Return to Sender

You should know by now I have excuses...

2010-08-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

Really and truly, I do.

Long story short, my car asploded. I couldn't fix it, so I bought a new one. Now the bank owns my car for the next 3 years. D:

As far as voice over goes, I've had a few things here and there, but nothing major. Mostly stuff online. I did get the opportunity to record some narration for an art film, which turned out to be really depressing. More info on that when it comes out. :)

Currently inches away from submitting my demo to a studio for the first time. We'll see how far this gets me, because I'm ready to be doing this stuff for real. So fingers crossed.

Clip to the right is a silly thing. Really. If you saw the last clip from Working! I was in, this is a follow-up. I really enjoy this character, even though he does get beat up QUITE a lot. Fun was had by all involved, so I hope you guys enjoy it. :)

July is over, but life goes on!

2010-07-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

So, we are quickly approaching the end of the middle of the year. Or... is it the beginning of the end of the middle of the year? I can never keep up with these things.

Anyway, some news:

- My official OFFICIAL demo reel is currently under construction, but is coming along quite nicely. I hope to have it up and running so I can send it to companies in the area before the end of August. The sooner, the better. :)

- I have recently been approached to work with a prestigious blog known as Voice Actors in the News! I'll be providing some news, info, and stories about Anime voice actors and their involvement with the industry and fans. So keep an eye out for more information there. :)

- Took the Adventures in Voice Acting Intermediate Voice Acting Workshop for the second time this past weekend. It'd been 8 months since the people had last seen me, and I think I brought the heat in this long-overdue session. Made some new contacts, and hopefully I'll have some big news for you guys in the near future.

And that's my news! Still looking for auditions in the LA/Burbank area, so if you guys hear about anything and want to pass along the information, I will love you forever and promise to buy you a plushie or stuffed animal when I'm rich and famous!

Enjoy the new Animation Voice-Over Reel to the right! I know I did. ^_^

P.S.: Those waiting for plushies and/or stuffed animals may end up disappointed because the likelihood of my being rich and famous is less than the likelihood of a penguin being struck by a bolt of lightning while driving a Honda Civic through the Gobi Dessert. Just saying. XD

Well, hello there, Blog. ^_^;

2010-07-20T22:07:00.001-07:00

Okay. Okay okay okay. Sorry. Been busier than a kid in a candy store.

First things first: Haven't heard back from the WoW folks. Waiting is the hardest part of this job. But I'm sure that if they find a use for me, they'll call. Just have to be patient. :)

Second: Went to AX. Participated in AX Idol again (for the last time). Didn't make finals, but my good friend Eric won the whole shebang! I was so proud of him, and I can't wait for him to move down here where all the work is. :D I also helped out my friends by doing the live voiceover intro for their show The Indecent Otaku Comedy Show. That was a cool experience, but a little hectic.

If you want to see my AX Idol Monologue audition, you can! They're up on my Youtube in my Fandubs and Voice Work playlist. Here's a direct link, just for the lazy people: Mark AX Idol Monologue You can also see my work at one of the Adventures in Voice Acting panels live-dubbing a scene as Kyon from the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. :) --> Mark as Kyon LIVE

Third: Workshops galore! Two with Crispin Freeman this past weekend and 1 at the Adventures in Voice Acting this Sunday. Going to be interesting.

Fourth: Working on a new demo. Great Awesome McPerson Person Julie Rei is going to help me write it, and she'll even direct me too! She's so awesome! :D And my buddy Geoff is going to mix it for me! Who would've ever guessed that the smarty-pants teacher's pet from Downey would have such insanely nice and awesome friends?

Fifth: New stuff galore! The best way to check what I'm up to is to check my Playlist on Youtube, like I said. A new chapter of the ongoing original Machinima Obscurity came out. I play Simon the cop in this one as well as two other special characters. See if you can spot my voice! :D

Another episode of Star Wars: Blue Harvest is out, featuring your's truly as the voice of Captain Bulo. Check it! -->Star Wars: Blue Harvest Episode XXX

Also, two new dub clips came out. One from the anime Angel Beats! where I play Hinata (the blue-haired idiot). See that one in my playlist. It's a quick couple of lines, but not a character I get to play very often. :)

The second clip is the one to the right, and it'ss something I'm proud of. It's a shame that Youtube killed the quality of the upload, but let me know what you guys think. I play the main character/guy. His glasses are cool. :D

Auditions, AX, and a New clip!!

2010-06-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Sorry for the overdue update. It was work, then my birthday, then Father's Day, so I took some time to deal with all of that.

Now to fill you all in, I had some AWESOME auditions on Monday! Don't know how much I should say, but I got the chance to audition for some new characters the folks at World of Warcraft are throwing at all you gamers out there! That's all I'm going to say about that. But it was fun, and the casting director seemed impressed by my performance and said she would throw some more auditions my way as soon as she gets them. In the meantime, I now have to play the waiting game and hope I hear from them.

As to Anime Expo, I am still definitely going, and I am absolutely prepared to show my stuff at the AX Idol Voice Acting competition. Unless, of course, Blizzard calls me and has me come in and record before then. If I get paid, I officially cannot participate in AX Idol. But I'm going to keep practicing and really honing it until I got it perfect. :)

Finally, I did something else! I play the red tulip (I think it's a tulip; I'm bad with flowers XD) in this clip from Sailor Stars! It's actually part of the whole episode, but I was just this extra. Hope you guys enjoy! :D

Another New Clip!

2010-06-12T13:32:00.001-07:00

This one is actually a bit old. I recorded for this probably back in October or November of last year, and the producer only just released this clip. I'm not too impressed by my performance, but given how long ago it was, I'll just chalk it up as a learning experience. Hope you enjoy! :D

Callbacks, Auditions, and Projects! (Oh my!!)

2010-06-12T01:35:00.000-07:00

Been a bit busy again, but for good reason!

The truth is....

I was abducted by aliens.

No, really! Aliens of the auditioning kind! I got callbacks for an audition for a video game which happened yesterday. It was an awesome experience, and it will go down as my first official video game audition. More information about that when I can give it.

In the meantime, I continue to prepare for my final chance at the Voice Acting competition AX Idol at Anime Expo this year. This is going to be my final chance because after this, I'll be getting paid work. This is my chance to go out with a bang. It's my chance to announce to the world that I'm here, and that I'm ready to wow them. This'll be my 3rd time participating, and I've never made it to the finals. Even if I don't, if I do a good enough job for me, I will walk away happy.

That being said, it would be nice to make it to the finals. XD

Anywho, a few more projects should be coming out soon, so keep your eyes peeled for those. Other than that, I hope everyone is doing well. :D

3 in 1 Week? What is this?!

2010-05-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

I don't even.

Anywho, some more stuff has come out with me in it! I'm so excited! ^_^

First up is a brief little audio clip of me as a Shuttle Pilot, and my perspective on life when The Master controlled all of Earth from aboard the Valiant. If you don't know Doctor Who, you might not get this, but it still is a nice little blurb. Also, I got to speak in an English accent, AND it was done in support of the Haiti Relief efforts. :) CLICK ME

The second is the video you can now view to your right. It's the trailer for Chapter 3 of Obscurity! This project has been running for a long time, and it's been gaining some fans across the world, believe it or not. I play the crazy guy and Dan the Policeman. For now, enjoy this trailer, and I hope you'll all look forward to the full chapter when it's up at the end of June. :)

Other than that, I hope everyone is doing alright. I'm trying my best to get more and more of these blog posts in. Does it make any difference? XD

Happy Saturday! ^_^

Look, a new vid!

2010-05-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Short and sweet, but still a bit fun. This was a little PSA I did for a Fairy Tail fandub. It's supposed to be the main character giving that little warning that always shows in text at the bottom of Japanese anime. I love this character, so any chance to work with him is jumped on! XD

Other than that, I don't have much to say right now. Keep happy, everyone! ^_^

Achievement Unlocked: Busiest Weekend Ever!

2010-05-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

So, now that I've rested a bit, I can write about THE BUSIEST WEEKEND EVER!!!

Thursday really started my weekend. I was up til 12 midnight recording lines for projects with quickly-approaching deadlines, and still didn't end up recording all that I needed. I'll be recording the auditions that I missed today (which happens to also be the day of the deadline (lucky me right (just wanted more parenthesis =D)?)).

Friday morning, I was up at 7 because I was to accompany some very awesome friends on a road trip to San Francisco. Cristina was asked to go and sing at the premiere of the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (The Haruhi movie) up there, and we all figured that it'd be best if she didn't have to make the trip alone. It was a very awesome time. The movie was AMAZING, and I definitely plan to see it the next opportunity I get. We had an interesting experience at dinner, too. Not sure how much I should say, but I will say that Japanese men really love their Karaoke. XD

We got to bed at about 2:30 Saturday morning. Then it was up again at 7 to leave for home. 2 stops, 3 pancakes, and 6 hours later, we were back in the Greater Los Angeles area. But I couldn't go home yet. Made it to the Pendant Picnic, a gathering of various people involved with Pendant Productions (http://www.pendantaudio.com/). Met up with them at about 3:30, even though it started at 10, and we got to hang out in Hollyweird for a bit.

After some food at In-N-Out, I had to leave for a party at a relatives house. Got to see some people I haven't in quite a long time, so that was very nice. After getting schooled at basketball by people easily half my height (MAN did I feel old), I headed home for a quick shower. Then I was back in Hollywood to attend a club. Internation DJ Lange was playing when I got there, and my acting-manager introduced me to some guys who want me to play at their restaurant/bar/place on the 11th of June. Which is a paying gig. FINALLY. So I'm happy about that.

Finally got to bed at 2:30 (again). But the weekend was not over. I was up again at 7, attended early morning mass (BLEH), and headed out to Santa Monica Pier for day 2 of the Pendant Picnic. This time, we all watched some of the children of people in the group play at Pacific Park on the pier. And then it got cold. Like... really REALLY cold. So they all went back to the CO of Pendant's house. I wanted to go with them, but my day was not so free.

I had to be at a planning meeting/DJ Practice with Infinite Voyage in Marina del Rey. But the meeting didn't turn out so badly! I FINALLY got to have a little B2B session with another DJ! DJ Beyond, one of the newest members of our little group, was willing to do it, so we played together, each DJ picking one track at a time, for about 45 minutes. It was neat, because we have pretty much the same taste in music. :D

And then, THEN I got to go home. Made it by 8:50, and went straight to bed. For the first time in over 3 years, I went to bed before 11 PM. In fact, I was knocked out by 9:30. Slept for a whole 12 hours, too! :D

So, the only new thing I have to show off right now is the finished product of my final for Audio Production, which can be found HERE. Hope you enjoy it.

In the next few weeks, some more projects should be coming out. And I'm also waiting to hear back from a very high-profile video game that I can't speak about. But yeah, fingers crossed, and with some luck, we'll get some good news soon. Hope everyone is doing well! ^_^

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

2010-05-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

So, yeah. Hi guys.

Sorry I've been so behind on this. School has picked up, family stuff happened, and big things have happened.

So let's talk about the big stuff. I was asked to go to a read through at Fox Studios 2 weeks ago. It was for a new show idea that I can't say much about, but it was quite the experience. Don't know if I've been accepted into the production yet or not, but I eagerly await to hear back from the director. It's an interesting story, though. I met Cristina Vee through a mutual friend. Then, I she introduced me to a few other VO people (whom I know have the pleasure of calling friends), who introduced me to more, who passed my contact information to the director who sent me a Facebook message. So whoever came up with the idea of "6 Degrees of Separation" wasn't lying; I've experienced it first hand.

Most of my time lately has been spent working on a radio play that I had to turn in for my final for Intro to Audio Production. As of now, I never want to touch Pro Tools again. I have a great respect for the engineers now, which is exactly why I took this class. Needless to say, the final product will be up online later on, so check my Facebook for more info on that.

I've been actively looking for more auditions, and have submitted a few things, but nothing has come back yet. It's definitely time to update my demo reel. That is what I'll be focusing on over the Summer. In the meantime, if anyone sees something coming up, it would be awesome if you'd either pass on word to me, or mention me. Without an agent, I'm finding it hard to find stuff. But I'm not giving up any time soon. :)

Hearing Voices has officially ended for this semester. If you missed any episodes, head to http://tinyurl.com/HVEps to check them out. We return next semester with more awesome guests and a possible co-host! And keep an eye out for the upcoming Youtube and Facebook pages. :)

Other than that, I hope you're all doing well! I'm going to try and update this a bit more frequently, now that I'm not freaking out about school projects. XD

Curse you, passage of time!!

2010-04-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

So....

I feel like I've failed with this blog. When it's going on 5 weeks and I haven't updated, I know there's a proble,

Life has been beyond hectic, with both VO stuff and DJ stuff picking up some steam. The radio show's been going well, and I've got Christopher Smith as my guest this coming Monday.

Been taking a few more workshops here and there, and just yesterday I recorded some PSAs for Titan Radio, the on-campus radio station at California State University, Fullerton. That was cool. I'll see if I can upload a few of them here so you guys can have a listen.

Some news about the game I was in: the production has been slowed a little bit because the art team went on to bigger and better things, but the director has assured me that they are looking for new artists to finish up the project. I'll definitely update everyone when I have more information.

On the DJ side of things, I have a gig this Saturday at the Woo Lae Oak Korean BBQ Restaurant in Beverly Hills. If you're interested, check out the event on Facebook by clicking this link here: http://tinyurl.com/y3eagap. There's another chance to catch me at RISE in Hollywood on the 30th. More information about the event will be available later on.

This weekend, I'm headed to the Anaheim Comic-con. Looking forward to it, even if I'm acting as Press. Phil Lamarr and Maurice LaMarche will be in attendance, so I'm hoping to talk to them and look into getting them on the show for one of the few remaining weeks this semester. That would be cool. ^_^

Since the last update, my character in Genesis Avalon has reached an untimely end. Check out the whole story at http://pendantaudio.com/genesisavalon.php.

Also, my character has finally made his debut in the Star Wars: Blue Harvest radio play. It's brief in this episode, but his involvement does get a bit stronger in upcoming episodes. You'll definitely want to give this series a listen. Head to http://www.pendantaudio.com/starwars.php for listening pleasure. My first appearance is in episode XXVII (27, for the Roman-Numeral-Impaired).

Finally, the clip to the right is something I'm quite proud of. I recorded for this fandub back at the end of January, and it's finally come out! The producer did a great job mixing this together, and the cast does an awesome job as well! A lot of guys in this one, so to clarify: I play Bishop, the long-haired man in priest-garb wearing sunglasses. Let me know what you think! I had a lot of fun playing the character, and I'm very happy with what came out as a result. WARNING: THERE ARE SOME ISSUES OF LANGUAGE AND BLOOD IN THIS CLIP. VIEWER DISCRETION IS SUGGESTED.

Still working hard to get this career off the runway. Doing my best, so I hope you all can give me your support. :)

Whoops...

2010-03-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

I let time slip by again, didn't I?

Wel, in voice news, I've fallen into a tiny bit of a funk. But I hope to pick back up soon.

Main issue? I cut my chin. I'm alright, but I'm going to have a bit of a scar for a long time, I'm sure.

Anywho, sorry about how short this is. I've been really busy but I promise to try and spend some more time here. :)

Too much good stuff...

2010-02-24T11:47:00.000-08:00

So, Crispin's workshop was awesome. Figured out some more interesting things about my acting biases and other similar things. Not much to say about that other than it was an awesome learning experience that I'll probably be repeating some time.

Monday I found out that I was cast in two plays at Cal State Fullerton. This is very exciting news for me, and I'm really looking forward to working with the 2 directors for "Momma's Boy" and "Playthings." Keep eyes open for more info on that in the future.

The big news today? I'm freaking out. Why am I freaking out? Because I just bought myself a 17" MacBook Pro. Yes, this is at once a career move and an educational one. I needed a new computer, and a lot of things are moving in the Mac direction. Especially since my audio production class is using ProTools LE. It's more convenient for me if I can use my own computer to organize everything.

But, that doesn't mean I can't still cry. Bye bye money!

Clip to the right is a new one. I play the creepy guy, Izaya. :)

18 Days Later...

2010-02-17T08:33:00.001-08:00

No, it's not the title of the next big zombie/infected movie. That's just how long I've been so busy that I've been unable to update.

So, short and sweet: the lesson went AMAZINGLY. I really appreciate all that my exceptional coach worked with me through. I learned a lot about myself as an actor and how I think subconsciously when I act, so I will be working on that. Next time I see this person I will be asking them if they feel I'm ready to shell out the $1.2k to make my professional demo.

Last week was hectic for me. I tried out for Cal State Fullerton's One Acts and 10-minute Plays, and I ended up garnishing 11 callbacks. 10 of those were last week, and one is today. I also find out the results from last weeks callbacks today, so fingers crossed for that one.

Also last week, I was sort-of-officially cast in a visual novel. It is a fan-made VN that explores the life of Alan when he is transferred to an alternate dimension. Namely, the world of Haruhi Suzumiya. And ironically, the game is titled Worlds of Haruhi Suzumiya. You can find out more information at http://wohs-project.org/. Your's truly will be playing the role of Itsuki Koizumi, so keep an ear out. ^_^

Clip to the right is the second of the Fairy Tail clips I've been involved with. I play the pink-haired Natsu, as well as some of the background characters. See if you can spot my voice! XD

This weekend I will be attending Crispin Freeman's Character Archetype class. This will hopefully help me with expanding and discovering the full range of characters I have under my belt.

Speaking of Crispin, tune in to Hearing Voices on Monday at 4:30 PM PST to catch my interview with him! He'll be joining me via Skype, and I've got quite the interview planned. Check it out at http://tir.fullerton.edu!

And that's all for now! Hope you are all doing well. :)

Big Announcements!

2010-01-31T18:31:00.001-08:00

I actually have time to leave an update.

School started back up this week with a flourish. All kinds of interesting professors this semester, so that should turn out well.

Been playing a bit of Assassin's Creed II at my friend Elena's. As a result, my Italian accent is improving in leaps and bounds. Another result has been the return of my interest in free running. This is at once both awesome and troublesome, but I'll do my best to make sure I don't kill myself. ^_^;

More projects have been recorded for and should be coming out in the near future. I'm really excited for a few of them, but I'll give more details about those when they come out.

My new radio show starts tomorrow over at http://tir.fullerton.edu on Mondays at 4:30 PM PST. The show is called "Hearing Voices" and will be comprised of interviews with several voice actors throughout the field, bringing awareness of this occupation to people who may not know much about it. Tune in and show your favorite VAs your support! ^_^

Also, my first ever private voice lesson is this Wednesday. I can't say who with, but this person is going to help me further my voice acting ability, so I'm really excited about it. There will DEFINITELY be a blog entry about that after the event.

And that's it for now. Hope everyone is faring well! :)

Eh heh heh heh...

2010-01-27T08:33:00.000-08:00

Lines for the game were finished and sent off. Apparently the production guys liked what they heard, so now I just sit and wait to see if there's anything that needs to be picked up. If not, hopefully I can officially talk about it in a month or so. :)

Recording for a couple other projects this week, including something that sort of indirectly supports Haiti relief. Which makes me feel all warm and gooey inside. XD

Also, assuming time schedules all line up, I should be starting lessons with my awesome and SUPER SECRET voice coach/teacher next Wednesday. More on how that goes later in the week when I know for sure. And don't ask who it is. All I'll say is he's been doing this stuff for 20 years, and is quite possibly one of the most popular video game and Anime voice actors in the industry, so I feel truly blessed that he would agree to train me up. ^_^

Also also, stuff in the works for a radio show with the school involving voice acting and voice over in general. I have a few guest interviews planned out, so hopefully the radio station will give it the okay, and all will be well. :)

Hope everyone out there is having a safe and enjoyable Winter! If you were caught in the rain/snow that seems to be plaguing half the country right now, do your best to stay warm and dry!

So, I got cast in this game...

2010-01-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

And awesome as that is, I can't talk about it. Which sucks. But what I can say is that it's an indie game, and the story is pretty epic. When I can share more details, I definitely will. :)

Video to the right would be the latest part of Obscurity. If you haven't yet, head to www.cjworkshop.co.uk to catch up. In this clip, I play the thief, the cop, and the dad in the dream. :)

My brother is moving back into the house this week, which is going to make life more stressful. Especially considering the fact that I've got to finish all my lines for this game by Friday, and I can only be in the studio so much. But we'll see what happens with that. Also, if anyone in the general LA area is looking for a room mate who can get away with paying $500 a month or less, that'd be swell.

Hung out with Jason on Friday at his place and watched Laputa: Castle in the Sky for the first time. We were trying REALLY hard not to make fun of the scripting and dubbing, but of course that didn't work out so well. Still, it was an enjoyable movie. Probably not Miyazaki's best, but still worth the watch.

Sunday I got to see Sherlock Holmes finally. It was every bit as epic as I thought it would be. I mean, it was no Avatar, but it was very enjoyable. Especially the way that (SPOILERSPOILERSPOILERSPOILERSPOILER). That was my favorite part. XD

Hope life is treating everyone well. ^_^

ALA 2010 and Stoof

2010-01-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

So, I'm still alive. Uploading pictures and stuff from ALA 2010 to my facebook right now.

Met some new folks at ALA and got to spend a lot of time talking with established talent about everything and everything. For all the stress that went into the weekend, I had a lot of fun. Made some new friends that I hope I get to see around more frequently, and they're all really awesome people.

I have some lines to get done tonight or tomorrow, and I'm most likely going to cancel tonight's radio show so I can do that as well as get the bomb shelter that is my room cleaned up.

Sorry for the lack of news, but the holidays have been slow. And since I've cut out the fandubbing, things have slowed down a lot. So now I need to get out and start actively looking for more work. >_<

Holidays and ALA!!!

2010-01-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

Sorry! Holidays claimed me!

Bit of a sad Christmas, but I got some awesomely memorable gifts. My sister let me be as light as a cloud. :)

A couple of my friends got married on New Years Eve. I got to be a witness. So now, I can actually say that my signature is worth something. :D

Other than that, like I said I would, I have now ceased doing fandubs of anything that has an English license. So, the clip to the right is the "Official Goodbye Clip." I mean no disrespect to Kyle, Yuri, Steve, or anyone else in the original clip. Symbolically, this was the best way for me to move on. Also, some great bloopers at the end, so watch those! Btw, I'm Kamina.

And this weekend is ALA! Come support your favorite anime series and voice actors! And check out the live Anime Olympics panel at 1PM on Friday! Later that day, check out the wonderful Ms. Cristina Vee's concert at 6PM!

And if you see me, say hello. :)

Busy Voice Stuffs!

2009-12-16T23:47:00.001-08:00

Okay okay okay okay okay okay.

First thing's first. I have lined up a gig. I don't know what I'm doing, or how much I'm going to get paid, or how long til it's released, but I've got it. I'll be doing some voice over work for a promotional spot for a sponsor search for a community organization. And that's about all I know. More details when I get the chance.

Secondly, this is now my official announcement that AS OF JANUARY 1, 2010, I WILL NO LONGER BE PARTAKING IN FANDUBS OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE OFFICIAL RELEASES. This is for a couple reasons, the most obvious of which is that, as I approach entry into the wonderful industry that has so far made huge steps to accept me, I do not wish to stab myself in the foot. It's no secret that the industry looks down on fandubs as a detraction from the hard work people get paid to do. While I would disagree with this accusation, I am also a realist, and know that if I keep doing what I have been, I'll get nowhere. So, I will continue to work on fandubs as long as there is no official English-language license. Once a project has reached that point, I will have to refrain from dubbing said project. I will, however, be continuing with my radio plays and such.

Finally, and most importantly, JOIN MAH GROUP! I (with the help of Voice Actor/MAN OF AWESOME Kyle Hebert) have created a Facebook group dedicated to getting Hollywood (and ultimately the rest of the entertainment industry) to understand that they should be hiring voice actors for their blockbuster animated and CGI movies. Too often the industry guys will cast big names to draw an audience but sacrifice the movie's characters and performances for such. We say, let the voice actors do their job! For more information, check out http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=243252943101. On board are great professionals like Kyle Hebert, Wendee Lee, Tara Strong, Kyle Hebert, Cristina Valenzuela, Richard Epcar, Bob Bergen, and Kyle Hebert. And did I mention Kyle Hebert? Come show your support!

Gigs, Roles, and Christmas Time

2009-12-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

So, in case you haven't heard by now (or in case you actually care), I was informed just last night that I'll be headlining a gig I thought I was merely being a warm-up DJ for next week. This is at once amazing and frightening, as that puts a lot of pressure on me since this is the groups first real event. I know my love is Voice Over, but DJing has always been a guilty pleasure for me. I definitely enjoy the time I put into it, and I also take it very seriously. I guess that it paid off.

So if you've friended me on Facebook and you're in the LA area, you probably got an invite. And if you haven't done either of those things, head over to http://www.meetup.com/TrancePortal/ and join the group, and then you'll find all the details for the event literally at your fingertips. If you can, come out and show me some support! :D

I've managed to snag a couple of new roles that I'm really excited about. I'm starting to get more involved in the land of the radio play, and I've also scored 2 roles in some flash animations. More info on those as they become available, but I hope you guys will enjoy them. I've really been working my buns off. Ask my family; they've been worried. XD

As Christmas approaches, I find myself again in a frustrating place. I don't have the money to buy the Christmas presents I want for all of my friends and loved ones. Unfortunately, it's going to have to be another one of those years where I mass-produce computer-made Christmas cards and then just include a privatized note in each. I hope everyone will understand that it's not that I'm not thinking of them, it's just that I can't afford much more than that. So if you get one of these, don't hate me for it. >_<

Hope everyone is enjoying the rain in LA! It's been a long time coming, but now we're in a good place! The plants are getting their much need moisturizing facials, and the area will be much happier for it.

As always, live well and enjoy! ^_^

Aaaaaand, THAT'S A WRAP!

2009-12-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

Well, Turkey Day 2009 went over alright. I made it through most of the day without thinking about how many turkeys were sacrificed for our twisted American holiday.

Moving on, though, another new clip! Been waiting ages and stages for this to come out, as I recorded my lines for this back in the first week of September. But I hope you enjoy! I play the three (screaming) brothers who speak (scream?) at the same time. Feedback is always much appreciated.

Things are getting a little hectic for me here. Money's been tight, but it's going to be even tighter for the next couple of months, as holidays mean no work. Besides that, I'm still a bit behind on a few projects and have even more coming up. I'm hoping to get all caught up this week, and maybe even finish the lines for a surprise project with a friend that I'm not allowed to talk about. But that should be fun. ^_^

Finally, I leave you with this statement: IF YOU LOVE CRISTINA VEE, LET HER KNOW! She has a brand new Twitter account, and could use some followers. Or if you're just a stalker, now you can know about things she does in her everyday life without leaving the comfort of your computer. Just don't tell her I sent you. Check it out at http://twitter.com/cristinavee.

And if you don't know who she is, you should be ashamed. VERY ashamed.

Turkey Day Approaches!

2009-11-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

Hoping to have a wonderful time of it.

But you guys don't care about boring stuff like that. So let me talk about the awesome stuff. New video is my Animation Demo Reel for 2009. It's a collection of works I've been involved in with the sole intention of showing my ability to match lip flaps. Hope it works on that end, and I really hope that people enjoy it.

On another note, Episode 3 of Genesis Avalon (featuring my debut as Martin Alvers) is FINALLY out! Head over to http://pendantaudio.com/genesisavalon.php#new and check it out! And while you're at the Pendant website, you should take the opportunity to subscribe to their podcast so that you can get the new episodes monthly. And also, check out this week's episode of This Week In Pendant (TWIP), because yours truly has a highlighted interview. If you need an extra link for that, here it is: h ttp://pendantaudio.com/twip.php

Other than that, some more projects are coming up soon (I hope), and come next year, once I can afford it, I'm going to be taking some voice lessons with an awesome person who has agreed to help me. I'm not at liberty to say who, but just know that I'm going to be working my buns off! :)

Look! New Clippage!

2009-11-17T14:04:00.000-08:00

So, first things first. The new clip is a wonderful little fandub of the new series Fairy Tail, which is still overseas in Japan. In this clip, directed by the wonderful Jordan Woollen a.k.a. Para_bolic (Dead School Productions), I play Natsu (the pink-haired screamy guy). Had a lot of fun in the role, even though I was still recovering from my bout with Pneumonia, and who knows? Maybe there might be more in the making...

Anyways, this past weekend was amazingly busy. Friday night a couple of friends and I made it to the launch party for Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt's new book, Voice-Over Voice Actor. This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone even remotely interested in voice acting and what it's like to be in the industry. Finally met Yuri, who was on my list of voice actors I needed to meet before I died, and he is such a nice guy. It was great to be able to talk to him.

Saturday was my best friend/sister's 21st birthday, where we finally got to play BlazBlue. Ironically enough, our friend Cristina was able to make it, and she happens to voice a couple of characters in the game. Well, 5 minutes after we started playing, she came in as I was playing with her character. Next thing I knew, the character entered and said her line, and I heard it coming from right next to me as well! It was pretty epic.

Saw Cristina again on Sunday at another friend's birthday party. Played some Rock Band, some DDR, and sang the blues about not being able to play guitar while being accompanied by some very talented musicians. Overall, it was a great time, and I was glad I was invited.

And finally, Monday night was the screening of Magnum Farce: A Shot in the Dark at the LA Comedy Festival at the famous ACME Theatre in Hollywood. It was great to see all of the talented actors in all of the films, and I gave my support to Ken Mora, the director of Magnum Farce. Kyle Hebert was there as well, and we got to talk about a few things, including (but not limited to) FPSs vs. RPGs, zombie invasions, industry standards, and the state of living these days. It was overall a very enjoyable night.

I'm still recovering from my Pneumonia, and yet, I've no time to dally. Over-due lines to record tonight, and I'll have to look into some more projects soon, because my schedule is starting to have open spaces. Thinking about creating an acting account on New Grounds, so keep a look out.

Stay safe, everyone! ^_^

So, I Didn't Have Swine Flu After All...

2009-11-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

Turns out it was actually pneumonia. Lucky me, huh?

Anywho, life is returning to normal for me. I've finished lines for a few projects this week, and I have even more to do tonight and tomorrow. Somehow, I've got more on the weekend, which I have to do around some housework and various other responsibilities. But I'll do it.

I hope to be attending the debut of Magnum Farce on Monday night to support Kyle Hebert. Assuming my paycheck comes in on time, I can buy my ticket ahead of time so that I'm sure to have a seat. But we'll have to wait see. Should be pretty fun. :D

Halloween, H1N1, and more!

2009-11-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

That's it. I can't take not updating this thing anymore! You may want me to shut up, but I'm not going to. Because I like the sound of my own... typing.

Anyways, Halloween was cool. Went as a vampire-demon-thing. Not really sure, but had a good time. And then, 2 days later, I came down with Swine Flu. Still trying to kick this sucker, but luckily all symptoms are gone save for a racking cough and the occasional sore throat. But I'm hoping to be fully-recovered very soon so that I can get back to recording lines.

I was accepted into a voice acting competition called "Act It!" and our first challenge is due this week, so here's hoping I can recover by then. If you're interested, you can check out the details on THIS NEW VOICE ACTING COMMUNITY SITE CALLED VIRTUAL HOLLYWOOD. [/shameless plug]: http://z6.invisionfree.com/Virtual_Hollywood/index.php?showtopic=10

Last but not least, I attended Cripsin Freeman's Anime Mythology seminar about women. If you get the chance to attend, do it. The Adolescence of Utena makes so much more sense now. So, it's definitely worth it to attend.

Trying to aim for Crispin's Intermediate VA workshop again on the 21st, but we'll see what happens, since I'm incredibly broke. But life goes on, and so must I! Peace! ^_^

I'm not dead, just sick...

2009-10-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

So, I was sick for a week about a week ago. I got better, and thought to myself, "Great! Now I can do all those lines and auditions I was supposed to do last week." Well, I'm an unlucky guy, I guess. On Monday afternoon, my throat started feeling a bit sore. It's a lot worse today, and hasn't really been very comfortable. So I'm sick again, and falling even further behind on all the things I'm supposed to be doing. Fun stuff.

Thinking back, I might have caught something on Saturday, when I spent 8 hours at the filming of the Spike Scream Awards, an Oscar-style award show put on by Spike TV. You guys should check out when it's airing for you, because I might actually be on camera. That's right, I could be on TV.

In other news, my radio show tonight will be interesting. I'm going to see if I can get a friend of mine to come guest host so that people don't have to listen to my crappy voice and I don't have to aggravate my throat any more than necessary.

Also, my good friend Daniel and I started an Amateur Voice Actor interview show. Check it out--> http://voiceactingalliance.com/board/showthread.php?t=47515

And a new clip has been placed in the video feed. This would be a Potemayo fandub where I play Kodai, a bizarre man with a son who's found a mysterious magical creature. It's a fun project, and I hope more clips get made in the future. Click play and enjoy! ^_^

Translation, Auditioning, and I was on a boat!

2009-10-06T13:43:00.000-07:00

Oh wait, I already said I was on a boat, didn't I? Oh well. I WAS ON A BOAT!

Moving on, auditioning for a few more projects this week. I'm waiting on some cast announcements for some radioplays, one of which has had its deadline extended til the 12th, so I'll be waiting a bit longer for that one. I'm in the studio tonight recording more auditions for more projects and planning to have a great time doing it.

On another note, I translated the first sentence of the Bakemonogatari "light" novel. This thing is 445 pages of Japanese characters and kanji without any Furigana at all. So it's been hard. Posted below just because.

「戦場ヶ原（せんじょうがはら）ひたぎは、クラスにおいて、いわゆる病弱な女の子という立ち位置を与えられている―当然のように体育の授業なんかには参加しないし、全校朝会や全校集会でさえ、貧血対策とやらで、一人だけ日陰で受けている。」

"Hitagi Senjougahara has been given the title of the sickly girl in her class― Naturally she is looked down on because she doesn't participate in physical education class, and to avoid getting anemia, she sits alone in the shade during school assemblies."

And there you go. It seems like it should be easy, but it wasn't. Took an hour with the help of my Japanese Class assistants. Part of the problem was that some of it was hard to explain in English. But I got the general idea, and I'm happy that my translation makes sense. Anyone out there who's really good at English AND Japanese want to double check this for me? XD

New voices, a slight cold, and I WAS ON A BOAT!

2009-10-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

So, while recording a couple of auditions 2 days ago, I discovered 2 new voices. I rather like them, as one is pretty much in my same range, but doing something different with my throat, so it sounds like a different person. FINALLY, I have a voice that doesn't sound like me! This is good news, so yeah. ^_^

Also, I've been ill for about the past week. Somehow, I've been able to work around it, but today I'm a bit nasal. And my voice is a little high-pitched. So no recording for me today.

Also today, I WAS ON A BOAT! No, really, I was. DJed a boat party with 40+ people. I might post up pictures later on when they've been uploaded. But from what I heard, people enjoyed it. It was nice to hear the comments and feedback I got from everyone, especially since I had to work around the death of the generator while we were out. But we made it work. :)

New clip is a fandub of Chaos;Head, which is owned by Madhouse, check out the official releases, yada yada yada.

Finally, check out my latest radio play role! I play a dad. Which is a new thing for me. --> Midnight Sugar: http://voiceactingalliance.com/board/showthread.php?t=47010

Wait! Don't leave! I'm alive! I swear!

2009-09-28T22:54:00.003-07:00

So, I've been away for a while. It's not that I haven't wanted to post another blog, but I've been busier than I thought possible.

The short and dirty status report is as follows:

- Went to the Intermediate Voice Acting workshop with Crispin Freeman at the JVTA.
- Saw the Eureka 7 movie premiere alongside Crispin Freeman, Tony Oliver, Stephanie Sheh, and several of my friends.
- Got cast in a new visual drama called "Obscurity" as a Mass Murderer. That's actually the characters name. Lots of fun, this one is.
- Genesis Avalon Episode 1 FINALLY came out! Even though I'm not in this episode, it's great to see the awesome that is this project in it's completion. It's been in the making for 2 years, so it's nice to see the hard work come to fruition.
- Had a 1 hour session with Kyle Hebert over Skype. He seemed impressed, and said some very nice things to me, and recommended a vocal coach for commercial work. I'll definitely check her out once I have the funds. I'm still kind of floating in the air from some of the things he said, but I'll try and deflate my ego so I can come back down to Earth.

And that's mostly it. I'll be updating the video soon with some new material. In the meantime, check out the productions I mentioned above! ^_^

Genesis Avalon: http://pendantaudio.com/genesisavalon.php
Obscurity: http://www.cjworkshop.co.uk/

Chinchilli Day, Intermediate Workshops, and Guilt Removal...

2009-09-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

So, in an attempt to remove some guilt from my conscious, I've taken off the Naruto fandub. Instead, I've put up my 2009 blooper reel. Enjoy the laughs. Some minor language warning in the first 15 seconds, but then it's clean for most of the rest of it. <.<

Yesterday was Chinchilli Day, according to Las Vegas. I really wish someone would have told me that yesterday. I'd have taken it off as well. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, go to Youtube and search for "Chinchilli Day."

So, now to the meat of this entry: The Intermediate BangZoom Workshop on Saturday. Again, let me reiterate how amazing these workshops are. Tony Oliver has officially become one of my heroes. He's nice, patient, and really knows how to help actors bring out the best from inside them.

The instance that stands out most to me involved some practice ADR a.k.a. dubbing. I was in the booth, headphones on, trying to match my voice and emotions to a scene from Rurouni Kenshin as the lead. Kenshin is a wandering samurai who has given up his killing ways to seek out a more peaceful life. However, the character Shishio has forced him into a fight where the only way to end it is for one of them to die. Kenshin finds new resolve in the fight by realizing that should he fail, countless innocents will suffer for it.

Now, that is a bit of a paraphrase, but it's just so you get the idea. I am most used to playing teenagers (which Kenshin is not), and particularly school students (which Kenshin is not). I've also rarely played anyone with any kind of anger involved. So this scene was an intense challenge, especially since I'd seen the original dub AND watched a friend (Sean Chiplock) win AX Idol doing the same scene. Both were extremely epic, and I tried very hard to achieve that same level of epic without copying either the original or Sean's performance. And it wasn't easy.

On the most important line of the scene, I had done 3 takes and still hadn't got the right feel that Tony wanted. I had gotten closer each take, but it was still missing something. And then, Tony said something that I honestly can't even remember, because it put me so into the character and the moment that I was very literally not myself anymore. When I watched the playback after we had finished, I was pretty much speechless. There was a strength to my voice that I've never heard before. I was very impressed. And I knew that I hadn't done it alone. It was at that moment that Tony more than proved himself in my eyes.

And what's more, it didn't stop there. Tony continued to do the same for each and every one of the other students in the class. So kudos to you, Tony. You have made my hero list. I hope you someday come to know of the appreciation I'm sure all of your actors feel for your wonderful directing. :)

Overall, another day and wad of cash thoroughly well-spent. If I get the chance to, I will do it again. It's that worth it.

Anywho, Crispin Freeman's Intermediate workshop is this Saturday. This will end my month-and-a-half-long run of workshops and money tossing. I can't do any more for the time being, but my resolve has not been lost. I'm just getting warmed up! >:3

Also, if you get the chance, check out a new radioplay I'm in called Alex Harcourt. I play the lead (luckily), and am definitely using this as both a learning experience and a resume builder, since it's completely original. Link is here: http://voiceactingalliance.com/board/showthread.php?t=46528.

Workshops, New Clips, and Work Sucks...

2009-09-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I've updated the clip to the right to show the latest released piece I've been in. Hopefully some more will be released soon, and I can get the ones I'm REALLY excited about up here. I'm not really pleased with my performance in this one, but it was probably the most emotional piece I've done up to this point. But you know what, I'm going to just leave it behind me and move along.

Going to another topic here, now 2 days away from the Intermediate level workshop with Bang Zoom. Really looking forward to that. Should be lots of fun! :D

Also, in case anyone wanted to know, data entry sucks. It's one thing when you have a job and get paid to do what your job description says. It's another to spend the day behind a desk typing in numbers to a database. That sucks.

Another Monday. Huh? What do you mean it's Tuesday?!

2009-09-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

So, holidays officially suck.

Okay, that's a lie. But they do throw off my whole schedule completely and entirely. I mean, how fair is it to give someone a three day weekend when on that fourth day they're expected to wake up at 6 AM when they've been up until 2 AM for the previous 3 nights? Curse you, American school system.

This week should be fairly breezy, in terms of what I actually care about. I've caught up with most of my lines (next deadline isn't until Saturday, and it's my own clip, so the deadline is a bit lax), so really I'm just cruising this week until Saturday. That is the day I attend the Intermediate level Adventures in Voice Acting workshop over at BangZoom.

I can already imagine how awesome it's going to be. I think I might be a little less shy this time. I might still be friendly, but this round, it's for keeps. If you see me there, don't be surprised if I look intense. I fully intend to show these guys that I mean business. Even if I suck, which is usually the case, I want to show them how much I want this, and how much I'm willing to work for it.

So yeah... Puppies are cute. Someone get me a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, yeah?

The Voice, she is gone!

2009-09-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

So, Thursday night I went to a concert. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but in this case, it was huge. Nickelback concert. Featuring Saving Abel, Papa Roach, and Hinder. Didn't really like Hinder, but Saving Abel was pretty good. Papa Roach was awesome. And Nickelback made me lose my voice.

So here I am now, in desperate need to record, and constantly trying to get my voice to cooperate. And of course, my sinuses decided that they were going to disobey my wishes and clog up. So now I'm downing sinus medication and hoping for the best. Got a few deadlines today, tomorrow, and Tuesday. So yeah.

Oh, and attending the AiVA Intermediate workshop in 6 days and counting. ^_^

They've changed the faucets!

2009-09-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

Walked into the bathroom here at work. All of the handles on all of the sinks have been changed. That's just weird.

In other news, California's still on fire, just watched Bakemonogatari Ep 8 (very strange and hard to follow, but absolutely amazing nonetheless), and might get some feedback on my demo reel from Kyle Hebert. That'd be cool. :)

Here be the post-workshop thoughts!

August 23, 2009
Wow. Abso-bloody-lutely the best day of my LIFE! Tony was awesome. If I ever get directed by anyone, I hope it's Tony. He really knows how to help an actor pull out their best for the scene.

The workshop was wonderfully informative. For the most part, a lot of the physical and anatomical aspects of what he told us were things that I already knew. But I can definitely see how that information would help someone who WASN'T familiar with it, so it was all good.

Probably the best part of the day was behind the mic experience. Having a director lead you in the right direction and an engineer to line you up and make sure everything is as amazing as it can be is so liberating as an actor that I can't even begin to describe it. When I'm working out of my house, there's little-to-no interaction with the director, and I think that that may be why AVAs can sound so amateur in comparison to pros. I honestly believe that a director can make or break an actor's performance.

I got to throw my voice behind the character Moondoggie from Eureka 7 (throwing a tantrum about everyone loving Renton more than him [totally right up my alley]). I also got to voice Albert from Gankutsuou (CURSE YOU JYB) opposite to another of our workshop's members who voice The Count. That scene was fun. I got to play someone of upper-class status with a generally innocent character type. That was very nice.

Overall, I loved it. I'll be doing the Intermediate level next chance I get. :)

The end. :)

Where'd those days go?!

2009-08-31T23:13:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-08-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

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. ^_^