Buck 65 Zombie Delight Video http://ow.ly/4cIyc
Buck 65 Zombie Delight Video http://ow.l
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My Fitness Routine
I'm blessed with one of those typical busy schedules that leaves little time for exercise. But I manage to get a workout in here or there. My trick is not to plan them.
I am frequently late for the bus and my favourite workout is the last minute sprint to the bus stop. It normally leaves me shaken and triggers my asthma, but it's all worth it when I arrive at work flushed and trembling. My secret is that I don't eat in the morning (usually because I've slept through my three alarm clocks and washed my face with a moist towelette), which screws up my blood sugar so that need to spike it back up again with the latte and chocolate chip cookie I get at Starbucks before heading to my office.
Just a Little Harmless Venting
Oh, why do I stare at this tiny screen? These are pictures and quotes
I’m sure I’ve already seen. Now I know what you ate, who you are; that
picture of you smoking a joint in your car. But I don’t know what to
call you ’cause I’ve never asked. Unsure whether to use your first
name, middle or last. You’re angry at governments and hit like when
they fall. But you send me Croptown requests, which I don’t understand
at all. But without you I’d be alone, or talk with someone on the bus,
or call someone on the phone. I might even make a real friend just by
talking, without feeling put upon to justify why I’m befriending, not
stalking.
Sci-fi Character
Zaeey'ta scanned the horizon for life. He thought: how fearful the humans must feel, seeing only the narrowest range of light. Even if they could perceive the UV and IR spectra, the beta and gamma rays, they could not interpret them. Their tiny primate brains would overload with stimuli and melt into a mess of impotent cells.
How strange that it was mammals that became the dominant life-form on Earth. How fragile and capricious evolutions is. A few mere degrees difference in temperature and oxygen levels, combined with the randomness of volcanic and meteorological phenomena resulted in our kind being the most abundant but least powerful on earth. What a waste of the elegant hydraulic musculature system we have, our exoskeletons with high strength to weight ratios, our highly sensitive olfactory appendages. Humans were once so arrogant that they referred to us as pests, as bugs.
Good Advice
I spent a week attending screenings and Galas, making sure people connected my name to my face. Photo business cards, updated website, shaking hands, stirring up hype for my directors and producers.
“But what are you giving back?” asked one wise fellow?
I was stunned. I realized that promoting myself wasn’t about me, it was about my audience. I needed to make them feel like they were getting something special for their time. What was I doing? I was being selfish. I was talking about how I can’t stand to see myself on screen, how I just got an agent and other typical actor banality.
Time to give back. I’ll start posting regularly. And if anyone has questions or needs advice, leave a comment or email me.
Dan
Latest voice over work
After three years of auditioning, I finally landed a voice-over job a couple months ago. It has snowballed and within the last six weeks and I got two more jobs in commercials. It really helped that I took a short voice-acting class. I had all the ability and work ethic, but was clueless about the industry. I would advise anyone, especially reformed narcissists like myself, to pay the cash for a course or two. Not only will you learn a few things but you’ll have the opportunity to meet people in the business. There were at least two established actors in my class who were there to improve their skills and network.
The first job was a radio spot for ZipEnergy.ca (click to hear). It was a very short process. I auditioned on a Tuesday, got the job on Wednesday and recorded on Thursday. Strangely, I think my audition may have been better than the final recording. Also, they went with my first take during the recording. I did it a couple times more, but they found the initial one was best. I’m told this will happen sometimes, but it is not the rule.
Two weeks later I was asked to come in to the studio for what I thought was an audition. When I was asked to sign the release form, I realized it was the job. It was video motion capture for an Eastlink digital cable web ad, so they didn’t need a voice or likeness. I was glad to make a nice bit of cash on my lunch break from my day job.
Last week I had another Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday job for the Scotiabank Bluenose Marathon 2010 (click to see). I was glad to do a few more takes and go over some of the trouble spots on this one. It gave me a chance to really get a sense of what working in voice over is like. The final product is a skillful composite of a number of takes. I also got a sense of how much work and how many people are involved in a 30 second TV commercial.
Hopefully, with a few more media jobs, I can afford to take some time and write a play for the Atlantic Fringe Festival this September. I’ve been meaning to write one for two years now. I think this is the year it will happen.
