First off, I'd like to say an enormous 'thank you' to my friends at Voices.com. It seems I am a finalist for a Voicey Award in the Best New Voice category. To say I am honored and humbled is an understatement. The competition is stiff- the talent pool is endless over there, but I am so grateful to be a finalist. A very sincere 'thank you' to the judges as well...
As it turns out, the nomination is a great introduction into a thought that has been banging around in my head today.
I am an avid reader, never without a book. My latest series I've been mildly obsessed with is The Mitford Series by Jan Karon. It is a story about Father Tim who lives in the fictional town of Mitford (based on the town of Blowing Rock, NC where the author lives). Father Tim is one of the most likable characters I've ever come to know in a book and his friends are just as vivid and great! Father Tim is courting a lovable woman named Cynthia that has a quick wit and a warmer heart.
In the book, Cynthia is known for always saying 'I love that'! No matter what it is- she loves it. Father Time always follows up with, "What don't you love?". Cynthia always has a great response such as, "Crow's feet, age spots, and goodbyes." Her answers always make me laugh out loud.
So, as I head to the mountains of North Carolina this weekend to ring in my 30th year on earth, I leave you with a foot note I wrote in the margin of this book...
Always remember to keep the greatest negativity in the smallest of things to make room for the positive waiting to fill your life and your heart.
-Kara
To see the other finalists for the Voicey Awards, go to http://www.voiceyawards.com/
Be sure to check out my dear friend, Brian Haymond, who is nominated for Best Male Voice!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Need Directions?
A good director is the most important part of a great voice over project- often more important than the actor themselves in my opinion. No, I am not trying to butter anyone up, nor am I trying to get a job (unless you're hiring!).
A good director works with the voice talent to bring out the best possible read. They are patient and encouraging. They have tons of energy and constantly push you to do better.
I say this, because I have had 2 experiences in my career that quite frankly baffled me.
The first was a commercial I recorded a few years back (which is why I now feel comfortable writing about it) with a brilliant male voice actor I had always looked up to. It was a radio commercial in which he played Santa and I played an elf...fun, right? However, he clearly was not in the "Holiday Spirit"! Not only was he very late to the session, he actually complained and cursed through most of it. The poor director tried to keep things light by laughing as if it was all a joke, when it obviously was not. This man went on and on about how much he hated the business, wanted out, was bored...etc...all while recording a paid gig for a client!
It was almost like watching the real Santa curse- a disturbing thought, huh?
My second experience came with a director that honestly made me question my own career choice as a voice actor. I won't give any specific details- I will only say this director has had complaints in the past from other voice actors. During the session (which was about 20 hours over 3 days) the director would make comments like, "Do you know how to read?", "Are you not able to act?", "Are you sure this is the right job for you?". On day 2 I asked the director if they would be more comfortable finding another voice actor for the part- I explained that my feelings would not be hurt. The answer? I was exactly what they were looking for.
It was the longest 3 days of my career.
There is a valuable relationship between a director and a voice talent. In my opinion, we need them more than they need us. A good director can bring things out in you that you never knew were there. A bad director can make a great voice sound like a croaking toad!
We all have bad days. We just have to leave it at the front door- don't let your negativity ever penetrate a studio's walls. I realize I am fortunate to work from home, even if most of my days are spent in a padded walk-in closet!
Even during the worst recording session of my life I somehow managed to keep my enthusiasm high. It turns out the engineer of that session enjoyed my acting and passed my name on to another director...you never know who is listening!!
The client is always right, and it's our job to deliver the read they love...with a smile before, during, and after :)
A good director works with the voice talent to bring out the best possible read. They are patient and encouraging. They have tons of energy and constantly push you to do better.
I say this, because I have had 2 experiences in my career that quite frankly baffled me.
The first was a commercial I recorded a few years back (which is why I now feel comfortable writing about it) with a brilliant male voice actor I had always looked up to. It was a radio commercial in which he played Santa and I played an elf...fun, right? However, he clearly was not in the "Holiday Spirit"! Not only was he very late to the session, he actually complained and cursed through most of it. The poor director tried to keep things light by laughing as if it was all a joke, when it obviously was not. This man went on and on about how much he hated the business, wanted out, was bored...etc...all while recording a paid gig for a client!
It was almost like watching the real Santa curse- a disturbing thought, huh?
My second experience came with a director that honestly made me question my own career choice as a voice actor. I won't give any specific details- I will only say this director has had complaints in the past from other voice actors. During the session (which was about 20 hours over 3 days) the director would make comments like, "Do you know how to read?", "Are you not able to act?", "Are you sure this is the right job for you?". On day 2 I asked the director if they would be more comfortable finding another voice actor for the part- I explained that my feelings would not be hurt. The answer? I was exactly what they were looking for.
It was the longest 3 days of my career.
There is a valuable relationship between a director and a voice talent. In my opinion, we need them more than they need us. A good director can bring things out in you that you never knew were there. A bad director can make a great voice sound like a croaking toad!
We all have bad days. We just have to leave it at the front door- don't let your negativity ever penetrate a studio's walls. I realize I am fortunate to work from home, even if most of my days are spent in a padded walk-in closet!
Even during the worst recording session of my life I somehow managed to keep my enthusiasm high. It turns out the engineer of that session enjoyed my acting and passed my name on to another director...you never know who is listening!!
The client is always right, and it's our job to deliver the read they love...with a smile before, during, and after :)
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Wanna Race??
Growing up, my mother always had this great saying, "life ain't nothin' but a pig show." Of course, it wasn't until I was older that I realized just how insightful she was (and still is!). If you've ever spent time in the country, or were raised on a farm...then you've been to a pig show. Maybe you were someone that actually raised and showed pigs? When a pig is being judged, there is no 'real' clear-cut way to decide which pig is the best pig. It's all in the eye of the beholder. Just because your pig won first prize doesn't make it the greatest of all pigs, and if you lost- it doesn't mean you raised a loser pig. After all, pork is pork- right?
Thinking of life in these terms has helped me overcome many moments of rejection. Beauty? Talent? It's all in the eye of the beholder. If I didn't get the job, it doesn't mean I'm not great! I just wasn't what the judge wanted...but I will be next time.
With this way of thinking, there is no 'best' or 'greatest' at anything. There is always someone better, and it's important for us to remember that.
--On a different (and yet still somewhat similar) note--
When I decided to take my 'hobby' of voice acting and turn it into a full-time career, my sister made the comment, "the two most competitive industries in the world are voice over and run-way modeling...that's why I wouldn't want to be a part of it." Recently, I was reading the blog of a nice man that decided to give up his six-figure salary in pursuit of his voice acting passion (Bravo!). What made me sad was his comment of, 'I know it's a competitive industry' (or something similar).
My understanding of competition is much like a race...there is a clear-cut winner and a clear-cut loser. Then there are those that fall in-between.
I disagree that voice over is a competition. If it was, then who would be the winner? Me? You? I know I'm not the loser!! Plus, in a competition- you aren't going to aid your competitor along the way if you want to win. I've discovered quite the opposite in voice over. I've never seen so many people willing to offer (free!) advice on demos, auditions, etc. Just look at all the blogs out there with thoughts on how to quote for work, how to market yourself, how to improve your craft...and it's FREE! All it takes a bit of time surfing the net and you can learn more about voice acting than you ever wanted to know!
When I say 'actors helping actors', I'm not referring to those who help someone who isn't their 'competition' (a special thanks here to Bob Souer and Brian Haymond for all of your help!). I'm referring to those women who have given me advice and encouragement...the ones going for the same jobs I am. How wonderful! Any chance I get, I always offer advice, websites, thoughts...it doesn't matter if the person sounds just like me or not! In my opinion, this isn't a competition...we are ALL making a living, and there is enough work for us ALL to do so!
Please, don't let the thousands of new (and veteran!) voice actors scare you. We are all in this together, helping, advising...
Welcome to a non-competitive industry...I promise I won't stick my foot out as you journey down your voice-over runway.
Thinking of life in these terms has helped me overcome many moments of rejection. Beauty? Talent? It's all in the eye of the beholder. If I didn't get the job, it doesn't mean I'm not great! I just wasn't what the judge wanted...but I will be next time.
With this way of thinking, there is no 'best' or 'greatest' at anything. There is always someone better, and it's important for us to remember that.
--On a different (and yet still somewhat similar) note--
When I decided to take my 'hobby' of voice acting and turn it into a full-time career, my sister made the comment, "the two most competitive industries in the world are voice over and run-way modeling...that's why I wouldn't want to be a part of it." Recently, I was reading the blog of a nice man that decided to give up his six-figure salary in pursuit of his voice acting passion (Bravo!). What made me sad was his comment of, 'I know it's a competitive industry' (or something similar).
My understanding of competition is much like a race...there is a clear-cut winner and a clear-cut loser. Then there are those that fall in-between.
I disagree that voice over is a competition. If it was, then who would be the winner? Me? You? I know I'm not the loser!! Plus, in a competition- you aren't going to aid your competitor along the way if you want to win. I've discovered quite the opposite in voice over. I've never seen so many people willing to offer (free!) advice on demos, auditions, etc. Just look at all the blogs out there with thoughts on how to quote for work, how to market yourself, how to improve your craft...and it's FREE! All it takes a bit of time surfing the net and you can learn more about voice acting than you ever wanted to know!
When I say 'actors helping actors', I'm not referring to those who help someone who isn't their 'competition' (a special thanks here to Bob Souer and Brian Haymond for all of your help!). I'm referring to those women who have given me advice and encouragement...the ones going for the same jobs I am. How wonderful! Any chance I get, I always offer advice, websites, thoughts...it doesn't matter if the person sounds just like me or not! In my opinion, this isn't a competition...we are ALL making a living, and there is enough work for us ALL to do so!
Please, don't let the thousands of new (and veteran!) voice actors scare you. We are all in this together, helping, advising...
Welcome to a non-competitive industry...I promise I won't stick my foot out as you journey down your voice-over runway.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
