The Fox animated TV series, The Simpsons is reaching a new milestone… TV’s longest-running scripted nighttime series marks its 450th episode!

After 20 years these animated characters (and the Voice Actors behind the animation) can easily claim the title as TV’s longest-running scripted nighttime series — period…. With the same Voice Actors that started it all! That the great thing about Voice Acting….you can play roles outside your age, gender or even species!

Had this not been an animated series, no doubt the actors would have been written out because they started aging or gaining weight, etc. But not so in Voice Acting! You can forever be the same lovable character you were 20 years ago…(as long as you keep training and exercising your intrument(s)).

So, that is why Voice Acting is the best gig in entertainment….the opportunities are endless!

Congrats to the Simpsons…. Dan Castellaneta  as dimwitted dad Homer, Julie Kavner is mom Marge, Nancy Cartwright is first-born Bart and Yeardley Smith is daughter Lisa…Also regular Voice Actors - Hank Azaria, for numerous characters including police Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy and convenience-store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, and Harry Shearer, whose stable of roles includes Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Kent Brockman, Dr. Hibbert and Principal Skinner….Plus EVERY celebrity in the last 20 years has made guest appearances.

Here’s to another 20!

A legend in the world of broadcasting has been replaced.

     vs      

Water Cronkite was the Voice Over for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. However, since his death in 2009, the network has decided to replace his voice with that of actor, Morgan Freeman.

This is not meant to be a diss on the TV legend, but a decision based on the fact that if they need customized intro’s to the CBS News, in the future, they’ll need a voice actor who is………well……Alive.  Morgan Feeman is a great choice, in my book. Good luck!

Sad news in the world of Acting and Voice Over…

32 year old Brittany Murphy, who starred in movies like Clueless and Girl Interrupted, as well as the voice of Luanne in the animated series King of the Hill, (in which she won a 2005 Annie Award for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production), was found unconscious in the show, early this morning by her mother.

After a call to 911 from her Los Angeles home, paramedics were not able to revive her and she was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead of cardiac arrest at 10:04am.

And to answer your questions, I put together a short video to walk you thruogh the simple 5 step technique (that you’ve already done successfully…probably more than once in your life!) Let me know what you think…please leave a comment or question!

I’ll be emailing you regularly (if you’re on the mailing list…if you’re not, you can sign up at the upper right column of this page.) I’ll let you know when I’m going to be on live, so if you have questions or comments you can ask then and get answers right away…even follow up questions.

So sign up for the newsletter, if you haven’t already….you just need to leave your email address in the form on the upper right column of this page, and we’ll be talking soon!

I thought I should post it here as well, since it really could save your
next audition or recording session. I hope it helps you out!

So, I was holding auditions this morning for a commercial
I’m producing and this guy comes running in just as we
were about to end.
 
**He’s all disheveled…says he was running late. (No apology,
just said he was running late.)…. No-No #1 – ALWAYS
Be On Time…(or better yet, a bit early)
 
**As he’s signing in, he’s finishing up a milkshake. (This is
actually 3 separate No-No’s all in one:
- Don’t eat or drink anything real cold before recording
as it will tighten your vocal chords
- Don’t eat or drink anything dairy before recording as
it will create a thick mucous in your mouth and will make
your voice “smack” whenever you open your mouth.
-  Try not to eat RIGHT BEFORE a recording. (This guy’s
burping and hic cupping proved that!)
 
**And the 3rd Big No-No (actually the 5th, in this example) -
This guy was wearing a watch that was real loose on his
wrist, so every time he moved his arm, you could hear the
watch sliding around, so we had to re-record. NEVER
wear loose jewelry or anything else that can make noise
during a recording session.
 
Needless to say…he probably wasted a trip to the studio
for his audition. Although he didn’t sound bad and I
probably could have used him…. I won’t. And I probably
wouldn’t use him again in the future just because of this.
 
I shouldn’t say that…and who knows, maybe I will use him
after some time…but remember that you only get ONE first
impression.

But recently it hit me. Since I’ve really started blogging and coaching so much more…I’ve been heavily emphasizing that this is Voice Over ACTING…Not just a disconnected voice, over some cartoon or visual imagery. It’s ACTING…and in the truest form!

So…That being said…I guess I really have no right to be upset or deny a fellow actor the right to practice his or her craft. We’re all in the same pool…just different areas. And if you really want to look at it as: “The glass is half full”, this is really a great wake up call to a lot of the seasoned voice actors to step it up…go back to get some more training/coaching…expand your offerings, etc.

Whatever the case… Don’t let this deter you from pursuing the dream and becoming the absolute best and most successful Voice Actor you can be! Bring on ALL contenders! Famous actors or not! 

Voice Acting in a Television Production

• Danny Jacobs – Voice of King Julien – “Merry Madagascar” — DreamWorks Animation
• Nicky Jones – Voice of Chowder – “Chowder: The Dinner Theatre” — Cartoon Network Studios
• Tom Kenny – Voice of SpongeBob – “SpongeBob SquarePants — Truth or Square” — Nickelodeon
• Dwight Schultz – Voice of Mung Daal – “Chowder:The Party Cruise” — Cartoon Network Studios
• Willow Smith – Voice of Abby – “Merry Madagascar” — DreamWorks Animation

Voice Acting in a Feature Production

• Jen Cody – Voice of Charlotte – “The Princess and the Frog” — Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Dawn French – Voice of Miss Forcible – “Coraline” — Laika
• Hugh Laurie – Voice of Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. – “Monsters vs. Aliens” — DreamWorks Animation
• John Leguizamo – Voice of Sid – “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur” — Blue Sky Studios
• Jenifer Lewis – Voice of Mama Odie – “The Princess and the Frog” — Walt Disney Animation Studios

Congrats and best of luck to all the nominees!!

I’ve included the video to walk you through the chart and expound on some of the steps along the way. So, go ahead and set aside about 30 minutes to really absorb the info and download the actual document to keep for future reference.

You can find the downloadable document below the video…Just right click the link, and “save as”. I hope it helps…

BTW – Don’t forget to leave any comments or questions…on any of the posts you find here. Also, if you have ay specific questions, please feel free to email me at mike@mx2solutions.com. I’ll try to not only answer your question, but maybe even include it in an upcoming video or webinar!

(You may have to give the video a few seconds to load…it’s a big file)

Click here for the Voice Over Success Blueprint

Here’s a copy of the email I sent out to all my Voice Over subscribers, (If you’re not already a subscriber, you should sign up…get free bonuses PLUS it’s free and you’ll get lots of free content and info. If you want to subscribe just click here)

Happy Thanksgiving in America!
 
 
Here’s to a great weekend of food, fun, friends and family.
 
I hope you take a moment to look around and reflect on this past
year (and life for that matter,) and really take note of how lucky
we all are…and give thanks.
 
Even when times are not the best, I always have to remind myself
that there are a lot of people who have it a lot worse.
 
This time of year I always try and remember the quote:
“When you change the way you look at things… The things you look at change.”
 
Focus on the good in life… and suddenly life starts looking pretty good.
You start seeing people doing good deeds… You notice the beauty in
everyday things and people… And you’re thankful.
 
And if all that doesn’t work for you…… Well, there’s always the
big holiday meals to make you feel good! Enjoy!
 
Mike