Business of Voice Over Shifts into High Gear
April 3, 2008
So you want to get into the voice-over business.
For sure, the Internet has opened up a whole new world and work is more plentiful, but a golden voice alone won’t cut it.
“As important as a person’s voice is, so too is their personality and ability to be perseverant,” said David Bourgeois, president and creative director of Schenectady-based Voice Coaches, which provides voice acting training. “There is room for a much broader range of voices today, and there has never been more opportunity in the field.”
A large chunk of the business today has shifted from the commercial end to the Internet and narrative voice-over work, including audiobooks, training and educational material, and documentaries, Bourgeois said. By most estimates, audiobooks are expected to increase fivefold within the next two years.
Video gaming and podcasting also are red-hot, said David Ciccarelli, chief executive of Voices.com, a Canadian company that connects businesses with voice actors and voice-over talent.
“All of this is creating a new demand for new content because there is a new base of listeners and opportunity for advertisers,” he said, noting that the Internet and podcasting means a large audience and opportunities for more advertising dollars. “The industry is growing in leaps and bounds in terms of dollars that are being invested.”
AFTRA Votes to Suspend Joint Bargaining Agreement with SAG
April 1, 2008
In an abrupt move, AFTRA’s national board of directors Saturday overwhelmingly voted to suspend its joint bargaining agreement with SAG and negotiate its primetime TV contract alone with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
SAG’s national board was notified of the decision by AFTRA’s president Roberta Reardon and national officers Susan Boyd Joyce, Denny Delk, Bob Edwards, Matt Kimbrough and Shelby Scott at what was to be an afternoon joint meeting of both unions’ national boards. In a statement, Reardon said over the last year, AFTRA has worked hard to “maintain the integrity” of the joint bargaining process, “so we could sit across the table from the industry with total and unequivocal unity.” She added, “SAG Leadership has made this impossible.”
She claims a recent attempt by SAG’s Hollywood leaders to “de-certify an AFTRA daytime soap opera,” is among the ways the union has “engaged in a relentless campaign of disinformation and disparagement.” As a result, she added, it shakes AFTRA’s confidence in SAG’s “ability to live up to the principles of partnership and union solidarity.” Reardon said AFTRA would now devote its energies to negotiating a new contract for its members as soon as possible, and she added hope that someday both actors unions can rebuild “the historic trust between these two organizations.
SAG president Alan Rosenberg blasted the decision, saying it is “calculated, cynical and may serve the interests of their institution, but not its members.” Rosenberg said, “We remain focused on negotiating the best terms for actors covered by the TV theatrical contract. We spent weeks working with our fellow actors in AFTRA on joint proposals to improve the lives of all working actors.” Read more
Scott Chapin Adds “Perfect Touch” to Promos for WHDH and Other Stations
March 24, 2008
” ‘7 News at 11′ starts now,” the smooth, high baritone announces, welcoming viewers to the late-night newscast on WHDH-TV (Channel 7).
If the story is light, his tone teases like a comedic uncle. If the news is tragic, his voice is softer and slower, weighted with compassion.
“It’s like an art form, and if you don’t think it is, try and do it sometime!” says Scott Chapin, the man behind the voice. “What I bring to the table is attitude more than voice.”
Chapin, 54, the signature announcer for WHDH and sister station WLVI-TV (Channel 56), is one of the most famous voices in the local television market, yet viewers never see his face. Three times a day from an audio studio in his home in New Mexico, Chapin records his exuberant promos and teases for WHDH. His voice, in fact, is heard across the country.
Voices Echo for a Cure to Alzheimer’s
March 14, 2008
On April 28, 2008 , Joan Baker, author of Secrets of Voice-Over Success, the Alzheimer’s Association and the organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids will present “Voices Remember” — a star-studded charity event in support of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The evening will be an intimate musical cabaret and schmooze fest among New York socialites.
Featured will be some of the nation’s top voice-over actors from Joan Baker’s book Secrets of Voice-Over Success: Don LaFontaine (that movie trailer guy!) and Valerie Smaldone (formerly of 106.7 Lite FM) and a cadre of Broadway and record industry celebrities, including the legendary vocalist Phoebe Snow, from the original cast of Rent Daphne Rubin Vega, Emmy nominated actress and singer Bobbie Eakes (ABC’s All My Children) and singing sensation Norm Lewis (Disney’s The Little Mermaid).
Voice Acting “Brawl” to Break Out at PortConMaine
March 10, 2008
PortConMaine, New England’s longest running convention for Japanese animation, gaming, and pop culture, has proudly announced that stars of the hit new Nintendo Wii game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Michele Knotz and Bill Rogers, will be appearing at this year’s convention along with Daniel Kevin Harrison, a voice acting Maine native and regular guest of the convention.
Daniel Kevin Harrison is best known as the voice of Hiro in Gravitation. A Maine native, his anime credits include Gokudo, Madara, KO Beast, and Shingu. He has also appeared in movies including The Langoliers, Bird, and Wake. This will be Daniel’s seventh consecutive appearance at PortConMaine.
Father and Daughter, Competing as Radio Personalities in Same Market
March 3, 2008
When Molly Carroll heard that Jim Shafer was moving to the morning show at WLYT, she called to congratulate him, then phoned her husband with the news.
“And he said, `Molly, you realize he’s going to be on the air up against you?’ ” she recalls.
Well, no, she hadn’t.
Carroll, who shares morning duties with Jon Robinson at WDYT-AM (1220), and Shafer, a veteran of WLYT-FM (”Lite” 102.9) and the old “Magic,” are an odd couple in the world of broadcasting — one of the few, if not the only, father-daughter combinations sharing the same time period in the same city at competing stations.
They are also each other’s biggest fans.
Britain’s Most Famous Voice-Over, Mike Hurley, Gone at 59
February 27, 2008
Popular radio presenter and voice-over artist Mike Hurley has died. Mike suffered from a stroke at the young age of 59. He was best known for his programmes on BBC Radio Humberside and BBC Radio York, along with performing voice-overs for many radio commercials.
Known as ‘the voice of Hovis’ after being featured as an old Yorkshire man in a television commercial, there are very few radio stations he hasn’t been heard on over the years.
Little Known Facts about Announcing for The Oscars
February 26, 2008
The 80th Annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday night.
By now that is old news, but what you may not have known is that the announcers on the Oscars were Randy Thomas, one of the best known American female announcers, and Tom Kane, both veterans of announcing at Hollywood’s biggest night.
Randy Thomas, Entertainment Tonight (ET’s) and “The Insider”’s announcer, has been the voice of the Oscars seven times now and she says of the experience that it is always a thrill and an honor, stating, “This job never gets old nor do I take it for granted. It is amazing.”
Voices.com Announces the 2008 Voicey Award Winners
February 21, 2008
The 2nd Annual Voicey Awards took place via the VOX Talk podcast on February 21, 2008 airing at 6 p.m. EST. The awards recognize voice actors for their career accomplishments, vocal prowess and contributions to the voice over industry.
Listen to the Voicey Awards podcast now
“Cool” Anonymity Factor of Voice Over
February 19, 2008
You could compare meeting Sean Moth to unmasking the Wizard of Oz.
As the public address announcer for the University of Louisville, Moth’s voice resonates loudly from the microphone, filling Freedom Hall with carefully enunciated, intentionally emphasized words that incite emotion in fans and foes.
But once the final buzzer has sounded and Moth wishes the crowd well, he morphs into the antithesis of his P.A. persona.
“There’s this cool anonymity of only being known by your voice,” said the 37-year-old, who was hired by U of L athletic director Tom Jurich. Moth first met Jurich at his alma mater, Colorado State University, when Jurich was the director of athletics there.
