VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

The Mic Guy · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject: Video from my recent demo session

I recently recorded my new commercial demo at Voicetrax San Francisco. The studio also shot the session on digital video, and produced the following clip for promotional purposes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ4FXfX4zV4

That's Samantha Paris in the director's chair, and Chuck Kourouklis at the controls. I'm the guy behind the mic, proving why he's a voice actor and not an on-camera talent. Laugh

Have a look!
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bobsouer · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:23 pm Post subject:

Michael,

Very nice. Thank you for sharing that.
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whalewtchr · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject:

Michael thanks for putting it all out there on video...wonderful inside look and listen at the DEMO process.
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SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks for sharing it Michael!
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Jen Gosnell · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:10 am Post subject:

It was cool to be able to watch that, Michael - thanks! Smile

Be sure to post a link to your new demo when it's all produced so we can hear that too, OK?

Jen
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Jacob Ekstroem · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:47 am Post subject:

Very interesting, Michael! And inspiring, too. Thanks a bunch for sharing!
Oh, and yeah - ditto what Jen said, we wanna hear the demo!
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Mushmelon · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:25 pm Post subject:

Me three! I want to hear the demo as well!
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Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:56 am Post subject:

Blimey ...She's irritating isn't she?

Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:51 pm Post subject:

Glad you said that first Philip.
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The Mic Guy · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for the comments, everyone. It was really a fun session. I hope that maybe some of our newer colleagues who've never been through the demo process might gain a ray of insight into what it's like.

(Messrs. Banks and Sommer -- different strokes for different folks, yes? There are people who find ME irritating, as preposterous as that seems. Wink

)

And for those who asked to hear the finished demo, you'll find the full-length cut here. The producer is still tinkering with the one-minute edit.
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Michael Rankins
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ballenberg · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 5:06 am Post subject:

C'mon Philip--You're jealous! You just really want that hug!

So go ahead, Michael: Give Philip a hug Gasp

Seriously Michael--You have some real good stuff on there--It's just way too much stuff--Some pieces are stronger than others, but I'll leave those tthoughts to others--It will be interesting to hear the :60

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 981

Boy, I found Sam anything but irritating. She was encouraging, very clear with her direction, etc. She was able to adjust a read when she wasn't happy without making the actor feel like they did something "wrong."

When an actor takes direction as correction they often go into their shell, lacking commitment to the next take for fear of doing it wrong. Irritating is the session where the buyer seems bored with life, contradicts in their direction, making you do it 200 times only to find when you hear it on the air they used the first take. (a la the Santa Clause "ho ho ho") And you leave the session wondering if they even liked you, let alone who they will be replacing you with!

As Michael said, to each his own. But I'll take enthusiasm and clarity over the alternative any day.

BB

Philip Banks · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:43 am Post subject:

Was she wittering when she hugged Michael? If she was simply enjoying the hug ...I'll have 9! Of course when you've been hugged by Pam Tierney every hug thereafter only ever gets a 9 out of 10.

The demo needs to be uncluttered by someone able to turn on buyers. Nothing worng with it as such just a little chaotic

Bob Bergen · CM Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 981

I hear ya, Philip. I was commenting on the session, not the finished product. It has some good stuff. But a tad long for my tastes. That said, I know Sam makes demos she feels are appropriate for the San Francisco market where she lives. Now, I feel a demo needs to be appropriate for every market. But that's just me. One does need to trust the demo producer knows what they are doing. But time will tell how the demo performs for Michael.

But I still stand by my previous comments regarding her directing style. Even the hug! Wink

bobsouer · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:54 am Post subject: