I split my time between Joyce Castellanos discussion on Promos and Trailers and Bob Bergen’s animation workshop. Joyce is a top promo producer for NBC, Disney, WB etc. The woman knows what she’s talking about!!!

Some presenters offered time on mic. I was not one of the lucky ones who won that opportunity, but I sure enjoyed watching and listening to others learn and work their craft.

Promos and trailers require different approaches, within their own niches. For example, a read for a DVD sales for a comedy show and/or POP trailer will be different from a dramatic TV Promo. And a reality TV show promo would be read differently than one for a dramedy, like “Desperate Housewives”.

Joyce suggests audition preparation for various genres in the form of “homework”

•  Break down the script and analyse it; is it a basic promo, or generic read, a piece with quotes, or is it  an episodic. Gather enough information on style.


• Figure out the story the promo is telling


• Research the show. Look for clues to its description to prepare for the read. Good sources are online at tv.comand/or tvguide.com


• research the specific networks, listen to the feel of all promos appearing on the network gathering clues as to the “style” of the network


• know the demographic and attitude and style of the show/or network; news, comedy, drama, reality


• Make a decision as to your approach


• Commit to your read

Once you book the job and are in the studio (yay): You’ll need to take direction!

• Do the initial read


• Listen to the director, and take notes.


• Take a breath and process those notes


• Adjust the read


• Execute it

A good source to hear trailer voices that BOOK!

popcornvoices.com
applemovies.com

Even though network TV promos and movie trailers are still a guy’s domain, there is hope for the rest of the population. I found Joyce  Castellanos to be engaging and informative.

Next: My Bob Bergen notes in Report #8