VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject: Commercial Reel

After much listening, learning, and critiquing this is the current commercial demo at hand. Your thoughts and critiques are welcome.

http://snd.sc/gJf4Uy

Thanks for your time.
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Richard D. Hall
http://RichardDHallVoiceActor.com

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject:

I'm gonna be brutal here...

I don't like it.

It starts out really, really, really, realllllllllllly slooooooooooow and without any oomph or punch or... really, much of ANYTHING. Worse yet, you start out with what sounds to me like a very phony commercial about a defunct car company.

And that's followed by an even slower, more forced down into your balls piece that, honestly, I don't even remember what it was about.

You also included a rather lukewarm impersonation of - I'm guessing - Sylvester Stallone. Two problems there: Stallone is passe' and not at all current any more and you also normally don't mix character voices onto a commercial reel. Oh, and I couldn't understand most of what the Stallone character said.

It's just not good enough. Actually, it's just not very good. Sounds very home-made and not competitive. I'm going to guess you produced this yourself?

If so: don't.

I'm sorry, wish I could have started off the replies with a glowing review, but that wouldn't be helping you. You may have put the cart before the horse by putting together a demo before you're ready.

If you're getting coaching, continue with it. If you're not, go get some. And then - WHEN you're ready - and not a day before, pay a GREAT producer to produce a GREAT demo for you.
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Scott. Appreciate the honest brutality. Much needed to fine tune it all.
_________________
Richard D. Hall
http://RichardDHallVoiceActor.com

Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject:

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Mike.

I can honestly say I'm still trying to find my center on the script. Unfortunately since then, I've found your elephant and can no longer use him as incentive.

But really, thanks for directing me more towards, Cashman. He's the first if not only (possibly Graue) on my list. I just need to cash in.

And why are you knocking my quote? Smile

_________________
Richard D. Hall
http://RichardDHallVoiceActor.com

Scott Pollak · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:38 am Post subject:

Daniel, I don't know a thing about you, so I don't have the background on you Mike does.

Let me ask you some questions here that may help you move more toward how you need to be sounding, and reading:

- Do you have a wife and/or kids? If so, how do you talk to them at the dinner table, or when tucking the kids in at night?
- Or, alternatively, who are your best friends and where do you guys hang out together? On the golf course? At Hooters? In church? Again: envision just chatting with them.

What you're lacking here is realness, naturalness, and believability. We can only get to that point when we are truly living the script (as much as possible) and not just trying to put our spin on words printed on paper.

Don't worry about trying to do 'things' with your voice (such as going deep, or impersonating someone). Just be Daniel, talking to me. That's what I'd love to hear.

Here's a homework assignment for you, and I hope you'll do it, and then post it.

Take a mini recorder; anything OTHER THAN YOUR MICROPHONE, turn it on, lay it down and then - unscripted - tell us a bit about yourself for a minute or two. Maybe where you grew up. how you met your spouse. Your hobbies, etc. The reason I don't want you using your mike is because at the moment it's a detriment to you. It's causing you to NOT be yourself (I think). I want to hear you talking in the real world.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:38 am Post subject:

Thanks, Scott. This exercise is a familiar one, and I can't ever seem to company at the right time to let it come through.

But what I'll do today, since I am in a public room for the next 72 hours, is leave my computer recording for the rest of the day, and see what what conversations I can catch.

To note, I honestly believe my Saturn (though archaic) as far as the voice relaxation 'X" is concerned, is my voice.

Till then I'll keep this recorder going.
_________________
Richard D. Hall
http://RichardDHallVoiceActor.com

Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:11 am Post subject:

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:17 am Post subject:

I gotch'ya. The voice (from the stomach breathing to relaxation and self awareness) is natural, but the delivery itself, is not.
_________________
Richard D. Hall
http://RichardDHallVoiceActor.com

Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:29 am Post subject:

No. Just read the script.

And if were coaching you, I would have you read every script as fast as you can, just to break you of your bad habits.
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:35 am Post subject:

And that must be where I'm hung up. I realized a few years ago that speaking fast wasn't for me. My words would get jumbled and breathing was shallow. I was a mumbler. But when I took John Wayne's advice, talked slow, and became relaxed, it all seem to come through with more effect on whomever I was speaking to, and I could understand what I was saying.

It's seems I've checked into a house of mirrors....
_________________
Richard D. Hall
http://RichardDHallVoiceActor.com

Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:53 am Post subject:

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:44 pm Post subject:

Scott just happen to be talking to an old friend over the phone, this clip was the center of the 20 minute conversation

https://files.me.com/depthpersuasion/upbmgk

Hope this can gain a little more understanding for both of us.

Thanks.
_________________
Richard D. Hall
http://RichardDHallVoiceActor.com

Scott Pollak · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:03 pm Post subject:

Listening to it now, Daniel. Love the comment about being a volunteer patient!

Okay, your voice is way down in your gut. You tend to speak in somewhat of a monotone with no smile in your voice.

I think your challenge is going to be working on changing pace, working on inflection, pulling your pitch up somewhat when and where you can, and making it all not sound like an accountant going over the daily profit/loss statement.

Again, as said above, I don't know thing #1 about you, but if I were to guess, you've probably been told a lot of times what a nice sounding voice you have, because it's so deep. Problem is, tone and timbre are only 1/10 of 1% of what's necessary to make a dent in v/o. One must be a consummate actor and that's what you need to be working on. Breathing life into not only the scripts you read, but even into your day to day conversations.
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Depthpersuasion · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:12 pm Post subject: