XYLIATALES VOX CONTEST! (Rules and FAQ Thread)

[Barb Jacobs]

Here are da rules!

-You may enter up to three times as three different characters.

-In the thread marked Xylia Vox Entries please submit each entry as a separate file. They can be on the same post, but separate audition files, please. DO NOT SUBMIT ENTRIES IN THIS THREAD, PLEASE.

-Please label your entry with your name (or screen name) and the character you are doing the voice of.

-Mp3 or Youtube files are fine but PLEASE NOTE: if you submit a Youtube or video file, please do not show video of yourself - you can post an image of the character you are auditioning for. Video can give a subconscious unfair advantage (or disadvantage) in this contest if you happen to look a lot like a character (or conversely, NOT like the character) you are auditioning.

- Additional dialogue- once you've completed reading the script dialogue, if you have a 'feel' for the character and want to read additional lines from the story, riff or improvise, go for it. If you're good, it will likely score you brownie points with the audience. (However, if you use profanity you will be disqualified - I know- it's in character for Tychia- so bleep it out!!)

-If we have a lot of interest in this and have more than twenty voice entries, we will do a preliminary judge vote as we have done in past contests with myself, Kez, Josh, Beatleboy, and Miss E.

-The winner will receive two pieces of original drawn art from the production of Xyliatales (there are several to choose from) and will be asked if they would like to do voice over work on a future Xylia trailer project!

-All entries must be received by midnight July 5

-The winner will be chosen by reader vote on July 13, 2009.

-If you have questions about the contest, please post them on this thread.

-PLEASE DON'T POST ENTRIES ON THIS THREAD.

I think that's everything. So...here are the scripts! As I mentioned, if you would like to add more, that's fine- but you must read these bits for comparison to other entries for the same character.

Finally: A note on the 'Azloe dialect': Ideally, I would want to be an exotic or continental dialect with a bit of a French or Greek sound. Since the 'Azloe accent' hasn't really been formally created, a classic British dialect will be all right for those characters who grew up in Azloe.

_______________________________Scripts_________________________________________


Xylia of Azloe:
Xylia spent her childhood in Azloe, and technically would retain a faint accent from there- if you want to use a classic British dialect for Xylia, that would be fine too.

This is from the opening prologue scene where Xylia first takes Claudius to tell him he must return:
No, no! Not who! Where! Oh lords, don't you remember? Ah, you've just been killed -you might be addled from that. Give me your hand.
It's all right, that life is over. But you must return to Epsilon.
It was your promise, Claudius.

Claude of Azloe:
Claude's accent reflects his Epsilon upbringing- having been raised by a wealthy family and attending affluent schools, his voice has a proper British dialect. He is fairly soft spoken and understated.

Here is Claude's journal entry when he was still Charlie:

From that moment, my life became quite ordinary. After graduating from Oxford, I moved to London and began work at the Royal Historical Society. I couldn't forget the mythical stories from my childhood, but I never saw Dr. Ambrosia or any other delusion again. Until this night.

This is from the scene when Claude is writing in his journal, feeling a bit tempted by Miss Alitria:

It has been nearly a month since I even glimpsed Xylia in the mirror or a dream. Where she once invaded my thoughts whether awake or sleeping, I now find myself struggling to remember her. This is at once worrisome but also a relief from the longing...but not entirely.


Tychia of Azloe:
Tychia has spent many years in Epsilon and has adopted a heavy Cockney accent. She is tempermental, brash and loud.

From the scene where Tychia arrives in Digonia and is surprised by Claude's new look:
Bloody 'ell! Look wha' you go an' do wi' yourself in a couple hours! You're absobloodylutely scrumptious! Fancy a tumble?
Hmmm....Don't have much to say, do ya?

Here's another bit where she lays the smackdown on her minions at The Hive (edited for content ;-):

ENOUGH!! There's already precious few of us in this hole of a world! I don't care wha' any of ya believes in! But we all wanna get out o' Epsilon! An' we're gonna work together to make it 'appen! SQUARE?!!


Ambrosia or Dr. Ambrosia:
Ambrosia was raised in Azloe, and therefore would retain the dialect from there. Again, since a formal dialect hasn't been created for Azloe, you can use a classic British accent for Ambrosia.

This script is from the opening scene of the story where Dr. Ambrosia is telling little Charlie his own angle on British history:

I'm going to tell you a different tale about the day that the Normans conquered England. History is often changed in a day. For some, that day is their last. But for others, it is only the end of one chapter, and the beginning of another.

Here is another Ambrosia bit- when he's telling Claude about his own personal history.

And so it was that you came into the World, Claudius. Your mother, in fear for your life. Myself imprisoned in a secret oubliette, bound by enchantments stolen from my father. And my own father the great sorceror Kython, encased within an inescapable spell of solid crystal.


Deimos of Azloe:
Again, this is an Azloean character, and since the accent has not been formalized, feel free to use a classic British dialect. Deimos is a bad guy, but he doesn't think of himself that way, of course. I see him having a soothing, hypnotic voice.

This is the scene where Deimos is coming down on 'bad' Phanessa:

You have made terrible choices, Phanessa. And despite that, I'm forgiving. I bring you before me Phanessa so that you may begin again. You have the gift of eternal rebirth. Because of the pain I suffered from my loss, I sought and discovered victory over death. And I gave this gift to all in Azloe. And yet...there are those who call my greatest of gifts a curse. They would poison other minds and hearts with betrayal. Unbelievers.


Livy-
Livy is authoratative, mothering, and proper. I hear a classy British voice for her (think Dame Judy Dench).

Here is the scene where Livy and Charlie return to the office after escaping from Tychia and Brimaz.

Of course not! You didn't expect Ambrosia to wait here for as long as it took you to come to your senses? I intend to summon someone to aid you, but I need your assistance first. I need you to take down that picture from the wall.


Katharos of Azloe-
Katharos was born on Digonia, but has spent her life around Azloeans. Katharos is hyper, bubbly, and easily excitable.

This is the scene where she gets to greet her big brother for the first time:
Claudius!! OH! We're so happy you're here! Your'e finally here! And awake! (giggles) He looks like me! See, Adora! He doesn't look a thing like you!

Adora of Azloe-
Adora was also born in Digonia. She is the antithesis of everything her sister is. Adora is cool, calm and collected.

Here, Adora's voice should have a hint of contempt, because she's teasing her sister in this scene- her favorite pastime.

Indeed, you're so impatient - it's no wonder Claudius stays up there. You e-mit bad energy. He's trying to a-void it. Whiner.


Oly- is a cantankerous, wingless amphekeron from Berobos. I see the Berobos accent being sort of a Slavic sounding thing.

Hmph. Claudius! Nine hundred years and all ya ever manage to do is get yerself killed!

[Peg]

It's startling how tough it is to say "summon someone" clearly. *wry grin* What reads well is tricky, as dialog.

[Barb Jacobs]

Mmm- you have a point! ^_^

So....you're reading as Livy, eh? hee heee hee!

~B

[Peg]

Yep. I've got a shot at doing motherly successfully. Going to practice before I submit, though. :)

[Meghan Stone-Burgess]

SO COOL! I've always wanted to try voice acting out... Now if only I can get my French accent to come out when I'm speaking English...

[Francisco]

Is MP4 OK (because that's all Quick Time would let me export as)? Sorry, I'm on OS X 10.3.9.

I've got 2 MP4 files ready to load but I'll wait until I've got permission.

Ps.
They are audio only.

[Robin Hersom]

Hullo, I'm new on the forums. And very tempted by this. Let me rehearse a few times, and I'll see what I can dredge up for you.

[Peg]

Go for it! And welcome. :)

[Barb Jacobs]

Sounds good! Welcome to the
Xyliacs!

[Francisco]

Welcome to Xylia and its forums.

[Robin Hersom]

By the way, for anyone that's having difficulty recording a contribution, or getting it into the right format; Audacity is a brilliant program for recording sound files, and exporting them in a number of audio file formats. It's free, open source, and compatible with Windows, OSX and Linux. To get it to encode MP3s, you have to download LAME as well; instructions for installing it are here.

[Francisco]

Thank you for your advice.

[Joseph Volpendesta]

Sadly, I lack the means of participating in this contest, but I would think of myself as more the "Ambrosia" type. I can do a fairly good upper-crust English accent. I can do a number of accents, including a guttural and thoroughly incomprehensible one that sounds vaguely Eastern European. I save that one for special occasions, such as bill collectors on the phone, etc. Good luck to all the participants.
Barb, loved you and your kids on the webcast. I loved your "Who are these kids and why are they calling me 'Mom'" expression. BTW, have you picked out the convent for your daughter yet?