Where'd those days go?!

So, it's been a few days, huh? Well, long story really really short, California's on fire, I've been busy, and I released my first ever production! I scripted, mixed, AND directed this sucker, so I hope it came out alright. You can see it in the side bar, or (if you're in the future when the side bar clip has been changed), check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iz_IQvWy50.

Now, on to the promised pre-workshop thoughts!

August 22, 2009

I arrive at the building around 9:25 AM. It's not even close to what I expected. As was the JVTA building, it is a small, unmarked building with limited parking in the area. But unlike the JVTA, I know that these guys have equipment inside that is infinitely more useful than anything I've used up to this point. And if there's one thing I've learned by now, it's not to leave things up to outside appearances.

Luckily, today my friend Juan [name changed for anonymity] is also taking the workshop. I'm all for meeting new people, but there's something uniquely comforting about knowing that I'll be familiar with at least one person who's there for the same reasons I am. He and I have known each other for a while now, so hopefully we'll both benefit from this workshop.

I kind of know what to expect, but at the same time, I'm hoping to be surprised. I'm going in with an open mind, and I'm ready to learn. It'd be really awesome if I get discovered here.

9:35, I'm asked to move my car. So I park elsewhere and head in.

Once inside, I am again surprised. Red velvet couches greet those who wait, neatly placed in the corner of the entryway. The "front desk" is a small computer desk with an iMac in front and the "Land of the Rising Sun" behind a larger Vizio screen in the back. The building is large, spacious, and quite pleasant. A rock pond sits on the side lined by small plants.

I ran out to grab my water bottle, which I had conveniently left in my car, and on my return, I see Tony.

And now the day begins.

So there you go. Those were my thoughts as we started the workshop. Hopefully I'll have some thoughts from the post-workshop rush tomorrow for you. :)

Stay safe everyone!

So here I am...

Well. Hello there, everyone. I'm new to this blogging thing, so please, everyone be kind.

Let me just introduce myself here. My name is Mark, and every where on the internet I can be found under the moniker "Akumaryu." I'm a music fan, and anime fan, and a fan of a lot of other things, too. Probably my biggest love in life, though, is Voice Acting.

Now, if you've been on the internet for a while, you'll probably think "Oh jeez, here comes another one of THOSE people." But I hope you'll stick around and give me a chance.

See, I eat, sleep, drink, and breathe voice acting right now. Seriously. I wake up in the morning and think about it. I go to bed thinking about it. And it even invades my thoughts at some of the most inopportune moments.

I've been doing amateur voice work through the Voice Acting Alliance (awesome sight, check it out if you're at all interested in voice acting [recently suggested in a workshop by Tony Oliver!]). I've done a lot of fandubs (SHH!!), a few radioplays, and a couple of other things here and there. Chances are if you just run over to Google and/or Youtube and type in Akumaryu, you'll find stuff featuring my terrible voice and shoddy acting, so I won't do any plugs (just yet).

Lately, I've been taking some serious steps into getting involved with voice acting on a professional level. This, as I'm sure some of you know, is a terrible idea. But hey, I can't do anything else. I mean, I can do other things, but none of them speak to me like this. Plus, I'm mediocre at everything I do. This is probably the only thing I can honestly feel I do well with

But enough about me. Let's talk about me. ^_^

I've attended a couple of workshops now, and plan to attend quite a few more. I've set a goal for myself to at least have worked on one professional project by this time next year. And to help chronicle my journey, I've decided to start up this little blog. So I'll be coming here pretty frequently to let everyone who's interested in how that journey is going. In the words of several great minds, "The journey is often more amazing than the goal." Or something like that.

Anyways, I hope not to bore everyone too much. This probably won't be one of those blogs where I start off all serious and after a couple of entries talking about what I had for lunch and how mad I am at Jamie or Bill. I'm not that kind of person. Though I won't promise there will be no randomness. I AM THAT kind of person. So be warned.

And that's pretty much all I have left to say. Next post will be a re-post of sorts. I'll be typing up something that was a pre-workshop thought blurb from just before my last workshop, the Adventures in Voice Acting Beginning workshop. Then, my post-workshop thoughts.

Yeah, like I said, kind of boring. ^_^