That Second Take: Make It Count

In their final 2025 episode of The Wolvo Show, veteran voice actors Tim Powers, Barri Tsavaris, and George Washington III pull back the curtain on the isolated world of the recording booth to discuss the "art of the second take." This episode tackles a major pain point for casting directors: receiving multiple audition takes that sound virtually identical. The trio explores why a "mustache change"—shifting inflection on just one word—is a one-way ticket to the "no" file, and share professional strategies for delivering radical range.

The conversation dives into the mental gymnastics required to stay fresh. Barri explains her use of a color-coded "Emotion Wheel" to find nuanced shades of feeling, while Tim and George discuss the importance of changing the "moment before" to alter the energy of a read. They also debate a controversial strategy: "flipping" the audition by putting the wild, creative take first to survive the brutal three-second "ear test" during open casting calls.

Highlights include:

• Navigating "Celebrity Specs": How to capture the vibe of a Scarlett Johansson or John Ham reference without falling into a hollow impression.
• The Reality of the Numbers Game: George reveals his count of 42 "Morgan Freeman" style auditions in a single year.
• Professional Standards: Why listening back to your work is essential for quality control.
• Directability: Why showing range is more important than delivering a "perfect" final spot.

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