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]

If it's lack of file making apps, Robin Hersom's suggestion about the free Audacity program could help. Cross platform
compatible, and my friend John praises using it for anybody non-Mac, or who does not have GarageBand, which
is Mac only.

I sure wish you could try it, because we need an Ambrosia, and now I'm ever so curious to hear.

[Scott Maitland]

Ooh, this should be great fun.

My first post would have to be a question, but--how exactly does one pronounce 'Kython'? KITHon, KEEthon, KYEthon, kTHON...?

[Peg]

Oh, good - we need an Ambrosia! :) I'm sorry I don't know, on the pronunciation - best bet is to catch Barb over on video when she's streaming a discussion, and ask by e-mail or chat then. She's our expert on how things sound, being the
author. She answered pronunciation questions for us on the last broadcast, but that word hadn't been asked about yet,
so catch her next time?

All the Best, Peg

[Barb Jacobs]

Hi Scott! Thank you for joining, and I can't wait to hear your Ambrosia entry!

His dad's name is pronounced KYEthon. Good luck!!

~B

[Scott Maitland]

Thanks, both of you. I actually did pick that one after a bit of thought, so, yay, I got it right! :-) And now, another question for anyone who'd like to answer it. I'm also trying Deimos, both straight English and with a touch of something else in case it manages to sound Azloean. Should I save it with the two versions of the main line, then two versions of the rest of his scene, or keep the entire scene together for each try?

[Peg]

I would do the entire scene in one voice, then repeat, entire scene in the other voice. More continuity that way.

[Scott Maitland]

That's kind of what I thought. I just didn't want people bored listening through the whole thing if all they wanted was the assigned bit. Thanks again.

[Peg]

It's not long enough to bore. If you did every line of dialog he's got, maybe, but that bit is none
so large. It will be fine. :)

[Mila Nzgova]

Are we allowed to do multiple entries for the same character? I see where it says that we can do up to 3 characters, but wasn't sure if that meant we could do multiple tries for the same character AND two others?