PSAs for Myanmar Cyclone Aid Available Free Online

The nation of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is suffering through the aftermath of a cyclone that has killed 3,900 people and perhaps as many as 15,000, and has left over 10,000 people displaced and homeless.

In the wake of this natural disaster, aid that has been sent to the people of Myanmar has been intercepted by the country’s ruling junta who has seized all materials sent by the U.N.’s World Food Program, resulting in the U.N. to suspend further shipments of food until the matter has been resolved.

WFP spokesman Paul Risley relays “The food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated,” including 38 tons of high-energy biscuits.

While governments and agencies around the world are waiting for a shift in the situation, voice actors in North America have banded together as in the past to bring critical messages to the people of the world centered on the welfare of the children who have been affected by this devastating natural disaster.

Organizing voice talent, Peter K. O’Connell, pleaded “If you directly know any radio station or television station program directors, internet radio stations or podcasters, please direct them to the audioconnell.com website where they can download a free :60 or :30 PSA or email them the spots or scripts (if they want to record spots with their own voice talent, God bless ‘em!).”

Several years ago when Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, O’Connell was the first to develop as PSA campaign that made a significant impact regarding awareness of how Katrina had clobbered the landscape and its people, directing those who listened to the PSA to give generously to the American Red Cross.

As O’Connell pointed out, public service announcements don’t do any good if they aren’t played. In order for people to respond to the call to action, they first need to hear the message.

“Please promote the availability of these spots within whatever professional network you are a part of and encourage their use to help raise money the people in Myanmar who have been so terribly distressed,” O’Connell concluded.

Source: Peter K. O’Connell

Source: NewYorkTimes.com

Freakin’ Sweet Deal for Voice Actor Seth MacFarlane

Freakin’ Sweet happens to be the name of geek idol Seth MacFarlane’s new musical revue, but it’s also an apt summary of the big deal he just cut with 20th Century Fox TV, according to The Hollywood Reporter. As creator and primary voice talent behind animated comedies American Dad and Family Guy, MacFarlane will continue to produce shows and online content for Fox through 2012. In exchange, he’ll receive up to $100 million.

MacFarlane’s spinoff series, The Cleveland Show, is expected to be announced next week at Fox’s “upfront” session in New York City. MacFarlane has the fans to thank for his emergence as Hollywood’s highest-paid show runner. Family Guy was famously canceled in 2000, then brought back on the air after consumer demand for the first-season DVD and good ratings of reruns on the Cartoon Network convinced Fox execs to give the then-26-year-old upstart a second chance.

As for Freakin’ Sweet, MacFarlane, like fellow TV auteur Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), has a soft spot for musical numbers. He’s staging a one-night only revue of 26 original songs celebrating the letters of the alphabet. On May 10, MacFarlane and The Family Guy Orchestra will perform onstage at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

By the way, he’s not getting paid. It’s a benefit.

Photo of Stewie from Family Guy courtesy Fox TV
[via Variety and Hollywood Reporter]

Source: Wired.com

Results of Health Survey Insurance Polling US Voice Actors

“Ridiculous and getting worse’ … ‘Horrendous’ … ‘A conundrum” … “Huge concern.”

These unscripted words are among many that are passionately flowing from voice actors in the U.S about the state of their health insurance.

Financial and emotional pain is evident as premiums rise, life circumstances change, and insurance plans yank precious benefits.

“Health care costs are strangling us,” says one. And another: “All our money goes to mortgage and insurance.” Read more