A great business idea

[thetime22]

If there was a company that did celeb-like voice-overs. say for example they have someone that sounds exactly like Jessica Alba, or George Clooney. Imagine paying someone £20 to do your company voice overs for your company videos, presentations that sounded exactly like real celebs. There are lots of people out there that can do perfect impressions, but no company offering this service.

 

[popunder]

Well MoreThan are doing the TV ads currently with "MoreThan Freeman"...

I think there are quite a few companies and voiceover artists offering this already to be honest.

 

[Newcott]

I'm sure this is already being done - I know a couple of people who have had personal voicemails from impressionist, infact I know a few pro voiceover artists & Cosplayers who do a few cash in hand jobs.

I wonder how it stands with IP/Copyright as you are using a persons likeness.

 

[dave1928]

Aren't MoreThan using the real 'Morgan Freeman' ??? Ive only seen the ad once properly and im sure from memory he is standing on the rooftop with a brolly at the very end?

Im sure there is a market for this business idea from O/P but im guessing its already done by a few companies out there.

 

[jewell10]

Aren't MoreThan using the real 'Morgan Freeman' ??? Ive only seen the ad once properly and im sure from memory he is standing on the rooftop with a brolly at the very end?

No, its a guy called Josh Robert-Thompson, and he appears at the end of the ad. Not Morgan himself.

 

[dave1928]

oh right.....i'd have thought a large company like them would have used the reel man, rather than pretend!!

 

[bdw]

I don't think it's a new idea.

Google Search

 

[thetime22]

I don't think it's a new idea.

Google Search

But where are celeb impersonators to the average businessman.. Where's morgan freeman voiceovers on Google. While celeb impersonators isn't a new thing, it's not redily available for the biz.

 

[thetime22]

I'm talking pull down menus, where you pick your celeb... upload some text, enter paypal details and bingo bango, 3 hrs later an mp3 is e-mailed to you.

 

[popunder]

That sounds quite good then actually, it would make it all very do-able for the business. The site could farm out the voiceover automatically to the relevant voice artist, and take a percentage of the fee.

 

[Chris94]

Duplicate posting -- please ignore

 

[Chris94]

I think the £20 sounds a bit low. Even 10 years ago we were paying £200 for voice over a five minute sales video, and that was not even impersonating anyone famous. (But I like the idea)

 

[JohnnyCash]

I think it sounds cheap and tacky.... who really wants prospective clients leaving messages with a fake Paris Hilton?

 

[Warmview]

Voice = Personal Property / Likeness
I think one problem with this is that people will start using celeb voiceovers for inappropriate products and the celebs will not be happy. You can only imagine the reaction if Gary glitter voiceover was used to promote nappies
Also am sure there will be some issues over the endorsement of products and false advertising - Using a voice to endorse a product implies the voice approves of it. This could be construed as using a persons likeness to promote products without his/her permission. (You will never see a lookalike actively promoting corporate products, they may be used for events or appearances and things like that but never in adverts or product campaigns unless the celeb they are impersonating has approved them to do this)
Also using voicealikes could cause all kind of issues with conflict of interest, if (fictional) Best Car Insurance Company Ever UK start using a Michael Winner voiceover I am sure Esure would have a huge problem.

 

[michaelmc]

Not sure, with more than I think they are punting it as more than freeman but would it not cause problems using celebrity names on your site without their permission?

 

[fairestcape]

Interesting discussion...

Well-known celebrities protect their "likeness" through legal means, but can one "trademark" or "copyright" one's voice?

Rory Bremner would be out-of-pocket if that were the case.#

It recall some years ago Harley Davidson tried to "patent" the sound of their bikes (to stop other makers getting that distinctive roar), but I think they failed...

 

[movietub]

I hate to dampen a good idea...

But there is a reason the impersonator is shown at the end of the advert...

The problem is IP regarding celebrity affiliation. You can of course impersonate someone all you like, so long as make it clear it isn't the real celebrity. Otherwise you get an angry celebrity wondering why people have heard them advertising a cleaning company in Doncaster they have never heard of. You then receive a call from their solicitor asking if you want to pay the normal rate for services before or after going to court.

This would be the end clients problem of course, not yours for selling the voice. But you would need to make this issue clear which would probably kill the business.

 

[oldeagleeye]

This idea is as old as Spitting Image and a couple of that team gottogether to produce a record for answering machines.

You just recorded to voice you wanted and sounded realy reasitic when someone called.
I had Michael Caine on mine but you could have virtually anyone famous. Mrs Bouquet would have loved it.

"Good morning my loyal subjects. This is her majesty the queen speaking. I am afraid that I my best friend Mrs B at the moment are not available to take calls at the moment. Please a message and hic - hic when we have finished the gin off hic the old biddy will no doubt call you back to tell you all about my visit - hic"

BTW. I still got a mock up on the answerphone. Gets rid of all those telly sales.

Ho Chin Takaway. Order pleese.

 

[24hrservices]

I would imagine you would probably have problems getting permission from the original artist, but you never know if you offered a cut, they might be interested!

 

[bdw]

who really wants prospective clients leaving messages with a fake Paris Hilton?

Who knows what Paris Hilton sounds like? :|