Voicing "The Debt Monkey"

Many thanks to Bryan and Gary at GIANT IDEAS for auditioning and booking me for the primary primate's voice. I attempted to make this shaggy simian a proper British gentlemen who was actually concerned about the welfare of the people who were carrying him around on their backs. Isn't every monkey?

You can read more about Gary's funny concept and how the campaign came about at his very amusing site, "The Giant Blog!" (the client is Advantage CCCS). Did you spot Pittsburgh's beautiful skyline in the background of the first spot? Hey, come to town and monkey around with us!

"I would never want to be part of a group that would have someone like me as a member."

Thanks for the amusing quote, Groucho, but your prolific writing skills would have thrived in the blogging age, and you certainly would have been invited to join...  

...the most user-friendly bizness networking site on The World-Wide Interweb. In fact, MKC fans - you're all welcome to join me and my multimedia cohorts as we create communications camaraderie by writing heartfelt recommendations about each other. It's a certified cyber lovefest.  

I'll stop the hype right there. As a devout disciple of Marxist philosophy, I am reminded not to overstate my case by a second Grouchism: "I have a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it." 

George Costanza, eat your heart out!

I recently spent two days doing hand modeling on a clever commercial, where my flexible fingers portray five basketball players discussing the new Pennsylvania Lottery game, QUINTO. It was shot on the newest, red-hot digital camera from RED - does that make it digital puppetry shot digitally?

The neatest part of the project was that tiny basketball jerseys were painted on my dextrous digits by Joanne "Kiwi Jo," Gair, a uniquely talented artist who is most famous for creating sensationally sensual body painting like this on those flawless supermodels in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues.

To keep me occupied through my makeup marathon, she graciously let me page through one of the swimsuit issues with my free hand. For some reason, that felt...very...familiar.

OK, back to Joanne (above, touching up Heidi Klum) - she's so multitalented, she also does each model's facial makeup in the same session, and then - shoots the actual photographs for the issue. How does one apply for that job?

The QUINTO spot is the brainchild of Pittsburgh's marvelous Marc USA, and was brought to life by the inventive and talented director-animator Michael Killen and his gang of video innovators at Animal, Pittsburgh's supercoolest production house. Michael's well known for creating the hilarious Taco Bell talking chihuahua. (Hey - someone just lifted that idea and made a full-length film out of it! Michael, call me - we'll have lunch with my lawyers - Dewey, Cheatum and Howe.)

Just found out yesterday I was also cast as the voices of the fingers. I've got to hand it to MARC USA for being so open to audition me twice for the same spot. Thank you Lynn Weatherly, Francis & Gordon! And many thanks to Katie Shenot at Nancy Mosser Casting for bringing me in on the initial audition (you, too Nancy!). And finally, my love and admiration to the most adorable, helpful and friendly talent agent on the entire planet - mine, Becky DiNapoli of The Talent Group (412-471-8011). She makes every booking fun, even when it's complicated or trying. The v-o session is 9am tomorrow at sophisticated sound design studio Big Science Music, which brings this 1:24am blog to a close.

Next up, creating the voice of "The Debt Monkey."

Where yinz at?

That's Pittsburghese for "Where are you?" Well, I'm proud to say that we're based in beautiful Pittsburgh, PA, "The big town with the small-town heart." Consider yourself formally invited for a visit - you'll find a very friendly Midwest vibe with a unique East Coast coolness factor.