Monday, December 29, 2008

Susan Berkley presents her mini-course on interpreting ad copy

Susan Berkley presents her 5 part Mini Course - How To Do Voice-overs
The Five Questions voice actors need to ask themselves in order to interpret Ad Copy
Question #1 Who am I?
Question #2 Who Am I Talking To?
Question #3 What Is My Relationship?
Question #4 Where Are We?
Question #5 What Would It Look Like?

Learn more about Susan at The Great Voice Company: http://www.greatvoice.com


Question #1 Who Am I?



Question #2 Who Am I Talking To?



Question #3 What Is My Relationship?



Question #4 Where Are We?



Question #5 What Would It Look Like?

Saturday, December 27, 2008

You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Boris Karloff performed the voice-over work and Thurl(Tony the Tiger)Ravenscroft sings the signature song from "How The Grinch Stole Christmas."

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Friday, November 21, 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Dr. Who Voice Over Recording for "The Infinate Quest"


Part 1 - Recording the voices for the Doctor Who cartoon 'The Infinite Quest'.



Part 2 - Recording the voices for the Doctor Who cartoon 'The Infinite Quest'.



Part 3 - Recording the voices for the Doctor Who cartoon 'The Infinite Quest'.



David Tennant, Anthony Head and Freema Agyeman recording the voices for the Doctor Who cartoon 'The Infinite Quest'.



The animated version of the previous recording.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Up!

On November 24th, 2003, Laurie and I went to a live-cast reading of THE WALDORF CONFERENCE, a play about the men behind the Hollywood Blacklist. The play was presented at the WGA Theatre in Beverly Hills as a benefit for the Hollywood ACLU and the Writers Guild Foundation. Nat Segaloff produced and John de Lancie directed with the following cast:

Edward Asner as Louis B. Mayer
James Cromwell as James F. Byrnes
John de Lancie as Eric Johnston
Harlan Ellison as Barney Balaban
Michael Laskin as Mendel Silberberg
Paul Mazursky as Samuel Goldwyn
Kenny Morse as Spyros Skouras
Ethan Phillips as Harry Cohn
Robert Picardo as Dore Schary
Lawrence Pressman as Albert Warner
Jacob Snyder as William Goetz
Alan Toy as Nicholas Schenck

After the play we were handing out with Harlan and Susan Ellison, when I worked up the nerve to ask Harlan to introduce us to Ed Asner. "Hey, Eddie! Come're, I want you to meet some people." Thanks to Harlan, we met a true gentleman.

On June 28th, 2008 I participated in Patrick Farley's "Mix Down/Melt Down" event, held in Chandler, Arizona. I had been listening to Pat's free lessons and felt I could learn a great deal from such a generous teacher. I was right. I spent some time with Pat at VOICE 2008 and I felt even more inspired by his teaching style and demeanor.

I recently participated in Pat's "Billion $ Read" which was another mind-expanding event.

I do regret my inability to attend Pat's "Play Among The Stars" event. One of the directors was Ed Asner.


Ed Asner stars in Disney Pixar's "Up"

Friday, October 24, 2008

Paul Frees: Welcome, indeed!

He's was the voice of John Lennon and George Harrison, the voice of Boris Badenov and Inspector Fenwick, the voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, Froot Loops Toucan Sam, and the Jolly Green Giants' protogé, Sprout, among others. Paul Frees had a long and varied career in radio, television, movies, and voice-over. Arguably,more people have heard Frees as the Ghost Host of Disney's Haunted Mansion than any of his other work. Listen to these outtakes of Frees recording sessions for Disney. Happy Halloween!


Welcome, Foolish Mortals!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

It's Gary Owens!

Host ,Janie Haddad, speaks to Radio announcer and voice actor, Gary Owens,about his book, HOW TO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS WITH YOUR VOICE, and his career.


Gary Owens and Janie Haddad


Here we have Gary Owens going through some memorabilia from his days on Laugh-In.

Gary Owens on the History Channel



www.superbmantheothermovie.com - Trailer for Superbman: The Other Movie (1980), the first and orignal parody of the 1980s Superman films. It features Kirk Alyn (first screen Superman), Alvy Moore (Mr. Kimball: Green Acres TV series), Bob Burns (Tracy the Gorilla: original Ghostbusters TV series, owner 1930s King Kong armature), David Gerrold (Star Trek writer), Bjo Trimble (author, activist) and Gary Owens (voice over actor: Space Ghost & narrator: Buzz Lightyear TV series).

Friday, October 17, 2008

June Foray and Bill Scott

I feel it's time to hear from June Foray (Rocky) and Bill Scott (Bullwinkle) so without further ado, (because there's a backorder on ado)Bullwinkle and Rocky!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Yogi Turns 50!

Mark Evanier was generous enough to share his answering machine message created by Daws Butler, the voice of Yogi Bear.


Here's the 1961 Hanna-Barbera title for the cartoon series sponsored by Kellogg's.



Here's an ad for Kellogs OK's cereal.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

"Bob Bergen: So Here's The Deal"

Bob Bergen, the official voice of Porky Pig, has put together a one-man-show and here is the trailer for that show. Enjoy!


"Bob Bergen: So Here's The Deal"

Friday, September 12, 2008

Famous Voices Go Commercial


Thurl Ravenscroft as Tony the Tiger



The animation is by Jay Ward Productions, Daws Butler voiced Cap'n Crunch, Bill Scott does Jean La Foote,the Barefoot Pirate, and the narration at the end is by Paul Frees.



June Foray as Chatty Cathy

Go here to learn more about Chatty Cathy and the Twilight Zone episode she inspired, "Living Doll," with the voice of June Foray as Talking Tina.


And, of course, Don LaFontaine creates a world of . . . vegatables.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Don LaFontaine, "The Voice of God," dead at 68


"In A World"



Nobody said it better than Don LaFontaine



Five Guys In A Limo



Million Dollar Voices in America, featuring Don LaFontaine-Fox News 11



Pledge of Allegiance narrated by Don LaFontaine



Million Dollar Voices in Australia - features Don LaFontaine


List of links:

http://www.donlafontaine.com/DLF2007/Intro.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_LaFontaine
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480963/
http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/09/64990/index.html
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_09_04.html#015768
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJMGS7l0wT8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n44-Z9XyS58
http://thatvideosite.com/video/3421
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/10852/
http://www.creatingsuccesspodcast.com/Podcasts/P_77.mp3
http://www.creatingsuccesspodcast.com/PopUps/P_62.html?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=100&width=480&modal=true
http://www.harrisonline.com/audio/voiceover.mp3
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/the-greatest-hits-of-don-lafontaine-917782.html
http://bobsouer.com/blog/2008/08/26/please-pray-for-don-lafontaines-health/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awlqbcJZd38&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMngjDMZTWo


If you follow this link to Push Creative you can read an interview Rudy Gaskins conducted with Don LaFontaine.

Follow this link to Mark Evaniers' website for some final words by Don LaFontaine.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Stan Freberg on the Dick Cavett Show

Stan Freberg on the Dick Cavett Show giving the audience a behind-the-scenes look at talk shows.


Stan Freberg on the Dick Cavett Show, Part 1



Freberg discusses the Vietnam War with Cavett.

Stan Freberg on the Dick Cavett Show, Part 2

Stan Freberg and Jeno's Pizza Rolls

Do you remember the Jeno's pizza rolls commercials created by actor/ Renaissance Man, Stan Freberg? Produced in the 1960's, they were a parody of another contemporary commercial for Lark cigarettes that used the William Tell Overture. In the Jeno's commercial a cigarette smoking man (supposedly representing the Lark commercials announcer) and Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger confront the Jeno's spokesman over the use of the music. Jay Silverheels also appears as Tonto, filling a bag with Pizza Rolls. The "High Ho, Pizza Rolls! Away!" line was done by Stan Freberg.


High Ho, Pizza Rolls! Away!

Stan Freberg, Ray Bradbury, and Prunes

Radio personality/actor/writer Stan Freberg called upon his old friend, Ray Bradbury to help sell prunes. Mind the puns!


Ray Bradbury & Stan Freberg for Sunsweet Prunes

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Rob Paulson and "Yakko's World."

Rob Paulson is an actor who is currently known primarily for two things, the Mr. Opportunity series of television and radio ads for Honda and "Yakko's World".

"Yakko's World" is an amazing collaboration between the writer, Randy Rogel, director, Rusty Mills, and the performer, Rob Paulson. The second episode of "Animaniacs" begins with a globe of the world and an announcer stating, "And now, the nations of the world, brought to you by Yakko Warner!"


Yakko's World


As phenomenal as that feat was, even more amazing are the times Paulson has performed the same feat in public, unrehearsed and without a script! You can see this version from Comic-Con 2006



and you can go here for another version.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Voice Talent at Comic-Con 2008

Voice Director, Mark Evanier and Friends gather for the Cartoon Voices panel at the 2008 Comic-Con International.


Mark Evanier




Chuck McCann



Chuck McCann & Mark Evanier



Wally Wingert & Chuck McCann



Earl Kress



Gregg Berger



Bob Bergen

Behind the scenes at a "Family Guy" recording session

Here we have Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, and Mike Henry on camera performing various voices for the Fox animated show, "Family Guy"


Behind the scenes at a "Family Guy" recording session

Bob Bergen : Recording a Commercial Voice Over Demo

Today we hear from Voice Over Expert Bob Bergen as he comments on "Preparing to Record a Commercial Voice Over Demo". Bob demonstrates how to choose materials, build in variety, and promote your commercial voice over demo once it has been produced.


Bob Bergen

VOICE 2008 - Bob Bergen - Creating Characters & More


Bob Bergen

Pat Fraley : Accents and Dialects

We join Voice Over Expert Pat Fraley as he guides us through "Accents and Dialects".

Pat demonstrates what it means to truly adopt an accent that is consistent as well as researched and internalize key elements that create believable interpretations and characterizations.

Pat has a new workbook and cd set, "Accent On Dialects" available through PatFraley.Com at http://patfraley.com/teaches.htm


Pat Fraley : Accents and Dialects

Pat Fraley promo for VOICE 2008 Conference

Pat Fraley

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Pat Fraley : VO Genres and Styles

Join Voiceover expert Pat Fraley as he discusses "Knowing VO Genre & Style". In this episode, Pat helps you to discover the importance of knowing voice over genres and styles, and being able to adjust your performance level to them.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Welcome!

Soon this space will have content. I am off to VOICE 2008 in L.A. I hope to see you there!