SAG Foundation and Source Elements Present Paul Sanders with 2nd Annual Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab Spirit Award

April 15, 2015

Sanders awarded with a lifetime, cutting-edge Source-Connect software license

AIW_9856

Director of the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab Aric Shuford and co-founders of the SAG Foundation’s Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab Paul Pape and Joe Cipriano present voice actor Paul Sanders (second to right) with the 2nd Annual Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab Spirit Award on April 13, 2015 at the SAG Foundation offices in Los Angeles. (Photo by Angela Weiss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES (April 14, 2015) – On Monday, April 13, the Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Source Elements, creators of Source-Connect software, presented the 2nd Annual Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab Spirit Award to Los Angeles-based voice actor Paul Sanders for demonstrating exemplary commitment, desire and talent that embodies the mission of the SAG Foundation’s Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab. The Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab Spirit Award includes a lifetime license for Source-Connect, a cutting-edge ISDN software application that was regularly used by the late voiceover icon LaFontaine himself to record movie trailers all over the world.

Sanders was taken by surprise during an appreciation party for donors, instructors and supporters of the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab held at the SAG Foundation’s new Los Angeles offices. SAG Foundation Executive Director Cyd Wilson and Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab Co-Founders Joe Cipriano and Paul Pape kicked off the party with words of gratitude for the full house of donors and supporters of the Lab. Then Source Elements Co-Founder and Owner Rebekah Wilson took over the show via video conference to reveal the second reason for the gathering, to announce the recipient of the 2nd Annual Don LaFontaine Spirit Award. Director of the Lab Aric Shuford presented the certificate to Sanders.

“This is a tremendous honor,” said Sanders shaking his head. “The DLF Voiceover Lab is such an amazing resource and has helped me establish my career. It’s surreal to be given this award surrounded by my instructors and now colleagues. I really want to thank the SAG Foundation and Source Connect for this award. I’ll be using it a lot.”

“Last year we instituted the Don LaFontaine Spirit Award to identify and honor an individual who not only utilizes the resources of the Lab to its fullest but who also embodies the talent, commitment and spirit that is the mission of the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab,” said Joe Cipriano. “Joining last year’s honoree, Rebecca Davis, is this year’s recipient Paul Sanders, who truly embodies that spirit.”

“The partnership that Source Elements provides in helping make this award possible is invaluable. It gives the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab the opportunity to reward hard work and achievement, while also recognizing individuals who show the same generosity of spirit that Don himself possessed,” said Paul Pape.  For Source-Connect and the winners, it also represents a wonderful synergy of emerging technology and up and coming voiceover talent. Both are the future of voiceovers.”

Rebekah Wilson describes Source-Connect as “Skype on Steroids.” “Imagine you’re talking to someone halfway across the world and you can hear the birds outside and the lawn mower around the corner. As voice actors, what’s really important is that your performance is heard as it is by the person who is directing you or recording you,” said Wilson.

Wilson discovered LaFontaine’s Source-Connect license by accident and reached out to the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab to donate his license as well as a new Source-Connect license every year to a deserving voice actor. Together the Founders of the SAG Foundation’s Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab and Ms. Wilson created the annual Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab Spirit Award to be presented to an actor who utilizes the Lab and emulates its namesake’s enduring commitment to the craft, innate talent and personal desire to be of service to fellow artists in the field. The first recipient of this prestigious award was voiceover artist Rebecca Davis who received the honor in 2014.