 pm Post subject:

wow. thanks for posting that. No idea how I havent seen that yet as much as i pilfer through vo stuff on the net.

Makes me want to get in the booth and just practice, practice, practice.

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:00 pm Post subject:

Excellent!
_________________
Playing for a living...
www.voiceover-talent.com
YouTube Channel: http://youtube.com/connieterwilliger

georgethetech · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:13 pm Post subject:

Unseen is right, it didn't get much attention... Although I did see it a few times when it was first released. I am on the cutting-room floor on this production. Thanks for bringing it to the attention of the VO-bb folks!
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

DeadDillo · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:25 am Post subject:

"That's the time they want, so now lets see if I can make both the time they want AND not have it suck."

That was hilarious.

Great documentary. And really makes me feel grossly inferior.
_________________
www.MarleyAudio.com

bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

That was great! Thanks for posting the link.
_________________
Bob Ransom
"I really need a pithy quote here."

Mike Harrison · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:35 am Post subject:

Yes, thanks, Bruce.

An outstanding production!

I use the same "$5,000 telephone" as Bill Ratner, and share Beau Weaver's passion to make the desired time and not have it suck.

Well done.
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Bailey · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:23 pm Post subject:

Nice documentary. Now I just need a great voice... and facial hair.

George... but you did make the credits. Smile

_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 W00T

.gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo." Ninja

jsgilbert · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 1:30 pm Post subject:

These Biopics are popping up all over the place for all sorts of "work for hire" individuals, more as a promotional vehicle than anything else. Lately I have seen quite a few for high end portrait artists, building contractors, session musicians; basically people whose work is better known than they are.

I'd be willing to bet my last few session fees that this was done at the urging of a couple of the talent that are featured, as opposed to some producer or director deciding that a 16 minute feature on a few voice actors was something that had to be made.
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

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

yarg28 · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 2:21 pm Post subject:

what i read about her (the producer) was that she worked for Buddha Jones which is one of the large trailer production companies. So she was exposed to voice over trailer work and she loves documentaries so...Unseen.

I could be just as wrong as anybody, but I doubt that most of the talent are too worried about their "pr" at this point. They are probably too busy to care.

jsgilbert · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:07 pm Post subject:

That's the point. The perception is that the talent are all busy. But that's a relative term. They are all making less and working harder for it, than they did a few years ago.

They are also feeling the force of crowdsourcing, marginalization, nepotism, etc.

This is not conjecture, but fact.

It is precisely why a voice talent would want to write a book, create a mini documentary or otherwise involve themselves in intimate or personal pr and marketing.

Even Don LaFontaine was concerned that many of the newer ad creatives didn't know his name and that he was losing work due to others identifying themselves as the "trailer guy", which led to his hiring a pr person and subsequently making the Geico commercial, etc. Most voice talent 15 years ago didn't know his name.

Having been in marketing and advertising for 30+ years, we have a saying "you advertise when business is bad and you advertise when business is good."
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

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

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 12:50 am Post subject:

Following the release of the movie "Interview with a Vampire" demand for Vampires increased globally. The birth of Vampires123 "We REALLY suck" and Vampires.com.ay "Oat n aboat an' an yer neck ay" really gave new Vampires their shot. Fabby!

VO documentaries, movies, books and PR prove one thing; we're people and like most people we are in touch with our inner "I do this job because I found being an accountant for a Funeral Home too exciting" - DULL.

Why on earth would anyone seek out people who all believe charisma is the 25th of December let alone point a camera at them? Please, no more.

This job has brought some truly amazing people into my life, every single one beautiful in their own unique way. The one common bond that opened the door is that, like me, they blunder about every day trying to pay the bills by reading out loud into a microphone.

Best time and location for a documentary crew. Summer 2010, hotel in LA. Breakfast on the Sunday morning following the short sharp shock sentence imposed by the court "VOICE2010".

Every person sat around that table was a VO. The teasing was merciless, the chat was some times very loud, the laughter both raucous and brought tears to the eyes. When it was time to go the hugs and kisses really meant something. Amount of "shop talk? I don't remember any. People would watch a documentary about that, about them.

ATPOD - The club most VO "it's all about my career and my gear"people should join . All The Personality Of a Dyson.

My goal is the same as ever to engage us all in things other than "will you look at the length of my mic cable!". It is of course destined to fail.

ccpetersen · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 9:58 am Post subject:

Instead of conjecturing about why they made the movie (and possibly not being correct in one's conjecture), why not ask them why they made it?

As Lazarus Long will say in the distant future, "What are the facts? Again and again and again-what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what “the stars foretell,” avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable “verdict of history”--what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!"
_________________
Charter Member: Threadjackers Local 420

jsgilbert · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:17 am Post subject:

CC,

You seem to have had different adventures with exploration of the truth. In many situations "obscurare", I tend to lean on Occam's Razor, which is generally taken to mean "the simplest explanation is often the correct explanation".

Beyond that CC, my ears may venture into rooms and corridors yours do not have access to. I do not make off the cuff assumptions, but those that are based on information I receive.

A chimney sweep may offer all sorts of reasons why they clean chimney's, but in the end, few would it for free. Occam's razor for you.

I will agree with Philip that my best times around voice over have rarely been about voice over. And I make no bones about the fact that I do voice over to make money. Had I failed to make money doing voice over, I would have chosen to do something else.

And if voice over were my end-all and be-all, I would have no need for relationships, friends, hobbies, etc.

The ironic part of the film is the title itself, "Unknown", a fact which certainly would have to be obvious to the voice actors involved in the project. The reason for the film is to make them "less unknown".

Oh, and "known" to voice talent doesn't really work, unless the voice talent is employed hiring people to do trailer work for Pixar or Disney.

Keep an eye out for my movie, "Really Unknown".
_________________
j.s. gilbert

js@jsgilbert.com
www.jsgilbert.com

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

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979

Thought it was brilliant! Truly brilliant! I'd never seen this before, so thank you so much for posting, Bruce!

I was impressed with their emphasis on acting. I was impressed at the vulnerability and courage of Bill and Beau to allow the camera to capture when they f-ed up. The actor with the bigger ego would demand to only show the audience perfection. These are some of the most talented and generous people I know in VO.

I was also impressed that the film honestly captured how hard they work. From the 11 hours Bill spends working, to Beau recording on the fly in his car, to Melissa sharing that diversity and versatility are a must for longevity. You could also see the passion they each have for what they do and the industry they work. I know each of these actors personally, and the other thing I'll add is that they are all positive, grateful people who don't take any of this for granted. They all give back! Daily! And I've never heard one of them ever complain about anything. Ever!

This was a 15 minute textbook for anyone interested in not just trailers, but any aspect of VO. I'm in the business over 30 years, and if I can walk away from a film having learned from it, everyone can!

OH-and it was damn entertaining!