Voiceovers ltd

As I was getting near the final stages of producing my adverts, I realised that I needed to get the voiceover done to accompany the sound, I already knew what my script would be as my whole idea has formed from my strapline "Get protected from the unexpected" I attempted to record it myself but was not impressed with the sound quality of my equipment and most of all not impressed with my voice on tape! so I decided that I was going to need to bring in a professional voiceover artist to perform it. I searched the net for agencies and listened to the samples they had to offer. I found one company that was based in the UK (Plymouth to be precise) called Voiceovers ltd. Hoping that it would 'do what it says on the can', I rang them up and spoke to one of their staff called Paul, I explained my project and that I was looking for a female, english, 20-40's, no strong accent, voiceover artist to perform my script and suggested a few names that I liked from the samples on their site. He said he would find out who was available straight away and that all I needed to do was send over an email of my script/needs to them.
About an hour later I was emailed back by Paul who said there was a woman available that afternoon, who had alot of experience and sent attached a sample. It was just what I was looking for so we agreed the fees and gave them the go ahead, later that day I received an email with the finished product attached in mp3 format (which I had asked for)
As I listened to it I found she had repeated it 3 or 4 times in slightly different accents/emphasise, although the first one she did I thought was the best. I have now added the voiceover to my adverts and it really does bring them to life, and makes them feel an awful lot more professional than if I recorded them myself, this has also taught me that subcontracting parts of your project out can be very beneficial, not only in proffesionalism as that would be how you would do it in a real brief, but in timescale too. Overall I found the service from Voiceovers ltd fantastic, very quick, helpful and professional and I would definately recommend anyone else to use them and would probably use them myself again too.
www.voiceovers.co.uk

Contact Report - Jonny Kelly

After my visit to Nexus I decided to contact Jonny Kelly (see earlier post in practitioners) who I had been introduced to there, I found him on vimeo after I had joined the site and added a few videos I decided to sent him a message:

• 
  11 days ago

  Hey Dave
  
  Thanks for your message and good to meet you
  
  Just had a look at your tomorrows ad - it looks great. I can't work out how it was done, which i like. Best of luck at stockport
  
  Johnny

• 
  13 days ago

  Hey Johnny,
  
  I very briefly met you in your studio a few weeks ago when I was being shown round Nexus by Nathalie, Just watched your 'Making of the seed' video its great!! Anyway I'm in the process of putting some of my uni projects up on here, if you get chance check them out and let me know what you think!
  
  Cheers
  David
  
  Stockport College

Contact Report - Nexus E-mails

After finding out that we were to be in London for a few days going round studios, I decided to contact a few companies that were based there to try and get a visit organised for myself, after sending a few e-mails this company replied called Nexus Productions (see my earlier post on how the meeting went)

E-mail messages:

On 23 Feb 2009, at 11:16, david croucher wrote:
Hello,
I'm very interested in your company and really like some of the work you produce, especially the 'Mr Long Legs' ad, 'Dept of Transport' ad and the work from Johnny Kelly.
I am a third year multimedia design student on the BA hons degree at LJMU/Stockport College, and before this I came from a national diploma in graphic design.
I am currently working on my final major project and intend to produce a series of adverts for a leading high street bank, to restore the publics confidence using 2d animation and mixed media.
As part of my course I am taking a trip to London on 4th,5th,6th March and am required to try and get some industry feedback from my portfolio and so I was wondering if you would be interested in seeing some of my work, It would only have to be say ten minutes or so just so I could show you a few pieces Ive done and get a few comments on what you like, dislike could improve on etc!

Thanks very much and hope to hear from you soon.

Regards

David Croucher
Multimedia design (BA hons)
LJMU/Stockport College

Monday, 23 February, 2009 12:37 PM:

David,

I'd be very happy to meet you and review your portfolio/show you the studio. Shall we say Thursday 5th at 12:30?
We are located in Shoreditch and the nearest tubes are Old Street or Liverpool Steet stations.
Let me know if this would suit you.

Nathalie Le Berre


On 23 Feb 2009, at 13:01, david croucher wrote:

> Hi Nathalie, wow thanks for the swift reply and offer! I think that should be fine but my tutor is taking us to Studio AKA and I'm not sure when exactly that is going to be! would it be possible for me to get back to you tommorow as then I will know for sure!
> Thank you very much again,
> David

Monday, 23 February, 2009 1:05 PM

From:

"Nathalie Le Berre"

To:

davecroucher4@yahoo.co.uk

David,

That's fine, I'd be available Wednesday or Thursday but I'm not in the office on Friday.
Thanks

Nathalie


On 24 Feb 2009, at 12:57, david croucher wrote:

> Hi Nathalie, I have confirmed with my tutors and I think Thursday 5th at 12.30 will be fine, would I need to bring a laptop or would a portable drive be ok to show my work? also do you have a number I could ring if there was any problems with the time, finding you etc
> Thanks again
> David

Tuesday, 24 February, 2009 12:59 PM

From:

"Nathalie Le Berre"

To:

davecroucher4@yahoo.co.uk

Dave,

So 12:30 and call our switchboard on 020 7749 7500 if you have any problems.
]See you on Thursday.

Nathalie

Thursday, 26 February, 2009 12:53 PM

From:

"Nathalie Le Berre"

To:

davecroucher4@yahoo.co.uk

David,

I've just realised that I've double booked myself on the 5th. I'm actually going to the NFTS short film screening all day.
Sorry about that, it had skipped my mind. Could we meet on the Wednesday 4th instead at 12 or 12:30?
Let me know if that would be convenient for you.

Nathalie

Thursday, 26 February, 2009 1:53 PM

From:

"david croucher"

To:

"Nathalie Le Berre"

Hi Nathalie,

Yea ok wednesday will be fine, I will try to get there for 12.30 then, I have a visit in the morning but if I have any problems I will ring you before hand.
Should I bring a laptop or would a portable hard drive be ok?
Look forward to meeting you,

David

Monday, 9 March, 2009 2:43 PM

From:

"david croucher"

To:

"Nathalie Le Berre"

Hi Nathalie, I'm back in Manchester now after a very successful week in London, and would just like to say thanks again for letting me visit. I also have a question that I forgot to ask when I was there, and that is; How was the Ambi Pur advert on your site made? was it done in after effects or does it have 3d elements to it? because i am thinking of using that sort of style and setting but in a hand drawn style with a fairy tale theme. Any help would be great, thanks, David

Wednesday, 11 March, 2009 11:11 AM

From:

"Nathalie Le Berre"

To:

"david croucher"

David,

It was really nice meeting you. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your visit to London, and the other animation and post houses visits.
I wasnt here when Nexus did the Ambi Pur ads but I'll find out from the director when he's back in. I'll let you know.
Hope will get to see your graduation film when finished.

Nathalie

Contact Report - Alex Bower

Following a portfolio review set up by my tutor with Alex Bower from Bright digital he asked to keep in touch and send him my finished 'Tomorrows world' ad because I had showed it to him when it was a work in progress.

Email Messages:

Tuesday, 6 January, 2009 4:12 PM

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yQTn8LFc1G8

look thru the comments for some handy stuff for particular



Good to hear from you Dave.
Happy new year to you to!

The advert looks brilliant mate.
much better with the sound effects!
Hope you get a good mark for it, you deserve one.

I am currently working on a showreel at the moment with some of our work on, i am hoping to have it up there as soon as poss.
ill let you know when it is.

Also heres a few links for the light streaks idea you had.

you may have seen these before...

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/
(look at light streaks and 3d stroke)

The light streaks uses trapcode particular in AE (good for this sort of thing)

http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/downloads/trial-versions/

try it out
lemme know how you get on
good luck

alex

________________________________________
From: david croucher [davecroucher4@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: 06 January 2009 11:53
To: Alex Bower
Subject: HELLO!!!

Hi Alex, Happy new year! Don't know if you remember but I spoke to you and your colleague Rachel before christmas when you came into college and I showed you some of my work, well anyway, as promised (if not a little later than planned) here is my finished advert for my self directed project, hope you like it:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uu-n6HodXq0 (click 'watch in high quality'!!)

If you would like i can send you a disc with a better quality version on it. Also I was just wondering where i could find any of your companies work, as the only piece i have seen is the courthouse site you have done which is really nice.
Hope to hear from you soon,

Dave Croucher
Stockport College

Corporation Pop - Contact Report

Before Christmas I started approaching a number of companies trying to get some feedback on my work, I began e-mailing a number of people trying to spark a conversation, here is one company that I spoke to called Corporation Pop in Manchester city centre:

Email Messages:

Hi David

Sorry for the late reply -

been snowed under with work and getting in those last few holiday days before Christmas,

Ill have a chat with the guys here and see if myself or somebody else can fit you in Ill try and get back to you by tuesday as Im off till then

Regards Martin

On 28 Nov 2008, at 10:46, david croucher wrote:

Hi Martin,

I know it is a bit out of the blue but, as part of my course I am required to try and get some industry feedback and so I was wondering if you, or anyone else at Copop would be interested in seeing some of my work whether it be me visiting your studio or sending you some work? It would only have to be say ten minutes or so just so I could show you a few pieces Ive done and get a few comments on what you like, dislike could improve on etc!

Thanks very much and hope to hear from you soon.
regards
David

--- On Wed, 26/11/08, Martin Wood <martin@copop.co.uk> wrote:
From: Martin Wood <martin@copop.co.uk>
Subject: Re: HI!!!!!!!
To: davecroucher4@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wednesday, 26 November, 2008, 1:29 PM

Hi David

Its worth searching amazon for some after effects books and getting a couple - The problem with web tutorials is they become quite linear and don't allow discussion around the techniques your using - ie how to use the same technique to create a different effect or use it in a different situation. I personally have always found books a better alternative.

Also Its always good to have something to pick up when your render window says approx 60mins.

My role in the company is mainly on the multimedia end The company was mainly Design for Print and I was taken on to expand the skill base into web / multimedia and video.

So from being a motion graphics graduate - I retrained myself into web design, html and css coding, virtual world design, 3D modelling etc....

If you have a love of interactive deign its just as satisfying whatever area your working in - well thats what I find anyway.

I still get chance to work in Video - not as often as I'd like but with the spectrum of work that comes through the studio I still get to keep a hand in with the Print side as-well.

I came out of Uni eyes wide open knowing that the larger your skill set (and also your talent) the easier it would be to find work in the industry.

( I originally started on the graphic arts course and transferred after the first year to multimedia because I understood I would need a larger skill base especially with the shift in the industry to a more digital environment )

Hope this is useful.

On 25 Nov 2008, at 17:29, david croucher wrote:

Hi Martin, Thanks for the advice. I have a bit of a confession to make, I'm actually doing my degree at the Stockport college campus, LJMU run the course but ive only actually been to LJMU once at the start of the 3 years! but will be going again in June when we graduate! lol. so again, sorry to get your hopes up.
As for the animation my room is full of sheets of paper already! and been using lots of cutout 2d puppets for it aswell, so lots of arms n legs all over the place! do you know of any good tutorial sites for 3d animation within after effects? that is my next task on the piece.
If you dont mind me asking what is your main role in the company? and is it the area you intended to go into after uni?

Regards
David



--- On Tue, 25/11/08, Martin Wood <martin@copop.co.uk> wrote:
From: Martin Wood <martin@copop.co.uk>
Subject: HI!!!!!!!
To: davecroucher4@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tuesday, 25 November, 2008, 4:56 PM

Hi David

Always Nice to hear from a fellow JMU lad - I was on the multimedia arts course and graduated back in 2006, couple of years ago now.

Hows 68Hope Street - still a shack? or has the new building gone up now?

You Still got Carole and Ian tutoring?

We work in all area's including Web Design, Animation, Video, Virtual World Design But the company's main background is in Design for Print.

Bit more detail needed if you want a few tips but if your working to a soundtrack....

always a good idea to open the waveform - If its got a heavy beat you can Beatmatch using It.

Oh and lots and lots of tracing paper for stop motion, ha ha.

____________________________________

Hello, I'm very interested in your company and really like some of the work you produce, i especially like the Arts council 05 piece with the candles, and the warehouse project video. I am a third year multimedia design student on the BA hons degree at LJMU, and before this I came from a national diploma in graphic design. I am currently working on a self directed brief that comprises of an advert for 'Tomorrows World' using hand drawn techniques, stop motion and after effects. What areas do you mainly work in as a company? do you have any advice on stop-motion or working your animation to a music track? Any reply would be much appreciated. regards David Croucher Multimedia design (BA hons) LJMU ____________________________________

Regards Martin Wood

Corporation Pop

22 Lever Street

Manchester M1 1EA

Telephone 0161 228 7772

www.copop.co.uk

Nexus Productions - Portfolio Review

On Wednesday the 4th March whilst in London I had a portfolio review with Nathalie from Nexus Productions. Nexus is a creative studio that mainly focuses on adverts and short animated films and is named by the popular creative industry blog Motionographer as being in the top 20 cream of the crop list. After having a few minor problems finding the studio I met Nathalie and began a grand tour of the whole building, of which there was 4 floors! she explained what went on in the different rooms of the building and explained that the day I had come was relatively quiet and that if I had come a week earlier the whole place would have been full. We made our way into one studio where there were two of her colleauges were working and they briefly showed me the sort of stuff they do and then asked to see some of mine.
I showed my work to them on my laptop and they seemed quite impressed, especially with my Tomorrows World piece, and asked lots of questions on how i did certain things and why I chose to do certain things. They asked what area of design I wanted to go into and, as I wasnt sure, we talked about the different areas available and how broad or narrow different jobs can be. The big question I found interesting was 'do you want to go into art directing or production?' as it is someting I hadnt really given much thought and also I just presumed that you would start off and work your way up to directors role, but I said that whatever I go into I want to be as hands on as possible.
After speaking to them Nathalie took me up to the top floor where I was briefly introduced to the directors who were all working away on different things. She introduced me to Jonny Kelly (see my earlier post about his work) as I had mentioned to her earlier on that I liked his work, and we had a quick chat about stop motion and he showed us some of the colourful paper models/puppets that he was using in an animation which were fascinating!
This ended my visit and as we walked down from the top floor I asked her advice about personal websites and she said that the simpler the better just showing a reel and other choice pieces clearly and easy to navigate, and just before I left I gave her some business cards with a link to my site and she said to keep in touch.
I think my visit was definately a success and I think I got a good insight into how a well respected company works and intend to stay in touch and send them my FMP at the end of the course.














Smith & Foulkes - Coke Advert (Grand theft auto style)
















Smith & Foulkes - Comcast

















Jonny Kelly - The Seed

Mitch Walker - Portfolio Review

My 2nd interview on the 25th Feb was with a freelance director called Mitch Walker who has been in the industry for many years and worked on lots of high profile advertising campaigns. After introducing myself again I showed him my work on the laptop in chronological order. He started with feedback on the Pole to Pole title sequence by saying that he thought after seeing the other work this was definately the weakest piece and explained that something he tells a lot of students and graduates is; when you are designing something for tv, you should carefully consider your layout and composition, because, as your sat at your computer working on it you are viewing it all the time at a matter of 15-20 inches away from the screen! whereas watching the tv sat in your living room you are usually a good few feet away from it! he said this was a key flaw on my title sequence because up close you can read the text that appears on the page but from further away you almost certainly woudnt make it out. I think this is a very valid criticism and something I didnt really think of at the time of making it. He also went on to talk about my Tomorrows world advert by saying that he thought it seemed a bit long and that this was because it is all one long shot, coming from an advertising background he said that a snappy re-edit would really improve the piece and break it up abit. Again I think this is very true as it was something I tried to overcome when making the piece (which is why I used the semi-3d sections to try and break it up abit).
We went on to talk about getting a job in the industry and how to get noticed, his opinion was (which is quite contrasting from other professionals i have spoken to) to try and give people a print version of my work or a disk with my reel on it, that could be handed to people or sent in the post to studios, which would perhaps just have some still shots of my work and a link to my website and other contact details. I think this is a good idea but was thinking more along the lines of business cards that I can hand to people with web address etc on it, because quite a few professionals say that they get sent hundreds of disks and cant be bothered playing them, because its much easier to click on a link and view your work online.
Overall I liked Mitch, he seemed to be bold enough to give an honest opinion and some decent advise rather than just saying that they look nice! I think I will take pole to pole out of my portfolio for now and in future to remember the target audience a bit more. He ended with saying overall he liked my work and thinks I could do well in the industry, and that he wanted to stay in touch.

Brenden Dawes - Portfolio Review

On 25th February I attended the D&AD portfolio surgery sessions at the Urbis gallery in Manchester. My first interview was with creative director Brenden Dawes from the Manchester based company Magneticnorth. When I went in I introduced myself and explained where i had come from and where I intend to go, which was good because I had not had any contact prior to the interview to talk to him. I began to show him my work which I had brought on a laptop and showed him my earliest piece first, my joint collaboration called 'Pole to Pole', then showed him my museum mini site, my nandos game, dave ident and finally my Tomorrows world ad. After seeing my work he gave me a bit of feedback by saying that he thought all of the pieces were nice, but as he was coming from a mainly interactive background he was most interested by my 2 flash pieces. He said that my animation (tomorrows world) was probably my strongest piece and after a bit of discussion advised that animation/moving image is probably the best avenue for me to persue as I said that I have started to really enjoy that aspect of my work. He explained that as a company they probably wouldnt be much use to me as they mainly specify in interactive/web work which I saw as a polite way of saying that he wasnt interested in giving me a job, which was fine as I wasnt expecting him to, but he said to stay in touch anyway. I think overall it went relatively well and I think that perhaps knowing that he was an interactive worker I should have focused on showing him that sort of work.

Portfolio Review: Alex Bower – Bright Digital

Today I Had a Portfolio review with Alex Bower and his colleague Rachel from Bright Digital in Manchester. It took place in college as they were there anyway shooting on the green screen, and after a shaky start due to my hard drive not working on the laptop, I showed them some of my work from the second year like my Alcohol website, Nando’s flash game and my Dave ident.

They seemed to like my work and asked lots of questions about why I did certain things, we talked about what techniques and methods I enjoy doing and what areas I might be interested in going into after graduation, Alex explained that there company does a wide variety of work and offered a few tips like speeding up the animation in my ident, and not to get to precious over parts of my work that took along time to create; if it is only needed on screen for a few seconds don’t be afraid to trim it down.

I then talked about my self directed project and showed them an unfinished version of my Tomorrows World advert, this seemed to go down very well and I think they quite liked it. I played it a few times explaining each section, as they said some sections weren’t obvious what was happening, which can be a good thing in adverts because it makes people want to watch it again. They said they liked the aesthetic and humour aspect to it and asked me to send them a finished copy when I was done.

I then explained where I was up to on my current project which is for the YCN competition; they had a few tips for me and pointed me in the direction of researching into a few different people like Picasso and Peter Blake.

We talked about getting myself exposed as a designer and that a good idea for me would be to try and meet as many industry professionals as possible and to collect business cards, because then I would have a contact email or number to try and send work to. They also mentioned attending some social events like Northern digital would be beneficial but apparently that is supposed to be just for freelance designers and not students.

Overall I think my review was a success and I think I have gained a lot from the experience, it was useful to see what people who have no knowledge of the briefs I have done to see my work as they noticed things that I didn’t, and they could also offer there professional advice. I think it has given me more confidence in my work and trying to present it to other people, and to have a copy of my work on disk (or any other format) in case of my hard drive not working!!

Contact report test1

jknkbjnllkm