Voice Actors Are Green People, Too

Kara Edwards is one of voice over’s greenest spokespeople for how voice actors can make simple choices to save energy, trees and more.

Although this article follows Earth Day, published today on Thursday April 23rd, it doesn’t hurt to be sensitive to the environment every day of the year, not just on one day of global observation.

Kara Edwards blogged about a number of ways voice actors specifically can contribute to a greener, cleaner world.

Edwards cites that several items on the following list came from the book “1001 Little Ways to Save Our Planet” by Esme Floyd.  Edwards also added some of her own thoughts to the mix.

1. Add a potted plant to your studio for each piece of electric equipment you own. It will help counter the negative effects of radiation while freshening the air you breathe.

2. Use a fan. Our equipment is hot, so add an energy conserving fan to your studio to avoid having to crank up the AC.

3. Add a fresh bowl of warm water to your studio each morning… this will help maintain humidity that is depleted by electronic equipment.

3. Set up near a window if possible. This way you can use natural light during the day instead of turning on a light. It is good for your eyes and your spirits to look outside!

4. Power down. Turn off your mic and pre-amp when not in use. Shut down your computer at night. If possible, unplug as well. Even when items are turned off, 5% of electricity is still being consumed.

5. Use envelopes from junk mail as scrap paper for your notes. Conserve paper.

6. Dust and vacuum! Keeping your equipment and vents clean will increase their overall efficiency.

7. When possible, buy used equipment. Just make sure it is in proper working condition!

8. Don’t throw out old equipment. Sell it or find a place that will recycle it.

9. Did you know it can take hundreds of years for a compact disc to degrade? By sending audio through e-mail, you are saving our planet!

Source: Kara Edwards’ Blog

Holly Franklin, Voice Actress, Launches New Site

Holly Franklin, a Dallas-based voiceover artist, is a popular children’s entertainer and voiceover talent. Like nothing you’ve heard before, her energetic voice ranges from a baby, to a quirky cartoon character, to a young mom next door. She also has a flair for making animal sounds and now has a new website, HollyFranklin.com, promoting her work.

Franklin can currently be heard as the voice of Gracie Baxter on the hit series, BOZ the Bear, and is also the voice of My Little Pony’s Sweetie Belle.

Some of her commercial clients include AT&T, Atmos Energy, Bennigans, Cash America, Direct Energy, Indiana Farm Bureau, Hasbro, Mastercard, Nationwide Insurance, Parkland Hospital, Pier One, Sam’s Wholesale Club, and Samsung.

Coming in September 2009, Holly will be seen (and HEARD) on PBS’s Barney and Friends as the zany Mother Nature and Gardener Maya.

Source: Holly Franklin

Rick Lance Adds SaVoa Membership to Resume

Rick Lance, “The Voice of Americana,” recently received accreditation and membership into the elite 100 plus and growing group of voice over artists and voice actors known as SaVoa. SaVoa is The Society of Accredited Voice Over Artists.

He is accompanied by many other well known talent at the top of their field.

Rick Lance specializes in the very industries that move our country, the United States of America, forward, including Manufacturing, Agriculture, Construction, Community Banking and Finance, Outdoor Sports, Travel, Education and Entertainment.

His member SaVoa ID is 09007.

Source:  Rick Lance

Starz Entertainment Hires O’Connell for National Radio Campaign

To promote its two new hit comedies, Head Case and Party Down, Starz Entertainment secured the voice over talents of Peter K. O’Connell for their most recent national radio commercial. O’Connell is President of audio’connell Voice Over Talent and has been a professional voice talent for 27 years.

Head Case stars Alexandra Wentworth as Dr. Elizabeth Goode a brash and judgmental therapist who uses her own unconventional methods of therapy to treat the elite of the entertainment, sports and music industries who often appear as themselves on the show. Party Down is about a group of struggling dreamers (employed by the L.A. catering company “Party Down”) who are stuck working for tips while waiting for their big break in Hollywood. Starz currently airs new episodes of these two original series, back to back, on Friday nights on its national cable channel.

Starz Entertainment is a premium movie provider operating in the United States. Starz Entertainment offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 17.7 million and 31.7 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment provides quality movies and original, compelling content, viewed through our premium and commercial-free networks, or as a broadband download.

audio’connell Voice Over Talent is a worldwide, English language-based voice talent organization. The company also operates International Voice Talents, a company featuring professional foreign language male and female voice actors. audio’connell Voice Over Talent and International Voice Talents 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 world-wide.

audio’connell Voice Over Talent, International Voice Talents and Voice Over Workshop are all a part of O’Connell Companies.

Source: PitchEngine.com

SCPR Receives 2009 Gold ADDY; 2 Voices.com Talent Recognized

On Friday, March 21, 2009, Southern California Public Radio, was awarded the 2009 Gold ADDY in the category of Radio Self-Promotion hosted by The American Advertising Federation-Inland Empire.  Credits included Craig Curtis, Programming Director, Betty St. Peters, Marketing Director, Rita Pardue, Production Manager, Anny Celsi, Production Assistant, Voice Talents Hettie Lynne Hurtes of SCPR and John Zech of Minnesota Public Radio. The gala event was held at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center in Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.

The entry, “Think Elections, Vote Smarter” was the collaborative effort of three SCPR department —programming, marketing and production. The submission included photos of billboards, bus stop
signage, bus tail signs, magazine tear sheets and four spots that aired in the southern California area.

The 2009 Gold ADDY Award winners’ submissions will be forwarded to be judged in the Southwestern Regional ADDY competition. For further information please visit:
http://www.aaf-inlandempire.com/addy.html

Source: Rita Pardue

Harlan Hogan Takes Your Voice Over Recording Questions in Free Teleseminar

Harlan Hogan, author of “Voice Actor’s Guide to Recording at Home… And On the Road”, along with his co-author, Jeffrey P. Fisher, are conducting an online survey to learn more about what voice artists want to know regarding recording voice overs (whether at home or on the road) with the top questions answered via a live teleseminar, TBA, facilitated by Dan O’Day.

If you’ve been waiting to read Harlan’s book or have read it and have follow up questions that you’d like to ask, make sure that you register for the call now and submit your question for Harlan and Jeffrey.

Can Some VoiceOvers Get Voice Artists in Hot Water?

When performing a voice over, is there the potential for the voice artist to be held responsible for what they are saying even though the artist themselves aren’t the parties being portrayed in an advertisement or voice over recording?

According to voice artist and lawyer, Rob Sciglimpaglia, the answer is a resounding YES.

Sciglimpaglia told Stephanie Ciccarelli of Voices.com, “One area of the industry that voice-over artists should be cognizant of is celebrity impersonating. Celebrity impersonating falls under the auspices of the area of law known as ‘right of publicity’ laws. The right of publicity is the right of an individual to commercially exploit their name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness.”

Sciglimpaglia went on to describe the potential risks of impersonation and also hit on the very real, potential consequences that could come from product endorsements.

For more information, read the interview in full at VOX Daily here:

Can Voice Artists Be Held Responsible for What’s Read in a Script?

Source: VOX Daily

New Logo Means Opportunities for Voice Actor Herb Merriweather

Although versatility and imagination are the hallmarks of the voiceover business, it’s important to be able to recognize the quality and work ethic even if listeners don’t immediately recognize the voice. That’s why “Herbie” is important-when it comes to everything from vocal gymnastics to crystal-clear production, from imaginative copy writing to disciplined time management-every aspect of voiceover performance and craftsmanship can be found “in the megaphone”!

Designed by artist Scott Maxwell, Herb Merriweather’s vocal mascot Herbie’s golden color symbolizes standards in excellence and integrity.  His forward posture indicates speaking directly to a specific audience.  The megaphone tells everyone he’s making sure he’s being heard and understood using every tool available.  His hand is raised to punctuate his message with zeal, confidence and authority.  His big feet simply mean that he’s firmly established in his craft.

To find out how the little golden dude can help encourage, facilitate, and finalize voiceover projects with cost-effectiveness and flair, visit Herb Merriweather’s Voices.com website.

About Herb Merriweather

Herb Merriweather is heard as “The Professor” in the “Curse of the Pharoah 2” video game (Ph03nix New Media) and as “The Iguana Summer King” in the “Vipo-The Flying Dog” series, and is actively involved in the voiceover community.

Source: Herb Merriweather

PROMAX|BDA To Pay Tribute to Voice Acting Legend, Don LaFontaine

Promax|BDA, the leading global association for marketing, promotion and design professionals working in the entertainment industry, announced today The Don LaFontaine Legacy Award, created to honor the name, memory and defining legacy of one of the world’s most famous voices.  This past year, entertainment lost Don LaFontaine, whose immediately recognizable voice was featured on more than 5000 promos and trailers over a period of more than 30 years. This award, along with two new Voice Over categories within the Promax|BDA Promotion, Marketing and Design Competitions, will recognize the best in voice talent, an often overlooked, yet integral part of entertainment promotion.

“Mr. LaFontaine was an indisputable leader in the industry whose legacy delves much deeper than his iconic voice” said Jonathan Block-Verk, President of Promax|BDA. “Don was a genuine lover of the arts, a true craftsman and a motivated mentor focused on giving back to the industry that supported him.  The Don LaFontaine Legacy Award is designed to pay tribute to industry leaders who represent this defining legacy.”

The Promax|BDA Awards, which recognize creativity and excellence in marketing, promotion and design in the international entertainment industry, represent the most prestigious honor given in the entertainment sector for marketing, promotion and design. In addition to this special honor, Promax|BDA is introducing two new categories for its 2009 competitions—Best Female Voice Over and Best Male Voice Over.

“Don really understood the power and beauty of the written word, and he would be humbled to know that there is a lifetime achievement award in his honor” said Don LaFontaine’s widow, Anita. “He loved what hid did for a living, and I know he would’ve cherished being a part of The Promax|BDA Awards this year.”

The Don LaFontaine Legacy Award will be introduced at the Promax Marketing & Promotion Awards celebration on June 18, 2009 as part of the 54th annual Promax|BDA Conference taking place in New York from June 16 – June 18.

Submissions for the Promax|BDA Promotion, Marketing and Design competitions will be accepted through Monday, February 27th. For more information, visit http://www.promaxbda.org.

About Promax|BDA
Promax|BDA is a global, non-profit association dedicated to being the leading resource for education, community, creative inspiration and career development for marketing, promotion and design professionals within the entertainment/information industry.

Contact:
Laura Hart, Laura@beckmedia.com
or Steve Spignese, Steve@beckmedia.com
310-689-7363

Kymaro Body Shaper Voiced by Julie Williams Enjoys Top 10 Rating

The Kymaro Body Shaper infomercial, voiced by veteran talent, Julie Williams, has taken the country by storm, consistently being rated as one of the top ten infomercials in America. It has rated as high as #3, according to IMS Charts. IMS is a subscription service that rates infomercials.

“This is a big deal,” says producer Dan Dunn.  And he credits voice talent Julie Williams as contributing to this achievement.

“We are so pleased to have Julie Williams as part of our television productions,” adds Dunn. “ She has been our voice over talent for the Kymaro brand, including the New Body Shaper, Curve Control Jeans and Glamour Eyes—just to name  a few.  I know that her unique style of delivering our message has contributed greatly to our success.  I can’t say enough how lucky we are to have such a great talent on our team!”

Williams has also worked for such noteworthy clients as:  Orbitz, Casio, Plantronics, The US Army, Pampers, and thousands of others. In addition, Williams received the honor of being asked to teach 600 professional voice talents at the recent VOICE 2008 Summit in Los Angeles.  Branding herself as “VoiceOver Chocolate“, she can be reached at julie@voice-overs.com.

Source: Brad Venable

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