Fancy Accents??

Jacob Keebler · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 329

With current trends rising towards ethnic sensitivity, I am wondering what y'all think about something like this.

I remember seeing a clip of Mel Blanc on the Tonight Show...Si....Si... But would something like this read here be okay today in your neck of the woods???

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008, 20:05 (GMT) Post subject:

I think if it's done over the top, lovingly and with a wink (like your read here) it's still fine. Even Antonio Banderas will lay it on a bit thicker for comedic effect. I can hear where you drop dialect a smidge from time to time, but I imagine most folks won't notice. So, yeah, either obviously comedic or as respectfully real as you can be -- will still work. I think it's unflattering or tired stereotypes that would be a problem -- and the copy on this spot doesn't go there. Sounds good!

Jacob Keebler · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 329

Thanks Melba, You're right I did drop the dialect a bit. I've re-cut it now and updated the orig. post.

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008, 20:40 (GMT) Post subject:

It was fine before. Good character. Love your inflection on "do you like the burritos?" Laughing

So cute.

Lance Blair · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008, 00:20 (GMT) Post subject:

Great job, Jacob: time and a again you impress me with your range. Here in Atlanta (Guadalajara North) I think it would do fine. In Cambridge, Mass or Berkeley, they'd probably burn you in effigy.

But not before they wrapped your effigy in a dee-leee-shosh Buuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrito!!!

Jacob Keebler · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 329

LOL!

I guess you're right Lance, there is kind of a political/regional taste element involved here. So many reads are so generally requested for "North American" English, and I've never really been able to figure out exactly what theat meant. This was actually an attempt at new dialect. All in all it took about an hour of re-takes before I was even close to staying consistent with this. The early versions are a crack up. All over the map. In sixty seconds there are little bits of S. American, Eastern European, North African...

I do enjoy it. Embarassed

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

"North American English" basically means American or Canadian as opposed to British or Australian.

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

A spirited performance, Jacob. Nice. As far as ethnic sensitivity goes, nothing insulting here, even to a northeast liberal. Lighthearted -- and it's a commercial, after all. Not La Misma Luna.

But it does bring up a question, aside from politically correct treatments, about the age old practice of type casting. It reminds me of the controversy over using American actors for Asian parts -- a debate at least as old as Yul Brynner. And yet people happily flock, unoffended to see The Mikado.

Even age -- why insult the elderly by making them (very soon becoming US) all sound as if they owned Tweety Bird? Or ate nothing but Quaker oatmeal?

Exaggeration is often used to make a statement, be it comic or satirical. But to sell stuff, we should all relax and lighten up, huh?

Lance Blair · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008, 16:22 (GMT) Post subject:

Has anyone seen the new Six Flags "One Flag!!!" campaign? I like it, and don't see it anymore offensive as anybody playing up any accent or character. There's nothing that suggests the character is undignified or dim-witted because of his background.

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008, 16:35 (GMT) Post subject:

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

Exactly. If a seeker wants a particular dialect, the instructions will usually specify that (Bostonian, NY, southern, Valley girl, etc) and if they say "North American" they just want it to not sound foreign to a typical American.

Jacob Keebler · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 329

Hey Lance, Is this the six flags commercial you are talking about??

Lance Blair · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008, 04:26 (GMT) Post subject:

That's the one, but they've shot a whole series of them with different scenarios of lame "one flag" activities. Kinda like SmartCast, no?