Words that are spoken in a movie or television program by a person who is not seen
BECKY SHRIMPTON was the terrific narrator of Diamond and the Fosters.
At day 5, it's currently over 1000 views. Take a listen to Becky's performance:
The only direction I've ever given Becky in the last 15 months when working together on over 50 videos is: "Hey Becky, I have this that's needed to be done. Interested. I'll pay you $____."
I have never said a word to you besides that about any particular project. As she said to me after I complimented her. "Matt, I'm a professional. That's my job."
And she's right. I remember when Morgan Freeman was on Inside the Actors Studio and Lipton asked him what he wants in a director. And Freeman said in total seriousness. "To shut up and stay out of my way."
I love it. When you're good, you're good and if you listen to Becky's performance in this video, you'll see that she's good.
How does someone get good at something like this?
- I'll assume a little bit a talent.
- A natural understanding of how to tell a story.
- A lot of training and practice.
- And someone who studies to master story structure and how to set a tone and pace.
Put them all together and you have yourself a professional.
In the past, I think I over-directed some actors and under-directed others. I put them all in the same category and treated them all the same. And that's a mistake. Some actors, like Becky and Morgan Freeman, have their own process and don't need someone telling them what to do. As others are natural talents but really need to be taken care of when you direct them. They want you to hold their hand through the entire film. It's the job of the director to understand what the actors needs to make sure the best story is told. And for Becky it's not saying a thing to her - unless she needs me to.
I remember back in 2002 when I worked as in the movie industry as a grunt. One film I worked on was Owning Mahowny, a film about addiction starring the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman who was in a different state during the filming of that movie. He transformed into the character and we only got to meet the real him at the wrap party 2 months later. I remember we were shooting at a Ice Hockey rink at the University of Toronto one day when I was talking to the director of the film Richard Kwietniowski. Were were about 6 weeks into filming and he admitted that he hadn't said a word to Hoffman yet. He just let him be. I was shocked to hear that then but I totally get it now.
- Matthew Toffolo
Watch recent videos starring Becky Shrimpton as narrator for WILDsound:
 DIAMOND AND THE FOSTERS - Chapter 1 Children's Novel Made Into Movie Written by Michael David Weis |
 READ NOVEL READING - NOT ALONE June 2014 Reading Written by Gaelyn Whitley Keith |
 Performed Feature Script - HOPE IS NOT A BLACK & WHITE RAINBOW March 2014 Reading Written by Harold L. Brown |
 PERFORMED - SHRINK PROOF TV Pilot April 2014 Reading by Stephen Potts |
 GOTHAM NIGHTS June 2013 Reading Written by Adam Kennedy |
 READ 1st CHAPTER NOVEL - Rabbit's Man March 2014 Reading Written by Philip Oyok |
 HANNIBAL TV Show Spec April 2014 Reading by Ibba Armancas |
 SHORT SCRIPT - CAGEY June 2014 Reading Written by JJ Hillard |
 FEATURE SCRIPT - SHAPE SHIFTERS June 2014 Reading Written by Andrew Fisk |
 FEATURE SCRIPT - SHOOTING STAR September 2014 Reading Written by Richard Harrison |
 PERFORMED 1st Chapter READING - MY WAY August 2014 Reading Written by Deryn Warren |
