Voicebank.net’s VoiceRegistry Blog

A Young Voice Actor Has Lot To Say

If you read my blog post about Forrest Landis called, “All I Ever Needed To Know I Learned From A 13 Year Old Voice Actor” you’ll get a pretty good idea that this young man has a lot of wisdom for just over a decade of life. So much so, I decided to interview him after he finished recording the BBC Radio play, The Highest Tide. In my interview tomorrow (Tuesday April 22) you’ll hear how he approaches voice acting and how it compares to his abundant film resume. (Cheaper by the Dozen 1 & 2, Flight Plan and the upcoming Doubting Thomas where he stars as Thomas Miller)

-Tracy Pattin

Online Marketing-More than SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Okay I stand corrected on my blog post from April 3rd on Search Engine Optimization thanks to the person I was quoting from in his blog, Peter O’Connell. When I wrote ” The internet is like the biggest shopping mall in the world, all we have to do is get those shoppers to come to our store.” Peter responded with, “getting them to the store is NOT enough, unfortunately. Once they get there, prospects have to be wowed by the unique point of difference that the business offers.(hint: it has nothing to do with colors or flash). Too often many websites think an on-line brochure is enough.”

Peter is so right. As voice actors we have a lot of competition. How are we different from the voice over actor masses? Just like companies have to reinvent themselves in this new internet age, so do we. So, voice talent- What are you doing to reinvent yourself? I’d love to hear your comments!

(and thanks Peter for another blog idea!)

-Tracy Pattin

Podcamp DC - The New Media UnConference

I’m off to Washington D.C. today to go to the Podcamp DC conference.

Podcamp DC is an “unconference” focused on educating participants on how to use, implement and share any/all new media tools including, podcasts, videocasts, blogs, Second Life, Facebook, and YouTube.

Stay tuned! I’ll be blogging from Washington D.C. with new info for voice actors and New Media.

-Tracy Pattin

Long Form Documentaries

I love getting questions (and comments) from our voice actor audience and even better being able to answer them! Doug sent in this question and I’m putting it out to everyone. Maybe you can answer this. Here’s what he asked:

“In looking over agencies and production companies, I’m wondering if there are any that do Long Form Docs. Like Biography Channel, History Channel, etc. I was particularly interested in your suggestions about how we should market ourselves these days. I have a website and keep a list of all my clients but how the heck do we get new ones?”

Voice actors….it’s your chance to speak up! Please post your comments.

-Tracy Pattin

Voice Registry Podcast- Tracy Pattin talks to Producer, Casting Director Rick Zieff

Rick Zieff (Yellowbird Media) directs, casts, produces, writes and acts (on-camera/voice over) for film, TV, stage, radio CD-ROM and the internet. His reputation for innovative multicultural casting and finely tuned character direction make him sought after for animation, videogames, industrials and marketing/promo projects. When voice directing the animated feature “Steamboy” Rick cast not only in LA, New York and London, but also in the Northern England towns where the movie took place. Rick cast “The ChubbChubbs!” which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.

right+click to download this podcast (13.7 MB)

The Latest “Secret” to Voice Over Success?

When I interviewed Rick Zieff for tomorrow’s Voice Registry podcast (Tuesday April 15) it was clear he wears many more hats than his voice talent beret. He also casts, produces, directs and teaches. Which begs the question, should performers branch out so they can have more options? Maybe that’s the secret to a bigger voice over career. This way you can work more in the industry and put yourself in the audition mix once in awhile. So many of us have to do the day job thing or find other income anyway, maybe we should find it in our own backyard (or in a studio).

Right in the middle of my interview with Rick, he gets a call from a producer about casting a voice over job. It was fascinating listening to how he handled the call and all the insights he had for voice actors in terms of negotiating the deal. (Check out my upcoming blog, “Deal or No Deal”)

So, what do you think? Should we wear more than our voice over hats and build careers as producers, casting directors and teachers?

Find out how Rick does it tomorrow.

-Tracy Pattin

Audiobook workshop coming to Los Angeles

I don’t see audiobook workshops very often. And since this week has been about audio books (my podcast interview with the wonderful Alfred Molina part 2) and radio plays (”The Highest Tide”) I thought it seemed apropros to blog about this. And of course I found this great info on Bob Souer’s blog. Pat Fraley’s Audio Book Master Events is coming to Los Angeles May 3rd and 4th. Check out Bob’s blog for more info and Pat Fraley’s website.

-Tracy Pattin

All I ever needed to know, I learned from a 13 year old voice actor

I’m here again in the field at Video Box Studios stage managing a radio play for the BBC called, “The Highest Tide.” The main character is Miles (Forrest Landis) a 13 year old kid from Puget Sound in Washington, fascinated by the sea. Watching (and listening) to Forrest has taught me a lot about voice work. He’s got pages and pages of narration and approaches it like a pro. This is only his second voice over job. Hard to believe. Kate McAll the BBC Radio director and Forrest work in tandem as a wonderful creative team. What astounds me about Forrest is his sheer fearlessness (at 13 so many are already self-conscious) and his ability to adapt and listen. When he stumbles on a line his mantra is “Whoa!” It’s as if he’s on a fun roller coaster ride instead of beating himself up for making a normal mistake.

I’m surprised that this energetic, playful teen can buckle down and focus when he hears “we’re rolling.” Although, he has had experience as a film actor (Cheaper By The Dozen 1 & 2, Flight Plan and others), the voice acting environment is very different. Today he has long stretches of text to create pictures of basically the entire story of “The Highest Tide.” Right now he’s voicing a passage where he discovers his best friend, an older woman, Florence, dead in her home. We’re all in tears as we listen to this young teen saddened by what has happened. But he’s not overly dramatic, not even crying, he’s just real. There is a powerful simplicity to Forrest’s performance.

Forrest checks his ego at the door, has an open mind, is a real pro, works well with others and above all else, has a blast. Sounds like more than a recipe for being a successful voice talent.

Hear more from Forrest Landis in an upcoming Voice Registry podcast interview coming soon.

-Tracy Pattin

Radio Plays are Alive and Well in England says BBC Radio

I’m in the field today at Video Box Studios in Los Angeles, stage managing the radio play, “The Highest Tide” for BBC radio. Kate McAll flew in from Wales to direct and produce the project in conjunction with LA Theatre Works. She starts the read-through (rehearsal read aloud of the script by the actors before recording) by saying “Radio plays in England are on the upswing.” (there is at least one radio play aired per day in England) Good news for voice actors in England and the U.S. as the BBC will often seek out American actors to voice their American radio plays.

The read-through begins. The actors start to read the script aloud and magic happens. Immediately I’m transported to “the foggy end of Puget sound” and Chatham Cove as the young Miles (Forrest Landis) discovers a thrilling sea creature. Then we meet professor Kramer at the cove (David Selby) as Miles shows him the giant squid. Eventually we meet his parents (David Selby and Shannon Cochran), his “crush” Angie (Missy Yager) and his neighborhood friend, Florence (Katherine Helmond). As the play comes to an end, I forget where I am. Then I look around the room full of voice actors and I’m amazed where I’ve been.

No wonder why radio plays are still kicking in a big way.

“The Highest Tide” comes to BBC radio June 4, 2008. Just go to the website and hear the play. And listen for my Voice Registry podcast interview with Kate McAll coming soon.

-Tracy Pattin

Voice Registry Podcast-Tracy Pattin talks again to Alfred Molina (Part 2)

Alfred Molina is an accomplished actor of Film, Stage and Television. You’ve seen him on the big screen in Frida, Chocolat, The Da Vinci Code and of course as Dr. Ock in Spiderman 2. He’s also starred on Broadway in Fiddler On The Roof and Art. In addition to his prolific performing career in front of the camera and onstage, Alfred Molina has had quite a career behind the microphone. He has narrated scores of audio books and performed in LA Theatre Works radio play productions as well as for the BBC and Jarvis/Ayres productions.

right+click here to download podcast (15.3 mb)