As previously mentioned, there was one more job. After a
season in Bangkok that I didn’t produce many TVC, things ended on a high
note. I am ending on a Geddy Lee high
note. The company is a well known as Brands, a health drink that is supposed to
help with brain function. Booking a big company like this is great, but further
excitement livens things up as I am the lead as a scientist and there is a
script.
The last time I had a script, I was in tears. Do you
remember?
Okay, so for this commercial I wasn’t overacting or being
voiced over by a high pitched Thai man; instead it would be my accent gracing
the ears of the audience. My so called
“American Accent”, which isn’t American at all but a neutral accent, if you
meet people from most cities in the states there is noticeable difference in
speech patterns. I would say I most closely resemble California accents than
say Texas, NYC or Seattle.
My nutrition background came in handy for this shooting, as
I was to play a scientist. A key researcher for Brands Essence of chicken, I
discussed neurotransmission and American ginseng. I also checked the data of a co-worker and
sent her on her way. In the casting I distinctly remember them asking me to
lecture about a scientific topic. Naturally I went right to Omega-3 EFA,
explaining how they help with brain function and that we typically don’t
consume enough of these. Continuing into the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in the
current diet and how we need to bring it closer to 1:1. The casting director
and crew left knowing more in my 5 minute casting than they ever could have
imagined. They key of course was to portray confidence in my knowledge, to be a
real expert. And it worked!
By the time the 4th script was in my hand, I had
corrected the grammar a final time and was ready to sling some verses. With my
tie all mic’d up, I stumbled through the words. Wait what? Yes I ended up
getting a little nervous when the time came. One or two takes and my feet were
back under me as if they had never left.
I think reality had set in that yes they were using my voice and that it
would be my voice for the entire commercial. Pressure was up and my equilibrium
must have been off kilt. 
This commercial became more interesting when the green
screen became involved. It was fascinating to be in front of the green screen
and see myself on the video. I felt like the weatherman, except instead of
predicting a storm I was scanning fields of ginseng to find only the best. The
feeling is very strange when you are trying to position yourself while looking
at the TV screen, a fun new experience though.
After finishing up all the camera work I was to rerecord all
my voice again in a separate room. This time with things set up to muffle the
sound and get a crisp clean recording of my voice we set off. Reading several
versions, timing differently and enunciating the more complex words we recorded
the voiceover.
Overall this ended up being a great way to finish up in
Bangkok on a positive note.
No comments:
Post a Comment