Summer James Gives a Voice to Breast Cancer Awareness
October 31, 2008
Summer James was hired to perform a voice over entitled “My Sister, Myself” which aired on Lifetimes’ Army Wives program this October in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
She got the gig through her agent (Leanna Levy of CL INC.) and recorded at a wonderful studio where a director and a host of others offered their input to make sure the voice over was handled properly for this project.
Voice actress Summer James relates, “This particular Voice Over does hold a very special place in my heart because there is NO cancer in my family, normally people are not excited about something that doesn’t affect them personally. I feel that as a woman it is our task to continue to bring awareness to Breast cancer simply because I am so fortunate to have not had to deal with this in my life.
“Once My Grandmother was told she had it and she refused to accept that anything would get her. She attended some treatment and when she went back there was no sign that she EVER had it. The Doctor said he must have incorrectly diagnosed her.
When asked about what others can do to help battle the disease, Summer replied, “It [her grandmother's brush with cancer] was just a wake up call. One I feel blessed to have received. This is yours. Support in any way you can, Run, Walk or Talk to help. It’s just that easy and everything makes a difference. Be the change you are seeking.”
Source: VOX Daily
Voices.com To Give Away 1-Year Premium Membership
October 27, 2008
For the past couple of months, Voices.com, the voice over marketplace, has been doing weekly giveaways on their company blog, VOX Daily, featuring anything and everything from books on the industry from leading voice over experts, promotional opportunities, Entertainer’s Secret Throat Relief spray, and private consults with giants in education.
This week, they’ve done it again with what many consider to be the best giveaway yet; a 1-year Premium membership subscription free of charge to Voices.com.
By joining Voices.com as a Premium member, voice talent will discover the power of online career management using intuitive technology and bolster their career with superior marketing opportunities and visibility for their voice at Voices.com.
With the ability to upload 100MB of audio, video, and text documents, a Voices.com Premium member website becomes the primary destination for clients seeking vocal expertise on the Internet. Premium members can audition for jobs and promote their services in Unlimited Featured Talent Directory Listings as well as enjoy priority ranking in the Voices.com search engine.
Here’s some more information from Voices.com:
๏ Audition for voice-over jobs that are sent to you via email. We guarantee that all voice talent will receive the project notifications at the same time. 500+ jobs are posted at Voices.com each month.
๏ Get contacted directly. Clients can email you from your web page (http://yourname.voices.com) and hire you for work.
๏ Showcase your voice-over demos online. Easily send files to business associates, casting directors and advertising agencies. (100MB)
๏ Priority ranking in the search results. Your name appears above other membership levels.
๏ Be promoted as a Featured Talent on the home page.
๏ Get paid directly. Set your own rates. Accept online credit card payments with the industry-leading SurePay™ Escrow service or by using your own PayPal account.
๏ Bonus eBooks! Included are the 150 page eBook “The Definitive Guide to Voice-Over Success“, “The Voice Over Script Collection” and “Commercial Scripts for Radio and Television Ads“, a $90 value!
How Do You Enter For a Chance to Win?
All you need to do is have a preexisting profile on Voices.com (regardless of voice talent membership level) and comment on the VOX Daily article to let Stephanie Ciccarelli know that you’d like to win the 1-year Premium membership subscription to Voices.com
Source: VOX Daily
Hillary Huber Narrates Audiobook; A Whale of a Tale!
October 23, 2008
Voice actress Hillary Huber is no stranger to narrating audio books, in fact, she’s up there with some of the biggest narrators in the business thanks to her nomination as an Audie finalist for her tantalizingly captivating, spine-tingling interpretation of Cornelia Reid’s “A Field of Darkness”.
Further kudos have recently come her way for another narration of a Blackstone Audio publication via a review in AudioFile Magazine in the Personal Growth category for her narration of “What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage : Lessons for People from Animals and Their Trainers”, written by Amy Sutherland.
Loaded with charming stories that demonstrate the deep bonds that are formed between animals and their trainers, Huber, who was referred to as “one of the most mature and appealing voice personalities on audio”, is acknowledged for adding a layer of credibility to a lesson that might come across as less than substantial without her.
Source: AudioFile Magazine
James Earl Jones To Receive 2008 SAG Lifetime Achievement Award
October 21, 2008
Photo Credit Bibiana Huang Matheis
Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced today that James Earl Jones, whose acting prowess and iconic voice are world-renown, will receive the Guild’s most prestigious accolade—the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. Jones will be presented the Award, given annually to an actor who fosters the “finest ideals of the acting profession,” at the “15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®,” which premieres live on TNT and TBS Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and 6 p.m. MT.
In making today’s announcement, SAG President Alan Rosenberg said, “James Earl Jones’ distinguished career on stage, in film, on television, in commercials and as a vocal presence without peer commands our admiration and respect. His long and quiet devotion to advancing literacy, the arts and humanities on a national and local scale deserves our appreciation. It is our honor to bestow the Guild’s highest tribute on this extraordinary actor.
SAG Board of Directors Votes to Request Federal Mediator and Send Strike Authorization Referendum to Members if Necessary
October 21, 2008
The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today passed the following resolution at its quarterly plenary in Los Angeles:
“In hopes of moving the Theatrical and TV negotiations forward, the national board hereby takes the following actions:
SAG will formally request a federal mediator be brought into the negotiations.
The Board adds four new members to the National Negotiating Committee, two from the Hollywood Division, one from the New York Division and one from the Regional Branch Division.
The Board authorizes a referendum and accompanying educational information be sent to the members requesting their authorization for the National Board to call a strike in the Theatrical and TV Contract, at such time as the Negotiating Committee determines in its sole discretion that the mediation process has failed.”
Adopted 96.72% to 3.28%
Approval of the strike authorization would require 75 percent approval of members who vote.
“We hope mediation will help move this process forward. This action by the board demonstrates our commitment to bargain with the strength of our unified membership behind us. Economic times are tough for all Americans, but we must take a stand for what is fair,” said Screen Actors Guild National President Alan Rosenberg.
“Our number one goal remains securing a good contract without a strike,” said SAG National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Doug Allen. “I am pleased by the board’s strong show of support for the national negotiating committee and look forward to meeting with the federal mediator and AMPTP representatives as soon as possible.”
Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) negotiating committees met for 44 days of formal negotiations and have not yet reached a successor agreement to the TV/Theatrical Agreement that expired June 30, 2008.
The board further resolved to add four new members to the negotiation committee, two from the Hollywood Division, one from the New York Division and one from the Regional Branch Division.
Source: SAG.org
Combustion Equipment Manufacturer Selects Warm Voice Talent
October 21, 2008
John Zink Company, a Tulsa, Oklahoma company that specializes in making equipment and systems used to cleanly burn fossil fuels burn and/or reduce end-process contaminants, produced an industrial video presentation on the vision and mission of the company. audio’connell Voice Over Talent’s Peter K. O’Connell served as narrator for the Zink corporate video featured on the company’s web site and in the company’s offices which also include locations in Luxembourg and Japan.
A professional voice over talent and audio producer for over 25 years, Peter O’Connell is president of audio’connell Voice Over Talent, a worldwide, English language-based voice talent organization. Mr. O’Connell also operates International Voice Talents, a company featuring professional foreign language male and female voice actors.
Both companies provide voice talent for commercials, animation, corporate narrations, documentaries, broadcast voice imaging, audio books, podcasts and messaging on-hold (MOH). Industries served by the two companies include advertising agencies, media and broadcast production companies as well as both large and small businesses around the world.
Mr. O’Connell also owns Voice Over Workshop, which provides professional voice over training to novice and experienced voice talent around the world.
audio’connell Voice Over Talent, International Voice Talents and Voice Over Workshop are all a part of O’Connell Companies.
Source: audio’connell blog
Stockard Channing Bids Farewell to AIG Voice Over Job
October 17, 2008
Stockard Channing is just one more New Yorker who’s been hit by the financial meltdown. For the last five years, she’s been the voice of AIG in the fallen insurance giant’s TV ads.
“I think that little gig is over,” Channing said at the opening night of A Man for All Seasons on October 7. “I guess they didn’t have the strength to be there, and I guess they didn’t know money,” she added, tweaking the ads’ tag lines.
Channing hasn’t heard yet from the company but doesn’t expect her contract to be renewed. But their check has cleared; she wasn’t paid in stock. “Thank goodness,” she said.
Source: NYMag.com
Bang Zoom! Workshop in Burbank With Tony Oliver
October 17, 2008
Following on the heels of a series of standing room-only voice acting workshops at the recent 2008 New York Anime Festival, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, a leading full-service audio post production company and producer of original entertainment content, has announced an intensive one-day voice acting workshop taking place at the company’s own studios in Burbank, CA on Saturday, October 18th.
The session will be led by renowned voice actor and director Tony Oliver and will offer attendees in-depth instruction on every major component of voice acting including character development, basic acting skills, and how to use and project the voice with a variety of emotions. Developing a compelling demo, studio etiquette and protocol for auditions will also be examined. This unique voice acting workshop at Bang Zoom! Studios is $299.00 and space is very limited. Details and reservations to attend the session are available at: http://www.adventuresinvoiceacting.com/workshops.
“We held two voice acting workshops at the recent New York Anime Festival as well as a separate all-day intensive session at John Marshall Sound in Manhattan and I was very impressed at the level of interest and dedication, as well as the raw talent displayed by many who attended these events,” says Oliver, who is the current ADR (Automated Dialogue Recording) director for the hit anime series Gurren Lagann, seen on Sci Fi Channel and has, over the last two decades, also portrayed lead roles on many iconic animated series including Robotech, Gungrave and Lupin III.
He continues, “Voice acting is a niche that is often overlooked or even ignored by many traditional acting disciplines and educational opportunities on the topic are quite rare. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn some valuable skills and techniques and gain insight on every step of the recording process. They’ll also have plenty of time to practice in the same recording booth at Bang Zoom! where dialogue for so many well-known anime series like Gurren Lagann, Samurai Champloo, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Chobits and Last Exile have been recorded for domestic release. This will be an extremely informative afternoon for anyone that is serious about developing a voice acting career.”
Bang Zoom! Entertainment will also offer workshop attendees a special $5.00 discount on the critically acclaimed ADVENTURES IN VOICE ACTING™- Volume One DVD, which spotlights the behind-the-mic world of the talented and diverse personalities that bring animated and video game characters to life. Bang Zoom! Entertainment produced the film, having completed English language dubs and audio post production for more than 2,000 anime episodes for a wide variety of anime series in addition to working on other animated features, live action productions and video games. ADVENTURES IN VOICE ACTING™- Volume One is also available online for $29.95 at http://www.adventuresinvoiceacting.com/purchasethedvd/.
About Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc.
Headquartered in Burbank, California, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc. is a leading and award winning full service audio post production studio working in the fields of feature films, television, electronic entertainment, anime and direct to home entertainment projects. Founded in 1993, Bang Zoom! Entertainment maintains operations in the U.S. with three buildings, six recording/mixing stages and a staff of just under 200 actors, writers, directors and technicians. Bang Zoom! Entertainment is committed to carrying out innovative projects that contribute to the promotion of global cultural awareness. More information about Bang Zoom! Entertainment and its products can be found on the company’s web site, which is located at www.bangzoomentertainment.com.
Igor the Engineer Scores Celebrity Voice Cast
October 17, 2008
Animated movies are great money spinners, with children insisting that their parents not only take them to see the film but also buy them the merchandise and movie tie-ins.
So it’s not surprising that an increasing number appear to be getting made.
With the animation studios of Pixar and Dreamworks cornering the market, Igor, which has nothing to do with either, comes as a breath of fresh air.
The story revolves around Igor (voiced by John Cusack), the hunchback assistant of evil scientist Dr Glickenstein (John Cleese).
Sam Hornish Jr. Voices Roary the Racing Car on PBS
October 11, 2008
Sam Hornish Jr. Voicing Roary the Racing Car
What’s a guy do after winning the Indianapolis 500 and three IndyCar Series championships?
Narrate a kids show about a racecar, of course.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be anything that was going to make me rich,” said Sam Hornish Jr., narrator of PBS’ “Roary the Racing Car,” launching Monday on PBS Kids Sprout. “But I’m a big kid myself.”
