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Abrams Artists Podcast Studio Among the many things happening at Abrams Artists Agency these days, a chic new podcast studio for clients is one of them. Don't you just love it? Hollywood Reporter broke the story a few weeks ago. Check it out! #abramsartistsagency #podcast #studio #voice

PIZZA SPECIFICS WITH MY FATHER My father, Francis Rosselli, knows pizza.  He has his entire life.  Since he was a teenager, he’s kept a careful eye on the family pizza business and what makes for a traditionally consistent pie.  With an in-depth understanding of ingredients and baking requirements, Dad strives for the absolute best in quality and giving customers new and old a stellar (and delicious) product. Because pizza has just three basic elements — crust, sauce and cheese — each one must be reliably perfect and perfectly reliable. To accomplish this, every fall two grandsons of Mr. Pepe conduct a blind tasting of new-harvest tomatoes from the area around Naples, Italy.. Like his grandfather Francesco Pepe, my father knows that if one element of the process is inconsistent or lacking, the entire pizza will be off.  And it always boils down to specifics.  In this case, the best canned tomatoes for the job.  Late last month, he was featured in this article for the NYTimes.  I couldn’t be more proud of him. Moskin, Julia.  It’s Canned Tomato Season. Here’s What You Need to Know.  New York Times. Web. 25 September 2017.  12 Nov 2017.

Ad Agencies are hard at work reinventing the ad landscape It goes without saying that the world of advertising is in a constant state of change.  We are bombarded with all types of ads on a daily basis.  So much so that there are now even premium subscription options for an ad-free experience.  While many simply can't handle the onslaught of ads, some people, myself included, love it .  As a voice over talent, marketing research is part of the job.  Moreover, advertising professionals are always hard at work trying to find new ways to be creative, engage audiences and ultimately make brands stand out more. This recent article from Adweek profiles several seasoned and influential creatives in the business as well as their most impactful work in the last year.  It's refreshing to see how forward-thinking minds approach an ever-evolving market.  These executives are able to discover all creative possibilities with a firm grasp of each project challenge's challenge.  Luckily, I've been fortunate enough to work with one of these agencies on notable campaigns over the last couple of years and am glad to be a part of their story-telling process. My personal favorites: Samsung: Ostrich and Seamless: How New York Eats. Check it out! Nudd, Tim. 22 Creative Directors Who Are Completely Reimagining What's Possible In Advertising . Adweek. Web. 12 June 2017. 16 Feb 2017. #creative #adweek #advertising #adcampaign #story #commercial

A new ad from Lacoste is not to be missed. Is it me or are brands getting really good at story-telling? The editing, imagery, and, of course, music, make this one powerful spot. Great work, BETC! Video Source: Lacoste #lacoste #advertising #betc #voice

Piece from Adweek shows the Humor in Moments of Chaos Recording voiceover is not always a picnic.  Sometimes it's a breeze and other times, a complete disaster.  Nine times out of ten though, the commercial is recorded and produced and, in the end, people do actually get what they want from each other.  Well, we hope.  As voice talents, a chaotic recording session is our worst nightmare and we try to avoid it at all costs.  We never intend to make things difficult and do love it when our clients are happy.  Moreover, getting the job is what matters most as we are usually extremely grateful for the opportunity.  A recent video that appeared in Adweek the other week took the cake and made us all laugh hysterically, proving that, in those moments of chaos and disorder, humor really shines through. What I love about this particular video is the lengths to which these writers go in making their point.   In addition, they never sacrifice credibility for the sake of comedy.  All of what occurs in the video is quite accurate.  Personally, I can't ever think of a time when this happened to me but I do know the psychological and technical ramifications of keeping your phone on during the recording session.  Some voice talent realize that keeping your phone on can cause unwanted static or feedback during the recording, even if the ringer or notification sounds are turned off.  This particular voice talent does a considerably good job, given that the recording is already off to a bumpy beginning, what with the creatives already not inspiring much confidence in their abilities.  We do our best to buckle down and try to read people's minds. Rudd, Tim.  Watch The Voiceover For An Ice Cream Ad Go Horrendously Comically Wrong. Adweek. Web. 22 Aug 2016. 28 Aug 2016. #voiceover #recordingsession #funny #Adweek #advertising #directing

...with new trains! (Let's hope) We've been saying this for years.  America needs better trains. As many of you are aware, I live and breathe trains and will stop at nothing to talk about them any chance I get.  Whenever I post something railroad-related online, someone somewhere will say "You and your trains!"  Can I blame them?  Nope. Frankly, I'm addicted everything about them.  Both old and new types. Different locomotives, passenger and freight cars, spans of tracks heading miles into the distance, old stations, photographs, etc.  You name it.  If it involves trains in some way, I want to be involved.  And I often think of what made America classically glamorous in the past.  Passenger trains.  The New York Central, New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, Burlington Zephyr, The Hiawatha and more. Of course the technology has changed. So when I decided to see if Amtrak had added any new locomotives to its rolling stock, aside from the   ACS-64, now currently the face of the Northeast Corridor line, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they are upgrading it's fleet for the Cascades Route from Seattle to Vancouver, BC with brand new Siemens Charger Locomotives.  Certainly a step in the right direction. This cool new video from Siemens on train restoration in the state of California made me think for a moment about the importance of having a viable rail system in this country.  The people in this video clearly take pride in their work and the equipment is manufactured right here in this already great country. THIS is moving America forward. Siemens. “Made In America” Video. YouTube 20 June 2014 16 March 2016. #trains #Siemens #Amtrak #infrastructure #USA

Co-Star Remembers an Acting Legend But it was Heath — a natural storyteller, and always reliable for a cheesy joke — who transfixed us. Before I knew it, the cast was experiencing what I’ve since found to be all too rare: a unified chemistry throughout the ensemble, without a single bad apple in the bunch. The experience was communal, it sang like a well-tuned chorus both onscreen and off-, and we all agreed that we were having the best summer of our lives. When you think about it, I'm sure we all look back at some of our high school experiences with vivid recollections.  It's that time we refer to as blissful ignorance.  Before all our life's major decisions.  Before any major growing up.  We were growing but we didn't think of it as "growing" in any real adult sense.  We were just having fun.  Or maybe we weren't.  And I'm sure each of our high school experience didn't include being mesmerized by Heath Ledger in person.  In a recent article for  Vulture , actor David Krumholtz fondly remembers his experience with the rest of the cast, as well as Heath's effect on the group as a whole, and it's pretty amazing... Do you remember the first time you watched   10 Things I Hate About You ?  I most certainly do.  Obviously it was during high school.  And it was in a movie theater with a bunch of screaming teenagers, especially during Heath Ledger's break-out singing scene.  And yes, I may have even been on a date!  More importantly, what I remember most about this movie was that it quite accurately summarized the feeling of high school romance.  The movie was simply golden.  It had a magically quality all its own... Krumholtz. David. "David Krumholtz Remembers Heath Ledger and the Rest of the  10 Things I Hate About You  Cast"  Vulture.  Web. 2 Nov 2015. 29 Nov 2015 #movies #film #heathledger #motivation

When it comes to the Millennial market, anything is possible. Marketing and advertising gurus alike are left scratching their heads and willing to expect the unexpected.    In a more digital world, we are either completely sure of how to reach them or daunted by the task of their most influential medium.  Early predictions led many to assume mobile content was the sole driving factor in getting their attention.   And let's not forget- brand transparency.  This recent Adweek article from several weeks ago highlights a series of recently conducted studies showing the millennial market actually engaged in TV over YouTube.  It is yet a clear indication of their newfound willingness to give more traditional avenues a chance.  Maybe they're getting sick of their phones. Lynch, Jason. Millennials Care More About TV (and Its Ads) Than YouTube. Adweek. Web. 31 Oct 2017. 4 Nov 2017. #advertising #TV #millennial #youtube

Nan Goldin's story in 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed' Nan Goldin, a true artistic visionary, captures emotions like no other. Her photography, combined with tireless activism, has left an indelible mark on history. During my senior year of college, while perusing the photography section of a used book store, I stumbled upon a compilation of photographs by various artists. Within this collection, I discovered a few selections from Nan Goldin’s iconic book, The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. I found myself drawn to her exploration of mood, grounding the viewer in intimate human experiences. There was an undeniable authenticity to her work, devoid of staging, that spoke to me on a profound level. In Laura Poitras' film "All The Beauty and the Bloodshed," Goldin's story unfolds against the backdrop of New York City in the tumultuous 1970s and 80s, spanning the AIDS crisis and beyond. This era provides the canvas upon which Goldin’s narrative takes shape. Prepare to be moved.

This past weekend I attended the  Voice Over Cafe Podcast 's 2nd Annual Holiday Mixer in New York.  As a resident of this great city, it was a real treat to be able to hop on the subway to Mustang Harry's, just shy of Madison Square Garden and join in the celebrations with some fabulous folks.  If you are a casting director, producer and/or agent and didn't attend, you missed a good time to mingle with potential (and very bookable) clients. And I have to thank fellow voice talents  Trish "the Dish" Basanyi  and  Terry Daniel  (who I FINALLY got to meet after all these years) for coordinating such a wonderful party! Events like these also have a way of putting things in perspective for me.  I'm able to reflect on what I am grateful for as a voice talent, things many of us I feel often take for granted when there is either a draught in work/gigs or we're getting in our own way.  And believe me, I'm certainly "known" for getting in my own way.  Between Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, I figured it would be good to create a list of what matters most to me in this profession, rather than dwell on the inequities and most commonly debated topics, for a change. So here goes... For career longevity, health and prosperity. 1.) Having a functioning and healthy voice 2.) Hot water and lemon in the morning 3.) Coffee before an edgy, wry read 4.) Referrals from close colleagues 5.) Referring a close colleague and them booking the job. 6.) The early morning session with an international client. Gets you up and ready. No time to waste. No messing around. Stay sharp and focused. 7.) Very thoughtful (and highly unneccesary) care packages from fellow talents. Those pickles were delightful,  Kelley Carruthers Buttrick !  8.) Discovering how to properly use Mac track pad with Twisted Wav without developing carpal tunnel. 9.) Voice Talent friends who talk about their favorite music and hobbies. 10.) Being physically brought in to audition for a casting Director. Remember those?  And knowing how crazy their lives on the other side of the table are.  Hello! Perspective! 11.) A no-fear approach to cold-calling.  12.) When a client expresses concern over an audition not being what they originally wanted but in the session you nail the read on the first take. 13.) When clients are articulate and clear in their intentions and communicate what they want. A true blessing. Thank you! 14.) In a session, when everyone is on the same page. 15.) When the producer asks if she can take a picture of you in the booth to send to her daughter. That's about as close to celebrity status as I'll get. And it makes me so happy. 16.) Being appreciative that you were hired and not taking things personally even when, after 30 takes of the same line,  the director asks you to do 30 more. 17.) Knowing that auditioning is imperative no matter what stage of my career I'm in. Entitlement in voiceover can burn bridges..FAST! I keep an open mind. 18.) Having audio experts as friends who are kind enough to give you a second opinion or a swift butt kicking. No gating!  Thanks  Uncle Roy ! Yep, you too  Jordan Reynolds . 19.) Spending less time on social media. And more time out in the world! 20.) Cultivating outside interests and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in spite of the isolation challenges this career may bring. It's about finding that balance. 21.) Walking out of the session, and everyone's smiling. #voiceover #gratitude #motivation #networking #NYC #voicetalent

It's just that we're not used to it. As a freelancer, pausing shouldn't be scary. There are days when I wake up and have nothing to do.  People in my field will argue that this is the time to aggressively and relentlessly market ourselves, leaving no stone unturned and making lasting impressions on potential clients.  But is it really?  I know other voice over artists who are probably sending out mass mailings to thousands of production companies because they can't afford to feel inactive - can't afford to pause for a single moment and reflect, or develop a new strategy during this "down time". Market, Market, Market, Hustle, Hustle, Hustle Treat your business like it's an online shoe store. Baloney. This is where I disagree wholeheartedly. When do we ever get a moment to reflect on what we're doing if we're constantly requiring ourselves to be "on"? We're forcing ourselves to believe we have to be busy, active marketers, or that merely getting in front of as many people as possible is the key to building long-lasting relationships. Persistence persistence persistence. Sure, but at what cost? There's nothing scary about pausing and should never be. For a moment. For a few days.  Or a few weeks (Well, hopefully not that long) but an ample amount of time to really let it all sink in. That time can be the most overlooked part of our busy lives, no matter what field we find ourselves in. Pausing on a daily basis is perfectly fine.  Every once in a while, it's a reminder that breaking from our everyday activities serves us well.  The problem is that we don't often focus on taking a break unless it's a planned vacation - to an exotic location or romantic weekend getaway. The usual excuse vacation.  We hear it all the time, don't we? "Oh, I've been working so hard, I need a vacation!" or "I just need to get away for a few days," or the sadly all-too-common daily escape of, "I really need a drink." We say these things because we know too well the challenges of truly releasing our everyday connected selves and taking a break from our overactive minds. In this recent article from "Science of Us" Tanya Basu writes: So go ahead. Put on those noise-cancelling headphones, close your eyes for three minutes, and say or do exactly nothing. Those three minutes might be the key to a more productive and happier subsequent 23 hours and 57 minutes. I remember when I first started charging my iPhone in the kitchen last year.  I'll admit it was different not having something to stare at before drifting off to sleep, but one thing I've come to know: that phone isn't going anywhere.  It will be there tomorrow morning when I wake up and, plus, it's been for my eyes and overall sleep patterns.  I've been able to focus on getting some quality sleep without having to expect anything from anyone or from the phone in general. Now I wake up looking forward to checking my email on my iPhone, having shut everything down the previous night. So, when you cleanse your mind of any digital activity, whether that's scrolling through everyone's Facebook status, baby and puppy photos, or new engagement ring, or your favorite viral video on YouTube, you rid yourself of some trivial expectations. In the long run you do more good than harm.  Stop driving yourself nuts. Basu, Tanya. "Shut Up and Bask in Silence For A Better Life" Science of Us. Web. 19 Nov 2015. 1 Dec 2015 #motivation #health #voiceover

CTDOT Orders Alstom Train Cars to Modernize System Exciting news! Governor Ned Lamont just announced plans for 60 new CT rail cars, arriving in 2026. These modern marvels are definitely worth the anticipation. While I'll miss the old diesel trains, it's clear CT is keeping up its competitive edge. Time to enjoy some quality rail fanning before the transformation! 🚄💨