Ayiana Scott is a 7-year-old living in Marin County who recently helped create an Art Tour for children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And she did it all from a studio here in Marin. Ayiana was the voice for the new iPod Touch tour for families, “A is for Art.”
She donned headphones and sat in a sound proof booth at Antenna International in Sausalito to record the tour. Her sweet, animated voice went through the alphabet narrating the exhibit.
When I visited Ayiana in her home in San Rafael to talk with this budding voiceover actress, she was playing with her friend Elaina. As the two of them created scenarios with their dolls, blocks and accessories inside and out a large dollhouse, I could hear the creativity and passion from these 7-year-olds.
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I could hear one say, “Don’t watch so much TV. You should read now!” as she brought a small child doll from inside the living room to sit in a chair with a book.
As I spoke with Ayiana’s mom, Sherri, I could hear the girls continuing their fantasy world of dollhouses. When I asked them what they loved to do, they both said, “Play horses, families and fairies.” They also both love to read. Ayiana proudly brought over the book she is presently reading, “Samantha’s Story Collection (American Girl).”
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When I told Ayiana I would like to talk with her about her voiceover experience she said, “It was embarrassing and such a long time ago.” (5 weeks ago) But when I turned on my iPhone microphone with the FUN picture of a silver mic, Ayiana was eager to talk with me.
As we listened to the audio part of the tour with Ayiana’s voice, she was visibly embarrassed. We all know that feeling of hearing our recorded voice and how it doesn’t sound like the voice we always hear in our head.
She told me of her experience in the sound booth. She “wasn’t allowed to touch the foam,” (sound proof walls), she imitated the intonation of the producer (so much so that once she even “imitated his English accent”), and the best part, “I made lots of money!”
When I asked her what she was going to do with the money she said, “With some I am going to buy an American Girl doll and with the other I am going to buy a house.”
Ayiana has definite passions and dreams. She is bright, funny, passionate and loving. She and Elaina have become close friends. They met this year in school and seem like they have known each other for years. As they eagerly told me what they love to do, they even finished each other’s sentences and thoughts.
When I realized they were “new” friends in the sense of time, it reminded me that to children there is no “time,” there is only now and what is fun and exciting. Children continually remind us to stay present, to enjoy now and to dream about the future.
Whether Ayiana does voiceover work again or not, I feel privileged she and Elaina let me into their world for that hour. It is a wonderful expanding world of fantasy with horses, families, fairies, books and a lot of FUN!
Until next Wednesday, remember, it is all “for the love of kids…”
In joy, Marilyn
