The CreatiVoices Experience: An Intern’s Eye

The CreatiVoices Experience: An Intern’s Eye 

DAY 1. October 18

      “Kung hindi ngayon kalian? Kung hindi ako kikilos, sino’ng kikilos”

      Urgency for completion. These line rang into my groggy mind and spirit as I, Mayie and Layla headed for Makati and finally have an internship interview with Sir Pocholo Gonzales, owner of the CreatiVoices productions---the country’s first voice production, school and management company for voice over talents. I was really sleepy on my way there since it was our organization’s Induction Party the night before that but of course I have to prioritize my academics and I successfully fought with the temptation to linger at my orgmates’ company. I was not even able dressed for the interview because of that. Luckily, the worries of being lost down the busy streets of Makati perished with Layla, a former intern at the said company, accompanying us.

      Aside from the impressive talk shared by the people from CreatiVoices during the symposium at school regarding the voice industry and ducking in particular, the infamous “Meteor Garden,” I did not know what too expect from the interview. I just know that my batchmates who incurred their internship at CreatiVoices learned and enjoyed their internship a lot. When I arrived at the office at around 10a.m., my quite tension-filled feeling faded since the atmosphere elicited by the office was homey and cozy. Sir pocholo was not yet around that time, just his secretary Ate Marice. Se asked for our resume and endorsement letters, which, we unfortunately have forgotten to bring along but she was kind enough to have it printed out. Then came Sir Choy with his wide smile and ushered us towards his table. He asked several questions regarding my achievement and goal in life. As I was observing him talk and scrutinize his applicants too, I said to myself that his workplace manifests his personality. Although I found him intimidating at first, he redeemed my notion of him because he intersperses his words of wisdom with humor. Also, I learned about how he came about having the kind of odd and rare job that he does and how he realized his dream of becoming the voicemaster in the Philippines.

      I was also surprised that the interview would turn out to be my first day in the company. By that time, Adrian was already there and together with Mayie, the succeeding hours spelled work. It was a lucky day for me since I witnessed the real deal of dubbing (a campaign jingle for a politician sung by Ades and the dubbing of “Chetan,” an Indian cartoon animation). In line with the latter, Mayie and I had been part of the “pre-production” when Sir Bryan, the co-owner and marketing manager of the company, asked us girls to write a negative article regarding the Stocks Exchange. He later disclosed that it will be used as filler for his line reading of “Chetan” because the previous script seemed insufficient. It was my first time to write on news regarding business and the stock market; good thing that we had a newspaper with us from which we could get ideas from but still, it was not enough. There, I learned that the stock market in India is called the Bombay Stock Exchange.  

DAY 2. October 23

      “Everyday is an adventure.”

      I embodied this line today since it was my first time to commute to the company alone and I feared I might get lost. But I arrived safely and on time, so I think! I was shocked to see Lovely (also a batchmate from Elbi) at the office who said that she will also apply for internship. Mayie texted me beforehand that she will not report for work today since she has to attend to a prior commitment. Thankfully, martin also came along and the batch of interns was increased. I was asked by sir Choy to make a press release for “OkDubberfest ’07,”a fellowship night for dubbers with a cause (its proceeds will go to a foundation). Afterwhich, Martin, Lovely and I continued working on an article about the company’s profile.We tried to look at it on another angle by using an intern’s perspective. 

DAY 3. October 23

      Expect the unexpected.

      I remembered this line from Sir Choy during my first day as an intern. This day spoke for it since we were asked to have a re-make of the national anthem. We surfed for images that bore the literal meaning of the lyrics of “Lupang Hinirang.”Sir Choy said that it will be used at a convention supported by the Philippine Marketing Association. Pinnacle software that was operated by Ades was very useful. I really wish that I also know how to use it.  

DAY 4. October 26

      After succumbing to German measles for two days, I’m off to work again. I was excited today since I thought that our schedule of going to ABS-CBN would push through but it did not. There had been a change in plan and although I was quite disappointed, I just consoled myself that I will also get to have the chance to meet and greet voice talents. The rest of my afternoon was used for researching on voice acting, the company and pod casting. It kept my afternoon busy. 

DAY 5. October 27

      Today was a blast!

      CreatiVoices paved the way for us, interns to attend a comic conference for free . The said conference listed down tricks and techniques on how to be a professional comic book and manga artist from professional artists of the field (such as DC, Marvel, etc.). The 5^th Annual Comic Creative sponsored by the Glass House Graphics was a two-day seminar held at the Megatrade Conference Hall.

      It was a melting pot of creativity in printed form. Some of the essentials in comic creation are as follows:

1. the four elements to become a pro-artist: ability to draw, ability to tell a story in picture, ability to create a saleable contemporary style, and professional attitude and follow-through,
2. the editor’s job and the dynamics of the lay-out artist,
3. the comics jargon such as reference (model) and swipe (sort of plagiarized figure).

   I had learned that despite the dying comic industry in the country, there is still hope for Filipinos whose life is in comic creation; there is still a market for comics after all. According to David Campiti the speaker, “Comics are after all, all about people.” And, I am sure that Filipinos as we are, we could capitalize on our empathy and kapwa culture in the creation of exceptional comics characters.

   To top it all, the location of the conference was strategic since it also gave us the chance to go malling (for tolerable minutes only). Mayie, Lovely and I went at Powerbooks and Booksale. Our eyes ogled at the sight of worthwhile reading materials. We were also served with sumptuous meals from Kenny Roger’s.  

DAY 6. October 28

      I was the first person to arrive at the venue (from the batch of interns); someone from Manila Bulletin (a cartoonist) who was interested on becoming a voice talent approached and inquired about the company. There had been a forum to jumpstart the conference. Day two of the seminar focused on writing the script for comics, coloring the panels and inking of the comics according from the experts and professionals of Glass House Graphics.  Since it was a Sunday, the conference hall’s spaces were filled up with an increasing number of people especially in the afternoon when press people swarmed the event. 
 

DAY 7. October 30

      Talk about Que Sera, Sera.

      I was early for work. When Sir Choy arrived, he proposed a very delectable proposal of an all-expense paid trip to Corregidor (worth Php 15000 per person) by doing storytelling.  I spent a couple of hours talking to the voice master himself on our way to the bank and Hit Productions too. In the latter venue, Sir Choy auditioned as the voice of Jollibee. Yes, it was a scoop for me, that Jollibee will now have a voice. I hope that he will be able to get that voice and finally have another legacy. Sir Choy’s personality was very consistent, he said that he enjoys his work and that he can not sit at home doing nothing because his system really hungers for voice acting. 

      In the afternoon, we just stayed at the office and watched the dubbed Tagalog version of “Hana Kimi” and “Cromartie High School” (which presented an absurdist genre). I also experienced how it is like to fun dub. During the merienda time, we ate the infamous Amber’s Piche-piche and barbecue. By the way, Ate Gretz made the batch of interns happy as she added up on our list.

      The evening was ecstatic or rather, we were ecstatic for “OkDubberFest” what was held at Access Point in Tomas Morato. There, I met dubbers from “Meteor Garden” (say the voice of Mei Zhuo); Matutina was there including a UPLB alumni (Carlo, BA Communication Arts graduate). The event revealed the other talents of voice talents; it also exhibited their flexibility.