LEADS AND READS - WEEK OF 11/19 thru 11/25

Connie Terwilliger · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007, 23:50 (GMT) Post subject:

Yes, from what I know of Becky and Big Fish, they do try to keep the rates up, but the lead here through V123 was fixed at $1,000.

If it had been flexible, then I might have considered it and included a few questions along with the quote.

Chris Mezzolesta · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 00:14 (GMT) Post subject:

I got the Star Wars lead too, but from Actors Etc in Houston and not thru V123, was it posted there too?

Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 01:50 (GMT) Post subject: Another 1-Star Performance

I just discovered that I have gotten my second 1-star rating. This time it was for the job entitled "Make It" for a company called Lenox Corp. The project description says, "We need an impersonator of HAL 9000 from the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey. The recording would be used on a short film. The length of the recording would be approximately 2 pages long."

I have listened to David Bosco's version and it is definitely better than mine, but I can't believe mine was so horrible as to deserve a "1." If I'm delusionnal and it really does suck that bad, go ahead and say so. Don't hold back or be diplomatic.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 02:26 (GMT) Post subject:

David... I saw that HAL 9000 lead and was intrigued by it because 2001: Space Odyssey is one of my alltime favorite classics. But first of all, I didn't think I could pull it off, and secondly, it was just an odd script that I didn't think I would ever be comfortable reading. I do think you did an extremely nice job on your take though!

Lee: As far as a read goes, your is okay, but it's just absolutely nowhere close to HAL 9000. So if I were a voice-seeker wanting something coming close, I'd have to say I would have knocked yours down close to the bottom, too. Don't be upset; we're usually too close to our own work to objectively see/hear what it's like. And remember, too, that "1" was only that particular seeker's comparison between your take on that script and whoever they thought nailed it. Finally, remember this: ratings don't necessarily determine who gets the job. If I landed every "5" I got, I'd be quite busy, but....
This was a lead you might have wanted to pass on.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 03:16 (GMT) Post subject:

I seldom do character voices anymore, but this one was kind of fun. A wise-cracking porcupine.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 06:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Hate to be a "pri**" but here's my "Procupine."

Allison Scussel · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 06:34 (GMT) Post subject:

Oooh Colin,

I just got Pr**ked. Laughing

Colin Campbell · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 07:18 (GMT) Post subject:

One last one before I go to bed... from TOS...

David Bosco · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 07:41 (GMT) Post subject: HAL 9000

SCOTT & LEE:

Thanks for the kind words from you both. My HAL was a little more deadpan and spookier than yours was Lee, so maybe it was better in that regard. By the way Lee, you were not the only one to receive a '1' from our friends at Lenox Corp. That's what I got too. Just remember that both the '1's and the '5's are worth exactly the same at the supermarket.

Who knows, maybe somewhere else in the script you'll find a "Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!" and that's really what they wanted all along.

"Oh, the Pain!"

Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 10:53 (GMT) Post subject:

Well, David, if they gave you a 1-star rating, it is pretty clear to me that this particular seeker has a profound lack of understanding of how the rating system is supposed to work.

And while some people are under the impression that a low rating is nothing more than a blow to the ego, I'm afraid it is a little more significant than that. The star ratings have an impact (probably fairly minor, but nobody seems to know for sure) on how readily SmartCast distributes subsequent leads to the recipient of the less than stellar rating.

And in the case of a 1-star rating, it originally was the equivalent of a seeker telling Voice123 "I never want to receive a demo from this voice talent again." I don't know if this is still the case.

Meanwhile, on a completely different matter, here is my version of the Porcupine.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 11:18 (GMT) Post subject:

Here's another lead I did last night. I wondered if I should have gone with a full-fidelity voice demo rather than going with the old-timey radio broadcast feel. But it worked out OK. Got 4-stars (hooray, I don't totally suck after all Rolling Eyes

)

JJ Wright · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 11:56 (GMT) Post subject:

Mine from TOS, a little exercise in "conversational," now that I listened back to it, not quite there yet!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 14:20 (GMT) Post subject:

Good morning ladies and germs. Hope all are well this lovely Thanksgiving week.

DAVID: You're repeating yourself.
DAVID: You're repeating yourself.
DAVID: You're repeating yourself.
Laughing

LEE: Loved, and I mean I absolutely LOVED!!! your porcupine. Yes, I would have given your HAL a "1" but I'd give your porcupine a 15. That was superb!!!

The baseball lead expired by the time I got to it so I didn't read what they wanted, but I liked your delivery and the production. Nicely done.

JJ: Maybe you're not 100% conversational, but overall that was a very nice delivery. It's so different from what I'm used to hearing from you and I don't think it will take much at all for you to hit that 'real' feeling and sound. Which, of course, frightens me because that's yet more competition that I'll be up against!

Christian Plasberg · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 15:28 (GMT) Post subject:

Another HAL 9000 reject-here's my "1"...
The posted average was 1.9-the seeker(s) must have disliked most, if not all the submissions...next time I'll go to one of those movie/tv show WAV clip sites and listen instead of relying on memory for a voice impression...

Steve Cotsalas · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 15:30 (GMT) Post subject: Re: HAL 9000