Quitting while I'm behind
Today (or yesterday, depending on how your calendar works) started out mildly frustrating.
I had worked for several hours on a relatively small (3,500-word) voice-over for a client. I had done about half a dozen takes on his scripts, which he wanted to be "authentic" but "energetic." After several discussions back and forth of what he wanted and numerous re-cuts on his script, I decided I had to cut him loose. It was better to forfeit the previous work than to risk wasting further time on a client who didn't seem to *really* know what he wanted.
I should have known earlier that it wasn't going to work when he gave me a 700-word script and wanted it squeezed into 2:30. I told him what he wanted just wasn't possible but I was able to get it into 3:30. That's 200 words per minute. (The average American speaks 110-150 words per minute.) He wanted to know why I was talking so fast. *blinks*
Anyway, I cut ties with him and refunded the money he had paid. But again, I'd rather be out cash than continue to waste my time.
I decided to take a break and catch up on Twin Peaks, as well as watch the Game of Thrones season premiere. Both were excellent uses of my time and I returned to work refreshed -- and maybe a little twisted. (Watch the shows, you'll understand.)
Three scripts from Did You Know put me back on the right path. Then I did a script that's part of a series I'm doing for the city of Constanta, Romania. I really enjoy these scripts ... but they're a lot more work than some of the other things I voice. For one thing, they're about half in Latin. But it's history and culture, so I get to learn while I work. One funny take away from that script: I had to say the phrase "by the barbarians" and, for the life of me, couldn't get it right. "Tabula Peutingeriana?" No problem. "By the barbarians?" Nope. So when this happens, I just say the phrase over and over until it clicks. I found it funny so I posted it to Soundcloud:
After that, I had a couple other small bits to record and then, this blog post.
After this, I return to a long-term project for the students of You Lin You Ke -- an English-learning class in Beijing.
Oh! And Doctor Who is a woman now. 'bout damn time.
- Scott
I had worked for several hours on a relatively small (3,500-word) voice-over for a client. I had done about half a dozen takes on his scripts, which he wanted to be "authentic" but "energetic." After several discussions back and forth of what he wanted and numerous re-cuts on his script, I decided I had to cut him loose. It was better to forfeit the previous work than to risk wasting further time on a client who didn't seem to *really* know what he wanted.
Anyway, I cut ties with him and refunded the money he had paid. But again, I'd rather be out cash than continue to waste my time.
I decided to take a break and catch up on Twin Peaks, as well as watch the Game of Thrones season premiere. Both were excellent uses of my time and I returned to work refreshed -- and maybe a little twisted. (Watch the shows, you'll understand.)
Three scripts from Did You Know put me back on the right path. Then I did a script that's part of a series I'm doing for the city of Constanta, Romania. I really enjoy these scripts ... but they're a lot more work than some of the other things I voice. For one thing, they're about half in Latin. But it's history and culture, so I get to learn while I work. One funny take away from that script: I had to say the phrase "by the barbarians" and, for the life of me, couldn't get it right. "Tabula Peutingeriana?" No problem. "By the barbarians?" Nope. So when this happens, I just say the phrase over and over until it clicks. I found it funny so I posted it to Soundcloud:
After that, I had a couple other small bits to record and then, this blog post.
After this, I return to a long-term project for the students of You Lin You Ke -- an English-learning class in Beijing.
Oh! And Doctor Who is a woman now. 'bout damn time.
- Scott
