What’s New With DAN HURST Fall 2019 is part of a series in which MVO: The Voice-Over Guys checks-in with one of our male voiceover talents to learn more about a recent media project he has voiced. Here’s what James shared with us.
1. You mentioned a really cool voiceover project in your recent MVO: The Voiceover Guys update. Can you talk about who the project was for and where it was heard or seen?
Sure! I’ve been one of the promo voices for Telemundo Network since 2012, and we just renewed our agreement. Basically it’s just the standard promotion of their network shows. Telemundo does some interesting marketing. They realize that a significant demographic of their viewers are 2nd and 3rd generation Hispanics, so they are fully bilingual. That’s where I come in as a bilingual voice talent.
By the way, it’s interesting to note that research shows that only 2 percent of people living in America are single language non-English speakers, and that percentage has been steady for a few years. But bilingual speakers (English plus another language), are growing consistently – currently about 22% of people living in America. About 1 out of 5 people that you meet speak 2 or more languages.
2. What made the media production’s content interesting from your perspective?
Well, I love the gutsy snarl of promo work. Give me a good dark drama to promote, and I’m a happy boy. But I’m also a sucker for the whimsical, salt of the earth type read. And when you do promos for the various network programs, you get to run the full range.
3. As the voice talent in the media project, were there any technical or performance challenges during this voiceover recording session?
Every promo is different because the timing is different and the content is unique. Combine that with the style and intent of the various writers, and you can have a pile of challenges. For example, it’s not unusual for there to be too much copy between scenes and clips in a promo. And you’ve only got 4 seconds to say 7 seconds worth of words, and still maintain the style and intensity of the read, all the while making sure you don’t get in the way of what’s happening on screen.
4. Is there anything else you would like us to know about this voiceover project?
I remember several years ago when I started breaking in to this business, you had to go to the TV station to record the promos. I’m amazed every day at how the technology has changed and I can sit in my own studio, and do voice work for stations all over the world! Almost all of the promos that you see on TV these days are voiced by someone who works out of his own studio, and has never even set foot in the station that is airing it!
ABOUT MALE VOICEOVER TALENT DAN HURST
Dan -daniel eduardo- Hurst was raised in Honduras, the son of missionary parents. He grew up speaking Spanish AND English equally. That’s one of the things that makes his talent so unique. He’s fluent and natural in both languages. A rare combination!
Dan has extensive experience in bilingual voiceovers, including such national and international clients as Volkswagen, T-Mobile, Telemundo, Pizza Hut, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Océ. Dan’s production studio is just outside of Kansas City. He offers fast turnaround on any format by FTP, or ISDN, and now ipDTL – ISDN quality online (completely free to Dan’s clients).