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 —