Wishes you all a Happy Christmas and a Proseperous New Year!
Looking Forward to working with you again this 2009!!
Meet the voices behind ‘Dayo’
Cutting Edge Productions, the local studio behind the first full-length paperless animated feature “Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia,” brings together the finest voice actors in the Philippine entertainment industry to jazz up and add zest to the film’s animated characters.
“Dayo” is a heartwarming story of overcoming one's fear and triumphing over adversity. It centers on the 11-year-old Bubuy (voiced by Nash Aguas) who is out to save his abducted grandparents in the land of Elementalia, a magical and mystical world that houses many of the Philippines' mythical creatures and other enchanted elements. Along the way, Bubuy meets Anna (voiced by Katrina Legaspi), a teen manananggal (a winged creature that can separate her torso from her lower body) who befriends and helps Bubuy in his quest to rescue his beloved grandparents.
This is Nash and Katrina's first animation voicing experience and it certainly spelled fun for them. "I really enjoyed doing the voice of Bubuy," says Nash gleefully. "I was very happy when I learned that I got the part, because it was different from what I usually do on TV. My favorite part is when I met Anna for the first time and she brought me to Elementalia." Nash adds that he felt as if he was just playing in the recording studio and he did not have any difficulty recording his parts.
On the other hand, Hopia, as Katrina is fondly called, loves the scene where she was introducing the beautiful underworld of Elementalia to Bubuy. "It felt like I was just welcoming Bubuy to my house," she expresses. "I also like the flying scene because I've always dreamt of flying. I'm so excited to see the whole movie already."
Even though the cast did not have any visual support during the recording, director Robert Quilao was there to visualize for them. "With the screenplay on hand, the actors are called in the studio to record their respective dialogues," Robert describes. "This is when I briefed them on the mood and tone of the scene and directed them as to how the dialogues are to be delivered. The challenge for me as the director is to paint a vivid picture of what's happening in the scene for the actors to act and deliver their lines accordingly."
Robert also did not have a hard time directing the voice talents since almost all of them are seasoned actors and directors. "There was practically no need for a workshop," he continues. "The most we were able to do was brief them about the story and the characters that they will be playing on the day that they were called to record in the studio. Even Nash and Hopia did not have a hard time internalizing their characters."
Since schedule is a major concern for many of the voice artists, the creative team had to work around their availability. More so, it's not really possible to gather all of them together to record the scenes that would require them to interact. In such situations, Robert would feed the lines of the other characters during the recording session to create a natural flow in the conversation. "Although later on, we just played back the good takes of the characters that we had previously recorded for the one that we are currently recording," Robert explains. "These recordings are then edited together to create a cohesive dialogue."
Adding more color and amusement to “Dayo” are its supporting cast.
Even before the controversial Pokwang was labeled as an aswang (ghoul or vampire) look-alike, the “Dayo” team already pegged her for the role of Vicky, the nanny manananggal of Anna, hence the character sketch is loosely based on her. "I didn't have to do any major voice adjustments for the role," says Pokwang. "I didn't have to lower or make my voice higher. I think I was just being my cool 'kalog' self that's why I had so much fun arguing with the role of Toti in Dayo."
Cutting Edge originally had news anchor Mike Enriquez to do the voice of Toti, one of Anna's bodyguards. But the team had to get someone who can mimic the famous newsman instead, and the best choice for this is veteran voice actor Pocholo Gonzales who also did the voice of Hal-Lan, the villain.
Anna's second bodyguard who has an unusual hearing impairment is named Jo and voiced by famed comedian Gabe Mercado.
Perhaps one of the most challenging character portrayals would be the role of Narsi, the narcissistic cool rocker tikbalang (the underworld creature with the head of a horse and the body of a human). There is no better versatile actor to do this than Michael V. "I prepare for every role that I play," Michael V states. "Even if I had previously done a horse voice for Enteng Kabisote 3, my role here is totally different.”
Playing the role of Lolo Nano, the cute resident sage of Elementalia, is no other than multi-awarded actor and director Peque Gallaga.
“Dayo” also features the voices of Noel Trinidad. He plays the role of Lolo Meong, Bubuy's grandfather who shares the kid's penchant for flying. Nova Villa is Lola Nita, Bubuy's caring grandmother who nags Lolo Meong a lot. Johnny Delgado joins in as Carpio, Anna's dad who is Elementalia's head guardian. And completing “Dayo's” dream cast is distinguished actor and director Laurice Guillen playing a dual role of the kapre (the motherly cigar-smoking giant), and the Diwata/Bruha, the enchanting fairy with an evil alter ego.
“Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia” is an official entry to the 2008 Metro
For more information, visit the official movie web site at www.dayomovie.com.
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A New Breed of Voices.
By: The Godpodder
For many years, the word “voice over” have been implied as an easy-paying, non-popular, spur of the moment sideline, that only a select few of “big voices” can take on it. In fact, many thought that doing voice overs is so easy, that practically anyone can jump right into it and earn big time. And that all that is required is for you to have is a booming, modulated, “voice of god” type of resonance to pull it off.
The part of earning big might be true to some extent, but for the most part, everything about doing voices is now considered to be more difficult than any regular paying job. Thanks to technology, doing Voice Overs or Voice Acting has now earned a reputation of being exclusive to those of the extraordinary, is slowly being accepted as a career of choice, and in reality... Voice acting is a painstaking form of art.
Yes, technology now plays a vital role to a Voice actor’s dream of making it a career. People who are looking at this not just as a hobby, consider making the important step before entering the industry - researching and learning. Now you can browse the internet to find acting classes, lessons and voice coaching in your area. And by learning and experiencing the execution needed to land those VO jobs, voice actors and enthusiasts are discovering a new and better approach to their performances and in return give more value to their talent.
That’s what VoiceWorx! - Basic Voice Acting and Dubbing Workshop prepares you for.
“It’s a workshop aimed to introduce to you the voice acting world, and how you can master the techniques and skills of the art. You will have to learn how to speak and work by heart.” Says Brian Ligsay, who is the Head Voice Coach and Voiceworx! Director. He claims that the workshop produces learned voice talents, equipping them with what they need to prepare for, when the occasion arises.
“Being a voice over is not far from taking a four year engineering course in college… you just don’t become one overnight,” Ligsay adds. “And even after you finish your degree, you would still have to know how to apply what you’ve learned in “real” life. The good news is, with the knowledge you have, you’re far ahead than anyone in your age to land a job of your choice and keep it.”
“VoiceWorx! has been training enthusiasts and voice talents since 2005, and is continually producing new voices for clients.” Pocholo Gonzales, CEO and Managing Director of Creativoices Productions - which is widely known as a voice talent agency, and the same company who brought Voiceworx! to life. He also exclaims that, “You work with the best Voice Directors in the industry, and train with them so that you don’t venture into it alone..”
This time, a new breed of Voice Overs are coming into place, VoiceWorx! 6, starts this October 4, 2008 and runs for two months every Saturdays. Out of hundreds of interested parties, only 20 students were accepted. And they will learn how to appreciate voice acting, and study with acclaimed Dubbing Directors, Danny Mandia, Neil Tolentino and Alexx Agcaoili.
This workshop offers new insights into the latest trend and development in the voice acting world. With tips and tricks from professionals who have honed their skills thru many years of experience. It also features a manual edition of the Philippine Handbook on Voice acting, to guide the privileged during the entire course. Plus one-on-one voice coaching, road mapping scripts and translations, actual recording and dubbing sessions, and countless mock auditions.
For the longest time, people who ventured into voiceovers are taking into account the traditional and natural selection process that goes around in the industry. Through customary referrals and PR, you get more of the gimmick in the advertising world. This tiring process of whom you know and who knows you is the lifeblood of your next performance. Traditional voice talents are only hopeful that their regular client will always consider them for the next job. “They just wait and wait, without acting,” Gonzales says. Adding that talents should know how to create the demand.
But some are wiser to help themselves and not rely on this conventional form of getting voice over “gigs”. Those who are serious, aim for the better and more beneficial way of staying in the business, that said, considering it as a business. And by investing time, effort, and money to learn the field of voice acting, and marketing your talent - it will produce you better results and open new doors of success.
“Voice acting is not everyone, but should you decide to pursue it.. it will release the kid in you, and turn your voice into something you have never imagined possible,” Ligsay mentioned. “And maybe, just maybe, you’ll turn out to be a mutant of a voice after all!”
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Voiceworx! – Basic Voice Acting and Dubbing Workshop, is only offered 4 times a year. For more information on the next schedule, please call 729-7274/970-0971. You can also email: info@creativoices.com or brian@creativoices.com. Visit our websites at creativoices.com, creativoices.net and our official blog at pcva.blogspot.com. For pictures and forums visit http://syvapnetwork.ning.com | VOICE ACTOR | ON-CAM ACTOR/MODEL |
BUDGET | Relatively Cheaper | 20-30 times more expensive |
AVAILABILITY | Always | Depending on project/product restrictions |
KNOWLEDGE OF THE CRAFT | Perfect | May need to attend workshops and 1 on 1 coaching |
MIC SKILLS | Honed thru years of experience | Many are working 1st time on dubbing or voice overs |
PERFORMANCE | Flawless | May have difficulty coping up with the microphone |
INDUSTRY POPULATION (NO. OF TALENTS) | 5 times more the number of on-screen actors | Those who only made an on-screen debut are considered actors |
VOICES | Exponential | Limited to Conversational |
VOICE QUALITY | Perfect behind the mic | May require additional tuning |
EXPOSURE | Popular with a niche market/captured following | Has on-cam/modeling advantages |
CHARACTERIZATION | Can work with new set of voices, and experiment. Many voice actors can do atleast 5 voices | Maybe thrown off with the idea of changing his/her voice. Limited to 1 |
KNOWLEDGE OF RECORDING | Adept | Enough |
KNOWLEDGE IN PROCESSES | Knows exactly what’s going on behind the booth | Some Familiar. Some Not. |
OVER-ALL PERFORMANCE FOR ANIMATION | None better | Exceptionally few |
ABILITY TO SYNCH AND IMPROVISE (faced with reactions) | Effortless. Cutting recording time by 75% | Will depend on what the director says and the material. May need to spend more time on recording |
SCHEDULING | Always present, easily managed. No star complex | Will have to be adjusted for appearances and confirmation |
Like they say, kids go to movies to watch and love the story. They do not care if an on-cam actor is doing the part or a voice over. What is important is that they believe and react to the characters, and be motivated by it.. by statistics anyone can easily spot who can deliver the story between the two. You can always get a screen actor to do the job, but you can never beat a voice over’s performance.
You be the judge of which.