Candi Milo

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I AM FROM SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – AND I WENT ON A GENERAL AUDITION AT HANNA BARBERA IN THE MID-80’S. I BROUGHT A CHILDREN’S BOOK TO READ ALOUD. THE 3 LITTLE PIGS. BUT I DECIDED ON A WHIM TO MAKE THE PIGS SUICIDAL AND THE WOLF KOSHER – AND WELL, IT WAS JUST THE SORT OF INSANITY THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. ALSO, WITHOUT REALIZING IT – I DID ALL OF THE VOICES IN THE STORY – ALL THREE LITTLE PIGS, THE NARRATOR, THE SOUND EFFECTS AND THE WOLF – MAKING ME A NATURAL AT THIS CRAZY GIG.

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
I USUALLY GET UP AND VOCALIZE. I REALLY DO. THEN I LOOK ON THE COMPUTER FOR ANY AUDITIONS THAT MAY HAVE COME IN AND PRINT THEMOUT TO RECORD FROM HOME LATER. EITHER I SPEND A SOLID 3 HOURS RECORDING EDITING AND SENDING IN MY TAKES – OR I BRING THEM TO A LOCAL RECORDING HOUSE AND HAVE THEM DO IT. THEN IT IS EITHER A GIG OR VIDEO GAMES…

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
I LOVE THE LIVE RECORD – THE RADIO PLAY – WHERE ALL THE ACTORS ARE IN THERE AT ONCE – WITH A SOLID VOICE DIRECTOR LIKE GINNY MCSWAIN – AND WE ARE PLAYING AROUND. THERE IS NOTHING FINER.

What part of your job do you like least? Why?
I HATE THE CALLBACK IN FRONT OF CREATORS – WITH ANY NOT-SO-SHARP VOICE DIRECTOR. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT. THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET WHAT THEY NEED FROM YOU. AND LOTS OF TIMES THE CREATORS ONLY WANT TO HEAR THEIR WORDS IN THE VOICE THEY HEAR IN THEIR HEAD.

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
I AM ON A MAC – DOWNLOADING – RECORDING AND UPLOADING. I WORK WITH A RODER MIC AND DOWNLOADABLE SHAREWARE AS A RECORDING BASE. I HAVE AN AMP AND PRE-AMP – BUT NO CAPABILITIES TO MIX OR DOUBLE-TRACK AT HOME. SIGH…

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
I WORKED WITH MEL BLANC, VINCENT PRICE, CAROL CHANNING, BRAD GARRETT AND ALL THE REST OF THE STILL LIVING GREATS; ROB PAULSEN, FRANK WELKER, JEFF BENNETT, NANCY CARTWRIGHT…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyX9X025aeg
Describe a tough situation you had in life. Any side projects you’re working on you’d like to share details of?
I THINK GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE WITH A YOUNG CHILD – AND HAVING YOUR ONLY INCOME BE FROM ACTING – CAN FORCE YOU INTO DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. I WAS LUCKY. IT FORCED ME INTO ANIMATION VOICE ACTING. IT WAS A SPACE WHERE I COULD BE FULLY FREE TO CREATE, BE WHO OR WHATEVER THEY WANTED ME TO BE AND MAKE A LIVING DOING IT – SO THAT I COULD RAISE MY DAUGHTER ALONE. IT HAS BEEN BERRY BERRY GOOD TO ME!

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
STUDY THE ART OF ACTING BEFORE YOU BEGIN WITH THE MAKING OF THE VOICES. IT ISN’T ENOUGH TO HAVE A CUTE VOICE – OR TO BE ABLE TO IMITATE CHARACTERS ALREADY CREATED BY OTHER ACTORS – YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FULLY FLESH OUT A CHARACTER AND MAKE IT LIVE AND BREATHE. SECONDLY I WOULD ADD TO NEVER GIVE UP OR LET THE TURKEYS GET YOU DOWN. STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR ART AND THE RIGHT THING WILL HAPPEN…