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Went into the studio today to perform my lines as Mr. Beaver for a new PBS science/edutainment series, ELINOR WONDERS WHY, coming soon. I'd never recorded a cartoon quite like this before. Usually it's just you, in a booth, a microphone hanging in front of your face and your lines spread out on a music stand. Everyone is recorded separately and they mix it all together in post. But today we did "ensemble recording" where the entire cast was in the room and we all recorded our lines together. Like a performance. I think they do that for the energy and cast chemistry it generates. That, and it's likely a lot easier for the kids on the show, who now have someone they can actually respond to in real time. These youngsters are good. Their characters are kids - so they just have to stand and deliver and sound exactly like themselves. The trick is getting the energy, urgency, drama, and clarity into each line, and that's where the voice director sometimes pipes up and guides them as needed. I overheard one of them -- the boy, around 7 years old -- humming a tune from Star Wars, and so he and I bonded instantly by reciting as many of the themes as we could. It was a very fun day on a very friendly set for what is certain to be a very charming new series. They're still writing it, and they say it's likely Mr. Beaver will return. I hope so ... I need to come up with some more obscure Star Wars tunes to challenge my young cast-mate! 
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Well well well ... several weeks after I submitted an audition (I'd actually forgotten all about) I just got news today that I've landed the role of "Mr. Beaver" in a new animated science show coming this fall on PBS. "Elinor Wonders Why".
Read all about it here: |
