Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Danis.
Jeff, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was a casting director at Grey Advertising in new york in the mid 70’s. I was hired to come to la to cast the first of its kind talent show called stat search! It was the American Idol of its day. After I left the show, I began ICM’s voiceover dept and celebrity endorsement dept. I was one of the first agents to start having major celebrities use their voice only for commercials. Stars like Martin Sheen, Vanessa Redgrave, Mel Gibson.
About 10 years ago, we broke from ICM and established my own company called DPN TALENT. It specializes in Celebrities for voiceover and animation (we put Idina Menzel in FROZEN). As well, as all the voices you hear on commercials selling products and all the voices you hear promoting shows on the networks etc etc.. We are the largest supplier of Voice over talent in the U.S.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like many businesses, we have had to “buck” trends in what sells to advertisers, keeping clients happy and giving them the “creative” ideas they ask for and helping your clients (the actors) keep a roof over their heads and feed their families, when they go thru “dry spells” and they are not working enough.
As well as maintaining your own “overhead” for your agents and staff…
Please tell us about DPN TALENT.
DPN TALENT represents the top voiceover and animation and commercial talent in the country. We are an offshoot of the highly successful ICM and was created 10 years ago by the top agents in the voiceover, animation and commercial business.
We have supplied talent to animated features like TOY STORY and FROZEN, Animated cartoons like SPONGE BOB, FUTURAMA and THE SIMPSONS and commercial campaigns for CHEVY, VERIZON, LEXUS, JACK IN THE BOX amongst many many others.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have been a broadcast journalist and traveled the world…
Contact Info:
- Website: DPNTALENT.COM
- Phone: 310 432 7800
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
