VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[devishnya]

Since I've been browsing these forums for quite a while now, I figured I should introduce myself and say hello and thanks to every VO-BB member for creating and supporting such a unique community with such a great atmosphere. Any thread I view, be it chat, gear, or RND section, is always enjoyable and interesting to read. The amount of effort and useful information you kind sirs and madams have put into this website is just immense; for that I thank you once again.

There isn't much to say about me as I'm merely beginning my career and life paths: I'm a 21-year-old aspiring voice actor from Russia. A few months ago I started a YouTube project, translating some videos into my mother tongue and recording voice-overs of these translations. As many things in life, a little hobby started to grow and develop, which resulted in my determination to pursue a career in this art.

I've noticed a lot of seasoned professionals here, so there's probably a huge skill gap between us - roughly the distance between America and Russia. Nevertheless, I learn something new everyday thanks to communities like this one and am looking forward to contributing to it!
Please do not hesitate to ask any questions related to my country if you want to know something. I'm not an expert in every detail, but I'll do my best to give you at least some insight.

Kind regards,
Denis Kryukov

[vkuehn]

Welcome, Denis. We tend to have a lot of focus on the U.S. market-place for voice, but I gather you have been reading long enough to recognize that we do have participants from several nations around the world.

I would be interested in knowing what kind of market-place is available to you in Russia. No, wait a minute, am I reading correctly, You are FROM Russia. If I read correctly you are IN Russia.

Are there ad agencies and broadcast advertising in Russia? What about audio books? Is there primarily ONE Russian language, or would the voice market in Russia be split among multiple languages?

And for recording equipment and microphones... primarily Russian manufactured equipment or do you find yourself seeking out the same hardware we talk about here so often.

[todd ellis]

good questions vernon! and welcome denis!

i have always wanted to test drive an Oktava ML52. love the way they look.
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Bish]

I personally welcome any and all non-US voices to the board. These bloody Americans seem to think that the world revolves around them (soundtrack swells with a strange mix of Kalinka & Jerusalem before resolving into The Internationale).

... but don't think any of that is going to get you off llama duty... or chocolate for the ladies!
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

[WillMWatt]

[Lee Gordon]

Four things:

Добро пожаловать в группу.
Темный шоколад.
Кресс водяной .
Лама долг.


_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[devishnya]

Thanks for a warm welcome guys.

Vernon, I`m both Russian and IN Russia. The market in this neck of the woods, however, isn`t particularly large... plus this tendency towards using celebrities instead of professional VO-artists during production of advertisements. I would say the very culture of VO is slowly dying here.

Yes, there is a number of ad agencies, although they don`t really play a huge role. Having a personal agent is rather an exception than an industry standard.
Broadcast advertising, as mentioned earlier, is utilising voice-over less and less.
Audio books, well... owing to a vast torrent network with 6+ million users each month, it`s highly probable any audio book you record will hit the torrent websites before it hits the stores.
Russia, being a Russian Federation, does have different regions with different languages, it`s smart of you to think about this aspect. But Russian is pretty much the lingua franca for the entire country, which makes everything much easier.

About audio equipment: there used to be a quality line-up of Russian manufactured equipment, especially in the Soviet era (this Oktava ML52, for instance, exactly what Todd is referring to), but nowadays they just can`t compete with a) cheap Chinese products and b) quality Western products. Local professionals and artists are using only imported gear and software, I would guess home-manufactured equipment is now obsolete because people don`t really know how to use it properly anymore. I myself am using a Blue Yeti, isn`t that an omen.

[FinMac]

Welcome to the forum Denis!

It is refreshing to hear from someone outside of the US sometimes.

My location is in Finland, and I have often taught English conversation classes to groups of Russian students. Your level of English seems to be on a very high level. Might I ask which part of Russia you are from ?

The young people who came from Russia to study English, on the whole, were really wonderful young people, especially the ones from Tolyatti, where they build the Lada !

Most of the people on this forum are very friendly too, as long as you feed them chocolate.
_________________
www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

[sdaeley17]

Welcome, Denis! I agree with Scott (Finmac). I'm currently still teaching English in Japan, and your ability is exceptionally high, especially for your age. You sound like a very articulate and intelligent young man. Welcome to the hooplah! And best of luck in your VO pursuit!
_________________
"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

[bobsouer]

Welcome to the VO-BB, Denis!
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

[Bruce]

Welcome Tovarisch!

I am only 1/8 Russian but I'm fascinated with what little I know of that branch of the family. Such as this photo we believe is one of my relatives:



Now that's some tinsel on his tree!


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

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

[Lizden]

Bruce! I had no idea!

I'm 1/2 Russian.
Maman, although raised in France, was born of two Russian parents
(I knew Бабушка, but never knew Дедушка)

So Denis, Привет!
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

[devishnya]

So the market is pretty international after all! Thank you all for the kind words, especially concerning my language ability. We, non-native English speakers, do have this little insecurity about being not proficient enough.

Finmac, I come from a city called Ufa, which is located near the Ural mountains.

Privet to you too, Lizden! French + Russian is a wonderful combination indeed. Do you speak Russian fluently?

By the way, what`s with llama duty and chocolate? I`ve come across this mysterious ritual reading other introductory threads, but no clue anywhere.

[Bailey]

[Bish]