Voicing Political Spots

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 01:32 (GMT) Post subject: Re: and one last thing

J.S. -- you're much funnier than your avatar. I really don't know why he's the popular one.

Dina Monaco-Boland · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 02:13 (GMT) Post subject:

Ed Gambill · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 04:12 (GMT) Post subject:

NOV 4th Vote Ed Gambill for NC House.

Donations Welcomed

One up on a time I had 9 clients in the NC House. I wrote copy, shot (video and stills), edited and voice TV, Radio and laid out news paper.

That was then, now I can only do VO for one candidate. ME!

I need to use every asset I have. So I will shot, edited and voice TV, Radio and news paper ads for my self. After all I’m frugal and don’t have the money my opponent has.

I absolutely love the political process. On one occasion I had to do a 1 day turn around on a TV ad against a Big Time member of the house. It seems he had lots of money and was a sure win. He was going to share his campaign funds with other candidates in tighter races. The other side got wind of this move and put 10,000.00 in cable for his opponent. They knew she would not win but need to jolt Mr. Big Time in to thinking the race would be tighter. I don’t know if it was effective but it was a bit of gamesmanship. Mr. Big Time later went to Federal prison for taking illegal donations and influence peddling. For sure I would have never done any work for him.

Deby Cedars · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 05:34 (GMT) Post subject:

Connie I loved your prostitute/politician story on the other board.....

I personally have never considered myself a party pooper but..... I would much rather play the drawn together cartoon parody version of the prostitute and the politician than do the commercial for the politician .....or worse yet actually be the prostitute...

sings to herself on Oxycodone..... after post operative surgery....Prince songs...."Party like it 1999.....life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last...." I've got a disco ball in my living room and a twister board.... I don't really like to drink....but I love parties....and confetti....lets party here!!!!.....but no strip poker though.....I want to hide my scar for a while....perhaps some spin the bottle though (giggles)

and thinking of Pink Parties....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FSrI17yduU

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 08:22 (GMT) Post subject:

Diane Havens · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 11:18 (GMT) Post subject:

Peter Ganim · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 12:13 (GMT) Post subject:

I'm a little late to this party...but , here goes-

For the "American" voices on the board (and others for whom it may apply)-

I was invited recently to be considered as the radio voice in many Northeastern markets for one of this season's presidential candidates...
(If you want to know why, listen to the WWII history tracks "Blood on the Sea" at my website...that's close, but not entirely, to the sound they wanted)

The candidate, however, is the one that I will NOT be voting for in November.

So - I had to revisit this very topic just last month.

I decided this:

This is a democracy (purportedly)...so, I should celebrate the process. Why the hell should I not, as a professional, voice ads that present a view contrary to my own? That view is not going away and there are intelligent and reasonable individuals who hold that opposing view, individuals whom I respect and even LIKE!
It is a healthy nod to the democratic process to acknowledge the opposition, so , really , where is the conflict - so long as it remains a business transaction?

Do barbers refuse to cut the hair of campaign members in parties with views contrary to their own?

Do restaurants cater functions only for the candidates of their owners' political stripe?

(I do understand that many VOs will draw the line at slimy attack ads in which the content is simply reproachable, or the rare instance in which a voice is so well "branded" locally that a voicing would practically constitute an endorsement...but, beyond that...)

And, yes, I get that it is always a personal choice...but, at some point I wonder if we're not a little too "up in our own S*&T" about our voices...I mean, it is different than on-camera work in which your actual person is involved, your image, your face. How many of us have that instantly recognizable voice? Particularly when it is mixed and mastered and complements images of a candidate and is playing in the background while Mom or Dad cooks dinner?

In any case - the issue for me became-
Why the hell not?
It is a healthy acknowledgment of the democracy in which I live, to voice opinions that may not be my own but that are held by many of my fellow Americans, indeed, by most accounts, nearly HALF of my fellow Americans.

It's a gesture towards moving us forward into discourse as opposed to wallowing within the two warring factions into which we have been fashioned lately (by the media and others...) Who's red, who's blue..?

This "divided" idea keeps us from embracing our real legacy as Americans...which is to acknowledge the continual debate as to our differences and respect a healthy dichotomy of opinion...not to hole up in rival bunkers and loathe the "other".

In any case -
I did not "get the gig" - so my decision was unimpactful-

Maybe next time...

Professionally and patriotically-

PG

Diane Havens · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 13:04 (GMT) Post subject:

Open, civilized dialogue -- with respect for opposing views? What kind of crazy radical are you, Peter? Laughing

Just so, my friend.

And as a 4th of July treat for all my fellow Americans, and our friends, this wonderful scene from 1776 -- you've got to love politicians!

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 16:42 (GMT) Post subject: The Gilbert Bump

Interesting that you picked up on the Gilbert Bump Diane. I'm not saying for certain that bills get passed and politicians elected simply becuase they have used me for voice talent. And it's probably a big coincedence that a large ad agency recently used my voice to pitch a big chunk of Symantec business and won that. Nor has it been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that any of the companies who I have done voiceover for that shortly thereafter expereinced a meteoric rise in stock prices can attribute that to my doing v.o. for them.

Some say the Gilbert bump is simply coincedence. Others claim it has to do with my recording my voiceovers precisely at 6:17am GMT with a chicken's foot tied to the mic stand.

I tried to tell Hillary to hire me to do her v.o., but she didn't listen.

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 20:15 (GMT) Post subject:

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 20:23 (GMT) Post subject: Re: The Gilbert Bump

Maxine Dunn · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 21:45 (GMT) Post subject:

Boy, this topic hits home, but not so much just from the “political spot” standpoint so please allow me to expound upon the whole moral dilemma of voice-overs.

I did a couple of very short political spots last year, (my first ever), but I think they’ll be my last. I agreed with their agenda but they were boring and brief and were just one of the zillion political spots that one has to hear, ad nauseam, during elections. I decided I didn’t want to be one of those voices that makes people turn OFF their television or radio.

On another biographical note, years and years ago I was represented by the Ford agency in New York City and was looking forward to a modeling career in New York – sort of – I’m a nature lover and hiker and biker, and there’s not a lot of that to be had in one’s daily life in NYC but I was willing to give it a try. Unfortunately, one of the first jobs I got booked for was a cigarette CAMPAIGN. Television, billboards, print, etc. Back then, easily a $50,000.00 job or more. However, the small problem was I hated cigarettes, had watched people in my family die a long protracted death from lung cancer, and would never in a million years, or for a million dollars, promote smoking. So, I told my agent that I was very sorry but I couldn’t accept the job. The booking agent completely wigged out - literally shouted at me in the booking office, and even though I was living in Eileen Ford’s house at the time, I was basically told that if I was not willing to accept such a huge booking, they were not willing to represent me. Nice, hey?

Sure this was a very long time ago but similar situations have happened since. I’m also an animal lover and care deeply about wildlife and animals and the state of the planet. Whether it’s the reptiles that are imported from Indonesia for their skins, the Minks and Foxes that are farmed for their pelts, the hens that are kept in battery cages for their eggs, or the fighter Pit Bulls that run endlessly on treadmills, I care deeply about the plight of animals. So, when I was asked to wear fur coats in fashion shows for big-name departments stores, (and for example some of these coats were made of Broadtail Lamb, a “fetal fur…” I won’t even go into detail about how they are harvested), I made the decision to start declining jobs that required me to wear fur. I simply could not bring myself to walk down a runway wearing a coat made of aborted lamb skins. I did once or twice and as I walked the runway, I was filled with sadness and repulsion and anger as I thought of what hung about my shoulders. Needless to say I was deleted from their model list.

I’ve also declined campaigns to advertise gambling casinos. Maybe my distaste for gambling arose from knowing a co-worker who entrusted the millions she made from modeling to her father to invest, and then discovered he had an addiction to gambling and had lost her entire fortune, in gambling bets. To the tune of about eight million dollars. Or just knowing gambling can lead to addiction, ruin of relationships, and suicide, much like alcohol or drugs. And I don’t deny these things exist, I just don’t want to make my money promoting things that may cause them. I prefer also not to promote alcohol or drugs of any kind.

I'm certainly not saying I'm a puritan of some sort ~ my point here is that if you feel strongly about something…whatever it is….and feel that sensation in your gut that you’re not promoting something that you like or appreciate or respect, whether it's politics or Prozac, then don’t do it. Whether it’s the party you vote for, the animals you eat or don’t eat, or whatever, I think it’s important to NOT “just do it for the money.”

We do voice-overs because we love it, right? Once you start doing voice-over jobs “just for the money,” you’ve sullied the (supposed) very reason you’re doing this in the first place.

If your work is to be your avocation, then stand behind your convictions, or at least your opinions, and use your voice for good.

Max

John Bigl · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008, 00:30 (GMT) Post subject:

very very well said, Max...

I do VO because i really love it, and strongly prefer that it not become 'work' or 'a job' that robs me of my dignity, creativity and humanity. 'A job' reduces me to that of just another resource, a human resource, but just another resource.

To paraphrase the recently deseased Utah Phillips, singer, songwriter, hobo, labor unionist and anarchist: "Don't ever let them call you a valuable natural resource! They're going to strip mine your soul. They're going to clear cut your best thoughts for the sake of profit unless you learn to resist."

I will not lend or sell my voice et al w/out conscience.

John Zadikian · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008, 00:32 (GMT) Post subject: True words

Very well stated, Maxine, and kudos for standing by your convictions.

I had the opportunity to run for political office myself several years ago. I had support from most every demorgraphic segment of my community, and I ran my campaign my way. Did I make mistakes? Sure. Were some people thrilled we me and others unhappy? You bet. But that's life, and I wasn't going to waffle on an issue or two just to make someone happy and get their vote.

I stood up for what I believed in and I still do. I won't cave to a client just to make a buck. It's not worth it.

John Zadikian

J.S. Gilbert

So, to any of you who hire talent and just so happen to be lurking here, let me paraphrase what this thread seems to be saying.

Most of the actors here are difficult, opinonated and judgmental and are people you probably shouldn't remotely be consider hiring, while I (being in the minority) on the other hand should have made it abundantly clear that I will kiss pretty much any part of your anatomy in the process of performing a solid voiceover without for one second judging you or the work.

Oh and I forgot to mention, hiring J.S. Gilbert is the equivalent of taking 250,000 cars off the road.

Good for you and for the environment.