Voice & photos

February 22/12.

Quite the whirlwind 30 hours, gotta say.

Tuesday night here, (above), on the way out the front door, to record my voice-over demo, commercials/notes in hand.

Off to Tattoo Sound + Music studio at Eastern & Logan. (Five minutes away from home).

Just me at the sound board, waiting for Jason to show up. (He was stuck in traffic in a TTC streetcar). No problem! Gave me more time to practice voices!

Audio engineer Dave Clark took the shot of me at the board. (I took this one of him, from MY side). Hence, the blurry look. Maybe ONE of these days I'll learn how to take a decent pic!

Always fun working in a studio, doing voice work with headphones. Jason threw me all kinds of crazy curves. Tried to roll with them . NO clue how the demo will turn out! Will take a few weeks for it to be put together!

I don't want the classes to be over!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT team! Miss everybody already!

Jason Deline shares his talent and knowledge with all his students and hopefully, we can do him proud in the future!

Final night. I recorded spots & promos (with Jason's wild direction), about Tim Horton's, Aero chocolate, Mitsubishi Motors, Brita, Demptser's bread and Visine enduring moisture! He & Dave will now spend several hours adding music, sound effects and creating something worthwhile! - (I hope!)

Meanwhile, back at home, Max, his girlfriend, Robyn, Kate and her boyfriend, Damian, made pancakes (for pancake Tuesday), and saved some for me when I got home! That's a first! They were delish!

Moving on! - Wednesday morning, a whole NEW direction! Used GPS to drive to Humber College in Etobicoke for a photo shoot with Abby Mackay. 

She's just 18, and a first-year photography student who asked to use me as her model! 

Her Dad, Paul, is a Facebook pal and acquaintance of mine, who has become a caring friend. I've bent his ear many a time, both on line and on the phone. His old blog, ("Still Rambling") first inspired my own blog a year ago. He takes GREAT pics, and when my daughter, Kate, asked what I wanted MY blog to look like, I showed her Paul's blog and said, "Like THIS!" (he no longer writes his blog, but puts all his pics on FB). Still, you can locate the Ramblin' Man's  funny shots and quips (as well as some much more serious entries), online at Still Rambling.  http://paulamackay.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html   Tons of terrific archival material, and his GREAT sense of humour shines through in all the fab, freaky photos! (and sometimes, his pics can also bring a tear to your eye).

Once I finally found my way into the Humber studio, (NO EASY FEAT - only got there because Paul came and found me in the massive parking lot!), I was astounded at how things work these days. This looks NOTHING like the "facilities" WE had - (decades ago, gak) at Seneca College, when I was studying Applied Communications! (which no longer even exists!)

Loved encountering, (and watching in action), - left-to-right, Melissa Rolston, models Joob Vakili, Danielle Jardim, plus makeup artist extraordinaire, Kellie O'Hearn, all working in the same studio on their OWN project. Like WOW man! - (are they not all stunningly GORGEOUS??) - Insert wolf whistles here! 

Beautiful Abby had her OWN original ideas about what she wanted to shoot. She asked me to show off my "empowerment rings" -

the ones "keeping me safe" from cancer. (this shot was taken by Paul, on MY digi-cam). - Hopefully, Abby's Nikon-cam PRO-shots will have WAY better flash lighting and TONS more pizzazz! We'll see!

 Paul posed for a pic with me at the Humber studio. After that, he took Abby & I for lunch at

Canyon Creek Chophouse, where I ordered the first lunch I've had in many weeks! (a clubhouse sandwich with fries).

They had such a pretty waterfall window.

I told Abby, if my demo CD works out, I'd LOVE to use her best pic as my demo CD cover-shot.
We'll see! Who KNEW her pics and my demo might meld?

Thanks Abby! The VERY best of luck to you in your chosen career path of photography! I look forward to seeing where your talent will lead you in the future!

Find Your Voice!!

February 9/12.

Tuesday's Find Your Voice class with Jason Deline turned out to be great! We had two weeks to come up with five different character voices, complete with moods and situations attached. Everyone agreed it was a tough assignment, but I was pretty astounded to hear what this talented gang came up with! Jason tossed us plenty of curve balls to shake up the studio experience!

(left to right) Suli Ahmed, Brittney Scott, me (teacher's pet - ha ha!) teacher/voice actor Jason Deline, Diana Galligan, Meryle Trouble, Chris Truax - Photo by audio engineer Dave Clark - (thanks Dave! It was terrific working with you!)

Brave Chris was first up! He surprised me with the range of his character voices and the way he took direction from Jason. We were asked to name each character. Not sure of all the spellings, but Chris did
a deep-voiced guy named "Yugie-ish", then a deeper and older character, "Caibaish", next - Brooklyn, (sort of a NY- flavoured character but with an urban and country twang!), "Dr. Japanese" (Japanese accent) and "Screech" - a screechy, crazy, psychotic guy! Jason got Chris to "mix the characters" - asking him to make this guy sound dumber, or another one, rougher and to "Work it through out loud." We all watched him behind the studio glass and marvelled at the way he rolled with all the suggestions. Really good job and he set the bar for the rest of us to follow.

Meryle was next. She wasn't feeling well. Had quite a cold, but didn't let that stop her from showing off her voices. Jason spoke to us all about how tough it is to sustain a character voice over a long period of time and said we need to explore the range of emotions we can hit with each one.

As usual, Meryle made us laugh. She began with "Old Iya",  Jewish old lady. Jason then said he liked her, but, "Now I want to hear her 20 years younger, before the emphysema!" (she did it perfectly). She went on to do "Flat Moustache" - British sound with an arc of anger. Jason wanted her to add more of a Liverpool tough edge/factory worker sound. Damned if she didn't do it immediately! Character 3? "Broad Columbia". Jason asked to hear that one "a little smarter, more low key, then a little more film noir and in control/in charge," then "drop the Betty Boop and add more Katherine Hepburn!" Again, she did it.
#4 - "Countryish" - a country waitress. (Jason named her "Polly"), and then asked her to change it up and make her sound really MEAN.
Don't think Meryle did a 5th character, but the four she did - just terrific!

Third up? Diana. She did a voice called "Red" and another, "Zip". Jason wanted her to meld them into one. I think it was, "angry and fearful, in control, but I don't really know what I'm doing". How she managed that, I'll never know. She also performed "Tada", "Kara" and "Sal". Jason tossed her ideas - "Make that guy bigger, dumber, more sure of himself, the voice of authority, make it more like - 'Friends, Romans and Countrymen! Lend me your ear'!, try a whispered aside, use more diction, add some strong pauses". Diana took it all in stride and showed us lots of range. (by this point, I was really getting nervous!)

Suli was fourth. When he first came into class, he told me this assignment was tough and he was afraid, "Every voice is just ME." He tried to change it up by giving each character a different emotion or feeling. He did "Youseff", a happy type of dude who got more delusional as he went along. Jason wanted him to build the character's voice up till he got "crazy excited, " then encouraged  him to "Lose your mind!" Fun to watch Suli accomplish this feat! Then, he did "Riaz". I instantly wrote in my notes, "Depressed." Then Suli explained the guy was depressed, because he's in the hospital. I thought it was cool that he got the emotion of depression across to us instantly. Jason wanted him to blend happy dude and depressed guy! (because, he says, NO character has just ONE emotion). Character 3 - "Glon", a man who was drained and out of breath after a very long run, then, #4 - "Seeoire", a scared guy. Jason requested Suli make him sound a little higher and more like an innocent teenager. Finally "Linard" - aggravated man. Jason asked that he make the character sound gruffer. I really enjoyed hearing Suli run the gamut of emotions!

Brittney (who as far as I know, has had very little voice experience) knocked it out of the park in my opinion. The script she'd been given included a couple of rather lame jokes. I forget the name of her first character, but Jason asked her to play it as "This is the funniest joke in the world, and laugh like crazy." She did it! She performed characters named "Switzy" and "Rasix" - sort of a scary person, then "Mappy", a countryish character with lots of laughter and finally "Stama" who was scared to death! (She was VERY funny in this role!) Jason asked her to keep that level of fear but "go OVER THE TOP" with it. She launched into that and I was laughing so hard. Brilliant stuff. Jason threw her lots more ideas - Make Mappy more Southern, or try that younger, and do that southern character more evil, or make that person old, add a nervous laugh, and make it sound like that character doesn't get the joke! I predict big things for Brittney. She's really very good.

Guess who was last up? You got it. Yikes! Gak! Egad! I went in without contact lenses or prescription glasses or reading glasses. Thought it might help just to have the copy up close so I could read it more clearly, and it did. Character #1 - my GP, "Bernice" (mixed in with a bit of Father Mulcahy from M*A*S*H*!), a pure, sing-songy voice, laced with concern and thoughtfulness. Character #2 - Snuggle (the dryer sheet TV commercial bear with the tiny little high-pitched voice), next, The Nutty Professor (ala Jerry Lewis), goofy, nerdy, gravelly, tight, pinched voice, then Marilyn Monroe, all breathy, sweet, innocent and earnest, (my script contained the word garbage. Jason told me the consensus from behind the glass was that I even made the word GARBAGE sound sexy!! - LOVE that!), next character - Gladys Kravitz, (from the old TV series Bewitched). Grating voice, all flustered and confused. Then finally, William Shatner! (I wanted to drop him, since I couldn't quite get it, but went for it anyway). Tried to make him confident, overly-dramatic, speaking haltingly in all the wrong places, over-emphasizing the wrong words.
Since I was so concentrated on doing these voices, I can't recall now a single thing Jason asked me to do!
Whew, glad that's over! But it was really fun.

As for Jason, he seemed quite pleased with the calibre of the work. He spoke to us afterwards about how to get work, the ways to get into ACTRA (not easy), how to go about marketing ourselves, methods of putting together a portfolio and lots of other great information about the voice-over biz. He also scheduled all of the dates and times to record our demos. I'm first up at 6 p.m. on February 21st.

Everyone thanked Jason for a fantastic course. We all agreed we'd like to get together and hear each other's demos at some point, when they're all done. Three of us record on the 21st and the other three on the 28th.

Jason encouraged us all by saying, "There's no time like the present. Talk to people who can help make this happen for you."

Continuing the subject of highs & lows

January 26/12.

One of the best decisions I've made for myself in the past few years, was to FINALLY sign up for Find Your Voice,

the course taught by brilliant actor/voice-over specialist Jason Deline. I've always loved working behind the mic, with headphones, (but it's been nine years since I left Global TV). The above pic was taken Tuesday night at TA2 - (Tattoo Sound + Music studio), where the six-week course is held, - 483 Eastern Avenue at Logan, (directly across from the famous Weston Bakery). Every week, when we depart the studio, the gang is overwhelmed by the delectable scent of fresh-baked bread! I've taken to driving three of the students to the Broadview subway station after class, not only to give them a lift, but so we can yak at length, about the voice experience in the car! LOVE it! We're all overly-energized, adrenaline-fueled, laughing and it's so much fun.

Hope Jason doesn't mind me "stealing" this pic from his FB profile page. So cute. We've all talked about him after class, not just because he's good looking - (duh), but mostly because attending one of his sessions is like watching a one-man/solo comedy show! How he comes up with hilarious one-liners, fast patter, wild improv suggestions, feedback/constructive criticism, (without making students feel slammed in ANY way), we don't know, but he does it every week! He makes us feel part of a cohesive team, (despite the wide-ranging age differences!) LOL. - Right gang??

(left to right, Jason, Brittney Scott, Chris Truax, Suli Ahmed & Meryle Trouble)

Everyone is casual & kind enough to allow me to take pics for the blog, even during weekly "warm-ups". Luckily, this shot came out blurry, due to the low lighting in the studio...(well, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it). Jason has a theory about reading scripts with your tongue out. Tough to do, - and sounds AWFUL, but he insists it helps with the final result.

Diana Galligan wasn't visible in the "speaking in tongues" pic above, but believe me, she's right up there when called upon for ANYTHING. Watching her in action on Tuesday night was incredible. She can do WHATEVER is required, at the drop of a hat, (if she HAD one)!  Really, watching EVERYONE was great! I feel like this team has quite a future!!

Jason, (who was ACTUALLY wearing a cool hat!),  is more than tolerant, & puts up with me taking all these blog shots during class, (here with the lovely Brittney), who is not only a very talented voice artist, but also a real sweetheart.

Jason watches, (but mostly LISTENS), intently, to everything his students say or do, talking to us constantly in our headsets, giving unbelievable directions. Meanwhile, easy-going recording engineer Dave Clark is there to support us too, and rolls with all the punches, no matter HOW bizarre  He's terrific. Dave runs in & out of the studio at least 47 times per evening, re-setting the mic, getting water for everyone, recording every inane thing we do, - whatever is required.

Jason NEVER stops hurling comments, thoughts, orders & ideas. Wish I could think as fast as he does!

But I never stop watching him & taking notes! Jason says we should only write in PENCIL, so we can ERASE! (I discarded my pen before the end of the first session)!

Suli and Meryle.

On this third night, we got to perform "two-handers" together, (commercials with two voices). We paired up and it was an absolute riot. We also got the opportunity to do animation character voices, (or TRIED to)!  Jason tossed us SO many over-the-top challenges. Meryle, (who is the funniest in the group, in my opinion), had my fave moment of the evening, when Jason asked that she perform her commercial as an 80-year-old lady. She did it instantly, NO prep, and I was in hysterical laughter. Truly great, inspired bit! We listened to her playback, laughed our heads off, and all agreed, it was the best class yet.  I would recommend this voice course to anyone who is interested in learning the art of voice work!

Next week? Our homework assignment is outta control! Won't go into detail, but we have to create all kinds of character voices, based on lists of ideas given to us by Jason. Can't WAIT to see what this creative/talented group comes up with! (As for me? I have no clue! - Yikes! Gulp! Gak! Egad! Ai yi yi! Help)!!

Before the Tuesday voice-over session, my sister, Carrie & I had to meet with the tax man downtown to finally wrap up the last of our late Mum's tax files. We didn't expect it be emotional, but it was. Afterwards, we went for a rare tea together at a place called Jet Fuel Coffee Shop on Parliament Street (recommended by the tax man). Turned out to be a really weird experience with surly servers, no menu board and we didn't know we were expected to bring our dishes to the front counter when we left!

We sat at the back and had two Earl Grey teas, and split a croissant and a danish,  (the only items they had left!) Had a great chat and caught up on life. We're planning to take our cousin, Kevan, out for dinner on Friday night as a birthday gift.

Yesterday, I had one more doctor appointment with my GP to straighten out the paperwork, etc. for the upcoming MRI on Sunday February 11th. (Used to be I spent all my time taking Mum to the doctor. Now, it's me!) Hopefully all will be well!

Back to school!

January 11/12.

I never liked school. Didn't do well at ALL, until I got to Seneca College at age 18, signed up for Applied Communications, studied radio, TV, journalism, photography, drama and WHAM! - life changed, BIG TIME. I remember the first day of TV class, the late great Mike Monty, (yep, sadly, he was a heavy smoker), and passed away a few years ago. I still can't believe he's no longer in this world.

BEST teacher I EVER had. EVERYONE loved Mike. On that first day we all met, he suddenly launched into a tirade about Bonanza! WTF? Couldn't believe it! I was instantly enthralled. - You mean it's possible to get an A+ by talking TV?  FANTASTIC!! I'd finally found my niche! Mike changed my life.

I was sitting on the floor of a tiny classroom with a group of brilliant & funny young people, (some of whom are still my good friends today). I stared at Mike, as he chained-smoked IN class, and and thought, WHAT? We're studying Pernell Roberts, "Adam", Michael Landon, ("Little Joe"), Lorne Greene, ("Ben Cartwright"), Dan Blocker, ("Hoss")??,  - seriously -  the Ponderosa? - Apparently, the answer was YES!  FINALLY - something I GET! Something I LOVE! After failing "grade 13" - (which no longer even exists...Weird or WHAT??), I got the highest marks in the two-year media course and ended up being the Valedictorian! IMPOSSIBLE!

Who knew? Seneca, Mike Monty, Bonanza and the kids from first-semester Seneca saved me from total obscurity, oblivion or getting completely lost in this world. Here now are a few of the fabulous faces of my old Seneca pals from the dark & murky past!

(above) - the gorgeous Lynda George and my long-lost adorable friend, John Axelson, (whose manuscript I've been reading, after finally locating him online after three decades)! - Hey, speaking of Axelson, he is having some success with his book, Stalking  The Average Man.

According to John (out in Nelson, B.C.), he has inked a contract agreement with GMP Distribution Services to represent his book series Stalking The Average Man, Stalking The Bridge of Reason (vol 2) - to be released in early 2012, and Stalking the Designs of Intent (vol 3) --to be released in late 2012, to independent book stores in British Columbia and Alberta. His work has also been accepted by Chapters and Coles for nationwide listings in their systems, and hardcopy distribution in selected stores in B.C. He also informs me, "This development takes me from the ill-thought-of ranks of unknown self-published writer, to that of an unknown, legitimately distributed author! - The significant difference is that, when I am homeless and hanging out at the Mall for warmth, I can point at my picture on the back cover at Coles, and say, "WTF eh?" (thanks for the update John and congrats!)


Click here to see how you can order John's book!

hilarious Rick Dade, (Global TV cameraman who moonlighted as a bagpipe player at weddings and in parades!)

talented writer (and later, railway conductor!), Jim Stockley, here with me at Axelson's wedding with Lynda.

At any rate, following Seneca, (oh, ya, and then a 30-year career in radio, TV and print), NEVER thought I'd study anything again! But I was WRONG.  Ever since I heard about Jason Deline,

- actor/voice-over expert, and became Facebook friends with him, I've always wanted to take his course called FIND YOUR VOICE. Never could seem to find the time, due to Mum's illness. Never met him, never had the opportunity to work with him. But after Mum's death, decided NOW'S the time. I want to do something for MYSELF.

Attended the first session on Tuesday night. Turned out to be an absolute blast! (Exactly like that first addictive TV day at Seneca).  During the two-hour class, I couldn't think of ANYTHING else, other than what Jason was teaching us.

"Us" is this amazing group in the TA2 - (Tattoo Sound + Music) - 483 Eastern Avenue at Carlaw.
(Left to right) - Dave Clark (audio engineer), students Chris Truax, Suli Ahmed, Diana Galligan, Meryle Trouble, instructor, Jason Deline & Brittney Scott.

We got to know each other a bit. Suli is a business management student at Ryerson who is switching to radio/TV. Diana has a background in web/online video work, is interested in directing & writing, often works as a clown and has a fabulous voice. Meryle (above with glasses), works at the Silver Snail comic book store on Queen Street West, is a singer, can do a mad, maniacal laugh, has a great ear for mimicry, performs at niteclubs, does Vaudeville and has an unforgettable speaking voice.

Beautiful Brittney is enthusiastic, fun and has a keen interest in v/o work and the arts. She seems very sweet.

Chris is 26. He attended Seneca (my old stompin' grounds), is an aspiring voice actor, works at CHIN Radio and does a syndicated radio show featuring Japanese dance music! A young man of eclectic talents!
Online, it says:  Neko Cat (Christopher Truax) brings you pure Japanese dance music exclusively on the J-Mix from the Em studios in Downtown Toronto. I gave him a lift to the Broadview subway station (he lives WAY off in Etobicoke). Hey Chris, I can take you to Broadview station EVERY week, if you like. No problem. Anyone who went to Seneca is a friend of mine!

The first class was jam-packed with fabulous voice-over info from the very busy & highly successful
Jason Deline. He had me in hysterics when I took this shot and he launched into "angry yelling mode" (just for laughs!) In fact, to describe him from first impression, - just exact OPPOSITE of this pic! Can only say he is handsome, cool, confident, funny, easy-going, laid-back, casual and made us all feel immediately at home in the studio. Quite a unique talent.

He had each of us take turns at the mic, reading bits of real commercials. Then, he tossed us ideas - how to bring attitude & punch up the script, he talked about diction, comprehension, gave us warm-up exercises (some of which came from the students themselves), explained how to "play with extremes," deal with false realities and had no problem answering countless, off-the-wall questions. Every second was entertaining and informative.

Next week, we have an unusual assignment.

Suli (and gang), must come up with a newspaper/magazine article, or even something we write ourselves, that reflects a subject we are PASSIONATE about. (I already KNOW what I want to talk about and can guarantee nobody ELSE will choose this subject).

Won't tell you what Jason wants us to DO with our choice of article. (That would be a spoiler)! But will be fun, for sure !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meanwhile, Dave is standing by, (er, sitting by) the board to try his best to help turn us into experts! (Good luck with THAT!)

See you all next Tuesday night gang for class #2! - Can't wait!