My turn now, I guess

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006, 19:24 (GMT) Post subject: My turn now, I guess

I just recently discovered this forum and have enjoyed reading and responding to some of the posts out there. I've given frank and honest feedback to some others here and I guess it's time for me to walk that plank, too. I have about 5 or 6 demos on my page here, but I'm going to post my most recent and I welcome and ENCOURAGE your honest feedback. I've learned a lot from some of the pros here on this site, but I know I have a LONG ways to go. Any and all comments will be well appreciated. Many thanks to you all.

Rodney Dean · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006, 22:49 (GMT) Post subject: Your turn for feedback

Hey Scott,
Thank you for your honesty with my posting. I'd have to say that you are one of the most "real" voice actors I've heard...It doesn't sound like you're just reading the script, you're in the zone! I would have to say that I prefer to hear you in the mid range of pitch, you seem to slow it down a bit too much on the lower end of the scale. Anyway, keep up the great work!

Rodney Dean,
I AM Canadian
www.rodneydean.com

Rich Nelson · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006, 02:24 (GMT) Post subject: Did you de-ess your demo?

I thought is sounded nice and tight but the letter s is peaking a bit. If you can't de-ess with software, try lowering the high end in your eq settings.

Darrell MacInnis · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006, 05:10 (GMT) Post subject: demo review.

Hi Scott: Got your email so here goes. It certainly won't be a shredding as you had feared. As Dean said in his critique, you really have accomplished the art of acting... there's no hint of a script being read. I loved Rich's comment about lowering highend eq... as a novice audiophile I have found the technical end of getting the right recording very challenging. It's great to get that kind of feedback. What I'm questioning from this particular demo Scott, is whether the selections are too similar. As I was impressed with how natural your presentation was, I guess I was expecting you to really stretch. That's something I admire about the young people doing voiceover work... they seem to be completely at ease doing some off the wall stuff. That's something I know I have to work on... that and not sounding like an announcer~!
Hope some of this has been usefull.
Regards,
Darrell MacInnis

Julie Williams · Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006, 07:19 (GMT) Post subject: Scott critique!

voice-overs.Com
Hi Scott,

Cool! You're sounding good. You were a very relatable air personality, and this the best I've heard on VO stuff from you.
That said, I'd like to offer these few observations.

Your strengths, as I see them in this short sample, are,
More conversational than most
More real sounding than most
I loved the use of your punching the word IS before AstonMartin. Usually I don't like punching for emphasis. It makes people sound too "announcery," but you pulled it off in this case.

Areas in which I think you could benefit from improving are,
Be even more conversational. In some places you could have used your tools better...
For example, a pause seemed to be in order before "It's the secret addiction," with color on the word secret. "Serene" could have been colored better too.
I had trouble believing you on the camping spot. It's good copy, but didn't sound real... if you revoice it and try to take yourself there when you do it... tell it (ask it) rather than reading it. By that, I mean, don't speak the copy... ask your best friend.
Like I told another talent, it’s all about being able to tell the story and have me believe it… Starting with Generation X, people stopped buying simply because big voices told them to. They wanted their best friend to TELL them about the product… they don’t want anyone to SELL them anything. They’re a very skeptical generation…and they’re casting! Don't read it… just tell it by using the copy.

Your Demo:
Length is good. I would move the bank spot to the front. It's the strongest, in my opinion. Revoice the camping spot--make it real. And add a very good, very conversational spot with another talent--perhaps Sheila Richards.
You also have a slight southern accent--miraculously slight, given where you live! That may hinder you a little in some national work, but it is very slight, and there's a whole lot of stuff you can be doing in Altanta area--and beyond.

Keep in mind, just as a musician or professional athlete still needs to practice (if they’re not working every single day,) we need to practice our art as well!

God Bless!
Julie Williams “voice-over Chocolate”
www.voice-overs.com
Julie@voice-overs.com

Paxton Greene · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006, 01:00 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey Scott!

First of all I have to give you props for living in Atlanta. I too live there. That being said. Good demo, very clean reads, and I agree with Julie on the points of natural read could go a little more natural. It's tough though. Many times the spots we have on our demo are jobs that we've done, and this is what the producer wanted, not necessarily the way we may have delivered it. Best to you, and good luck.

Pax

Nikki Saco · Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006, 05:42 (GMT) Post subject: Very Natural

You have a great voice Scott; definitely made for an audience of one. And I kind of like the camping spot. Your voice was slightly higher and had nice sweeps. I don't think you want to omit this spot completely, or you'll lose a little range and humor. Also, I thought your delivery was good but that the script fell flat, and that's the problem IMHO. There's no punch line for the funny visual you set up. You could write and deliver a punch line (my preference) or just fade out on the last line which doesn't really fit the setup anyway. That's where your voice may have flattened out a little.

I also tend to like scripts that start with a question, especially if it's a more intimate question: "Do you remember the first time you had sex?" That's a grabber! Perfect conversation starter for an audience of one, and not a bad way to start a demo (though that particular question may not be suitable for younger audiences).

I agree with Julie about moving the banking spot up. I'd make it second: going from high-voice humor to deep-voice fidelity.

The slight southern accent in the first spot sounded quite nice. Was it intentional? It was subtle, more of a homey and casual accent. If you don't like it though, focus on the words "ten" and "tens of thousands" which is where I heard the slightest twang. But again, for me it worked.