Attending 'The Annie's': MJ Lallo Invites The Inhabitants Of 'The Hole'!

Good friends are great to have! It's a blessing when folks see something good in you and try to drag it out. Voice over producer/director/artist MJ Lallo did just that recently when she invited me to be a part of the backstage crew at this years Annie (Animation) Awards. MJ has worked as stage director for the event for the past 10 years and she gave me the chance to work as 'Traffic' assistant--shooing folks onto the stage and off in the right direction at the proper time. That doesn't sound too difficult but with presenters, recipients, guests and nominees all traveling at once through the same narrow space it proved to be-- well--exciting! 
There were tremendous networking opportunities, not to mention a chance to rub elbows with such animation and film luminaries as Kathleen Kennedy, Garry Marshall, Phil Lamarr, James Hong, Jim Cummings, Diedrich Bader, Tara Strong, Nika Futterman, Judy Greer, Weird Al Yankovich (who's not 'weird' at all), Siedah Garrett and waaaay too many others to try to mention here.
My personal highlight of the night was NOT the 'River Dance' that MJ and I did during a short break in the action (although that was cool)--but it is reflected in the attached photo. Yes--that really IS legendary voice actress June Foray with one of her millions of fans! She was there to present the 'June Foray Award' for significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation to the great Art Leonardi of 'Pink Panther' fame. She is beautiful inside and out and I am grateful for the chance to say to her "I love you and I appreciate your work".
There were plenty of other things happening to keep the event lively, including host Patton Oswalt who yelled "Occupy Hotness" after one of the 'hot' presenters mistakenly opened the envelope for the winners in another category!
Great fellowship and good food were available for all and many new friends were connected. A great, big 'Hole'-y thank you to MJ Lallo for her gracious invitation. Maybe next time we're there, I'll be nominated for something--like weirdest voice over sound produced by a human!

God's best blessings to ya--and Happy Voicing!

Ahh...Memories!

Do you remember the first time you ever heard your own voice over work? No, not the studio playbacks or the samples you produce and provide for your own website...I mean the finished product, the on-air commercial, the animated feature.
Was there a feeling of exhilaration and accomplishment--was the 'Gee Whiz' factor in full effect?
Having voiced commercials, documentaries and other projects that are produced and then aired in other regions or even countries, I finally had the chance recently to enjoy a portion of a completed project--complete with character animation, voice, special effects...the whole nine yards. What a rush (and a blessing)!
I pause for a special recognition to Stephanie Ciccarelli and the good folks at Voices.com for being instrumental in this wonderment.
OK...so now it's your turn. Do us all a favor and share your moment! That giddy moment when you heard you not being you--but being you being someone (or something) else.
C'mon...it'll be fun and educational (Geez, I sounded like my 5th grade teacher just then).

The 'Vipo' Experience or Hey, Mom...I'm A Cartoon Character!

Hey, all you ProTalkers...

The next few blogs will center around my wondrous, "Gee Whiz" experience with the "Vipo, The Flying Dog" series.

A little background...The 'Vipo' series is an animation and marketing phenomenom that is just reaching American television. Based on the adventures of a dog whose ears enable him to fly, "Vipo"--pronounced Vee-po (and his many friends) is now in over 30 countries around the world including Indonesia, Israel, Turkey, Brazil and now the U.S.

The animation is high quality 3-D and very easy on young eyes. Episodes from the first season of "Vipo" can be seen on YouTube!

Of course, early on I didn't know ANY of those facts about the production. When I responded to the Voices.com audition lead that came through my e-mail I was just answering what I thought would be a good job and a great opportunity--maybe even the fulfillment of a dream. Somewhere in your life there has to be room for dreams. Without dreams, we aspire to nothing. Dreams and aspirations shape our future--and sometimes the future of others!

I received an e-mail in return from Elizabeth that stated..."we do have one role we are still casting...it is the Summer King who is half man/half iguana..."

WOW!

She goes on to describe the characters most endearing traits (sneaky, hot-tempered, classic villian) and since there is no script--"you will have to improv the audition".

HOOO-HAAA! Let the games begin...

God Bless & Happy Voicing!



Next: "You Are Cast"

Bring The Whole Bag!

http://www.joeactor.com/Versatility is important in voice acting. Even though we all work to establish our "brand" voice...there should be enough room for experimentation and discovery when considering any voice over career.

How many characters have you--or can you--voice? Only one? Not to worry! Experts like Pat Fraley have proven through technique and instruction that one character can become many when using 'The Critical Compound'...character voice+acting+accents.

Many of us have voices or characters that we can perform strongly and so are very comfortable with them. This can lead to two things--some branding and maybe a little stagnation! I've never met a serious musician who didn't PRACTICE! To get better...to sound fuller...to hit that riff that you coudn't hit last year. Maybe it's my Lon Chaney/Mel Blanc influenced early childhood, but I think the greatest compliment any voice actor can receive is..."Was that YOU?"

Lon Chaney, Sr. early in his career had to rely on his own self-taught makeup skills and even his athletic ability to create emotion and character without the benefit of dialogue.

Mel Blanc, on the other hand, gave life, voice and personality to rabbits, ducks, cats, dogs, birds, martians, malevolent mammals and other things that don't know dialogue from Dial soap!

Can you be a duck? Have you tried? Why a duck...why not a chicken?

Felix the Cat used to have a 'bag of tricks' that he would use to get him out of any tough scrape and he had everything--including the kitchen sink--in it and wasn't afraid to use it!

What's in YOUR bag of tricks? Here's how to expand the bag:

Improvisational skills are important. Joe Thomas, video game actor extraordinaire, suggests taking improv classes to stay fresh and flowing. Visit his site at http://joeactor .com for details and give a listen while you're there. Talk about versatile!!

Also, many of the original pioneers in animation lived well into their later years and I think this had a direct bearing and relationship to their sense of humor. The Bible calls laughter "Good medicine" and there is truth to that statement. To establish and (maybe) discover your sense of humor I have a brief exercise that anyone can try. Simply go to the nearest mirror and take a good look. See...? Isn't that the funniest thing you've ever seen? It ALWAYS works for me!!

God Bless...

Happy voicing!

My Visit To "Toon Town"

http://irockthemicvo.ning.com/profiles/blogs/my-visit-to-toon-town