I am not sure if I'm staying on mandy, but anyway I put this new Corporate/Explainer Demo Reel together myself (so it lacks the extra magic of music and perfect levels, etc).
Despite not having all the bells and whistles, does it seem to be heading in the right direction?
This post had been wrongly archived, mandy admitted, screwing thing up. It seems someone replied but it looks like the reply has gone missing. Please could you re-reply? Or if it wasn't you, please do reply anyway...
Hey Declan. I think you've got some of the appropriate sounding scripts, but I think there are some that are more commercial. My initial advice would be careful about mixing up "commercial" with "corporate". those are totally separate things. 95% of corporate are slow, concise and pedantic. Also, without music, you will need to place a silence in between the sections or it could get confusing. there was an unnatural run on into the next spots quite a lot.
It's a bit busy.
Your best way around this issue for a Corporate/Explainer Reel is this: Limit the spots to one or 2 but speak longer for each. You are being cast for your speaking voice more so in corporate than any of the other VO genres. You don't really need to "play". They just want the facts, ma'am. So find a script that describes something verbally challenging, say water filtration or fleet logicstics with lots of numbers and big words. Then find a "water aid " script for you second...one where you can put in a bit of emotion... record two 45-60 sec spots as the reel shouldn't be longer than 2 minutes.
Focus on 2 things and make them glow rather than a bunch of spots that don't stand out as much. Easier to edit and add music to 2 things as well.
Really interesting feedback, Kasper, and thank you so much for taking the time to offer suggestions. I greatly appreciate it.
You didn't comment on voice quality or performance, but maybe that's a good thing because hopefully that means you think I have that side of it 'in the bag', so to speak, and just need to think more about the format and structure...
You're always worth listening to, so thank you again, Kasper, and I hope things are panning out nicely for you at present...
Your performance is fine, and as I mentioned sometimes it did appear that there wer physical clicks (not mouth noises) but not all the time and not that much. could be something as something as you tapping a pen subconsciously while recording. If anything, I'd recommend slowing down a little. Sell whatever it is you are saying, no matter the topic.
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There you go, your new demo is so much better. Night and day. Shows you can do lists, numbers, etc and still tell the story. that is well done.
Little by little will hopefully get me up the mountain. I am in the foothills at present, but preparing for the assault. And it's really nice to get a helping hand from people who have 'been there and done that'.
My last "parting" shot will be, and this is personal rather than business... are you having fun? do you enjoy it? If you do, keep at it, with all all the waves and valleys, because even once you've "made it", those things will still be there. For me, I'm enjoying the journey. Been almost 30 yrs, and I'm still learning
I love it. It's so much fun and satisfying, while at the same time being so challenging. I did acting for a while so it fulfills that side of me since I stopped acting 25 years ago.
What I hate though is anything technical, my brain just does not work that way, and it takes me an age to learn how to do it. Whether that be set up a home studio (I finally have a fairly decent sound, although you heard some noises I didn't, so I will have to listen harder), or learn how to use Reaper (the DAW I use), or understand remote recording (I haven't done that yet, and the idea scares me!). All that stuff takes me forever to understand.
Declan
2 years ago
8
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