narration MASTERCLASS

Instructors: Paul Ruben (NY) & Robin Miles (NY)

Topics:

Due to overwhelming requests for more, the Master Class returns this year to further our knowledge of “how to do the voodoo” that award-winning narrators do so well. Two professional directors will work with two audience volunteers on two essential components of killer storytelling (connecting narrator to listener & playing subtext in dialogue). Emphasis is on finding textual clues to character and action, and maintaining a constant connected flow between narrator and listener. Excerpts are short, to insure we have time to delve deeply into our subject matter.

 

soundproofing: the final frontier

Panelists: Doug Ferrara (Real Traps Rep), Steve Dutton (Quiet Star Industries), Frank Manzella (Francis Manzella Design Ltd.)

Topics:

Perhaps the costliest of home studio expenses can be soundproofing and treatment. This panel explains the ins and outs of soundproofing and how to achieve an appropriate sound recording room tone.  Hurdles such as floating a floor, dampening windows and doors, ventilation, lighting and reflection will be discussed, with solutions offered for city as well as country locations. Our panelists have done it before and bring a wealth of options, opinions and experience.

 

EXPLORING GENRES: WRITING STYLE MEETS NARRATING STYLE

Panelists: Suzanne Toren w/Elisabeth Rogers (NY), Bob Deyan w/ Jim Meskimen (LA)

Topics:

If “knowledge is power,” then you must examine the market (popular trends or styles in writing, genres, etc.) and see where your style can fit what’s current in the marketplace. Writing styles change and grow and narrators need to know how to find performance style clues. This panel looks at writing genres and styles and what that guides us to in performance. Two directors work with 3 actors on ways authors use language to express style, set scenes, and create tone, thereby giving us clues to follow in performance.

 

Listening Lounge

Emcee: Johnny Heller

Audie winners and nominees sharing a short bit of one of their most notable works. Join us for short informal readings of titles reviewers and consumers have found to be undeniably good. Come and stay the whole time or check the schedule to catch either a favorite narrator or a title you’ve never heard before.   

 

Peer to Peer resource tables in the round

Topic Table: Recording Software - Audacity, GarageBand, ProTools

Topic Table: Building a Website & Using Social Media

Topic Table: Home Recording Support – Budgets for home studio projects, Production Directory, Booth maker take-aways

Topic Table: Working in the Spanish Language Market 

Peer to Peer Resource Tables are true to their name.  These roundtable sessions are less formal panel and more of an exchange of information, of experience, and of insight, from peer to peer. Here, the generosity and camaraderie of the narrator and production support community is at its best as we share our knowledge with our colleagues.  Each table will be manned by a person or persons experienced in the topic who will share tricks of the trade, how to tips, and answer questions. Stop at one or all as your interests and needs dictate. Contribute to a discussion, ask about personal experience with the topic, or just listen.  It’s up to you.