Dave Courvoisier's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘narrations’

‘Guess I never thought too deeply about audiobook-narrating requiring a specific microphone, but after reading THIS article on the Open Book Blog, I can see the wisdom of it.

Check it out…there’s a nice explanation here of the different types of mics regardless of whether you’re into long-format narration or not.

CourVO

Yay for Kat Keesling, Diane Havens and many of my other buds from VO Universe and the VO-BB who organized and contributed to the reading of the proposed health care reform bill.

See NY Times write-up HERE.

See VO-BB forum thread HERE.

Visit the official site HERE. (you can also volunteer to read)

One of the voice-talents, Chriss Mezzolesta gets interviewed on TV for the story HERE.

CourVO

Ace AudioBook narrator Scott Brick writes to say the contest for amatuer audiobook narrators is behind schedule, but by no means abandoned.  See his note below:
___________________________

Yes, we’re still alive — thanks to everyone who checked in on us, just to make sure — and the judges are still plowing through all the entries we received for the Share the Experience contest to celebrate Scott’s 10th year as an audiobook narrator. Check out Scott’s update right here:
http://www.scottbrickpresents.com/wordpress/
Know someone who wants to keep up with the contest? Send them to this link to subscribe to Scott’s newsletter:
http://www.scottbrickpresents.com/wordpress/subscribe-to-my-newsletter/

CourVO

One of the deans of audiobook narration is opening some doors for others who would like to do what he does so well.

Scott Brick is currently one of the most appreciated and prolific audiobook narrators on the planet.  He’s won the AudioBook Publisher’s Association (APA) Audie award I don’t know how many times.

I met Scott in person at one of Pat Fraley’s weekend AudioBook workshops at Buzzy’s Studio in LA…and was lucky enough to be directed by him for a demo. 

Now Scott is launching a friendly competition to discover the next great audiobook talent.  One of the key criteria to participate is that you cannot have been compensated in any way, shape, or form for an audiobook narration job.  As much as I’ve wanted to be an audiobook narrator, I actually pass muster on this condition…so heck yeah, I’m gonna try out.

You can too.  HERE is the address to the well-ordered website that explains in plain detail all the rules and expectations of the contest. 

Good luck!

CourVO

Stu Gray. 

It’s all his fault.

He put me up to it.

The Nashville-area voice talent and prolific VO blogger approached me a couple of weeks ago with the idea of doing a Q & A about social networking.  He with the "Q".  Me with the "A".

Well it took me long enough, but I finally finished.  Good questions…wordy answers.

We agreed to sort of share the wealth…so if you want to get the full impact of my pithy musings about social networking, and its value to voice actors, you’ll have to visit BOTH sites. 

I recommend you start with Stu’s blog: The Creative Mouthpiece.  Click HERE.

Then see the link underneath my name, below, to read more.

Thanks, Stu, for coaxing me to really think about the value of social networking to my business.  I hope by sharing what little I know, someone may gain some momentum.

CourVO

‘Heard of the “Open Directory” project?

Their “about” page describes it as: “…the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web.  It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors. The Open Directory was founded in the spirit of the Open Source movement, and is the only major directory that is 100% free.  There is not, nor will there ever be, a cost to submit a site to the directory, and/or to use the directory’s data.  The Open Directory data is made available for free to anyone wo agrees to comply with our free use license.

Kinda sounds like Wikipedia, but remember, it’s a directory, not an encyclopedia.  (I just haven’t figured out where the acronym DMOZ comes from in their URL.)

With such an ambitious mission statement, you’d have to expect there might be mention of a good many resources for Voice Actors, and you’d be right.  Not only that, but apparently, I’m VERY late to the party.  TONS of links, references, resources, names, agents, coaches, production houses, talent…you name it.

On the site, you’re encouraged to submit your own website for approval, but they’re also big on you volunteering to help edit submissions.

Click HERE for the page that reveals results of a search for “Voiceover” resources.

….and….volunteer!

CourVO

George Whittam is a techie's techie.  He's also a great guy, a voice-actor (when he wants to be), and about as sharp as they come with the artistry of audio engineering.

His latest newsletter is a treasure trove of ideas, contacts, important dates and solutions.  Please read and make contact with him if you're so moved. 

I especially love the service ERS provides in checking to see if your travel location (hotel) will be able to handle your ISDN needs.  Great idea!… but of course, you need to be a subscriber.

Link to his blog and read it…you'll learn a bunch!

CourVO

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 Deb Munro writes with the latest updates and offers if you want to have great cruise AND learn a bunch about voiceovers from real pros.  VoiceLympics.

See her e-mail to me below…an amazing line-up, and some incredible offers!

CourVO

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Robert Allerton Park is in Central Illinois, and it's gorgeous.  It's on the registry of Historic Places, owned by the University of Illinois.  This is the place where my niece is getting married tomorrow.

The sculpted gardens here are worthy of the ones at the world-famous Versailles Palace in France.  That caliber.

Over 30 different varieties of Peony are on display here…

Incredible blooms…all colors…and no thorns.  'Hate that about roses.

Of course, my day didn't begin here, it began at my sister's house, cooking bacon.

This exercise in social tradition is as much family reunion as anything.

All the in-laws are here from Boston…uh…that's Bahstahn to you, buddy!

I figured I'd better post something tonite…I may not be in any shape to do that tomorrow night by this time.

CourVO

'Posting this link again.    This article was part of a previous blog featuring EQ's online magazine.  But the content is too good to be overlooked.

HERE, a rather exhaustive evaluation of some of the better audio-editing software packages out there (albeit the most expensive).  Mac & PC.

CourVO