VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

bigjames · Last edited by bigjames on Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:25 pm; edited 2 times in total

please give these a listen and tell me what you think. i am working hard to improve.

http://www.vo-bb.com/demos/augustbranson.mp3

http://www.vo-bb.com/demos/mixbarber.mp3

Jeffrey Kafer

Your links are bad, friend. They should be:

bigjames · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject:

links are good now!!!!!!

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject:

I think it would be helpful to know what these are intended for. By themselves, they aren't demo reels. And I assume they aren't actual spots. So what are they for?
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

bigjames · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject:

one is a sample CM spot and one is a sample for animation

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject:

I understand what they are. I'm trying to figure out what you're going to do with them.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

bigjames · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:53 pm Post subject:

i am just starting out and had the chance to record in a studio. i just wanted to get some feedback to see if i was heading in the right direction.

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:38 pm Post subject:

I like your voice on the branson piece, but you seem hesitant, like you weren't sure of what you were reading. The barber one is way too short to really get an idea of how you handle characters. I'd love to hear a full reel from you showing some diversity.

You've got a great voice, Big. I'd love to hear how you stretch it. A diamond in the rough, my friend.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

bigjames · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:14 am Post subject:

thanks alot. i really makes me feel good.

BenWils · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:47 am Post subject:

James,

The stuff I heard from you before seemed to be better suited for your voice. These scripts....not so much. I wasn't sure what the first one was? Was it you reading a quote from Richard Branson in a Samsonite ad? If so, the inflections were all wrong to me. There is a certain way to read a quote in a spot and then follow with...the name and what they do. I don't think you hit the mark on it IMO. Usually one would go to a lower tone at the end of a quote when stating the person's name just to signify you were done with the quote. At the end of the spot, with the client name (Samsonite)...this would also need to be "turned" to again signify that you were telling us the client name as the announcer. All are subtle shifts but need to be done in a spot like this.

I also lost a word out of each piece. The word "Business" on the first one and the name of the person getting their haircut on the second. It seemed you rushed over these two words/names and I just lost what you said.

The second spot sounds like some lines from a movie or something. Not sure if it would be best to put on a commercial demo. Maybe a character demo.

Again, I really like your full sounding voice. You have a great sound. Just try and work on not glazing over certain words. If that were to happen in a big time commercial and the producer didn't catch it...most people would spend more time saying "what did he say" than actually thinking about the product you are selling. Sounds like you are a good actor and have some chops...don't change that aspect of what you do at all. Just keep working on the clarity of each and every word without making it too over the top and you are gold! Slow down your reads a little and see if that helps.

Hope this helps James. Just letting you know what I hear so you can get better.
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Ben

"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

jrodriguez315 · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:18 am Post subject:

James,

I am still just a beginner myself but for what it is worth, I agree with Ben. You have a great sound but I think you need better and more material. Watch a lot of commercials. If you have a TiVO, you can fast forward through the programs and transcribe some of the commercials that you feel you "get". Then give them a shot! I'd love to hear more.
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Joe Rodriguez, Bilingual Voice Actor | The Voiceover Thespian Blog

bigjames · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:04 am Post subject:

I would like to thank everybody for all of the advice.