Voice-Over Appearances
VO work is often isolated or compartmentalized to interaction with our clients, writers, producers, audio mixers, & fellow cast members. It is also immediate & there's no guarantee that it will live any longer than the time it takes to create it. The only certain reward is the joy of doing the work itself. But when a project finds a loyal audience, it takes on a life of it's own. Actors get to publicly own our part of the success. Of course we share it with the rest of the cast & the creative team. And we owe the fans. They invite us into their lives & feel a connection through the characters we portray. From the "Big Con" in San Diego, to Denver & Reno’s Fan Cons, to The Stan Lee Los Angeles Con, Salt Lake City’s FanX, Fandom Fest in Louisville, Sacramento, Colorado Springs, Lodi, National GI Joe Cons, 2020’s On-Line Con Events & other fan gatherings everywhere, we’ve had the chance to respond to that connection. And we’ve looked forward to getting back to in-person events with you! "Yo Cobra" ...& stuff like that!
AND IF YOU SCROLL DOWN, YOU’LL SEE SOME OF OUR PAST FAVORITES:
On-Line Fun & VO Folly
Oh yeah!!! The What's On Joe Mind show was posted! And it was so-oh much fun. I’ll admit that I wasn't as up on the details as my two competitors...much like a character in real life who’s perspective is from their daily routine. It reminds me of an amazing play in LA called “Tamara”, about a woman & deep intrigue in Italy at the outbreak of WWII. The audience followed the actors from room to tiny room...up close & dramatically personal. Like life, it was different each time you went to interact with the play. So on WOJM I might have been out-Cobra-classed by my fellow foes, but we all had a diabolically fab time!!!
https://whatsonjoemind.podbean.com/e/virtual-joecon-2020-joe-parody/
Live Interaction With Fans
Yeah, along with my best voice-pals, we did it! And now I'll tell ya all about it!
I hosted a"Meet the Voices" Panel at Denver’s Comic Con! We engaged in "Voice-Play" together with our friends & fans, performing an original script, "Superheroes In The Green Room", then picked on each other, & answered fan queries. You can enjoy watching it all on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g9XX01gW-M
Comic Con, San Diego
Legendary writer/director Mark Evanier's voice-over panels have brought together some of the greatest VO performers in the biz (even a VO "Doofus" like me) for mirth-filled adaptations of classic stories, performed live for hundreds of our favorite fans! And you can find us, in glorious "low-rez" on YouTube.
Animation VO Panel, Part #1
Animation VO Panel, Part #2
National GI Joe Convention 2015
Who'd have thought that being an arch villain could be so much fun? In spring 2015, along with my G.I. Joe alter ego, Dr. Mindbender, I joined fellow cast members Morgan Lofting/Baroness & Zack Hoffman/Zartan at the National G.I. Joe Convention. Even though we represented the evil Cobra’s most villainous factions, Joe fans always were & are among the most loyal anywhere. In fact I was looking for a Cobra t-shirt with no success. On the second day, one of the vendors brought me a brand-new version of the classic shirt. It was his own! I'd hang-out with Joe fans again...anywhere, any day. Did I say anywhere? Yeah!
We were deeply saddened, in 2017, to hear of the passing of Wally Burr, my good friend & iconic director of both the G.I. Joe & Transformers animated series! Wally was military tough (he'd once been a young tank commander) but he loved both the work & those he directed with military precision & zeal! In fact, at a Joe's & Transformers cast reunion gathering that he hosted a couple years ago, he directed us all in singing the heavy metal Transformers theme 3 times...until it was just right by Wally's standards! And, to be honest, it was a hoot (...& hollar)! Wally Burr was in effect our VO drill Sarge...& in the final analysis, we all benefitted from the work! He definitely left his mark & will be missed! That's a wrap, Wally! Good job, soldier!
In 2019, the world lost the warmth & talent of Russi Taylor. Her abilities as a performer were prodigious & only exceeded by her kindness & affection for fans & fellow performers. She was capable of both surprising versatility, from Minnie Mouse to Gonzo. But she had subtlety too when she played Duck Tales brothers Huey, Dewey, & Louie with interesting differences. Fans often tell us, ”You were my childhood!” Russi’s characters lived as richly as she did…in the hearts & minds of her many fans! In her honor, 2019’s RENO POP CULTURE CON featured a Russi Taylor tribute in her honor!
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FlagPoints Podcast
Dave & the zany crazy FPP guys gave me the chance to "get down" to some VO zaniness with them & the resultant good times are all here, if you've got some free time to spend. It all reminds me of the "pithy" Faces oldie lyric I've often quoted, "I was glad to come. I'll be sad to go. But while I was here, I had me a real good time"!
Voice Peddler Interviews
It's always a privilege to talk VO with friends. Fred Frees is not only from a legendary voice-over & entertainment family, but also a former student, & brilliant talent in his own right. And we had a great time together! You can choose to join us! Here's a link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaHoZ5rWA90
Saturday Morning Rewind (a return visit)
I've had the distinct pleasure of joining Tim & Christian before. And recently I was invited to return via a typically silly BC video for their 30th Anniversary exploration of Duck Tales, the , ducky feathered merchandise & wacky-quacky memories. The whole episode is at least as fun-filled as a chunky peanut butter & pickle sandwich (Oh yeah, I'm about 12 minutes in) & here's a link, if you'd like to join in.
Past Denver Con Highlights: Over 100,000 of us came together in Denver in 2015…around 120,000 in 2016…over 130,000 in 2017. Every year we returned with anticipation! We parked, walked, schlepped our "stuff", walked, set up our booths, walked, hung with fans & friends, & walked, & walked…as we followed the throng. We joined in entertaining peer panels & held seminars. We taught & amused the kids & even felt our own childlike wonder at it all! We signed our work & gave out our PR…the pictures, autographs, & swag. We actually hung-out with fans, other performers, legendary animators, authors, & creatives. And to cap off a near perfect experience, this VO guy even taught some of our fans to create their own character voices in the Pop Culture Classroom. To be sure, Denver was a creative Rocky Mountain High-point!
Denver Comic Con 2017 VO highlights: I was privileged to join an estimated 120,000+ fans in Denver, & host 2 great sessions on the on both Fri & Sat, with kids, animators & the the old Voice-Over pro on the All Ages Stage @ Kid's Lab. We got together as two "Art of the Voice" panels over our 1st two days as well. On Fri, I tortured my LA VO pals with games like "Alien Dialogue" to the delight of the fans. In a BC Class Act VO Seminar, we explored becoming a VO performer with both the curious & the serious, using what I call, "Voice-Play". The highlight of our 3 days in Denver brought together legendary LA animation VO director, Andrea Romano & the entire Justice League. I was also privileged to join the cast in several supporting roles for a full read-around of a JL script...all for the fans! Often the fans know as much or more about our characters than we do...almost! Whatever the story, it matters most when it reaches out & touches others..our fans! You can check out some of the action on you tube . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nv_viOB3lc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A8_6H0Spfo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsteHTdyrME
Pop Culture Classroom, Part #1
Pop Culture Classroom, Part #2
Sorry bear! You'll have to wait until next year!
OTHER CELEBRATED FAN CONS:
Previous Fan Con appearances included Fandom Fest in Louisville (featured as a cast member of the original animated Beauty & The Beast), The Colorado Springs Comic Con (with fans of GI Joe & the Metal Gear Solid game franchise), & Stan Lee's LA Comic Con (featured on the Duck Tales 30th Anniversary, & Tale Spin panels). Pictures & more detail to come as well as updates on future appearances.
Media Classes & Other Appearances
Announcing: We'll Be Back Soon, With “Class” (On Consecutive Saturdays)!
Our next VO Daycamp, a Class Act Workshop…is in planning!
Can’t wait to once again work-out & explore how to affordably create your own recording system, develop your demo, & meet industry pro standards. As always, soon we'll cover a full range of VO disciplines & techniques to magnify your progress & increase your competitive skill level. Dates, costs, our fab $50 discount, & other info will be posted here & in the Classes section of this web site. So, after the world opens up again, come back to find out our dates, costs, & how to reserve your seat. To register for future Brian Cummings' Class Act VO Workshops, to find out how to save $50, or for any other inquiries, contact us via the voiceatility.com web site or by email: voiceatilityguy@gmail.com
