Kelvin Tsao

French, German, Italian (studied it in college), Chinese and Thai in various productions from Stage to Screen. New Orleans accent (lived there for a spell). These are accents, not languages I am fluent in. In one show my character was accused of being several different European nationalities (well, of passing myself off as several) and had to change accents to suit in the space of a few exchanges. Thai? well, I learned that from a grad student at UCLA for a role on "What's Happening." A true and heavy Naw Lins accent can be incomprehensible to outsiders, you just want a taste of that one. I was told in grade school, in French class, that I had a great accent, but had no idea what I was saying. Chinese? I grew up with it. My Dad had a slight accent, but all his brothers and sisters had very distinct ones. I can handle technical jargon in a conversational manner.

My first professional gig was a voice over for a documentary called "The Holy Shroud of Turin" which was narrated by Richard Burton. Then I narrated a promotional slide/tape program (I know, ancient technology) for American River College in Sacramento. I also produced and directed this program. It was a promotional piece for their Vocational Education Programs. I also narrated an informational video for one of the State Parks about the risks of drinking untreated water and how to treat it before drinking the water from the streams in the park. Then there was the wildtracking for an American Electric Power commercial (as a Budhist Monk) and as the main character's Sensei for a low budget film "Enter the Blood Ring" (which hopefully you've never heard of). Decades of acting surround these jobs. I've been hosting a Classical Music show on KXPR in Sacramento since July of 2001. I've been voice tracking it since 2003. Part of the job has been producing 30 second promos for the show. Now lest you think, "My God, he sound like an announcer," well, I can, but I don't. I've mastered the art of sounding conversational on the air. I spent the years of 1976-1981 knocking around Hollywood trying to get into pictures and studying acting with Harry Mastrogeorge. Then I went to University from 1981-1984 studying Dramatic Art at UC Davis. While in college I worked in Instructional Media, running various pieces of A/V equipment and performing in some of their productions. I also CoProduced and CoDirected an instructional video for the Academic Peer Advisor program at UCD. I sang with the Davis High School Madrigal Choir in 70-71 season. And I sang with the UC Davis Chamber Choir from 1974-1976 (toured Europe) and again from 1981-1984. I've been an actor since 1972 and have done such musicals as Man of La Mancha, Annie Get Your Gun, Tribes and The Canton Jazz Club. In 1986 I was a runner, PA and sometime Video Editor for Harmony Pictures, then in Burbank. Since 2001 I have worked at Capital Public Radio in Sacramento as a Classical Music Host and in operations. I've worked with Adobe Audition 1.5 and Audacity. I use a Rode Podcaster Microphone with my PC set up at home. Audacity is the recording software I use. I have high speed broadband internet access at home. Sending files via internet using email, FTP or Google Drive is easy to do. I have limited access to studios with Electro Voice RE20 microphones, Wheatstone boards and Adobe Audition Software. I have directed video and stage productions (don't ask for copies of these, I don't have them ... alas). I've been a shift supervisor, so I understand management issues, such as deadlines and how to meet them. I'm not rattled by unexpected problems when they come up, at work I'm often the guy others come to when things go awry in the control room. I grew up in college towns, reading scientific journals and science fiction. I've worked in gas stations, discount stores, computer graphics, theater, TV/Film, Radio. I've been a handyman too. I've scored standardized tests given by school districts. I strike up conversations with everyone about anything. Sometimes I learn something new, sometimes I pass along valuable information they need. Sometimes I just find out about that person. Sometimes I just make them laugh. Gerald McBoingBoing was an early influence.