Back in 1985, when I was working at WVUD-FM in Dayton (now WLQT), CBS Radio affiliates were given early access, via network satellite, to “We Are The World” before records (yes records) got mailed to stations. WVUD as a CBS affiliate could download it and as production manager, that’s what I did, running the cart down to the on-air studio so Pat Haverland, our midday guy, could be first to air it in the market; he did and we were.

So the song has always had a special place within me…and (for different reasons) just about everybody else.

I will grant you that 25 years ago and then again this year, the professional singers who participated in the recordings had the best of intentions and indeed turned in fine performances.

But when I saw George Whittam’s facebook posting of this very unique video of a less famous rendition, it made me think that maybe this was how it was supposed to be performed in the first place. Social media done extremely well? What do you think?

Tags: commentary, radio, social media, university of dayton, video, WVUD, youtube by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
3 Comments »

There creativity, artistry, music and a true sense of achievement in this video.

But it’s also just a blast to watch.

Tags: silliness, video, video production by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
2 Comments »

The more I hear and read about Fred Rogers, the more I am saddened by the fact that I never got to meet the man. His focus on helping children develop into the best people they could be, his efforts to help them understand the world around them and their new feelings and experiences as a part of that world were trail blazing, understated and worthy of praise beyond words.

As a kid, I didn’t get. As a parent I do.

I bring this up because my friends over at the Copyblogger blog, specifically the author Karl Staib, wrote a wonderful post today about how bloggers can improve their blogs by really caring about their readers as much as Fred Rogers cared about the children he worked with and broadcast to.

To me, considering the high esteem with which I hold the work of Fred Rogers, that’s a tall order but its wonderful advice none the less and its something I will work towards. I have told you before in this forum how much I appreciate your subscription here but it bears repeating – thank you!

Of special note in the Copyblogger post is the wonderful video, also posted here previously, featuring Mr. Rogers speaking before Congress about a funding bill for PBS in the 60’s that President Nixon wanted cut. His was not a very friendly audience but Fred Rogers spoke with the calm, rationale manner he always did, spoke from the heart (nary a script in sight) and won the battle and the hearts of Washington, D.C. on that day.

To me, that was reality TV!

I hope you’ll read the post and watch the video and if you have a blog, take the advice.

Tags: blogs, PBS, social media, video by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
Comments Off on be like mr. rogers

the audio'connell YouTube page

I am not a pioneer on most things, including social media. I like to see where things are going, if they are going to build up a big enough head of steam and then decide to join in.

It was that way for me with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and now with YouTube where I have create my own page and produced my first video. Why?

Well, my college degree is in Radio/Television communication and I did own a video production company for six years so this is not totally unfamiliar territory. But I wasn’t sure on many fronts if I wanted to dip my toe in the video waters via social media.

Two things changed that.

One was when Jeff Kafer said he wanted to produce a video of the VO-BB voice talents recreating “The Night Before Christmas”. I didn’t have any of the tools needed at the time or a clue about the new way video worked but I decided to plod through it (embrace change etc., blah, blah). My finished work for that piece wasn’t stellar and Jeff had to tweak it a lot to make it presentable but it put me in to a more “I can do it” frame of mind. So thank you Jeff for that.

Next was the technology. I tried a Logitech camera for the VO-BB video but I thought it wasn’t sharp enough (or maybe the dullness was a result of the talent within my lens). Then I attended an Ad Club of Buffalo presentation featuring Kodak’s Chief Blogger, the very kind and knowledgeable Jennifer Cisney. Part of her presentation, not surprisingly included mention of some Kodak products including their Zi8 portable video camera. At the same time Steve Garfield, who I had met briefly some years ago at Podcamp Boston, published his new book (which I bought) on video and spoke highly of that same camera which had an input for external audio (which most cameras don’t have and which was something of importance to me). At $200 I figured I could make an educated mistake.

Calling around to some friends for editing tools advice and with my own trail and error (as is the way we all seem to learn, technologically, these days) I was ready to make my mistakes more publicly.

I am quite sure that after I do this for a while, I’ll look back at this video in disgust for its poor quality in any number of areas but for now, it’s not the worst thing I’ve seen and hopefully the content is a bit different.

I hope you’ll subscribe to my YouTube page and lets enjoy this ride together. Thanks.

Tags: commentary, facebook, linkedin, social media, tv, twitter, video, voice talent, voiceover, youtube by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
4 Comments »

Ruts.

We all find ourselves in them and often times cannot remember how we got there. Sometimes it part necessity but sometimes we also get lazy.

We then need a kick in the pants (a title I use for a e-blast I occasionally sent to my voice over friends with insight I HOPE they find helpful.)

Well the video below helped me think about that a little bit today. Maybe it will help you too.

I would be interested to hear from you NOT what you think of the following video but what part of the video resonated with you most and what you plan on doing about it.

Some may not feel comfortable in sharing that stuff, I respect that…not trying to be nosy here…but if you care to share, that would be great.

Tags: commentary, video, voiceover advice by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
2 Comments »

Well color me surprised and perplexed.

I did not expect that with so many changes NOT being made (set, theme) that ABC News would replace Bill Rice with a new announcer for World News with Diane Sawyer.

I said so. I meant it!

This made me feel that we would be in good taste running our unofficial audition for the announcer job for World News with Diane Sawyer. It would be fun, harmless fun which is the point of the whole exercise.

I didn’t see the first show tonight but reports are coming in that indeed there IS a new announcer. No video yet as I think we have to wait for the west coast feed to be done at 9:30 PM ET. I’ll update it when I find it.

I am stunned and feel kind of bad about the whole thing.

Nobody and I mean NOBODY was gunning for Bill’s job with this silly event and in fact I think to a person we all respected his work. But somebody at ABC decided on a new voice and made that call.

So should we continue with the faux-ditions or is it now in bad taste? Is it a matter of ‘that’s the way our business goes’ or should we, as peers show more respect?

Kudos to the new person who got the gig. I hope it turns out to be one of my friends who has kept a great secret.

Were we merely being naively prescient with this new outcome or are we now dancing on a great announcer’s career if we keep this going?

Seriously, give me your thoughts!

P.S. 12/22/09: Here is the first video I could find of the new open.

Tags: ABC News, fauxdition, unofficial audition, video by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
16 Comments »