At first, I thought I was up for best Corporate Demo, but it was actually best Non-Broadcast Narration demo.
I though they had forgot about the category. I had written a speech, laminated it, had it in my pocket. As people got up and gave speeches,
I thought that I should definitely shorten my speech. Everyone had such short speeches. The lights looked so bright, I wouldn’t be able
to read my laminated speech. I had almost never seen my friends win. I wasn’t going to win.

They go through the nominees, my name was called. Okay, I am in THIS category. They open the envelope. I was the winner.

I just get up and get moving. I have been envisioning this for a while. It’s on my every day gratitude walk. To be a One Voice award winner.
My wife and I have been speaking about this for a while, always prefacing with, “It’s an honor to be nominated”. Which is true, but I won.

I just feel amazing. I worked with the amazing J. Michael Collins on multiple demos and he believed in me a year ago. I’m light years better now,
but back then, I didn’t believe in myself as much as I do now. He is the type of person you want to have as a friend, mentor, and support system.
Someone who has your back and believes in you. Someone who recognizes where you are, and sees where you can be and does their best to bridge the
gap.

After we created the demos, he did his best to get me onto an agency. I didn’t make it. It was rough but I was CLOSE. And a few months later, I got
onto my agency. DDO. Since then, I have been doing what I love.

Keep your head up, go after your goals, be grateful for what you have, look forward to the challenges, love yourself, and love the people around you.

Thank you.

Justin D. Torres – Voice Actor – Improviser