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Deirdre
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Joined: 10 Nov 2004
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Location: Camp Cooper
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 Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:21 pm Post subject: Common Sense: my proposal for the 2011 GDC |
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Here's the description:
| Quote: | As the demand for dialogue in games increases, more and more new and fledgling talent are making their way into the studio.
Simple courtesies can pave the way into a great session. When the recording studio team knows an actor is keenly interested in working with them, it is much easier to make that performance the best it can be.
This talk starts with reminding actors to greet the team and learn their names, moves through the session (don't touch the mic once the engineer sets it), to how to behave afterward (visiting for a bit is all right but don't expect to go to dinner with the director).
One would think that these simple ideas would be common knowledge/common sense but as a fella said, common sense ain't so common.
The talk will include DO's and DON'Ts, suggestions for things an actor can do that will help make a session run smoothly, and stories gathered from dialog directors and audio engineers from real experiences of behaviors and attitudes that WIN and ones that FAIL. |
Here's the "takeaway":
| Quote: | | This etiquette lesson is for voice talent who are getting into the world of voice acting for video games. It will cover the stuff that everyone expects you to know, but nobody teaches. |
And here is the rudimentary start to the meat of the "lecture".
I'd be interested if anyone has anecdotes from either side of the glass about ways good behavior works or ways bad behavior sucks.
| Quote: |
Arrive for your session 10 to 15 minutes before it starts. It gives you a chance to settle into the space and lets the studio folks know you care about their time.
Greet the receptionist when you arrive. Tell them who you are and what session you're there for. Be nice. The person at the desk may be someone who will be directing you sooner than you think.
Greet the audio team nicely. Write down people's names if you don't know them already.
DON'T blather about the studio space, even if it's a compliment. A single "Wow, nice digs" is plenty. If you wax ecstatic, it will appear you've never been in a pro studio before. This strikes terror into the heart of your dialog director. Complaining about a space or making a unfavorable comparison makes you look like a jerk.
Ask questions about the script before the session gets started if you need to. Being clear on stuff before getting started makes things go smoothly.
DON'T talk about your weekend rugby game unless someone asks.
Ask for tea or water and ask where you may put it— don't assume anything goes in the booth.
If you need the level in your headphone changed, ask politely.
Once the engineer sets your mic, DON'T touch it, look to see where your feet are, and keep them there, or know how to return there.
If the engineer asks how you are going to be doing the character, describe the voice, not the philosophy or psychology.
"Give me a level" means read the script as the character you'll be voicing, full throttle. And keep going until the engineer tells you to stop.
These sessions can be long. Everybody knows it. You don't need to inform anyone of this while you're working.
If you make a mistake, DON'T worry. The biggest stars in the business make mistakes. Be gracious and keep going.
DON'T argue with the director. They are the ones with the sound of the whole game in their heads and it's their responsibility to make sure all the parts hang together. It's the VO's responsibility to breathe life into their characters within that scope.
It's OK to visit with the team for a bit after your session, but be aware that, while your work is done, theirs isn't. Your job is to be awesome, their job is to make you sound awesome. Let them do that— and be sure to thank everyone.
Other DUHs that should be obvious but still need to be said:
Don't wear perfume or cologne. These are close quarters and closed environments.
Brush your teeth.
Wear soft clothing so it doesn't make noise when you move.
Turn off your cell phone. |
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Jeffrey Kafer
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Joined: 09 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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This sounds like a great talk for a voice over conference, but this is a pitch for GDC. In theory your audience will be game audio people. Don't they already know all this?
In other words who is your audience and will they be in attendance?
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Pam
The Thirteenth Floor
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Posts: 1311
Location: Chicago, Il
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | If you make a mistake, DON'T worry. The biggest stars in the business make mistakes. Be gracious and keep going |
I'd add to DON'T worry "and DON'T apologize. Simply pick up the line from before you erred and continue on. The biggest..."
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Deirdre
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Joined: 10 Nov 2004
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Location: Camp Cooper
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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More and more VO peeps are showing up at the conferences and they aren't all veterans. And more VO-related sessions are being added.
And in truth, the audio guys may know all this, but not the designer dude whose younger brother wants to do VO for games.
I hope they don't just shoot it down out of hand because it is n00bz0r-related.
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Whit
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Location: Cincinnati
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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That all sounds great.
So true how it seems like it's all common sense but there are people that don't know some of these things... did I tell the story here of the girl who when she got in the booth actually said "I've been f#cking waiting for over an hour blah blah blah", I can't remember. She was a gem.
All good stuff, it would be a very helpful talk. Yay++ |
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Lee Gordon
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:30 am Post subject: Re: Common Sense: my proposal for the 2011 GDC |
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| Deirdre wrote: |
One would think that these simple ideas would be common knowledge/common sense but as a fella said, common sense ain't so common. |
One of the most pointless phrases in the English language is, "Use common sense." Them that has it don't need to be told; them that needs to be told wouldn't know what it is.
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Mike Harrison
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:57 am Post subject: Re: Common Sense: my proposal for the 2011 GDC |
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| Lee Gordon wrote: | | One of the most pointless phrases in the English language is, "Use common sense." Them that has it don't need to be told; them that needs to be told wouldn't know what it is. |
Can I get a heartfelt 'Amen' on that?
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Lance Blair
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Deirdre
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Oh man— I am posting that on Facebook, and if I get this talk— can I really truly use it?
Laffed and laffed.
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Lance Blair
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:40 am Post subject: |
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Glad you liked it, totally use it...spread it like butter...I think it would be a good seminar - even for non-noobz everyone needs to revisit the foundations of what you're doing from a new perspective.
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roger
King's Row
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Location: Central Kentucky
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Larry (sorry, I mean Lance),
You got almost all the "Thou shalt nots" into one neat and entertaining package.
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bobsouer
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Common Sense: my proposal for the 2011 GDC |
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| Mike Harrison wrote: | | Can I get a heartfelt 'Amen' on that? |
Amen!
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Lizden
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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O.M.GAWD, Lance!
That was awesome!
And what Bob & Mike said! 
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whalewtchr
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Joined: 18 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Lance kind of sums it up succinctly. Very funny.
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JBarrett
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