ADRing DOUG

My throat's a little raw because I just came back from doing some random zombie sound fx.  One of my better vocal performances.  It's better that it's my throat that gets torn up rather than one of our actors'.  We tacked that little bit of business onto the ADR session with the Abe Sapien of two worlds, Doug Jones.

ADR, Automated Dialogue Replacement, is a system for dubbing.  The recording engineer pinpoints the frame where a mouth starts moving.  The program then adds three beats.  The actor starts performing on the fourth beat, the one that isn't there.

Some people are great at ADR, others can never get the timing.  In this era of digital recording, performances can be compressed, stretched and edited but things sure go faster when the actor can hit his audio mark.

Doug is great at ADR.  It can be tricky because you can't just perform.  You have to perform within the existing timing and lip flaps.  Today Doug replaced two sequences that were recorded by our David Hyde Pierce sound alike.  What was great was hearing Abe gain personality.  When he's surrounded by attacking mummies with rusty scythes Abe just doesn't call out to Liz, he has attitude!  He's actually a little harsh about her reluctance to unleash her literal firepower.  And it actually boosted the humor element of the scene.

When Abe tells a new agent that he's just made "the newbie face" you hear the extra teasing in his voice.  It's hard to explain without playing actual clips but because Doug was not hindered by trying to imitate another actor, he could concentrate more on his performance to the benefit of Mr. Sapien.

Ironically, the stuff that took the longest today one syllable reactions that had to match up with existing dialogue.  But it's always a good day when ADR brings more humor, drama and character to the movie and Doug managed all that today.

Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Peri Gilpin and Phil Lamarr are coming in Monday for their ADR sessions.  They'll also be interviewed for the DVD.  Doug escaped that today because he did an extra long interview already. 

We could see footage from Blood and Iron as early as tomorrow!  Overlapping productions are exciting but certainly stretch the definition of "fun."  It's crazy. -- Tad

Comments

[hb]

Yet another glimpse into the intricate art of voice recording...I cant wait to hear Dougs voice.
And that picture by the way is pretty bad ass...Although it needs some filling in here and there..
Great job and keep dem posts coming!!!

[Helen Chavez]

Having seen the clip from SDCC and hearing the DHP not-so-soundalike (and, of course, Doug's nearly 2 lines of dialogue!) I now CANNOT WAIT to see the films and hear Doug as Abe. Keep up the good work, Tad - we're countin' on ya!!!

[Kirk]

I am so glad that Doug FINALLY gets to be heard as Abe. I like David Hyde Pierce and he did a good job in the movie but his voice is so distinct that sometimes it took me out of the character (if that makes any sense). I wish Guillermo had just left Doug in, but now we finally get to hear what it would have been like and I am sure it will be fantastic!

As this first film draws to its conclusion you just have to be about ready to burst with excitement, Tad. I know we all are!

[Kevin]

I figured since its made for a US release that the voice would be recorded then animated around the voice? At least thats what makes sense to me. Dubbing just makes voices seem unnatural since the actor is being forced to fit his lines into a certain number of frames.

[Helen Chavez]

This particular sequence (I think - correct me if I'm wrong, Tad) had already been recorded by the DHP sound-alike and animated by the time Doug was brought in to do the voice, hence his having to do ADR. This is the final sequence that Doug has voiced - he did the rest back in January.

ADR is an everyday practice not only in animation but also in live-action films, when actors are brought in to re-record dialogue in the film.

[Tad]

Kevin, you're right. The dialogue was recorded first but even without the need to replace another actor's lines, as Helen mentioned, Doug would've come in to redo a few lines.

Just about every movie, live action or animated, needs a certain amount of ADR. Sometimes a jet passes overhead while recording a Western, or the recording level wasn't right, or a swear word has to be replaced for TV broadcast.

In animation, we add lines after the recording to clarify something or to punch up a joke. Often the ADR dialogue sounds MORE natural because the actor has the benefit of hearing the rhythm of the other actors who might not have been there when he recorded. Plus, the actor can match the actual animated movement.

[Jimpson]

The site''s very professional! Keep up the good work! Oh yes, one extra comment - maybe you could add more pictures too! So, good luck to your team!