Comments for Web Home of Joshua Swanson http://joshuaswanson.com/blog Actor & voiceover Joshua Swanson writes of his experiences in the entertainment business. Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:03:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 Comment on Review of “SPLIT” by Swati Avasthi Read by Joshua Swanson by Joshua Swanson http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2010/06/03/review-of-split-by-swati-avasthi-read-by-joshua-swanson/#comment-5290 Joshua Swanson Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:42:06 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2010/06/03/review-of-split-by-swati-avasthi-read-by-joshua-swanson/#comment-5290 THANK YOU SWATI! Thanks to your wonderfully written story it was easy to connect with Jace and and it was a pleasure to tell his tale. THANK YOU SWATI! Thanks to your wonderfully written story it was easy to connect with Jace and and it was a pleasure to tell his tale.

]]> Comment on Review of “SPLIT” by Swati Avasthi Read by Joshua Swanson by Swati Avasthi http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2010/06/03/review-of-split-by-swati-avasthi-read-by-joshua-swanson/#comment-5288 Swati Avasthi Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:25:40 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2010/06/03/review-of-split-by-swati-avasthi-read-by-joshua-swanson/#comment-5288 Congrats! You are so deserving!! I am listening to it for the second time in the car and find myself happy to run errands or drive around the block so I can hear the end of the scene/chapter. I couldn't have asked for better! I loved your interpretation. You really brought out Jace's humor, personality, and sorrow. Thank you so much! Congrats! You are so deserving!! I am listening to it for the second time in the car and find myself happy to run errands or drive around the block so I can hear the end of the scene/chapter.

I couldn’t have asked for better! I loved your interpretation. You really brought out Jace’s humor, personality, and sorrow. Thank you so much!

]]> Comment on The Truth About Video Game Voice Acting by Pat Fraley http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2010/03/25/the-truth-about-video-game-voice-acting/#comment-4799 Pat Fraley Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:37:55 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2010/03/25/the-truth-about-video-game-voice-acting/#comment-4799 A very valuable piece here, Joshua. Interactive/Gaming is so new that the nomenclature is not in place. They haven't even landed on what to call themselves. Also, there is no common lexicon, which directors and actors may use. The Interactive Community did not come from theatre at large, so they are at a loss when communicating with actors, and actors, for the most part, are ignorant to Gaming Language. Specific demos created for the Interactive genre of voice over performance are just starting to hit the ears of gaming producers. David Fries, formally of Electronic Arts, and Darragh O'Farrell of LucasArts, and Todd Resnick of Resnick Interactive. They have all expressed their desire for demos, which reflect their needs, rather than the needs of animation performance. In the coming months, I think the distinction between AAA Games, and Casual Games will be sorted out, just as a Major Motion Picture” has been separated from the “Independent Film.” The union has created very low rates for actors who are participating in independent films. If memory serves me, it's about $100. a day. SAG has gone so far as to distinguish between all sorts of budgeted films, such as Ultra-Low, Modified Low and Low Budget films. The SAG minimum is about $100. a day for players working on an Ultra-Low Budget film. Here’s a link to rates. http://www.sagindie.org/resources/contracts/ I believe these rates, established in ’05 are still in place. It is clear to me that the Interactive Community does not desire to work through unions for talent. They will be dragged into working with unions by one and only one reason: The access to the best talent available on a consistent basis. That’s what Cagney did in the 30’s by galvanizing the actors in Hollywood, and the success of SAG was due to the union player committing to turning down non-union jobs. I don’t know whether we have a generation of union actors willing to hold to their word as being bond, and to turn down non-union work. We’ll see about that in ’10 and beyond, and even if they do, you can see by the SAG INDIE deal that this is no solution to low rates for actors. Pat Fraley patfraley.com A very valuable piece here, Joshua. Interactive/Gaming is so new that the nomenclature is not in place. They haven’t even landed on what to call themselves. Also, there is no common lexicon, which directors and actors may use. The Interactive Community did not come from theatre at large, so they are at a loss when communicating with actors, and actors, for the most part, are ignorant to Gaming Language. Specific demos created for the Interactive genre of voice over performance are just starting to hit the ears of gaming producers. David Fries, formally of Electronic Arts, and Darragh O’Farrell of LucasArts, and Todd Resnick of Resnick Interactive. They have all expressed their desire for demos, which reflect their needs, rather than the needs of animation performance. In the coming months, I think the distinction between AAA Games, and Casual Games will be sorted out, just as a Major Motion Picture” has been separated from the “Independent Film.” The union has created very low rates for actors who are participating in independent films. If memory serves me, it’s about $100. a day. SAG has gone so far as to distinguish between all sorts of budgeted films, such as Ultra-Low, Modified Low and Low Budget films. The SAG minimum is about $100. a day for players working on an Ultra-Low Budget film. Here’s a link to rates. http://www.sagindie.org/resources/contracts/
I believe these rates, established in ’05 are still in place. It is clear to me that the Interactive Community does not desire to work through unions for talent. They will be dragged into working with unions by one and only one reason: The access to the best talent available on a consistent basis. That’s what Cagney did in the 30’s by galvanizing the actors in Hollywood, and the success of SAG was due to the union player committing to turning down non-union jobs. I don’t know whether we have a generation of union actors willing to hold to their word as being bond, and to turn down non-union work. We’ll see about that in ’10 and beyond, and even if they do, you can see by the SAG INDIE deal that this is no solution to low rates for actors. Pat Fraley patfraley.com

]]> Comment on ‘Futurama’ cast in limbo by Joshua Swanson http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/07/18/futurama-cast-in-limbo/#comment-1656 Joshua Swanson Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:26:18 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/07/18/futurama-cast-in-limbo/#comment-1656 Here is an interesting email I got from one of my agents about this whole "Futurama" drama: Greetings~ Regarding the Futurama audition, I feel it is not in our best interest to submit on this on this project. I spoke with Billy West’s agent and confirmed there is a contract negotiation dispute. Morally and ethically I think it is important that we look out for each other. The Simpson’s cast dealt with this same issue several times and we all know how that turned out. I think out of respect for the talent who made these characters as popular as they are and the agents who represent them we should step away. I will not be submitting auditions. I hope you understand and are okay with this decision. If not, you are free to submit yourselves through actors access. We all know there will be other projects! I apologize for the late notice. I’ve had technology issues all afternoon and am just now able to send this message. I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! Peace,...I'll leave his/her name out off this post for privacy reasons. Thoughts? Here is an interesting email I got from one of my agents about this whole “Futurama” drama:

Greetings~
Regarding the Futurama audition, I feel it is not in our best interest to submit on this on this project. I spoke with Billy West’s agent and confirmed there is a contract negotiation dispute.
Morally and ethically I think it is important that we look out for each other. The Simpson’s cast dealt with this same issue several times and we all know how that turned out. I think out of respect for the talent who made these characters as popular as they are and the agents who represent them we should step away. I will not be submitting auditions. I hope you understand and are okay with this decision. If not, you are free to submit yourselves through actors access.
We all know there will be other projects!
I apologize for the late notice. I’ve had technology issues all afternoon and am just now able to send this message.
I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!
Peace,…I’ll leave his/her name out off this post for privacy reasons.

Thoughts?

]]> Comment on Audio Book / Book on Tape - Demo by Joshua Swanson http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/05/20/audio-book-book-on-tape-demo/#comment-1566 Joshua Swanson Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:11:43 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/05/20/audio-book-book-on-tape-demo/#comment-1566 Well we have an answer regarding the Audio Book Demo format and whether or not my hybrid version is the way to go. IT\'S NOT! I sent the audio book demo off to a well known producer in Los Angeles at Skyboat Road Company through another audio book narrator who has worked for them. The response I got was very direct, which I appreciated, and gave me a clear route to the preferred arrangement of an audio book demo. Here it is: \"Dear Joshua, Thanks again for the demo, but it\'s pretty much useless to me to get any sense of your talent as an audiobook narrator. Sounds more like a commercial demo, with bits and snippets of attitude. Sorry to be so direct, but please do send along something more representative of the audiobook genre. Either a demo of some longer segments (no need to go over a couple of minutes each), or even better, a sample CD from an actual release. Whatever works for you. Please send it to:...\" I hope this information has been helpful to you and aided you in composing the perfect audio book demo! If so, please leave a comment! Well we have an answer regarding the Audio Book Demo format and whether or not my hybrid version is the way to go. IT\’S NOT! I sent the audio book demo off to a well known producer in Los Angeles at Skyboat Road Company through another audio book narrator who has worked for them. The response I got was very direct, which I appreciated, and gave me a clear route to the preferred arrangement of an audio book demo. Here it is:

\"Dear Joshua,

Thanks again for the demo, but it\’s pretty much useless to me to get any sense of your talent as an audiobook narrator. Sounds more like a commercial demo, with bits and snippets of attitude.

Sorry to be so direct, but please do send along something more representative of the audiobook genre. Either a demo of some longer segments (no need to go over a couple of minutes each), or even better, a sample CD from an actual release. Whatever works for you.

Please send it to:…\"

I hope this information has been helpful to you and aided you in composing the perfect audio book demo! If so, please leave a comment!

]]> Comment on Emmy for Outstanding voice-over performance for animated series? by Joshua Swanson http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/03/16/emmy-for-outstanding-voice-over-performance-for-animated-series/#comment-1413 Joshua Swanson Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:10:52 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/03/16/emmy-for-outstanding-voice-over-performance-for-animated-series/#comment-1413 Hey Jessi, Thanks for the comment and for the nice things you said about my performance! I very much appreciate your feedback. I have not been contacted about ObsCure 3 and I have heard several rumors about the video game being in production already. So that probably means they decided not to use me to play Stan. Bummer, but I'm still thrilled that I was able to be involved in ObsCure 2 and I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Blessings to you. Hey Jessi,

Thanks for the comment and for the nice things you said about my performance! I very much appreciate your feedback. I have not been contacted about ObsCure 3 and I have heard several rumors about the video game being in production already. So that probably means they decided not to use me to play Stan. Bummer, but I’m still thrilled that I was able to be involved in ObsCure 2 and I’m really glad you enjoyed it!

Blessings to you.

]]> Comment on Emmy for Outstanding voice-over performance for animated series? by Jessi http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/03/16/emmy-for-outstanding-voice-over-performance-for-animated-series/#comment-1412 Jessi Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:01:59 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/03/16/emmy-for-outstanding-voice-over-performance-for-animated-series/#comment-1412 I know this probably isn't the place to put such a comment, but I could not find any place else no your site. I was wondering fi you were going to be playing the voice of Stan in the possible up-coming series next sequeal ObseCure 3? I absolutly love teh series and characters, and I think you portrayed the voice of the animated Stan brilliantly. I think if they ever made a movie, you'd be a fantastic Stan ^^ Anyways, If you actually respond to this... I'll be over joyed and psyhed! If not I surely understand, Take care and good luck with future projects! Jessi I know this probably isn’t the place to put such a comment, but I could not find any place else no your site.
I was wondering fi you were going to be playing the voice of Stan in the possible up-coming series next sequeal ObseCure 3?
I absolutly love teh series and characters, and I think you portrayed the voice of the animated Stan brilliantly. I think if they ever made a movie, you’d be a fantastic Stan ^^
Anyways,
If you actually respond to this… I’ll be over joyed and psyhed!
If not I surely understand,
Take care and good luck with future projects!

Jessi

]]> Comment on Audiobook Narrator Drunk by Andrew Lee http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/03/16/audiobook-narrator-drunk/#comment-1380 Andrew Lee Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:13:45 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2009/03/16/audiobook-narrator-drunk/#comment-1380 Haha, that was awesome! Haha, that was awesome!

]]> Comment on Radio Imaging - The State Of by David Houston http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2008/04/17/radio-imaging-pursue-or-not-and-the-demo/#comment-932 David Houston Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:03:23 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2008/04/17/radio-imaging-pursue-or-not-and-the-demo/#comment-932 I revisited this post to chime in, but Tony beat me to it. Classified ads from ostensibly large-market stations are now asking for VO on the cheap, even free in some cases. It's a trend that began even before the economy took a nosedive; one suspects, if this seeming recession doesn't improve soon, that imaging will not return to the same status in stations' business models. I revisited this post to chime in, but Tony beat me to it. Classified ads from ostensibly large-market stations are now asking for VO on the cheap, even free in some cases. It’s a trend that began even before the economy took a nosedive; one suspects, if this seeming recession doesn’t improve soon, that imaging will not return to the same status in stations’ business models.

]]> Comment on Radio Imaging - The State Of by Tony Brueski http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2008/04/17/radio-imaging-pursue-or-not-and-the-demo/#comment-917 Tony Brueski Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:33:16 +0000 http://joshuaswanson.com/blog/2008/04/17/radio-imaging-pursue-or-not-and-the-demo/#comment-917 I agree! Radio Imaging is a dying ARTFORM. And it is that - a creative artform and was thriving through the 90's and early part of this decade. With declining budgets, pd's doing the job of 8 people with less time to focus on creativity - it has fallen to the side. I used to persue such jobs, but the time involved to get just one radio voice over job for 100-200 per month is simply not worth it. I have focused my company to mainly commercial voice over. Every onece and a while I get the request from a PD and I will usualy do it on the cheap to help them out and even throw in whatever odd creative I can come up with on top of the copy they send. Radio Imaging - Like many other faccts of the commercial radio industry is simply changing and evolving. Will it still exist 10 years from now - yes - just at a different capacity. Same as jocks and every other faccet of the industry. Will they all still exist. - Yes, but in differnt capacity than yesterday or today. The more one can evolve with the industry the better off they will be. Likely there will be an even bigger push for creativity on raido commercials that stand out - and not so much on the imaging. If the creative types can move into this realm, they will survive. However many of my friends get bitter about this subject and refuse to re-mold themselves around the changing medium and simply get out of it. Tony http://www.bestradiocommercials.com I agree! Radio Imaging is a dying ARTFORM. And it is that - a creative artform and was thriving through the 90’s and early part of this decade. With declining budgets, pd’s doing the job of 8 people with less time to focus on creativity - it has fallen to the side.

I used to persue such jobs, but the time involved to get just one radio voice over job for 100-200 per month is simply not worth it. I have focused my company to mainly commercial voice over. Every onece and a while I get the request from a PD and I will usualy do it on the cheap to help them out and even throw in whatever odd creative I can come up with on top of the copy they send.

Radio Imaging - Like many other faccts of the commercial radio industry is simply changing and evolving. Will it still exist 10 years from now - yes - just at a different capacity. Same as jocks and every other faccet of the industry. Will they all still exist. - Yes, but in differnt capacity than yesterday or today. The more one can evolve with the industry the better off they will be.

Likely there will be an even bigger push for creativity on raido commercials that stand out - and not so much on the imaging. If the creative types can move into this realm, they will survive. However many of my friends get bitter about this subject and refuse to re-mold themselves around the changing medium and simply get out of it.

Tony
http://www.bestradiocommercials.com

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