Wednesday, January 7, 2009

THE VOICEMASTERS INTERVIEWS

VO: Tunghayan ang isang buhay na bayani na tumanggap ng mga parangal sa iba't ibang bansa at nagtaguyod ng magandang ehemplo ng mga kabataan sa mundo.

BF: Hinahangaan ng mundo ang husay nating mga Pilipino dahil na rin sa pagmamahal natin sa ating mga kababayan isang halimbawa na rito si Pocholo Gonzales, isang kabataan, isang huwaran.

VO: Ayon sa pinakahuling survey, malaking porsyento ng kabataang Pilipino ang nawawalan na ng pag-asa na masosolusyonan pa ang mga problemang moral at pang-ekonomiya ng bansa. Paano ba ma-e-empower ang mga kabataang Pilipino upang makagawa ng pagbabago? Paano ba mama-maximize ang effort ng kabataan na hayagang nagpopromote ng social change? Ang mga katanungang ito ang nagtulak sa isip ni G. Pocholo Gonzales, isang youth advocate at founder ng Voice of the Youth Network. Isang organisasyon ng mga kabataan na naglalayong bigyan ng tinig ang mga kabataang Pilipino. Nakita niya ang napakalaking kontribusyon ng mga kabataang ito sa pamamagitan ng active participation.

PG: Ang naging inspirasyon ko ay ang aking sarili. Kasi nung ako'y bata, napansin ko parang hindi lahat ng opportunity ay para sa lahat. Ilang tao lang yung nabibigyan ng opportunity na makasali sa mga iba't ibang mga youth affairs.So ang ginawa ko, nagtayo ako ng sarili kong organization para bigyan ng pansin ang mga kabataan na hindi napapansin. Kasi maraming mga kabataan ang may talento ngunit hindi nabibigyan ng oportunidad para ma-express nila yung kanilang talent, interest saka yung mga ideas nila.

VO: Ang VOTY NETWORK o www.voty.org ay isang internet based nework, na pinatatakbo ng mga kabataang Pinoy at naglalayong mapaunlad ang leadership, youth participation at development, sa pamamagitan ng makabagong teknolohiya. BInubuo ito ng mahigit  100,000 miyembro mula sa iba't ibang lugar ng bansa. Ayon kay Pocholo o "Choy" kung tawagin naniniwala siya na ang mga kabataan ay hindi "apathetic" o walang pakialam. Hindi lang nila alam kung anong dapat gawin at walang nagtuturo sa kanila kung ano ang mga oportunidad na naghihintay lamang sa kanila. Ang mga kabataan ay may mga kanya-kanyang kakayahan at potensyal na kailangang hubugin at bigyan ng lugar para ma-express nila ang talento, nalalaman at kanilang nararamdaman. Taong 1996, nag-aral siya ng Speech Communication sa UP Campus Diliman at naging pinakabatang broadcaster kasama ang mga beteranong broadcaster na sina Joey Galvez at Tiya Deli Magpayo sa programong Awit Tawanan at Say Mo, Say Ko. Naging reporter din siya at voice artist ng iba't ibang networks. Taong 2004 nang makilala niya sina MZ Reyes at Leonel Gonzaga. Mula noon, naging konkreto ang tinatahak ng VOTY Network dahil sa dalawang batang leader na ito. Nagsimula ang kauna-unahang radioshow  ng VOTY, ang Lakas Kabataan, Tinig Kabataan na ngayo'y nasa ika-apat na taon na rin sa ere. Nasundan ito ng Voice of the Youth TV, isang youth-oriented TV program na pinalalabas sa Global News Network.

Text: Saan kumukuha ng pondo?

PG: Lahat yan sa akin nanggagaling. So, wala akong hinihingan ng pondo maliban sa sarili ko. May sarili kasi akong kompanya, yung CreatiVoices Productions, isa siyang voice talent agency at isang recording studio. So, sa pamamagitan noon, siyempre interes ko yung makatulong at maging part ng pagtulong sa ating bansa. Tinayo ko yung Voice of the Youth Network. Bale, siya ay pinapatakbo ng volunteerism. Dahil nga sa wala kaming pondo, so gumagawa ako ng isang sitwasyon kung saan maraming mga kabataan ang intersado doon sa sitwasyon na yun at dahil nga sa bolunterismo ginagawa nila ang isang bagay na kahit hindi sila binabayaran. So lahat yan, mahigit 100,000 na yung naging miyembro namin sa buong Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng internet ay nai-involve at binibigyan namin sila ng pagkakataon na kung paano ang mga gagawin. Pinapaalam namin kung ano ang mga pwede nilang gawin bilang kabataan pagdating sa environment, sa human rights o sa poverty, youth participation at marami pang iba.

VO: Dahil sa mga gawaing ito para sa kapwa kabataan, simula 2003, iba't ibang parangal na ang ang kanyang tinanggap mula sa iba't ibang foundation sa buong mundo. Naging kinatawan din siya sa iba't ibang delegasyon na dinaluhan naman ng napakaraming kabataan mula sa bawat sulok ng mundo. Hindi na nga mapigilan ang passion ni Choy sa paglilingkod sa mga kabataan kung kaya't naging isa siya sa mga technical assistants sa Youth Affairs Office sa MalacaƱang noong 2004. Dahil dito, nalibot niya ang buong Pilipinas upang ipalaganap ang prinsipyo ang Voice of the Youth Network.

PG: Minsan lang tayo maging kabataan, isa itong gift o isang regalo na balang araw dadating ang panaon,babawiin sa inyo yan. Habang nasa inyo yang regalong yan, i-maximize ninyo, dahil kapag hindi niyo ginamit ng mahusay at mabuti pag binawi yan, baka pagsisihan niyo balang araw. Kasi kung ano yung ginagawa mo nung kabataan ka, yun ang magiging reflection mo pagdating mo ng... pagnagkaedad ka na o pagtumanda ka. So habang bata ka, nasa edad kang 15-30, gawin mo lahat ng kakayahan mo. Number 1, kung ano ang interes mo, yung ang gawin mo, huwag ka lang sumunod sa agos ng kung anu-anong mang mga, like, sa kurso diba, kung lahat uso nurse, magnu-nurse ka kahit hindi mo interes. Kailangan gawin mo yung passion mo kasi pag ginawa mo yan, dun ka magtatagumpay.

VO: Kabataan nga ang tunay na pag-asa ng bayan ngunit ang mga kabataang ito ay hindi makakakilos kung wala ang tamang paggagabay at masasandalan. Pocholo "Choy" Gonzales, punong-puno ng pag-asa, punong-puno ng inspirasyon. Isa kang Huwaran.

END


VO: Radio started in the Philippines in 1922 with the best broadcast done by an American, Mrs. Redgrave, and was followed by Henry Hermann in that same year through three test broadcast stations. Since then, Philippine radio has always used the American model which focused mainly on entertainment, music, dreams and news. Radio talents were born out of drama and the voices of the likes of Luz Fernandez, Connie Angeles, Ben David and even Tiya Dely ruled the airwaves. During the 80's and 90's decades, translations to Tagalog became a hit with the onset of Japanese anime as well as Mexican teledramas and the new profession of voice-acting was born through dubbing. today, Koreanovelas are in-thing and it looks like te talented voices of the Filipino will go on in giving life to these soap operas.

MDM: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Up Close and Personal. Tonight, we have with us the CreatiVoices Group. What is thi? Know all about this later on. Know about the voices behind the movies, radio or television shows that you watch... the variatio of voices they easily do. Know how they do all these things right here on Up Close and Personal. With us tonight is the president of CreatiVoices, no other than my fellow at the Philippine Marketing Association, Pocholo Gonzales.

Hi Pocholo!

PG: (as FVR) Well, first of all, I just want to thank you, Ms. Marissa. Wow! You look great until now. Long live Philippines 2000!

MDM: Wow! Pocholo, is that really you? Just a minute, it sounds like I'm talking to FVR. 

PG: Somehow, I'm just imitating his voice. With me is my former vice president.

(As Joseph Estrada) Uh, of course. That's, me. All I can say is, " welcome to CreatiVoices. Thank you."

MDM: Friends, that's just a teaser here at Up Close and Personal. Okay Pocholo, can you give an insight on how CreatiVoices started. We also have with us the handsome and beautiful people of CreatiVoices. Of course, there is Byron, Zap and Jill. When did CreatiVoices start?

PG: CreatiVoices started in 2005, actually. Ang former name niya is Voice(?) Productions so i changed it into CreatiVoices Productions. Actually, Creati Voices or CreatiVoices means we create creative voice form nothing to something. Whatever voice is needed, we can give life to it.

MDM: Here at the CreatiVoices, how many dubbers do you have? Aside from the in-house talents, how many are you really? 

PG: Actually our voice artists... we call them voice artists. Dubbers are just one of them. We also have the radio drama talents. We have more than 300 voice artists here.

MDM: I see. And is there any organization for this?

PG: In 2005, we created the Society of Young Voice Artists of the Philippines and our main goal for that association is to promote voice acting as an art form and as a career. For the longest time, the oice artists are hardly noticed like the radio drama talents. They just die without recognition. And I think it's now time for them to be recognized.

MDM: Well, that's very nice to hear. Say, my friend, Rey Langit. He is the Rey Langit of DWIZ. Sometimes, he's really hard to imitate. But there are really talented dubbers or voice-over announcers that can really imitate and mimic him.

PG: Almost exactly the way he delivers it.

MDM: Really? Is there someone who could do it? Lets hear it later. Anyway, now, what's the main function of CreatiVoices and what are your experiences in the past before you formed this group?

PG: Basically, in 2003, I was in America. I trained for voice acting in the States. For the longest time, I have been in the voice-over industry for 12 years. i noticed that voice artists are hardly recognized and had a lot of complaints. They were not paid on time, the talent fees are too small. Especially in advertising, I can say that they have one of the worst practices. We sign blank contracts, we don't know how much is or when we will get the talent fee.

MDM: So now, do you think that this practice has been connected and are your members protected?

PG: Actually, as part of the Advertising Suppliers Association of the Philippines, I represent the voice talent sector. We have on-going talks wiht the Adboard and recording studios so that we can have contracts.

MDM: So, you now have a real identity.

PG: Yes. I think the problem exactly is the individualism. A person alone is an easy target unlike when you stay in groups and are professionalized. We do have contracts, have ORs. There is an identity and we pay taxes.

MDM: That's right. You should really pay taxes.

PG: The problem with most of the talents is that... I am not really sure if everybody pays or I don't know.

MDM: So that we can help in revenues, right?

PG: Of course, it's really important to pay taxes. That's important so we could help our country.

MDM: Yes, of course. Now Pocholo, when did you discover that you have a good voice or you have a talent in changing voices?

PG: (as a toddler) Actually, I was just 5 years old then.

MDM: 5 years old. I was just a baby then.

PG: I was around 7 years old when I started listening to radio dramas. We did not have a TV set then in Bataan, just radio. So, I was awakened to the world of radio drama. I got tuned into, (various voices) "Prepare! You deserve this!", "Run!" "Wait, child.. wait for me." I used to imitate what I heard.

MDM: Amusing. Imagine that. Imagine, from the voice of a child to elder to hoodlum.

PG: (as someone) "Not a problem, brother." Stuff like that.

MDM: Do you think that it was really hard getting into voice-over announcing of being a voice-over talent and put this up? Was it is easy to get the members together?

PG: Voice acting is like singing. To each his own genre. There's radio drama. There are different approaches like dubbing, commercial voice-over, live voice-over, hosting. Actually, hosting is not considered voice-over because you could be seen. Voice acting cannot be seen. So actually, it was really hard because the voice artists were not united. There were those who accept low fees.

MDM: It really depends if you need a job, right? Or if you're close to the person giving this voice-over job.

PG: I also saw the politics. How will this industry progress if it's just all about family incorporated. Friends and relatives are the ones getting the breaks. They may be people who have the experience but how about those who don't have any connections? So I saw those everyday. I was recieving cells when we were dubbing then, "How do we get get to be voice-over talents?

MDM: What are the requirements for people to get into your group, the CreatiVoice or the Society of Voices? 

PG: Actually, the Society of Voice Artists is under the CreatiVoices. Before you can be a member of the Young Voice Artists of the Philippines, you have to undergo the training for CreatiVoices. We have the Voice Worx, basic voice-acting and workshop led by me, Mr. Bryan Ligsay.

MDM: Yes, Bryan is also with us at the Philippine Marketing Association.

PG: Yes... Bryan, Alexx Agcaoli, Danny Mandia and Neil Tolentino. They are the famous and known directors of dubbing. The principles of voice acting are inputs for our students so they won't be at a loss when they go outside.

MDM: How long are the trainings for them to pass as members?

PG: Actually, training takes a lifetime for us. Here at CreatiVoices, you'll have two months of training but when you graduate, a SYVAP will help enhance and develop your personality. Number 1, there are those who get really shy in front of many people.

MDM: they should overcome that.

PG: They need to get over the shyness and gain self-confidence. We get them to host big events. I always believe that the only thing that will take away your nervousness is being right there in the event.

MDM: Yeah. The live audience at the event itself helps boost confidence.

PG: In voice acting, you need to feel that it isn't you anymore. Once you get behind the microphone, it's no longer Marissa, no longer Pocholo but the character being portrayed.

MDM: Just like in the movies. Those were the days whatever character I am portraying. I tend to forget that I am Marissa. If I should be Isabel or whoever then that would be my portrayal.

PG: Just like the anime I did. I did everything. I was the princpal, "I am the pricipal here. How are you, students?" I also played the character Kamu, "By the way, I am Kamu. How are you?"

MDM: How many characters can you portray? In one portrayal, say an anime, how many characters can you do in one episode or show?

PG: It really depends. As for me, I can do everything. In dubbing, we don't review the script. That's on-the-spot reading. The only time you get to read is when it's time to deliver. That's how good the dubbers are. There's no more reviewing.

MDM: That's great.

PG: It's automatic. Just like in Transformers, I got to play Starscream. (as Starscream) "Master Megatron, what are you doig there hehehe?" And then I woud switch to Red Alert, "Stop it, Starscream." It's automatic.

MDM: So Pocholo, what can you say parents or friends who say that there is no money on being a voice-over so you'd better change your racket or business. What is the truth behind this?

PG: Actually, I don't look at it as a work. This is my craft. An art. This is my life. So for me, if that's the principle that you follow, then money will follow.

MDM: That's true.

PG: It's as if you don't work.

MDM: You're enjoying what you are doing. So it's not really a hard work for you. You work and you play and at the same time you earn money. That's the most important right?

PG: But if your only motivation is money, I think you don't have any place in here. For me, you have to love the craft first and love what you are doing. It's similar to theatre peopl, painters, artists. They will do it even without compensation.

MDM: Yes, that's true.

PC: Because it's their craft.

MDM: They love what they are doing, they are enjoying it. 

PG: But once you get to be famous...

MDM: You'll have to pay a high talent fee...

PG: See? That's just what's happening to us right now.

MDM: Now Pocholo, let us ask our friend Zap, Byron and Jill. I want to hear their voices. Give us a sample.

Byron speaks.

MDM: How about Zap? What can you show us?

Zap speaks.

MDM: That's great. That's Zap, very cool. And now, Jill.

Jill speaks.

PG: Actually, that voice is from a famous anime in Japan, actually, it's now number one in Japan. It's Bokura Ga Ita.

MDM: Great! And you think that she's so soft. She looks soft and fragile but her voice is powerful. Okay.

Jill speaks.

MDM: I;m just wondering, where do you get all these voices? How do you start? Where do you get all the things that you do?

PG: Actually, we teach that in our workshops. That's what we call vocalixation, characterization. It's like singing. There are notes.

MDM: Notes like do, re, mi, fa, so...

PG: Stay, you start at do and maintain your voice at do and we'll talk straight like this... You talk straight away... So, la, ti, do... Right, Marissa? Let your voice stay there and talk that way.

MDM: Yeah, right. Friends, what we're talking about here is very realistic. Pocholo, thank you for being with us here in Up Close and Personal. And of course Byron, Zap and Jill. Don't go away, Up Close and Personal will return.

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