Pillsbury Chocolate Crescent Rolls
Putting words to picture - a behind-the-scenes snapshot of today's voiceover session for Pillsbury Chocolate Crescent Rolls:
Pillsbury Chocolate Crescent Rolls - voiceover by Leigha Horton
Pillsbury Crescent Dogs
Mid-August I posted the following little blurb on my professional Facebook page - || while this week was rather insane (two on-camera auditions - one TV pilot and one TV commercial; rehearsals for a stage play; voiceover session for a Pillsbury TV spot; and voiceover for Marketplace Events Home and Garden Shows - TV and radio spots in 5 markets), it's moments like this - noticing how the light is hitting a vintage Neumann microphone in the recording booth - that give me pause with gratitude and appreciation.
And here’s the result of that session in the booth with the vintage Neumann:
Ten points for the copywriter who gave pigs-in-a-blanket a fancy-yet-accessible turn.
(By the way, have you ‘liked’ Leigha Horton - Stage || Screen || Voice yet? No? Do! It’s an easy way to be notified of new Greenroom posts!)
Yoplait Greek Yogurt
After doing voiceovers in Minneapolis/St. Paul for six years, it’s a rare occasion to find myself in a recording studio that I haven’t yet been in. So today was a treat, as it brought me to the curious and charming NoWare Media. We recorded the tag for a Yoplait Greek Yogurt TV commercial voiced by Lisa Kudrow (yes, Phoebe of Friends fame); I come in at the end to wrap it up:
NoWare is a sweet space – they’ve even got those classic sliding barn doors (swoon). But putting down voiceover in a booth that includes a chandelier? – Definitely an awesome first.
NoWare Yoplait Recording
And the Winner of School Picture Day is...
...this kid. He gets all the points for being equal parts kickass and adorable. It was a delight to finally get my hands on a copy of this, as we did the voice-over months ago. Only recently had I started hearing from friends that there's a new commercial running on TV and they swore it was my voice. They were right:
And here's a little bonus behind-the-scenes peek in the editing suite, after recording the tracks, as my audio was set over the video:
Crystal Farms spot recording at Echo Boys
Have I mentioned I have the best job ever? I have the best job ever.
Public Service Announcements for Parent Aware
Earlier this month I spent some time in the studio at BWN Music recording Fallon’s new PSAs for Parent Aware, a cool Minnesota organization that rates preschools based on kindergarten readiness standards. I last voiced :60 and :30 versions of a spot for them back in 2010, and so it was a delight to head back in to the studio this month and record :60 and :30 versions of three more spots. I’m not sure what will ultimately be chosen to air, but I imagine whatever it is will stand out - it’s not often you hear long, chill ads sans underscoring these days. Kinda refreshing, that.
2012 in Review
In November of this past year, I took part in a little daily project on Facebook called The Month of Thanks. Every day I sat down to write, publicly, something I was thankful for that day. And let’s be honest, there are some dark, dark days in November in Minnesota. Some days many of us are just thankful to wake up in the morning, the small victory of not having died in our sleep. Ahem. Um, did I mention we don’t get much sunlight ‘round these parts in the winter? Even so, it was a beautiful project to partake in – one that made me grateful for the gratitude alone. And in considering this 2012 Year in Review, Day 28 of my Month of Thanks leapt off the screen at me:
:: Month of Thanks, Day 28: today's recording session was in a pretty, pretty studio I'd never seen before. And the longer video for which I was providing voice-over was really quite lovely (there was a commercial, too, but that was, you know, short and commercialey). I am profoundly grateful that a combination of luck, training, skill, and perseverance has enabled me to do what I love for a living.
That, right there, is the essence of so much of last year. The joy of exploring new studios. Of meeting engineers, writers, and producers. Of realizing that I am able to make my living doing what I love because of luck, training, skill, and perseverance. No single one of those things alone would cut it; it takes every piece to create the balance. Some of those things are in my control, some are not, but every one is a gift. And for that, I am most grateful.
And so, without further ado, my performance highlights of 2012:
JANUARY
Stage
- Continued part-time work at the Science Museum of Minnesota on the Science Live team – performing live science demonstrations and science-related short plays for museum audiences.
- Traveled to Portland, OR to present to national museum colleagues the first draft of Kitchen Chemistry, a new live stage presentation I created for the Science Museum of Minnesota.
- Joined the advance-publicity team for public appearances and started rehearsals for my roles as Anne Bonny and Mary Read (depending on the day) in the Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Voice
- Voiceovers for Marketplace Events spots - fourth year running. Ty Pennington and I on national TV and radio urging you to attend home shows across the U.S. TV commercials aired on HGTV and ABC and their affiliates. Recorded at Audio Ruckus for Coordinet.
- Voiceover for Land O’Lakes butter – my first truly-national television commercial. I had done plenty of spots in the past that were aired in specific markets all over the U.S. (and therefore recorded multiples with appropriate city names filled in), but not one single commercial that would be aired everywhere. Network TV, cable, everywhere. It was very exciting. Recorded at Echo Boys for Campbell Mithun.
FEBRUARY
Stage
- Opening of Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
- Started rehearsals for Rajiv Joseph’s achingly beautiful two-person play Gruesome Playground Injuries.
Voice
- Voiceovers for KeyBank - this was the first session reading tags for their “Vase” (and another – the name of which I’m forgetting) TV and radio ads. 47 tags, to be specific. Recorded at Todd Syring’s studio at Campbell Mithun for Campbell Mithun.
- Voiceovers for KeyBank (yes, more) – I ended up having several more sessions at Campbell Mithun this month – just a couple tags here and there – but still a delight to be in their studios every time.
MARCH
Stage
- Performances of Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries, which merited some lovely press, a hug from a newspaper critic, and a sweet note from the casting director at The Guthrie. AND a new “Facebook friendship” with the playwright. An honor and a joy.
- Continuation of Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
APRIL
Stage
- Performed/read at a new script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center for a new play, which I’m embarrassed to say I retained no notes about – so cannot recollect the playwright nor the name of the play, nor if I read a role or the stage directions. For shame, Leigha.
- Continuation of Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Voice
- Voiceovers for more Marketplace Events spots – this was for home shows that would be taking place later in the year, hence weren’t recorded at the year’s first session in January. TV commercials aired on HGTV and ABC and their affiliates. Recorded at Audio Ruckus for Coordinet.
MAY
Stage
- Read stage directions at a new script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center for A User’s Guide to Hell, a new play by Lee Blessing.
- Opened Kitchen Chemistry, a new live stage presentation I created for the Science Museum of Minnesota about the science of spaghetti – covering topics from boiling water to starch structures to smell and taste perception.
- Continuation of Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Screen
- Wrote and hosted the filming of the third in a four-part series of short satirical 1950’s-style educational films, titled The Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnology: Who Benefits? on behalf of the Science Museum of Minnesota for The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). Film + Production by Teddy Media.
Voice
- Voiceover for The Gimmie Awards, General Mills’ bi-annual awards ceremony. Recorded at Syring Studios for Campbell Mithun. I have to admit that it was a little exciting knowing who the winners were and why before the winners themselves.
Featured Press
- Interview and photo shoot for small feature article and very large photograph to run later in the month in Vita.MN, a local arts and entertainment magazine owned by the Star Tribune. The focus of the article was my work in Minneapolis/St. Paul as a full-time stage, screen, and voiceover actor.
JUNE
Stage
- Read stage directions at a new script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center for Way West, a new play by Mona Mansour.
- Continuation of Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Screen
- Performed on-camera as The Bride in Girls in Lane 4, Steeltoe Stiletto’s entry into the Minneapolis 48-Hour Film Project. For our efforts, we garnered a “Best Film” nomination and walked away with a coveted “Audience Favorite” award.
Voice
- Voiceover of animatics (they’re like roughly-animated storyboards) for a new Land O’Lakes product, which I still believe is going through the development phase. I’ve been told that if it does make it to market with this concept, I’m in for the final spots. This is, however, a months-long process – so who knows. Keeping my fingers crossed nonetheless, because optimism feels better than the alternative. Recorded at Todd Syring’s studio at Campbell Mithun for Campbell Mithun.
- Voiceovers for KeyBank – a few more sessions this month – just a couple tags here and there for their “Vase” TV and radio ads. Recorded at Todd Syring’s studio at Campbell Mithun for Campbell Mithun.
JULY
Stage
- Performed/read for a new script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center of a new play, which I’m embarrassed to say I retained no notes about. This is the second of two in 2012 that I somehow didn’t manage to keep records on – what on earth? My apologies to the playwright. For shame. Again.
- Continuation of Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
AUGUST
Stage
- Read stage directions at a new script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center for Regulation 18B, a new play by Scott Wright.
- Read the role of Diana Margineanu at a new script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center for No Hay Luz and the Search for the Red Bourgainvilleas, a new play by Domnica Radulescu. Thank goodness for my four years of Spanish in high school. Rusty as all get-out, but the foundation is still there.
- Continuation of Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah at the Science Museum of Minnesota. I KNOW, right? When on earth did this thing end?! Labor Day. And so this is the last time you’ll see this particular gig mentioned. It was a hell of a lot of fun, but I was so, SO happy when it was done for the sole sake of not having to fuss with that wretched dirt makeup anymore. That shit was satanic.
Voice
- Voiceover for Cheerios – this was an incredibly sweet online video featuring a “panel” of really cute kids talking about how their moms don’t really realize that they still like Cheerios even though they’re not babies anymore. Adorbs. Recorded at Spotnik for Orange Filmworks.
- Voiceover for Marketplace Events spots – yes, more. I love these people. TV commercials aired on HGTV and ABC and their affiliates. Recorded at Audio Ruckus for Coordinet.
SEPTEMBER
Stage
- Performances of the remount of Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries. Man, I love this play. Rajiv is brilliant. He didn’t write it for me, but I want him to write for me always.
- Started rehearsals for kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva la Soul Power! at Intermedia Arts. This year’s show was going to be HUGE.
Voice
- Voiceover for Target – the second iteration of a short film about inclusiveness - entitled Anthem (originally voiced in December 2011 and entitled You Make Us). Recorded at Media Loft.
- Voiceover for Crystal Farms’ Simply Potatoes – announcer on two fun radio spots featuring some fantastic Minneapolis/St. Paul talent. Recorded at Babble-On for Gabriel deGrood Bendt (GdB).
- Voiceovers for KeyBank – a few more sessions this month – just a couple tags here and there for their “Vase” TV and radio ads. Recorded at Todd Syring’s studio at Campbell Mithun for Campbell Mithun.
- Voiceover for the National Bone Marrow Donor Program’s annual awards ceremony. This was my second year back in the studio for this client, and it was an honor and a joy to be asked back. Recorded at Aaron/Stokes for Blue 60 Pictures.
- Voiceover for General Mills’ Yoplait Yogurt – dialogue with the delightful Gary Bingner, announced by the equally-delightful Mark Benninghofen. Recorded at Audio Ruckus for Shout! Creative.
OCTOBER
Stage
- Read stage directions for a new script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center of The Toupee, a new play by Tom Dunn.
- Performances of kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva La Soul Power! at Intermedia Arts. This was part of a much-larger project called 28 Days of Good Energia, which included a full (and gorgeous) gallery exhibition, and it was, again, a whirlwind of activities and some of the most amazingly soulful and creative and funny people. And incredible food. Ohmygod.
- Started rehearsals and research for my role as Nephthys in the Lost Egypt at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The evolution of ancient Egyptian mythology is a fascinating beast unto itself – and oh boy was there a lot to learn for this project.
Voice
- Voiceover for LifeTime Fitness – this was for an animated video that will, in theory, play on their exercise machines in gyms nationwide. Recorded at LifeTime Vision for LifeTime Fitness.
NOVEMBER
Stage
- Closing performances of kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva La Soul Power! at Intermedia Arts.
Voice
- Voiceovers for a gorgeous short film and not-yet-completed commercial demo made by a reputable marketing firm campaigning for a very large company. Unfortunately, I’m unable to share more than that due to confidentiality requirements at present, but if they land the gig, I can share. Recorded at BWN Music.
- Voiceovers for KeyBank – a few more sessions this month – just a couple tags here and there for their “Vase” TV and radio ads. Recorded at Todd Syring’s studio at Campbell Mithun for Campbell Mithun.
DECEMBER
Stage
- Read the role of Jane for a new script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center of ColorLines, a new play by David Wiles. Keep an eye out for further developments on this play. Because wow.
Screen
- Cast as host for on-camera industrial for DraxImage’s RUBY-FILL Strontium- and Rubidium-82 Generators. Turns out my gig at the Science Museum has made me pretty adept at presenting information, like about machines that provide measured doses of radiopharmaceuticals, as if I know what I’m talking about. Filming to take place in January 2013.
Voice
- Voiceovers for Marketplace Events spots - fifth year running! FIFTH year! Love. Ty Pennington and I on national TV and radio urging you to attend home shows across the U.S. TV commercials aired on HGTV and ABC and their affiliates. Recorded at Audio Ruckus for Coordinet.
- Voiceover for Crystal Farms’ Pancake and French Toast batters – TV commercials. Recorded at Echo Boys for Gabriel deGrood Bendt (GdB).
EPILOGUE
At the start of last year I promised to dream bigger dreams and then run to catch them. The dreaming did indeed happen, and continues unabated. It is, however, now accompanied by blueprints for the life I intend to build. Plans are afoot. This is the year that I’m going to break ground on new land.
A Little Love for the Pacific Northwest
For the past several months I’ve been working with some of the coolest people on the planet over at Campbell Mithun (that’s right, Mim, I’m talking about you) voicing tags for KeyBank spots – tv ads and just audio, I believe, to run on Pandora – and, of course, having a blast. I also learned something really cool about marketing on Pandora – they can target which ads they play based on your location, almost down to the block on which you live, so that it’s ultra-relevant. I’ve found myself listening to Pandora in the past, hearing an ad come on, and thinking, wow – my neighborhood ACME Anvil company had the money for an ad on Pandora? Nah, turns out they can just be super-specific, and probably, in turn, find it more affordable.
Anyway, KeyBank has locations in 14 states, and I’ve taken the most quiet joy reading the tags for Portland, Seattle, and a couple of places in Colorado, just because I’ve got family and dear friends in those places. Here’s hoping that even if they didn't recognize my voice, they maybe felt just a little closer in that moment.
Keeping Secrets
Today I was hired on to voice a gorgeously filmed and directed two-minute concept/branding pitch by a hugely reputable ad agency for a very large company, both of which, for now anyway, must remain nameless. There was also a short, yet-to-be-filmed demo commercial, too, but it was the concept piece that really reminded me how much I love what I do for a living. Additional bonus: it was recorded at BWN Music, a pretty, pretty studio I’d never seen before. And with an engineer who used to be a chemist, and with whom I had the most delightful conversation, touching on, amongst other things, the eight different kinds of bears in the world. Lest we forget, I am a part-time performing artist over at the Science Museum of Minnesota, so this conversation was not as random as it may seem at first. He named six right off the bat – far better than most people – and got Adorable Points for guessing the last two types as belonging to the Care- and Gummy- species.
I love working with engineers. They all seem to have these insanely awesome private lives that I often only find out about later. They're enigmas, I tell you! Wonderful enigmas!
Since I really can’t divulge much more than that, I’ll just give you a peek inside the recording booth, instead.
BWNbooth
Topless. No wait – LIDless. Got it.
I’ve thought long and hard about this (perhaps too long and hard about this, but whatever, don’t judge), and yet I’ve got no other choice than to declare this a tie. Because I just can’t decide what was better – getting to play Gary Bingner’s wife, or sharing a spot with the most fabulous Mark Benninghofen. Because, I mean really - those deeply funny men in that tiny little studio at the same time? Ohmygod.
It’s probably a good thing commercial voiceover sessions don’t get their own behind-the-scenes treatment. We might never work again.
“Working With ______”
I’ve had the joy of sharing a table with the amazingly talented and equally delightful Sally Wingert for new script development and readings at The Playwrights’ Center, but it was an absolute joy to discover her voice on these Crystal Farms/Simply Potatoes spots for which I voiced the announcer. She’s the woman who cries, “Cheat! Cheat!” in the “Bake Off” spot. I come in at the :23 mark on both spots to wrap everything up. That’s a curious thing about voice work – as an actor, it’s so different from stage and screen work wherein the process is collaborative and your casts can end up like temporary families. In the recording studio actors are often like ships in the night, never seeing one another. I have “worked with” Laurence Fishburne and Ty Pennington, but have I ever met or spoken with either of them? Nope.
Funny, that.
And a big shout-out to Babble-On Recording Studios for the great, multi-layered sounds on these spots. Love them.
The National
A couple weeks ago I voiced my first, truly national television commercial. As opposed to what – an only-partially national television commercial? Yeah, yeah, I’m kind of arguing semantics here: I’m making a distinction between a single spot that will play all over the U.S. (as this one is) as opposed to a slew of commercials that will play in specific markets all over the U.S. (as the Marketplace Events Home Shows spots with Ty Pennington are). So, behold – my first national television commercial. For Land O’ Lakes butter:
I was surprised to learn from a few friends that it’s already airing – at least in Minneapolis and northern California, anyway.
You ever have one of those career-defining moments where you think, wow – I’m really doing this – this is, somehow, actually real - I’m making a living doing what I love? Standing in the editing suite, post-recording, watching my VO dropped over the final picture and music for this spot was that moment for me. There are no words to adequately express the feelings of joy and satisfaction and peace and comfort and gratitude and place that accompany a moment like that. And so I'll just sit back and let it be.
The Silver Lining
Hey, Science Nerds - this one's for you...and me, because I'm a Science Nerd, too. Let's be nerdy together! (hugs, bashes glasses together) Nerdery aside, I voiced this short documentary back in 2012 for the Museum of Life + Science in Durham, North Carolina on behalf of NISE Net (the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network). And yet I was remiss in not posting it at that time. Forgive the oversight, and have a listen. I guarantee you'll learn something that'll assuredly make for sexy cocktail party banter. Because smart most definitely equals sexy.
2011 in Review
While relatively tedious to compile, I’ve come to love these year-end reviews. They remind me that I actually make a living at my craft, no matter how insecure I get during the course of the year about my abilities or accomplishments (or seeming lack thereof). Lists like these remind me that I am doing what I love, and am being rewarded for it. Lists like these remind me that my career choice bought me passage into my very first house, all on my own, and keeps me there.
Because let’s be honest - there is always a point (or five) in the year when I panic. I think, ohmygod, they’ve finally realized that I’m a total fraud and NOW I WILL NEVER WORK AGAIN. EVER. This happens regularly. Without fail. And then I end up inexplicably landing another incredible gig and think, oh, well, okay – maybe I’m not that bad. It is a joy and an honor to be so lucky.
Without further ado, my performance highlights of 2011:
January Continued part-time work at the Science Museum of Minnesota on the Science Live team – performing live science demonstrations and science-related short plays for museum audiences.
Marketplace Events spots - third year running. Ty Pennington and me on national TV and radio urging you to attend home shows across the U.S. TV commercials aired on HGTV and ABC and their affiliates. Recorded at Audio Ruckus.
VOs for General Mills, but I took very poor notes about this, and have no recollection of what it was for. My guess is that it was, perhaps, some pickups for the 42 spots I did back in December for Progresso Light Soups, Yoplait and Yoplait Light Yogurts, and Big G Cereals national TV spots. Note to self in 2012: take better notes. Recorded at Babble-On for Shout! Creative.
February Script workshop and stage-direction reading for public presentation of Carson Kreitzer’s new play, Behind the Eye, as part of The Playwrights’ Center’s Ruth Easton series. Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and commissioned by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for a world premiere in April.
Not much else to report other than travel to Florida. It was warm. I remember needing that. Oh yes, and travel to Madison, WI, to teach museum-theater techniques to institutions across the U.S.
March VO for the trailer of TRIUMPH67, an independent feature-length film that went on to become the official selection of the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival.
Spent the day in studio at Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), recording the voice for a sultry character in The Winner, a pilot for Minnesota Stories – a new program dedicated to showcasing Minnesota writers.
VO for Target - a short film about inclusiveness called You Make Us. Recorded at Audio Ruckus.
- Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio at Minnesota Public Radio
April Table-read of a new script by Patrick Coyle at The Jungle Theater.
The Winner, recorded in March, airs twice on Minnesota Public Radio.
May VO for Cadillac. With Laurence Fishburne. I played his talking GPS. Recorded at Babble-On for Fallon.
I bought my very first house, all by myself. I think this is what officially makes me an adult, but I’m still not quite sold on that idea. The only reason I’m including this here, amongst my gigs, is because those VO gigs are what made this possible.
- Home, in as many words.
June Script workshop and stage-direction reading for public presentation at the Playwrights’ Center of Scratch, a new play by Shira Naharit.
Started rehearsals for Minnesota Middle Finger, Ben San Del’s Minnesota Fringe Festival entry. Yes, Fringe is in August. We started way, way early because of everyone’s insane schedules. I think when all was said and done we only had 12 rehearsals.
July VO demos for Hormel, recorded at Modern Music/Fischer Edit for BBDO.
Co-wrote and produced a short satirical 1950’s-style educational film, The Wonders and Worries of Nanotechnologyon behalf of the Science Museum of Minnesota for The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). Film + Production by Teddy Media.
August 2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival, and my performance in Ben San Del’s Minnesota Middle Finger with the incomparable John Middleton and Tim Hellendrung.
VO spots (more, again) for Marketplace Events home shows with Ty Pennington – TV and Radio. Continued airings on HGTV and ABC. Recorded at Audio Ruckus.
Three-day script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center of Outcasts of Eden, a new play by Andie Arthur.
Served as host/barker for the AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair, on behalf of AFTRA.
Cast in kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva Las Roots! to be presented at Intermedia Arts in October 2011.
- Script workshop at The Playwrights' Center
September Cast as both Anne Bonny and Mary Read in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s next major exhibition, Real Pirates, as well as cast in the publicity crew for advance event appearances. Exhibition opens mid-February 2012.
Attended the 7th annual Ivey Awards – Minneapolis/St. Paul’s version of the Tonys. Very, very swank. Very, very inspiring. I know I said that last year, but I still mean it.
VO spot for General Mills – radio spot for Yoplait Yogurt in the NYC market. Recorded at Audio Ruckus for Shout! Creative.
- Real Pirates coming soon to the Science Museum of Minnesota
October Cast in The Peanut Butter Factory’s next production, Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries – a two-person show with Adam Whisner to be presented late winter/early spring 2012.
Went on a three-day writing retreat to northern Minnesota with the company of kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva Las Roots! to create character and storyline.
VO narration for short documentary Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud?, a look at the effect of nanosilver on the environment, created by the Museum of Life + Science in Durham, North Carolina, on behalf of the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). Recorded at Babble-On.
VO for the National Marrow Donor Program’s annual council awards ceremony recognition film segments. Recorded at Aaron/Stokes for Blue 60 Pictures.
Script workshop and stage-direction reading at the evening performance of Sarah Gubbins’ new work, The Water Play at The Playwrights’ Center.
Performances of kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva Las Roots!at Intermedia Arts.
November Performances continue of kaotic good productions’ The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva Las Roots!at Intermedia Arts.
Got my eyes did. Yep. Lasik. No more contacts or glasses. This changes everything on stage and in the recording booth, for the better.
Spent the day at the Hennepin County Courthouse, serving as a key witness in Faegre & Benson’s mock trial program.
- Spices in the Viva Las Roots! kitchen.
December VOs for Marketplace Events Home Shows with Ty Pennington – fourth year running! Recorded at Audio Ruckus.
Appeared on Kare 11 News morning program as Anne Bonny, marketing for the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Real Pirates exhibition opening February 2012.
Script workshop and stage-direction reading at the evening performance of Kira Obolensky’s new play, Vasa Lisa at The Playwrights’ Center, co-presented by Ten Thousand Things. Workshop in preparation for a late-spring full production by Ten Thousand Things.
- Real Pirates get sassy with the news crew at KARE 11.
Epilogue 2011, you treated my career well, and for that I thank you. 2012, we’re going to roll up our shirtsleeves and till this soil for continued growth. My last major career goal was to make my living as an artist, which I have been doing for the last few years; it’s time to dream bigger dreams. And then run to catch them.
Car Sounds
A few weeks ago I voiced a cab-stealing, tiny-dog-carrying Manhattanite for Yoplait Yogurt, thereby effectively extending my car-themed run of VO work (did you miss the Cadillac commercial with Laurence Fishburne where I’m the voice of his talking GPS? Good GOD, go listen! It’s ridiculous! And wonderful! But mostly ridiculous!) Getting cast for this spot provided a funny realization - there were two spots – one for California, one for New York – and I was cast as the New Yorker. Funny? Funny how? Funny because I was raised in San Diego. California. It ultimately made perfect sense as the client was looking for two different voices, and the Californian was the mother of teenagers (doubtful I could pull that off convincingly). But funny the dichotomy of self-perception v. the perception of others. Gotta say, I kinda love being considered a believable New Yorker. It reminds me of the last time I was there, and constantly being asked for directions, even by local kids. I was in it. SO in it.
All in all, the session was a delight. Spending the morning with the boys from Shout Radio Productions/Shout Creative ranks high on my list of good ways to wake up. And by "boys," I mean "incredibly talented and accomplished adult men who are also super fun to work with." Love those guys. Love, love, love.
Now – some audio that’s good for your bones:
And yes, I know there’s 10 seconds of general silence at the end with just traffic noises in the background – that’s left open for local tags (“Yoplait is on sale now at your local [insert grocery store name here]”), and I presently have neither the patience nor the…well, just patience really…to edit that ten seconds out. Too busy carrying my tiny dog around.
Stylist Love
Since last writing in August, I’ve participated as a performer in a 3-day script workshop at The Playwrights’ Center, served as the public host for the AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion at the Minnesota State Fair, recorded eight TV and radio spots for Marketplace Events home shows around the U.S., been cast in kaotic good productions’ next show in Minneapolis The Cooking Show con Karimi & Comrades: Viva la Roots!, been cast in the 2011 Playlabs series at The Playwrights’ Center, and been cast in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s next large-scale exhibition, Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship. All of which I intend to write about. Really, I do.
But today I need to share something far more immediate and pressing, and I shall preface it thusly: I would rather spend quality time with the hideous giant spider in my garage than plan, shop, and execute an ensemble for some fancy event. Ensemble as in clothes, not as in performance group. “But she dresses up for a living!” you say. “This should be easy and fun for her!” And to that I say, “Nope. It’s overwhelming. Also? Tedious.”
Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy a good dress and the tiny victory I feel in all the compliments that come with it (hell, I live in dresses in the summertime, but that’s because they’re complete outfits unto themselves – no planning required), but the process of figuring out an ensemble all by myself takes up valuable time that I’d rather spend doing something else. For the love of god, anything else. And now you understand my personal crusade to canonize all good costumers everywhere.
So the fabulous Ivey Awards are on Monday night. Yesterday, I obtained an ensemble. And could not, would not, have done so without the tireless determination of The Most Divine Miss Emily Taylor and her most appreciated stylist tendencies. Sainthood is most certainly yours, my dear.
Luxury, Laurence Fishburne, and Leigha
So, you know Laurence Fishburne? Morpheus from The Matrix series? Dr. Raymond Langston from the CSI: shows? Well, he just happens to be the spokesman for Cadillac. And it’s no wonder; the man is smooth. So, so smooth.
So you can imagine my mind-blown excitement when I got called in to voice his GPS for the new Cadillac radio ad “Shield/What Doesn’t it Do?” The spots are now playing in New York and LA…I imagine they’ll work their way inward soon, but just in case you would prefer not to be surprised in your car, I offer the file for your personalized listening pleasure:
Teleportation mode initiated, indeed.
Writing Minnesota
A few weeks ago I was invited into the recording studios at Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) to work on a pilot program, Writing Minnesota. I was joined by the immensely talented Patrick Coyle, Charles Fraser, Michael Booth, and Tena-May Gallivan to record a scripted version of Charles Baxter’sThe Winner. I voiced the sassy seductress/Other Woman, Lorraine. Writing Minnesota will air Friday, April 15, at noon and Sunday, April 17, at 6 p.m. on Minnesota Public Radio News stations across the state – listen live (91.1 in the Twin Cities), or stream online. UPDATE 4/16/2011: Writing Minnesota is now available for online listening! You can listen to the whole program or just Charles Baxter's The Winner here.
And now, a peek inside the studio at MPR:
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio
The last time I was in this studio was for a piano performance by Koji Attwood while he was in town for the Walker Art Center's Baryshnikov: Solos with Piano
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Who knew MPR transports their artists to and from studio sessions via pneumatic tubes?
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Koji's piano.
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Could this be yet another Neumann condenser mic? Why yes, yes it could. I'm sensing a theme here. As demonstrated by the lighting, you can see that the heavens also approve.
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No separation between mics meant my stomach growling could ruin Charles' take. I'm neither confirming nor denying whether that actually happened.
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Nuemann condenser mic + windscreen. This beauty deserves representation from all angles. HOT.
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Hanging up the headphones for the day.
On Target
Voiced-over a two-minute film for Target last week, entitled You Make Us. In addition to being live at www.target.com/diversity, it's also hanging out on YouTube. Turns out this is what I sound like at 7 am. Waitwaitwait - let me rephrase that - this is what I sound like when I'm awake at 7 am.
UPDATE - 1/11/2013: In September 2012 we recorded a new, updated version of this video to take the place of the video linked above. The updated video, entitled Anthem, can be seen by visiting Target's diversity site directly.
Photographer of Frivolous Affairs
John Lukas, engineer extraordinaire at Babble-On Recording Studios, and I are embarking on a new, terribly exciting audiobook series together. Our very first session consisted of testing out various microphones and accompanying audio gear to obtain just the right sound. The story, in pictures*:
The engineering studio and the recording booth beyond, taken from the fancy sofas that I never get to sit on when I’m in session.
The headphones I use in the booth to hear both myself and John when he talks to me from the engineering studio. I initially took a picture of them because John said the last person to use them was Topher Grace. Yes, that Topher Grace. He was in recording some promo pieces for his new movie, Take Me Home Tonight. In case there was any concern, I can now assure the world that Topher Grace does not have head lice.
Shotgun mic. This was our first try, and ultimately decided against it. Not that it didn’t sound good, mind you.
Super-duper ultra-fancy expensive mic. Gorgeous, and did I mention expensive? We ultimately decided against this one, too.
The winner. A Neumann condenser mic. André, John’s boss at Babble-On and an all-around fantastic fellow, told us after the session that he’s used this mic with me before on a couple of occasions with great results. Nothing like the joy of many minds coming to the same conclusion independently. We’ve so got this.
This is a windscreen that we decided to ditch because we didn’t need it due to mic placement – as John so aptly put it, “just one less thing up in your grill.”
I think we toggled back and forth between a couple of pre-amps, and ultimately chose to go with this puppy. Honestly, I’m really not sure, but the light was on when I came out of the booth, so I assumed this is what we used. I mostly just took the photo because the light is a killer blueish-purple. How nice of me to then covert it to black and white, right? Whatevs, it’s become my special light and I am now very protective of it. Okay. Fine. Here:
Happy now? Sheesh. Moving on.
The first book we’re going to record. May Futrelle was on the Titanic and survived, her husband Jacques Futrelle, also a famous novelist, did not. I studied up on them during my stint in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition portraying Nurse Evelyn Marsden. There's no way I'm letting 200+ hours of Titanic research go to waste.
I'm working from a gorgeous first edition, printed in 1911. The illustrations are divine.
John at work, editing out the page-turns and working his audio mastering magic via The Fastest Digits in All The Land. Holy cajones does that guy fly!
The ultimate goal is to get these distributed via Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. Of course we’ll let you know when they’re available, are you kidding me? Until then…you’ll just have to settle for the joy in the anticipation.
*all shots were taken on a whim with my iPhone. So, you know, don’t judge me on quality. Dammit Jim, I’m an actress, not a photographer.
The One-Two Commercial Punch of HELL-to-the-YES!
This evening brought a thrilling two-part televisual surprise: I arrived home to find the TV on, muted, with a rerun of the American version of The Office bumbling along (nothing terribly remarkable about that – but wait! There’s MORE!). TBS then broke for commercials and I was blindsided by the trailer for Rango – the new animated film starring Johnny Depp as a gecko; the very same animated film that features my longtime soul-friend Rick Garcia’s music and singing voice of the mariachi owls.
I damn near burst with pride.
And just when I thought I couldn’t have been more pleased – I noticed that the trailer was directly followed by one of my Yoplait Light yogurt commercials. I don’t do the main VO, mind you, just the tag at the end - “Find Yoplait Light cups on sale this week at your neighborhood Albertsons” (or Jewel-Osco, or Acme, or Cub, or Farm Fresh, or Shaw’s, or Kroger, or Fry’s, or King Soopers, or Smith’s or what have you).
But still! Following the incredible talent of my dearest Rick (and, of course, Johnny Depp – I mean, HELLO!) on national TV was pretty freaking sweet. And made mid-winter Minneapolis just a little bit warmer, starting with my heart.
Awwwww.
But seriously, I mean it.