LEADS AND READS - WEEK OF 10/29 thru 11/04

Erik Sheppard

Lets hear em folks. I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007, 18:50 (GMT) Post subject:

Woo hoo... I'm on a ratings roll. Got 5 stars on the "mock training video," average score was 4. I thought Tom's and Lee's were excellent though. I'd love to hear what you guys (or anyone else) got on that.

Second 5 star in as many days.

But, alas... 5 stars doesn't get you the job as we've seen.

Karen Lehman · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007, 19:09 (GMT) Post subject: Trade Show Loop

Okay, I'll play...
I submitted this for Trade Show Loop. Opened, but no rating. I was pretty early in the submission numbers - I was actually FIRST for an audition recently! I don't know if it was this one or the Concept Video piece. Anyway...here goes...

Lee Gordon · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007, 21:35 (GMT) Post subject:

Colin Campbell · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007, 21:36 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Lee.

...and just got a call back on the "mock training." Short list of 3. Any of you guys the other two?

What is it with when I decide to EQ things. This one to make it sound old. Last job I had... the Mission Impossible thing... EQ'd to tinny for the little tape recorder effect. I guess I sound good "tinny" LOL.

Sid Whatley · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007, 21:46 (GMT) Post subject:

I didn't submit for the mock-training. Looks like they are finally opening all of the 2008Station Voice thing. No ratings yet though.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007, 21:52 (GMT) Post subject:

I obviously can't make the "short list" if they never even listened to what I sent them. But, frankly, once they heard yours (and perhaps, Tom's as well) somebody must have said "That's it!" At that point, why take up time listening to more auditions.

It's the same deal with the "Awards Dinner" lead. They requested 100 auditions, have received 47, and listened to only about 30. The average rating was 5, which leads me to believe they found one they liked, gave it five stars, and stopped opening them.

They asked for the copy to be read as a celebrity impersonation and cited James Earl Jones as an example. However, they did not specify that it be James Earl Jones, just a celebrity that would get the attention of the people at the dinner. I don't do a James Earl Jones, so I sent them a Walter Cronkite. But since I guess they aren't planning to listen to it, I figured someone ought to. So here it is.

Tom Pagnotti · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007, 22:16 (GMT) Post subject:

Wish they had listened to mine... but they didn't. Thems the breaks.

Thought this was kind of cool: a film director I worked with a while back just sent me the "preview" link to an animated short I worked on (for mentalfloss.com) But it's being previewed on UTube. Have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-LtW7_PV6E

I also narrated a film for him that is still in production ("Attack Of The Parasites". It was cast here months ago) It should be ready in a few weeks.

Hope ya get the gig Colin. Good luck!

Deby Cedars · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007, 22:53 (GMT) Post subject:

I just found this audition today. I haven't submitted this yet. It needs something. I'm not sure I should submit it. They wanted a character voice, or celebrity impersonation, but they didn't care which one. At first I was going for Judy Holiday, but it ended up sounding more like Betty Boop. I really liked your read Lee.

If you can work your magic on it Colin, I'll submit it.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007, 01:30 (GMT) Post subject:

Deby, I LOVE the Betty Boop! As wonderful as Colin is, you need to submit it dry. Please stop relying on post-production gimmicks that you don't need, especially when the VAST overwhelming consensus from VOICE SEEKERS is that they prefer dry auditions. This is wonderful and can stand on its own merit.

Karen Lehman · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007, 01:37 (GMT) Post subject:

I agree with Scott - Betty's just lovely as she is!
Walter's not bad either - for some reason I feel I can really trust you, Lee...

I shy away from character voices because they are difficult to sustain - you guys did very well!
I'm wondering if there's a Howard Cosell out there for that awards mix audition...

Deby Cedars · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007, 01:58 (GMT) Post subject:

Ok....I submitted it. I just had such a hard time. I tried to do a Britney Spears voice at first but it morphed into a cartoon voice and it actually took me a while to figure out who I was immitating. It was Luan from King of the Hill. It was actually very spot on, but Luann sounds dumb for the material. I tried to soften the voice and then it ended up sounding like Penelope Pitstop. I wanted to find a Celebrity, but I just kept getting cartoons! So then I decided to ditch the southern thing and go for Fran Dresher. I used to do a good Fran...but it had been too long since I heard her voice.......I ended up with Judy Holiday which was very close to Adelaid in Guys and Dolls and Betty Boop and the whole thing was frustrating.

I was also hoping some music would hide some of the mouth smacks. If only I was old enough to get away with a Sally Kellerman read.

Karen....I loved your read. You have such a nice soft maturity to your voice.

Tom P.......Totally dug that famous last word cartoon. (Maybe I shouldn't have watched that right before auditioning though) Which voice were you?

Deby Cedars · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007, 02:31 (GMT) Post subject:

Speaking of ratings....either I was mistaken, losing my mind, or they changed the rating.

I could have sworn I got a 4.0 on the pregnant sea turtle thing, but I see today in my audition outbox that I got a 5.0. I was either looking at the wrong audition and was mistaken, or my mind is playing tricks on me, or they changed the rating. Can they change the rating after they have rated it? I'm guessing that I'm just losing me mind. irre

Karen Lehman · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007, 02:36 (GMT) Post subject:

"Of all the things I've lost...I miss my mind the most"
Which may explain why I don't know whom I am quoting...

Allison Scussel · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007, 02:45 (GMT) Post subject:

Deby,
Great Betty Boop! ITA with Scott. Seekers have expressed their desire to hear reads dry, so don't worry about the production. I'm glad you sent in the audition in. Hope you get the job!

~Ally~