Round 2 Entry for Chris de Ville

Not Chris!
I was unimpressed with his answer to this question.
Where is the creativity?

good thing you ganked that zombie the other day....or you might of lived up to your name and winded up "toast" ; )
I'm very pleased you advanced! your hostiness shined through in the forums just as much as it did in your entry, and I for one am thankful...

Send us a postcard from Argentina.
Theresa

Sounds great, nice rich voice, great manner and delivery.

Not sure he is given a chance to show any originality.

I bumped the score to 4 stars for great off-the-cuff word choice (e.g., "afraid I was really going to get fleeced"). The improv also held together well as unit, which seems to be a really difficult task. The middle piece was above average; a tip for Chris' future radio career, I'd expect slightly faster pacing there. Content of the billboard was strong, but the reading could have been more dynamic. At least it wasn't cheesy, though, which is what some contestants are getting when they go for dynamic.

Great timing at the end. I look forward to hearing more from you.

the slightly deadpan but humorous delivery. Fluid thinking behind the speaking is evident, but maybe hide your personality less if that makes sense.

I liked that your improvisation avoided cliches (unlike several of the other entrants') and told a good story that many people might relate to. I also liked that you read your billboard with a laid-back but still engaging tone. It was also very well written.

I would suggest that you try to match the read more closely to the words you're reading - "exceptional" "transformative" and "lobotomy" deserved a bit more attention than you gave them. I less liked your live copy read, but I don't think the copy was all that readable.

So... overall, great job!

It was hard to connect the first piece to the phrase Chris was to associate it with at first but Chris brought it back at the end and wrapped it up. The live read was good although I wasn't convinced on the pronunciation.. but heh what do I know I've never even heard that name before the previous contestant. The 59sec spot was good because it definitely grabbed my attention with the music but then I almost ended up being distracted by the music.

the mediocre score is just me being consistent.

Mr. Deville, you win the word association hands down. Dead shark eye is unforgettable as the look not to trust before you go cold. You've got my vote.

This is the kind of quirky, competent, and engaging radio talent we need more of. Bravo!

I had to bail at 3 minutes. Sorry.

I like that on-the-spot creativity and the relaxed, self-depricating tone. He needs to work on his reading skills, but all in all a solid entry.

alas, not much constructive criticism amongst the responses. so, let me say, the live read was a bore across the board - for ALL contestants - and i give you kudos for the most accurate pronunciation and timing... also, your word association was fantastic for an improv piece and obviously wasn't canned and forced to fit the topic like some of the other contestants' responses, and the billboard - intelligent and witty... like your first submission. you're my fave!

I really enjoyed your story about being in the doctor's office. I always got the question, "Do you like eggs?" before my shot. I don't have a problems with fainting though. With the last two readings I just didn't get as much inflection and range in your voice and didn't really get you were interested which is supposed to make me interested.

Rating, excellent in spite of my difficulty in connecting "who do you trust" with his story about "getting a shot." "Billboard" compensated for his beginning meanderings and I appreciated his flawless enunciation. His is a voice I could wake up to.

Whether or not you win, please write and star in a sitcom about a guy who works the night shift in a motel and gets a shot at a national show...

please. I'd have to get a tv for that....
or ...scratch tv, would it work as a radio comedy?
I'm ready to listen.

He sounded nervous and horrified that he's going to be heard by lots of people--probably not a good thing for someone on the radio. Plus, his live copy read sounded like a lecture from an 8am college class.

... in the copy-reading, but i liked the word-association and the billboard as well. seems like his voice would be a refreshing addition to the npr line-up.

Chris is obviously talented, and very funny, but I fought off sleep when listening to his round 2. Inflection and energy would go a long way. I would love to read Chris’s brilliant stories, but don’t feel engaged listening to them.

considering all 3 categories, this guy's on top of the heap, with the appropriate skills firing on the proper cylinders. let's hear more of him on the airways...!

Chris has a lovely mellow and resonant voice. He reads well, and although a little tentative in a couple of spots, I think he is a fine talent who would sound just fine on the radio.

-Art Saves Lives-

The live read about put me to sleep. Where's the inflection?

I agree with CCWriter that the improv and billboard were both stronger than the live read. The live read sounded live in a bad way- almost unready. The improv was really fun and intimate and the billboard was well-written, tho the music was mixed too loud over the vocals for my preferences.

Excellent work! Smooth delivery and very entertaining. The shark eye is a perfect image and really brings your experience to life for the listener. Great job on all three challenges, and especially good on the word assocation - the hardest part!

I really enjoyed the word association. You sounded comfortable and witty, and the story was easy to relate to. It also demonstrated an organized structure, or story arc. The reading a billboards were also smooth and articulate, but the energy levels were lower than the first piece. I look forward to the next round for you!