Entries Tagged as ''

here are the faux-ditions for late show with stephen colbert

Fauxditions_UnofficialCastingCalll

Here is where you can LISTEN to the Faux-ditions for “Late Show with Stephen Colbert”. For the details on this completely fun event, check out this blog post. Entries are posted in the order in which they are received. Good luck to all and thanks for participating.

JAMEE THOMPSON

[audio:https://blog.audioconnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/THOMPSON_UnofficialSWSC_Audition.mp3]

DARREN ALTMAN
[audio:https://blog.audioconnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ALTMAN_UnofficialLSWSC_Audition.mp3]

LIZ DENESNERA
[audio:https://blog.audioconnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/deNesnera_UnofficialLSWSC_Audition.mp3]

LEE GORDON
[audio:https://blog.audioconnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/GORDON_UnofficialLSWSC_Audition.mp3]

NANCY MCLEMORE
[audio:https://blog.audioconnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/McLEMORE_UnofficialLSWSC_Audition.mp3]

DAVID MARCUS GIBSON
[audio:https://blog.audioconnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Gibson_UnofficialLSWSC_Audition.mp3]

faux-auditions now open for the late show with stephen colbert

Fauxditions_UnofficialCastingCalll

So many folks over the years have asked me “when are you going to have a new unofficial audition?”

Well today’s the day! Ladies and gentleman you are all invited to submit your faux-dition!

For those who don’t know, the unofficial audition (or faux-dition) allows voice talents the opportunity to create a fake “audition” for a high profile (and non-existent) job opening. In other words…it’s all for fun and not for a real job. Here’s the unofficial auditions we did about 4 years ago for “The Price is Right”.

THE NEW GUY IN LATE NIGHT
My choice for which show to NOT audition for was an easy one for me.

When the new “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” debuted, the show did not (and as of yet still does not) use a live announcer as David Letterman did and as Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon do.

Colbert himself read the pre-recorded intro in the first shows. This of course got me thinking about a possible new Faux-dition at the time. In more recent episodes, it sounds as if they have a regular announcer doing a pre-recorded intro over show titles.

I can’t give the fellow any credit here with a shout-out because there seems to be no credit given to him on any web site. But, rest assured, he does does a perfectly satisfactory job. This faux-dition should not be seen as an indictment of him but rather just a way for the rest of us to have some harmless and unprofitable fun.

As always this event is for fun (“this is not a competition, just an exhibition; please, no wagering”.) No one…but NO ONE who enters this phony audition event is in line for the announcing job on “Late Show with Stephen Colbert ” and no way is ANYONE associated with “Late Show with Stephen Colbert ” endorsing, condoning or otherwise support this announcing fantasy. They also own all the copyrights to name, music and everything else to do with the show. I make no money on this but merely am promoting one of the coolest VO jobs in our world. Let’s all dream a little together.

I’ll grab 3 judges and we’ll whittle all the contestants down to 3 top finishers.

You as the participating voice over talent are responsible for the mixing and audio quality (which has been a factor in past judging and voting); your audition needs to sound broadcast ready which means the mix should sound as great as your voice. If you want to be a pro you gotta sound like a pro…completely.

Here’s my demo (just as an example – I’m not saying it’s good enough for broadcast but it is broadcast ready). Perform the announce in whatever way you think would be most likely accepted by “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” producers if they were auditioning you as a new announcer (which, as far as I know, they are not).

LISTEN:
[audio:https://blog.audioconnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/OCONNELL__UnofficialLSWSC_Audition.mp3]

THE PRIZES
We discussed cars and even a new home for the winner but decided on something more impressive

FIRST PRIZE: A set of 4 dishwasher safe audio’connell plastic cups

SECOND PRIZE: A set of 1 dishwasher safe audio’connell plastic cups

THIRD PRIZE: 1 dishwasher safe audio’connell plastic cup

Takes your breath away, doesn’t it?

THE SPECS
Remember – although it is not – treat this like a real audition. Give us your best performance.

* Download the script in PDF form HERE. Please note the timing notes on the script which you should try and follow as it matches the show’s timing with the opening credits.

* As a reference, here’s a LINK to the show. The credits start at about the 6:32 mark and yes, the band seems to perform a faster paced theme in the live show (oh well)

* HERE is your music bed (right click on the link and click “Save Link As” to save it to your computer

Do NOT deviate from this bed, do not create your own and do not substitute another version of music. There will be a lot of entries and the judges can’t listen to auditions of varying lengths because you think you can produce a better bed.

* Note if you like that the new announcer the Colbert Show is using is not your classic, bravado, big voice announcer — you might want to take that into account in your read (but as always, do it ANY way you want)

* Email your audition to peter at audioconnell dot com; MP3 file only 44.1/16 mono is fine

* Name your file: YOURLASTNAME_UnofficialLSWSC_Audition

* I’ll accept auditions until January 1, 2016 and then sometime after that, we’ll announce the winners

christmas 2015

audioconnell Christmas 2015 COPYRIGHT

We’re all fortunate enough to have made it to another Christmas, with some of the never foreseen bumps, bruises, shocks, joys and bliss we each encounter on our individual journeys.

Life is a GIFT not a guarantee and we each forget that everyday, until we hit that wall.

Well, enjoy the gift…of life.

The rest is stuff and nonsense.

Merry Christmas and thank you.

a quick note in support of steve harvey

Steve Harvey

I have neither watched the Miss Universe Pageant – for so many reasons – nor have I watched the show clips (consistently described as awkward and painful to watch) of host Steve Harvey’s mistake in announcing the Pageant winner.

I know that time will heal the embarrassment for all parties involved but that’s not today. Today, a woman had her dream given to her and snatched away and a man would give back an awful lot to get just one very public moment back.

Live broadcasts and social media don’t offer do-overs.

I cannot fathom, as I have heard some speculate, that this mistake was intentional and was a way to garner ratings. I think it was a simple, thoughtless mistake. On a public stage. Oh that familiar sting.

If you have been on any public stage (literally on the stage as a host or emcee), as I have been, and said something you regret, something that had unintentionally hurt someone (as I also have) it is an awful feeling. Awful. And it stays with you.

Even if the stage for a public mistake wasn’t world-wide, if you’re the one who made the mistake, it FEELS world wide.

So tonight while people rally around the young lady from Colombia, whom I also feel bad for, my thoughts are with Steve Harvey.

He has and will continue to apologize for his error on social media and in upcoming interviews. Fortunately the media frenzy will pass and the world will move on from this unfortunate situation.

But if Harvey is any kind of broadcaster (and he is a very talented broadcaster) this moment, this mistake, will stay with him. Bother him. Fester within him. It should not, but it will. Jokes will be made, probably the best ones by him in the future, but the ache of the memory will be there – lessened by time.

He will be forgiven over time by those most directly impacted. But what I hope for him is that he forgives himself. The mistake wasn’t the end of the world no matter how much it feels that way today. Today and for a little while, it’s going to be one day at a time.

It WILL be OK soon, Steve. It will. It really will.

a new logo for the toronto maple leafs?

Toronto Maple Leafs logo

This is a conundrum.

On the one hand, as a Buffalo Sabres fan, I shouldn’t even HAVE a Toronto Maple Leafs logo on this web site. It is sacrilege.

On the other hand, the possible switch of one of the more famous logos in the NHL interests the heck outta me.

So Go Leafs Go!

In spite of not having won a Stanley Cup in many years (like many, many years) it is still one of the most famous teams in hockey. It was the city I saw my first NHL game in at the old Maple Leaf Garden.

It is said that in honor of the team’s 100th Anniversary next year, their will be a new logo (and one assumes uniforms as well).

The logo is famous but I would not call it iconic. It’s not as ugly as, say, the New Jersey Devils logo. Simple as it is, I find the Maple Leaf logo attractive but certainly with room for improvement.

There has been no official logo redesigned yet but the talk of a new Maple Leafs logo has the sports graphic design world (mostly amateurs at this point, I believe) frothing at the mouth. Understandable, as it’s an exciting proposition.

There are a lot of ideas out there but one early logo I’ve seen really shows promise. The designer is Matt McElroy. It retains the simplicity of the original mark, the colors (which any would be crazy to change) and adds a kind of simple strength to me.

 Toronto Maple Leafs Logo Concept By Matt McElroy Number9Concepts All Rights Reserved

Toronto Maple Leafs Logo Concept By Matt McElroy Number9Concepts All Rights Reserved

It takes a well know international hockey mark (the blue maple leaf) and adds a simply, strong “T” to a new logo that everyone in the NHL (and probably the world hockey community) would know instantly.

Toronto Maple Leafs Uniform Concept By Matt McElroy Number9Concepts All Rights Reserved

Toronto Maple Leafs Uniform Concept By Matt McElroy Number9Concepts All Rights Reserved

Do I think this will be the winning design? I don’t know. I’m pretty sure that logo race is just getting started and some big logo design houses (hopefully not just uniform makers, oy!) will get in on the race.

This should be a lot of fun.

new cbs sports logo

CBS Sports Old New Logo

I really need to listen to my inner voices sometimes.

About 3-4 months ago I remember seeing the CBS Sports logo and thinking “Man, that thing is dated!”

Now I come to find out that at the end of November, CBS Sports announced they are unveiling their new logo during Super Bowl 50 (notice “50”, not the roman number for 50 which would be “L”, which in the common vernacular would stand for “loser” — this is my guess as to why the NFL isn’t using the “L”).

It’s good that they are updating the logo. The problem is the new logo sucks.

Drab. Dull. Not a damn sporty thing about it.

Now you may say “it’s a TV logo, they’re going to make it bounce around and spin and look really cool in motion.”

Fine but no. A logo needs to be able to convey the message of what you (your brand, company) do, in and of itself. This new CBS logo could be for a CPA firm or even a dishwasher. The old one at least has a little style and some motion to it. It felt a bit sporty.

Where’s the action? Where’s the excitement in this new CBS Sports logo? It’s SPORTS for goodness sake. Where’s the vibrance? Where’s the motion? The old logo (much as it needed a refresh) had lots of these attributes.

CBS Television Network Logo

But of course the old CBS Sports logo did not posses a classic style to it that would allow it to live forever like, for example, the logo of its mother ship, the CBS Television Network and it’s classic Eye logo and font. This logo will (and should) live forever.

So let’s take a quick peek at how this new sports network for CBS compares to some of the other sports network logos.

Sports Network Logos ESPN, Fox, NBC

When looking at sports networks, you’s have to start with ESPN which has gone from a little cable station in Bristol, Connecticut to a sports giant. How big? Basically, ABC Sports ceased to exist when Disney (which owns ABC) bought ESPN. And this logo needs a refresh. It looks about as 80’s as the old CBS Sports logo.

Fox Sports logo is…meh. Whether it’s Fox Sports, Fox News and the Fox Network, the logo is plain. Not bad, just plain. Such a wide ranging and successful company should have a more impressive network icon. But again, there’s a reason I’m not part of this discussion. 😉

Finally NBC Sports. This is a bit of a mashup. You’ve got the iconic peacock (one of the great logo refreshes/rebirths of the 20th Century), the recently refreshed NBC workmark (which I like very much) and the scripted sports work mark, which is just OK. But of the three logos, probably NBC Sports works the best as a logo.

So there you have it, my take on network sports logos.

The bad news is you can’t get the last five minutes of your life back. 🙂