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Feature:
The Next Step
By
Steve McKenzie
Why do some faces enthrall us, while
others are overlooked? Why are we captivated at the sound of one voice,
yet ignore another? Humans are drawn to beauty. We stare at sunsets,
stars, oceans, and art because we enjoy the performance. These things feed
us, uplift us, inspire us. It is the reason we enjoy music, movies, and
art. In the same way, our commercials also must climb this media food
chain and achieve a higher level of acceptance and response.
Interview:
Joe Cipriano, Los Angeles, CA
By Tom Richards
Joe Cipriano is a broadcast veteran with over 30 years in the business. He
is most widely known as the voice of the Fox and CBS Television Networks.
He is also co-host of the world-wide syndicated radio music show,
"The World Chart Show." In 2000, Joe was named the voice of the
Grammy Awards, and he vocally represents the Grammys each year as the live
announcer on the broadcast. Other "live announcer" gigs include
The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, The VH1 Honors, GQ Magazines Men
of the Year Awards, Miss U.S.A., and many others. In 1988 the Fox
Television Network chose Joe to be their image voice as the fledgling
company attempted to take on "The Big 3." Now Joes
distinctive sound is heard on over 200 Fox TV stations across the
nation for shows such as "The Simpsons," "King of the
Hill," "Futurama," "Malcom in the Middle,"
"Mad TV," and the rest of the successful programs on the Fox Network.
On CBS he is the voice of "Everybody Loves Raymond," "The
King of Queens," "Becker," "Yes Dear," and more.
He is also the voice of several radio stations across the country. This
months RAP Interview gets a glimpse at the television promo voice-over
business as Joe talks about how he got into TV promos, and we get a sneak
preview at Joes latest venture, PromoVoice.com.
Test
Drive: MySoundStudio from Stomp Inc.
By Steve Cunningham
I have to admit that the students words gave me
pause. When I mentioned in my Radio Production class that I was reviewing
a product called "MySoundStudio," several students rolled their
eyes. One said, "It probably sucks. Anything with the word my
in its name usually sucks." But Stomps MySoundStudio definitely
does not suck.
Production
212: What Have I Gotten Myself Into This
Time?
By Dave Foxx
Well dear readers, after several issues with requests
for material to critique in this space, we got a bunch all at once. I thought
it was slow coming because people were afraid to have their work publicly
reviewed, but it turns out that too few people actually read the fine
print at the end of the column. Fair enough. I take back all the evil
thoughts I was having about you.
Im gonna take on two producers in this column: Ryan Cota, Production
Weirdo at KRQQ in Tucson, Arizona and Garrick Whitehead, the Production
Wonk at Channel 4 FM in the United Arab Emirates.
Radio Hed:
Inside the Box
By Jeffrey Hedquist
Every kind of writing assignment has its limitations.
And we can refer to these limitations as the dimensions of the box. With
radio, you have the immediate dimensions of 10, 30 or 60 seconds. Were
more used to writing within these boundaries of time. And of course,
creating a radio commercial has as its prime goal to sell products or
services, not just to entertain, inform, or stimulate for its own sake.
But what about the other boundaries of that box? What about
budget, or the limitations of time, or available talent?
Feature:
A Little Knowledge Goes a Long, Long Way
By Craig Jackman
Before I get off on a rant, let me just mention that
this all started by reading a software forum. I love software forums.
Anything I can do to increase my knowledge of something I need to use
everyday is something Im going to do. I wonder though why is it I have
to search the Internet to find information. Why is it in this business
that knowledge is a bad thing?
I dont know about you, but pretty much everything Ive learned
since I graduated from the Broadcasting program at Algonquin College has
been self-taught. Yes, Ive had some great mentors (Jon Crowe, now with
Focus On The Family, Mike Guinta, and Tom Young among them) whove been
patient in pointing me in the right direction so I can discover on my own.
To them and others Im eternally grateful, but the question to this
industry is a simple one: What the hell are you afraid of?
Production
Library Review: Megabytes 3 from Caldwell Media and HSK Productions
By
John Pellegrini
So like most radio producers, its that last minute
promo again. Or a bunch of sweeper liners that the PD just handed you that
were supposed to go on the air a week ago Monday. All apologies, but you
got to get them on the air right now, so drop everything and get them
done. Cursing (and thankful that you have a sound proof studio) you close
out your other projects and get into the last minute crisis. And you just
love what the PD scribbled in block letters on the top of the copy:
"MAKE THIS SOUND HOT AS HELL" or something like that.
"Yeah right," you reply out loud. Ill just pull something
out of my butt and a miracle will occur. Well, maybe you dont need to
fish for that miracle quite so deeply. Two of your fellow rock producers
have come to the rescue with some really hot sounding effects that can
help make the difference between your usual chore of just keeping your PD
off your back and instead getting your PD to start thinking youre a
genius. MegaBytes 3 from Sean Caldwell and Hal Knapp, two veteran prod
maniacs if there ever were any, contains the kind of razor sharp imaging
elements that virtually all rock (active, classic, alternative, etc.),
newstalk, sports talk, and even hot AC formats require right now.
...And
Make It Real Creative:
By Trent
Rentsch
Out of the mouths of teens oft times comes complaining about homework,
but last week a gem so profound came out of the whining that its left
me questioning whether I have any talent at all.
Feature:
Kill Their Darlings, or "There Are No Bells in Radio"
By Blaine Parker
The script arrives. Oh, joy. Weve been locked into
producing a client-written spot that opens with some fabulous
slice-of-life scene. You know, the kind of dialogue thats oh so
realistic because the characters call each other by name in every line.
The slice-of-life is contrived, uninteresting and has no strategic merit.
The good news? The slice of life doesnt truly hurt anything.
Discretion is the better part of valor (and sanity). This is a
situation where its better to just let the client have his fun and move
on. After all, 70% of the script is boilerplate announcer copy that says
what needs saying. Not brilliant, but it puts the message out there to the
people who need to hear it. The spot gets produced; we move on to other
projects. The end? That would be too easy.
Monday
Morning Memo:
Why Do My Fingers Know This Song?
By Roy H. Williams
"Why do my fingers know this song so much better than my
mind?" is a question that has been asked by every piano player that
ever played. Most recently, it was asked by Monica Ballards mom. Monica
answered, "I dont know, Mom, but Ill ask Roy tomorrow when I
get to the office." Want to hear something funny? If Monica had asked
me the question 2 days earlier, I wouldnt have known the answer, but as
fate would have it, I had just finished researching that very subject.
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