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VOICE OVER TODAY - October 4, 2003
Helping voice-talent build careers.
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Published
by EDGE STUDIO
New
York training - 212-868-edge
Washington
DC training - 202-398-edge
Connecticut
training - 203-374-edge
Tele-Training
- 888-321-edge
established
1988
member Better Business Bureau
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WHAT IS EDGE STUDIO?
Voice Over
Career Building
- training, evaluations, demos, marketing resources, guidance
Production
Studio & Casting
- commercial and narration productions
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WANT WORK?
visit www.edgestudio.com/marketinghelp.htm
NEED PRACTICE
SCRIPTS?
visit www.edgestudio.com/scripts.htm
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THIS ISSUE INCLUDES:
1.) Have
questions on CD demos?
2.) Consistency.a necessary trait for working voice-over artists!
3.) Accent or regionalism holding you back?
4.) Want accents on your resume?
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ADVERTISEMENT
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This extraordinary
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Call Andréa Urban 917-664-7777 for private or group lessons
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1.) HAVE
QUESTIONS ON CD DEMOS?
Are homemade CD-Rs okay?
What is a glass master?
Need front and tray card dimensions?
What is the difference between replication and duplication?
Save our
website address, because if you ever have a question on CD demos,
our website is loaded with free, up to date, useful answers.
Go to: www.edgestudio.com/cd_duplication.htm
Find:
...Industry
Terms (definitions for glass master, CD-R, and more)
...CD Walkthrough Anatomy (illustrates a jewel case's components)
...Design Dimensions (for making your own graphics)
...and more.
Need voice-over
CD demos? We specialize in small and large quantity
orders. Call us weekdays 9-5 EST at 888-321-edge (3343).
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2.) CONSISTENCY.A NECESSARY TRAIT FOR WORKING VOICE-OVER ARTISTS
One of the
key skills a professional voice-over artist has is an ability to
maintain a consistent vocal delivery. This is more difficult than it
sounds, and can take years to master. There are several situations where
consistency is crucial:
a.) When
recording, it is common for the producer to request that you
re-record a sentence with a modification. It is imperative that when
you re-record, the specified modification is the ONLY
change...everything else remains the same.
However,
many voice over artists tend to increase their volume when asked for
more smile. Similarly, they tend to slow down their tempo when
requested to decrease their projection. Watch out for these and
other mishaps.
To practice, read this sentence multiple times, each time only changing one thing:
"Born
with absolute pitch, infallible rhythm, and natural
comprehension of harmony, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had come into this world
with a complete
gift."
b.) Often, the voice over artist is requested to read the script
multiple times so that the producer has the ability to edit together
sections from each recording to create the ultimate version.
However,
many voice over artists tend to lose their spontaneity and
enthusiasm when reading the same script repeatedly. If your sound
varies between takes, the recordings will not edit together smoothly.
It is essential that your vocal delivery remains consistent with the
previously recorded recording.
With ample
practice and good concentration, most voice-over artists learn
to keep the spontaneity and enthusiasm consistent.
One way to
practice is with two audio-recorders. Record yourself on
audio-recorder #1 reading the following script 10 times. Then, while
listening back to your recording on audio-recorder #1, record each
sentence of the script from a various recording onto audio-recorder
#2. When completed, listen back to audio-recorder #2 -- all of the
sentences should blend smoothly into each other.
"The
Zambezi river is 1,700 miles long from its source to its mouth on the
shores of the Indian Ocean. It was formed during the volcanic upheavals
of
the Jurassic period about 150 million years ago, when an old river was
split into two. The Zambezi is the fourth-largest river in Africa. It
rises in northern Zambia, and flows southwest into Angola before turning
back into Zambia and heading south."
This exercise can also be practiced with one audio-recorder:
Record the
following commercial once all the way through. Then record
yourself re-recording it. Finally, play back both
recordings. They should contain exactly the same speed, volume, tone,
and
pitch. If not, keep practicing.
"In
Premiere Magazine, you'll read about the making of movies, shot by
shot. Catch the rising stars. See what hot new movies are in the works.
Plus much more."
c.) Some recordings are long enough that they are recorded on multiple
days, such as audio-books. In these instances, it is essential that
your vocal delivery remains consistent from day to day, so that when
the recording is edited together, it flows smoothly.
To practice,
read one sentence of the following example each day
until the entire paragraph is completed. Then play back the entire
recording. It should sound smooth and harmonious. If it does not,
you are not consistent enough.
Note: It
is common for professionals to ask the engineer to play back
the last 15 seconds of the previous day's recording prior to
recording, so that they can match the delivery style.
"In
our next segment we visit individual stadiums, explore tales of
the classic teams, legendary stars, and the devotion of the American
baseball fan. First stop: Yankee Stadium, home of the team America
loves to hate and breeding ground for a host of superstars and
legends. Back at the Hall of Fame in the World Series room, we
explore the lives of ordinary men with extraordinary skills. And look
at how and why Americans have elevated such men to mythic places in
our folklore. Chicago, Illinois -- in America's foremost sports city,
our first location is Comiskey Park, the oldest standing major league
ballpark in America."
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3.) ACCENT OR REGIONALISM HOLDING YOU BACK?
Have a New York, foreign, or regional accent?
Ever lose a job due to it?
Then learn
Standard American English. It's what casting professionals
generally prefer.
Attend the
ACCENT ELIMINATION WORKSHOP with Sam Chwat, dialect coach for
Robert Deniro, Willem Dafoe, Marcia Gaye Harden, Julia Roberts, Andie
Macdowell, Jude Law, Kathleen Turner, Isabella Rossellini, Tony Danza,
Jon
Bon Jovi, Patrick Stewart, John Leguizamo, Roberto Benigni, James
Gandolfini, and many other performers.
This seminar
focuses on identifying the most obvious features of your
accent, and creating strategies for your acquisition of Standard American
(Non-Regional) English.
Each participant
will gain a comprehensive understanding of his/her accent
and the means necessary to acquire non-regional American English speech.
The focus will be on establishing a self-study program for losing your
accent.
Interested?
Offered by: Edge Studio/The Voice Design Group
When: 9:30am to 11am on Saturday November 15, 2003
Location:
New York Speech Improvement Services
253 West 16th Street, Suite # l-B (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
Fee: $79 (gain one job and it's paid off)
Seating is
limited to 10 participants and based on a first pay, first serve
basis.
Call 888-321-edge (3343)
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ADVERTISEMENT
"I have
spent a lot of time and money. I have a great demo! How can I get
agents and casting people to notice it, or even listen to it?"
The outside
of your demo should be as interesting as the inside. Get your
demo noticed before it is thrown on a pile or in the trash without even
being heard!
WANT CUSTOM CD DEMO CARDS?
"What's
a Front-Card?" That's the insert-card on the back and sides of
your CD demo case.
"What's
a Tray-Card?" That's the insert-card on the front of your CD demo
case.
"Why
do I need cards?" This determines if your demo is heard, tossed in
a
pile, or thrown away!
STILL INTERESTED?
NYC area
- I come to you! Either your place of business or home to set up
artwork. Together we'll listen to your demo and create Artwork suitable
for
it. Everything is stored on file for future duplicates.
CD Front
Card - $1 per card. CD Tray Card - $1 per card. Cassette J-Card
- $1 per card. One time Set-up fee - $40. Cutting Charge - $10 per order
Paul Liberti
(212) 229-7856
voiceoverPaul@aol.com
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4.) WANT ACCENTS ON YOUR RESUME?
Attention Actors and Voice Over Artists
Looking to beef up your resume?
Then attend
the ACCENT ACQUISITION SEMINAR with Sam Chwat, dialect coach
for Robert DeNiro in CAPE FEAR and THIS BOY'S LIFE; Willem Dafoe in his
Oscar-nominated role in SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE; and Marcia Gaye Harden
for
her Oscar win in POLLOCK; Julia Roberts, Andie MacDowell, Jude Law; and
many other stars.
Accents learned:
Spanish, Irish, New York, British.
...an impressive resume builder.
Each participant
will compile an audio cassette tape of himself/herself
performing the accent under supervision, as well as explicit instructions
for using the accents on auditions. The focus will be on establishing
a
self-study program for gaining your accents.
Interested?
Offered by: Edge Studio/The Voice Design Group
When: 11:30am
to 1pm on four Saturdays: November 15, November 22, (no
class November 29), December 6, and December 13.
Location:
New York Speech Improvement Services
253 West 16th Street, Suite # l-B (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
Fee: $275 (includes all four classes)
Seating is
limited to 10 participants and based on a first pay, first serve
basis.
Call 888-321-edge (3343)
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HAVE A DEMO?
We're always
searching for new talent. Please mail us your CD demo to:
Edge Studio, 251 West 30th Street, suite 9-fm. NY, NY 10001 USA
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WANT TO ADVERTISE in Voice Over Today?
Results have
been great! Email info@edgestudio.com or call us weekdays, 9-
5 EST at 888-321-edge
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