News: People

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday – perhaps it’s your favorite, too? I mean, there’s the turkey and pumpkin pie and getting together with the family and friends. We always laugh. Eat too much. “Restart the diet tomorrow.” And I love Thanksgiving because it’s garnished with the word “thanks.” Giving thanks – and giving to others who are less fortunate – makes us feel better. So: What are YOU thankful for this Thanksgiving? Please share your thoughts here …

Have you heard about ‘Movember”? The word is a play on Men’s health and November. And it’s super important, as voice actor J. Christopher Dunn relates in this memory about his granddad who passed away from testicular cancer. Chris also tells how you can help to halve the number of these cancer deaths …

Many of us in voice over today have radio backgrounds – and among those who continue with dual careers is broadcast journalist Michael Schoen – news anchor for WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York City, and busy voice actor. Another voice actor, Lynne Darlington, visited Michael at WCBS and reports on what that experienced broadcast journalist does on- and off-mic to make his broadcasts sound “so easy” …

The iconic voice of Peter Thomas has been silenced, but not the memories and tributes pouring in from the many worlds he touched as a humanitarian, radio and TV newscaster and voice over legend. Peter died this past weekend in his long-time home town of Naples, FL, at the age of 91 …

Starting her voice over career later in life – at age 47 – Penny Abshire quickly became known to most in the industry, especially as co-executive producer of the VOICE conventions and partner with James Alburger at the VoiceActing Academy. Today, after 19 years in “this crazy business,” Penny announces her retirement …

When people get it right, you just get out of their way. Warren Ellis’ and Neil Gaiman’s work have meant a lot to me for a very long time. I’ve let Warren’s Christmas greeting from more than a decade ago sign off for me for many years. Here is his sign off for 2015. The second piece is by Neil Gaiman. He’s indomitable …

Traditions sparkle up the December holidays, and one we always look forward to is the annual audio holiday message produced by popular voice talent and coach Terry Daniel – who also hosts the piping hot Voice Over Cafe podcast interviews (with Trish Basanyi and crew). Settle back here for more than 30 minutes of laugh-out-loud, warm and friendly, sweet and sincere, VO tongue-in-cheek greetings from scores and scores of your personal and virtual voice over friends …

VoiceOverXtra met French voice actor Aurélien Nancel online earlier this year, and asked him to write about voice acting in France. His informative story and advice is here … and is dedicated to Aurélien’s cousin Romain, who was among the many lost during the horrible attack in Paris’ Bataclan …

Start your new voice over week with laughter! And come back at stressful times to these witty cartoon observations of our wacky VO life from UK-based voice actor Guy Harris …

There will be many voice over roles to cast if creators of this animatic (storyboard preliminary version) of “Eagle Warrior – A Time of Reform,” receive funding for a feature film trilogy. It’s the story of Tetoca – “a typical teen” – battling evil traditions in the old and new worlds of the Aztecs and Spanish conquistadors in Mesoamerica (ancient Mexico). And here’s today’s story of how a movie idea takes flight …