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ROWELL GORMON

V O I C E O V E R S

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Morgan Freeman Need Not Apply

by

Let me be clear about it right up front:

     I like Morgan Freeman.

I haven’t seen every movie he’s been in, but the ones I’ve seen, I’ve liked.

I like his voice.

BUT I’M REALLY, REALLY TIRED OF GETTING HIS VOICEOVER AUDITIONS!!!

I’m tired of his name (and Hal Riney’s, and Jeff Bridges’) being hastily slapped onto audition directions as shorthand.

I’m tired of being yet again lumped into another huge, random gaggle of guys trying to sound like someone they’re not, in hopes of getting a job they were not seriously being considered for in the first place.

So, after today, I’m trying a little experiement.  I plan to start deleting any and all auditions I get just as soon as I see the words “Morgan Freeman” in the specs.  Somehow I doubt it will affect my income much, since all the times I’ve tried to follow said directions, the job has gone to another talent.  It bothered me a lot until I remembered:  I’m NOT Morgan Freeman.  And I don’t promote myself as such.

Get an impressionist…get Mr. Freeman through his agent.  Or maybe get better in describing what you want from an experienced voice actor.  Chances are, if you didn’t hear Morgan Freeman on my demos (assuming you even listened to them), you should know you won’t get him in the audition I try and cobble together.

Maybe in Phase Two of my experiment, I’ll get Mr. Freeman’s talent agency and just forward those emails to the right person.

— over and out —

Comments

    • …that’s sort of the point, Doug. i’ll devote the time to auditions MY style is more suited for. ‘might be a better fit anyway.

  3. Don’t forget Dennis Leary when they need a smart-ass. And they’d also ask for Dennis Haysbert if only they knew his name, so they ask for the “Allstate Insurance” guy instead. And yes, there are still one or two who want Don LaFontaine.

  5. Ha! Funny you should post this. Today I heard from 2 clients that”we want someone that sounds like…” My initial response is, “I’ll call his/her agent. I am so sick of hearing we want a guy that sounds like The What-a-burger Guy (who, by the way was let go last months after 9 years of wonderful reads). I try to explain it is not the voice, but the INTERPRETATION you like. I supply my clients with an extensive list of keywords to help them describe what they want. This works MUCH better than the “sounds like” approach. But alas, clients can be lazy and often simply ask for…. ready?… MORGAN FREEMAN!