I'm New to Voice Acting, Just Looking for Some feedback

Zyan Panagopoulos · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 1

Hello, this is the first clip demo I've put together. It's only done on a Digital Voice Recorder and a computer, so it's low quality but it's all I have.
It's kind of based on those HIV commercials, you know, "Every 5 seconds someone's infected with HIV. . .", but this is made to be funny, and yes, I did write it myself; YOU NO TAKEY!! . . . !!!!!
It is long though . . . about 3 min. please listen to the whole thing.

Any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

(Warning: This demo deals with suicide and multiple personality disorder, if either of those things bother you, don't listen. I don't want any complaints about this, it's all in good fun.)

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006, 02:04 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey Zyan,

It's going to be hard for us to critique this particular demo for a number of reasons. For starters, you're probably not going to get anyone to give you 3:00+ of a listen. I know I bailed out before the end. Next is the very low audio quality. Okay, so it's done on a dvr, but if you want the pros on this site to really give you a fair critique, YOU need to give us/them an audio quality level up to snuff here to justify the time they'll give you with a critique. I'm thinking those two things alone are why there have been no responses here yet. Next, you didn't really specify WHAT kind of constructive criticism you're seeking... is it for your characterizations, or the script, or the actual demo or what? So I'm going to offer what I can, kind of flying blind here, and I'm going to be honest, so please take what I offer in the constructive vein I offer it:

- I personally don't like character voice demos where it's obvious that someone just read a piece of script jumping from one voice to the next. Plus, your whole script is basically a dry read. Yes, you have a bit of music behind it, but it's not a produced piece. This is just a down-and-dirty quickie with not a lot of work put into it. If you're going to showcase various voices, you need to have some good examples of some strong, varied stuff that really moves and clicks. This demo doesn't and I quickly tired of the voices.
- I'm not a prude, believe me, but to me the script just wasn't funny. Again, I didn't stick with it to the end, but it didn't do anything for me.

Now I DO have some positive comments: Based on what I DID hear, I'd bet you have some decent character-voice talent. You have energy and a variety of voice styles. But I think to get to the point where you'll pull in work based on your abilities, you need to lay a LOT of groundwork down in:
- practicing and recording with a wide variety of professional scripts
- producing a real demo, not a "hey-I'm-sittin'-around-so-let-me-record-something" kind of seat-of-the-pants demo.

I'm going to go out on a limb and attach my own character voice demo as a real-life working example. I'm by NO MEANS the king of character voices. Hardly! But the demo was taken from a number of real pieces done over a period of a year or two and was produced to:
- show my variety and styles
- keep a 'forward momentum', making the listener WANT to hear more
- be short enough that the client will listen to the end

I hope all this has been of some help. I'm not the expert; just someone who is honest and wants to offer whatever true evaluation I can. Work hard and you could do well. You have a good foundation upon which to build.

Peace.

Louis Tristan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 266

It kind of reminds of my last episode of top gun... Was in a hurry so just did it on one take, even though the effects sound good no time was put into doing the voice work. That's my opinion when it comes to the voice work you have enclosed

As for the topic it's a bit touchy.... didn't know it was every 5 seconds, that's pretty serious. That would mean every five seconds somebody is getting laid. 3 minutes is all I need. All in all it doesn't really send the message it's a litle freaky dee key. However there is a way to send the message, still be serious annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd funny.

Watch this educational funny spoof on how they send the message. It's time for you to take a time out.

Anyone here use fire fox and know why you can't view embedded flash html links? It works fin in safari.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006, 22:19 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Project Blue

Anyone here use fire fox and know why you can't view embedded flash html links? It works fin in safari.

I use Foxfire and have the same problem. I understand there's a plugin you need to properly use Flash and have tried to get it and install it with no luck. I can't even view Youtube videos on Foxfire although things like Yahoo and Google videos run fine. I can, however, see the Youtube videos fine on I.E. I tried installing I.E. 7.0 recently and it was SUCH a disaster that I uninstalled it and went back to 6.0.

On Foxfire I also can not see the little "click here to play your demo" buttons on voice123.com after I upload a demo to answer a lead.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006, 22:30 (GMT) Post subject:

Dohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I meant FireFox! Alzheimer's kicks in again!