Cast Away
Posted by Roger King | Filed under Voice Casting
The voice-over casting process has really evolved over the last decade. A few years ago, there were a number of people here in Toronto who could make a living just from being voice casting directors. They’re a dying breed now. With the advent of home studios and the ease with which audio files are uploaded/downloaded, e-mailed etc, clients are getting spoiled and seem less likely to pay for a full casting session. But I think the auditioning process is important. For my voice talents, I prefer a live audition to doing the MP3 thing because at a live audition, talents are getting real direction from a real live human being and there’s nothing like the thrill of live auditioning to bring out the best in the talent and/or make them want to vomit.
There are still in person castings for projects like a major TV ad campaign, animated series, documentaries or the imaging voice of a television network. Normally the great thing about auditioning in person is you get a much better sense of what the client wants then if you are just e-mailed a short script that calls for “25-54 years old, pleasant, friendly read” and left to interpret it yourself in your home studio. This is of course assuming the client even knows what he/she wants.
One of my favourite casting stories, of the non-union variety, was Global Television’s search for a new voice for their entire national network. I represented the previous voice so on the one hand, I didn’t see the need for a change on their part, but on the other, I knew they were coming to my agency for recommendations. They sent me the specs for “the new voice” they were looking and I naturally suggested just about everyone on the roster (why limit the options early on I say!). Between you and me though, the minute I read the casting breakdown the guy I thought of on my roster was Todd Schick.
When Global got back to me, they asked to see most of the people on my list but not Todd. I got back to them to confirm names and times and again suggested Todd as well. They assured me the list they sent was the entire list of names they wanted to audition. So, the auditions took place over a couple of days and during this time, at least three talents on my roster called to say they thought they had done okay but based on the direction at the casting, they thought Todd really fit the bill. Soon enough, I heard from Todd himself, wondering why I hadn’t sent him out. I of course told him the story but said I would try Global one more time.
I got ahold of the Creative Producer we were dealing with and I mentioned the comments from some of the other talents and my initial feeling that Todd could be the right voice. He paused and said “Okay, if you can get him down here before end of day, we’ll give him an audition”. Of course, Todd was more than willing to accomodate…and I’m sure you can guess where this is going. Todd got the gig! Mr. Schick just celebrated the 4th anniversary of being the voice of Global Television.
This isn’t meant to pat myself on the back for being a little persistent. Todd nailed the audition - he deserves all the credit. But I do like to think of this story, if only to justify the commission I continue to take from Todd’s cheque!
Would love to hear your favorite casting story, if you have one. Drop me a line: roger@voiceovercanada.ca
Tags: Global Television, non-union, PN Agency, Voice Casting, voice over imaging, Voice-over Industry
Classic Video - “Pirate Radio Commercial” Short Film
Posted by Roger King | Filed under Classic Videos
A far too realistic portrayal of the recording of a radio commercial. Aharrr! Click on the “Aharrr” link below to get to the video. (Sorry, could not upload it to the site)
Enjoy!
Tags: character voices, radio & TV, VO industry, Voice-over Industry
Collect Calls
Posted by Roger King | Filed under Voice Over Experience
One of the “joys” of being a talent agent, especially of the non-union variety, is the constant monitoring of the list of accounts receivables (aka money owing). At the best of times, let alone during an unsteady economy, the Net 30 days on the invoice seems to be some very loose guideline for your average client. The majority of clients do pay within striking distance of that 30 days and some who take longer, you get used to because they’re either major companies who are good for the money and likely have a 60 day bureaucracy, or they’re old clients who are predictably late but are reliable. But there are those of course for whom it requires some aggressive collection techniques. If this is the first time dealing with a client, sometimes it comes down to gut instinct in terms of whether to believe the bookkeeper really did just come back from vacation, or that he thought he mailed the cheque last week.
In my 17 years of doing voice work and now 8 years of owning a talent agency, I’ve only not been paid 4 times: Two bankruptcies, but fortunately in both cases, the amount owing was $300. One client I have taken to small claims court so there’s still a chance to get some or all of the $$$ owing…And then we have a 4th client who “closed down” his business but appears to have restarted a new company, doing pretty much the same thing.
Here’s his old company - http://cenex.ca/main.html
And here’s the new one - www.phigroup.ca
I like to taunt whenever possible. I think it’s like shoplifting - to hire talent and not pay them for work completed. If you’re talent trying to collect, be sure and threaten to contact your client’s client and do so if you’re still don’t get paid. I learned long ago that you can say anything to anyone as long as it’s true.
My favourite phrase is “If I don’t receive payment by the end of the week, I am prepared to take legal action”.
In addition to going after your client’s client, I highly recommend threatening to have the commercial pulled off the air because in the non-union world, there is usually not a release form so they have no right to air it if the talent has not been paid.
I am relentless. We all should be, whether it’s $50 owing…or $5000.
Tags: VO industry, voice talent agent, Voice-over Industry
Classic Audio - William Shatner Voice Session
Posted by Roger King | Filed under Classic Audio
Tags: VO industry, voice-over
