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Is this good business practise? A large company with a majority market share sues a tiny one for using "similar" packaging colors and for making product claims that the giant feels are threatening. What to do? Sue, of course. Hmmmmmm. Read about Terracycle worm tea vs. Scotts-Miracle Gro. What would you do?

Microphone sale results. AuctionPal nearly gave me a heart attack by starting the bidding for my AT 4060 at $9.99 but it seems they know their business - the mic sold for just about what I was hoping to get. If you don't like dealing directly with eBay or if your stuff doesn't sell the way you would like, you might consider giving AuctionPal a call. The new Lawson L47 FET, by the way, was a great purchase. If you're not familiar with this microphone, do check out the Lawson website.
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MCM News
a few highlights

Video Pick of the Day. Oregon artist Daniel Dancer notified me that a short segment of his video, Courting the Sky, for which I provided the narration, was the pic video of the day on Yahoo one day in late July, with over 10,000 viewers from around the world. Congratulations Daniel!

More than an audition. Actors quickly learn to stop thinking about auditions as soon as they're over - that's an essential survival skill. But sometimes an audition is so fun or interesting that it doesn't want to go away, and I had that experience recently. Just for fun I got together with a fellow voice actor, the incredibly talented Ben Wilson, who created the voice for the "announcer" to accompany my bullrider. He also did all the production and then humored me by finishing it off with a few Southwest desert bird calls from a selection I sent him - the result can be heard here. I smile every time I hear it!

Electric Heart Showing at the Berkshire Museum. This film about jazz great Don Ellis, produced by John Vizzusi (narrated by me) will be showing at the 291-seat Little Theater at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA, Saturday 6 October 2007 at 2 pm. If you're able to attend please look for me and introduce yourself!

Center for Hope and New Beginnings. I was honored to provide the narration for an informational video about the Center for Hope and New Beginnings in Suffolk, VA last month. This is a 43-bed shelter that provides a wide variety of services. The DVD is intended to dispel stereotypes about homelessness and to remind us that difficult circumstances can befall anyone.

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Avian Bloopers. In an earlier newsletter I promised to let you know how the Bourne Ultimatum fared on the Avian Blooper Index (ABI). If you haven't seen this film yet, let me just tell you, I don't think they made any mistakes. A must-see!

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On the Road. I traveled to Washington, DC last month to attend the 45th Anniversary Celebration of Ueshiro Shorin-ryu Karate in the USA. Although this may seem only peripherally related to the business of voice-over, if at all, for me it's an important part of it. To practise a martial art or any physical art offers a continuous challenge that helps us to to keep focussed on our goals, whatever those goals might be. Karate is a discipline that keeps me moving forward every day.

MCM and friends in Washington (MCM at far right)

That's all for this month.

Keep moving forward -

Mary C. McKitrick
Drop me a line!
413-320-1181

© Mary C. McKitrick, 2007. All rights reserved.