I hope you're all well. Things have been good here since my last post. I managed to get an appointment, through a contact I have out here, with the head of commercial casting (Kim Byrd) at an agency called Innovative Artists. My manager had been waiting until pilot season calmed down until trying to line me up with agents but seeing as I'd already arranged a meeting, she made a call to see if I could also meet with the voiceover department. They said yes.
I made myself presentable and arrived at the office (which is very unpretencious given their client list) and waited. I'd been told that I would meet two other ladies from Commercials who would need to sign off on me and the head of voice-over. What transpired was a revolving door of people. I first met with Kim as arranged who was lovely. She asked me about myself and told me how they work and a bit about the industry. Obviously I tried to strike the balance between selling myself and letting them actually know what I'm like.
I'd done a bit of research on the department and the people I'd be meeting and I'd synced every form of media to my iPad that I could possibly need (All voiceover spots, Commericals, CV ('Resumé' over here), Showreel ('Demo Reel'), Voice Reel, Headshots from several shoots, as well as stills from productions). In the end I hardly needed any of it but I know that if I hadn't spent ages getting it ready, it would all have been expected of me - that's just how Murphy's Law works.
I was able to ask a few questions of Kim's co-workers based on what I'd learned of them online and tried to show that I was being pro-active about this industry and my choice of career. After all, I am a few thousand miles away from home on a wing and a prayer. They were fairly matter of fact and clinical, and even pointed out that they couldn't have too many similar clients on their books. Although still nice, they seemed impervious to English charm! Especially 25-yr-old (I didn't correct her) white, caukasian males - I was told there are a ton of people who look just like me out here. Who knew?
Next I was due to meet Marcia Hurwitz from voiceover but she had become busy since I'd arrived. I was instead greeted with FIVE of her employees - I'm convinced they were the rest of the department! Immediately I thought two things ....
One) I'm being fobbed off here.
Two) If they're all in here, who's answering the phones!!?
They were all really really nice and filled me in on the differences between the British and American industries. Told me what field they specialised in from celebrity to narration to video-games to commercial to "I pretty much do anything weird that comes in." Thankfully Marcia breezed in towards the end of our meeting and was charm personified. Surely nobody in this industry is that nice? She pointed out being youg AND British was an asset (don't toy with my emotions!!!)
Both deparments told me they would have a think, consult among themselves and come back to me within a week. Next thing I know, I get a call from my manager that evening saying can I get to a voiceover casting for them tomorrow at 11.00. Knowing that my performance would probably be fed back to them, I put in the time preparing it that night and gave my best Cumbrian accent the next morning. It was such a privilege to go in to the Fox studios, meet the casting director who also casts Family Guy, American Dad etc and leave feeling like I'd done a good job.
I snapped this while waiting, got to hear a load of people recording background screams for the show and saw the sound/initial animations for a future Family Guy episode!!!
She was probably the nicest casting director I've met to date, asked if I could come back tomorrow to read for something else and even hugged me goodbye rather than the 'we don't shake hands' that I've become accustomed to. When I got back, I ran some flowers into Innovative to the two departments (you old smoothie Tris ;) ) to say thank you for their time whatever the outcome. Later that afternoon I got a conference call from both managers at Shachter to say congratulations, Innovative would like to represent me for both Voiceover and Commercials!!! I've since been in to read for a computer game where I had to do English, German and Italian accents, Postman Pat and a feature animation with James Gandolfini and Jessica Alba. Given that it's only been a week I asked Luanne when I went in to do some paperwork what had taken so long to get the ball rolling? Thankfully she gets jokes; British or otherwise.
Apparently I'd done a good job at my first casting too which probably helped and hopefully they'll keep me busy but I won't be any less restless until I've booked a job - and maybe not even then! As promised, here are the latest cuts of my voice reel/ demo: (it's also currently the left-most YouTube clip at the top of this blog)
Thanks for reading & until next time, take care.
