CASTING NOTES + Zedd/Rita Scene
Yo!
So I just wanted to provide some general feedback on the overall trends I've noticed from the whopping 40 auditions received so far, which, first off, thank you all so very much for the time and effort in submitting!
But there is one thing I would like to call attention to. Mainly, being the questionable audio quality more than a sizeable amount are submitting their recordings with.
I don't like putting my A-hat on, but that is an automatic disqualifier, regardless of the actual audition quality. I could theoretically have my socks blown off by the audition itself, but it wouldn't matter because you're not putting your best foot forward (not just for me, but for yourself and other potential projects you apply for) by sending your recordings in such a dubious state.
Which, for some projects, it's probably acceptable, but MMPR '96 as a final product is going on Spotify, iTunes, and every other podcast platform, so everything on my end (writing, audio mixing, sound effects, music), and every eventual cast member's vocal recordings, has to sound professional.
It's my job as the director to ensure the quality threshold stays consistent for the listeners so they don't have a moment where they go, "Oh, so and so or this element sounds different/out-of-place from the rest." So, not to be an ass, but I will die on this hill. No if, ands, or buts.
Also, when you submit with degraded quality, it tells me you didn't read the full project description, which clearly states that clear mic audio quality and no background noises are a must, which is already a red flag in itself in regards to the ability to do the full research.
Over a decade ago when I was in the novel trenches, I learned a ton about the proper procedures and protocols expected for aspiring authors to submit manuscripts to agents, and the various do's and don'ts, and the red flags they looked for that would earn an automatic rejection slip.
It's weird being on the agent side of the equation now, but what I'm trying to say is please consider doing whatever it is that's necessary for your situation to help put your best foot forward not for me, but for yourself and whatever your goals are for with voice overs.
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Now, to get off the soapbox, the last two days have seen an uptick in submissions (as I purchased a CCC business acct finally), so having caught up on submissions, please allow me some time to possibly reach out--especially for Goldar submissions, as I want to test the audition lines with my potential voice filters applied for those characters to get a clearer taste of how they would sound like in the final mix.
As for Zedd...*spoiler* he's ripping that silver bucket head (as Stan "The Man" Lee might've called it) of his off for good at the climax of the episode, so that's only 2 scenes with the classic Zedd-like vocal effects, excluding any flashbacks.
Why, you may ask? Well, mainly--Karl Sutton has already done about as excellent a job as can be done with reimagining Classic Zedd. I don't really feel I have anything worthwhile to add to it, so instead, I'd want to explore the character in a completely different manner that I don't think has really been done yet.
Also, it's a symbolic re-enforcement of MMPR '96's general ethos to not retread the past, but strive to be bold and innovate. Because, again, Karl Sutton has already done a remarkable job with reimagining a lot of the original 3 seasons of Ranger's mythos. It's redundant to be anything but different by comparison.
Which, speaking of Zedd, I finished his first scene in the E1 script: -Episode 1 WIP Script: https://1drv.ms/w/s!Anf0k-v7vuAohZE6vaJMaaIvU4T1eQ?e=lO4r3U
I still have to catch up on the scripted audio itself, but funny story--I was seriously intent on having Zedd kill Baboo here just so I could have Squat remark, "Hehe. Baboo go boom..." because I thought it would be funny, and I don't really know what to even do with the character...but once Rita opened her mouth, she and Zedd's bickering made the moment of opportunity pass, so alas, Baboo lives...for now...which means either I work it in on the scripted audio revision, or he goes kabooy in the climax of E1.
Or maybe he scrapes by again despite this here author's ill-intent forhim. Only time will tell...
On one last note, I've finished over 3 page background info-dump for extended Drakkon auditions. Terribly written, but provides high-level notes on how the Drakkon reality Tommy became Drakkon, which has a couple of noticeable differences between how that storyline will playout in the MMPR reality (Prothea Pink Kimberly, Kat's premonitions of Pink Ronin giving hints that alter things, and another factoid not to be revealed for now). But now I'm starting on the actual approximated scene material, which even more-so than KimSlayer, has to go a lot further along in the story to try to hit all the required different personality ranges I'm looking in the potential Tommy/Drakkon casting.
So all I can think to say is pray me that I manage to polish this off the bucket list asap so I can get back to scripting the reminder of E1 and more hands-on cast vetting.
Ciao!
