Roger Ebert Gets New Computerized "Voice"
Credit: Harpo Productions
Film critic Roger Ebert -- who lost his ability to speak after surgery for jaw cancer nearly four years ago -- now has a "voice," thanks to computer programmers.
In Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times, Ebert, 67, reveals that Scottish company CereProc now allows him to type what he wants to say and listeners can hear a voice that sounds like him.
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Even his grandchildren can recognize the voice, he says.
Before he lost his voice, Ebert -- whose face also was left contorted by all the surgery -- says he recorded DVD commentary for several movies, including Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Floating Weeds, Dark City and the cult classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
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"These tracks had been recorded separately from the movies, so they could be edited to fit scenes," he says. "They might be 'pure' audio."
Two pals managed to find the original digital recordings and sent them along to CereProc, which transcribed every recording with perfect accuracy so they could locate every word.
"CereProc didn't need to hear me speaking a specific word in order for my "voice" to say it," writes Ebert. "They needed lots of words to determine the general idea of how I might say a word. They transcribed and programmed and tweaked and fiddled, and early this February, sent me the files for a beta version of my voice. I played it for [my wife] Chaz, and she said, yes, she could tell it was me. For one thing it knew exactly how I said 'I.'"
You can hear Ebert's voice for yourself on Tuesday's Oprah Winfrey Show when he'll make Oscar predictions.
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"Yes, 'Roger Jr.' needs to be smoother in tone and steadier in pacing, but the little rascal is good," says Ebert, who adds that he might use the voice for radio and Webcasts. "To hear him coming from my own computer made me ridiculously happy."
Tell Us What You Think
12You know what.. Corbin.. why don't you die.. and you know what else anyone else talking smack to someone for an opinion can die too... ima say eff ebert.. he looks pathetic.. what yal gona do???
Can Fake Asss Khate G. get one of those? Publicity Ho would do anything!
@ gene, why would u say that. oprah is a very nice person and u hatin on her is not breaking her bank account. roger looks has changed due to jaw cancer, and he looks like a woman here. not being funny or anything but he does. all of u dumb people a striking out at allissa. her words are no better than you all. she said what she saw, not reading the article like you all did. i think allissa coment was innocent.
Didn't always agree with him, but I've always liked his movie reviews. So sad to see him like this but I guess it's a good thing he can communicate with that computer.
I think Alissa was referring to that woman standing next to Roger.
My heart goes out to Mr Ebert, he's such a smart and strong man. As for Alissa do you not read the article!!! You should think before you speak, because you can come out to be a real heartless A$$.
Hey, tone it down. Perhaps Alissa doesn't know? And even so, odd isn't an insult. The man has certainly been thru hell, he's quite amazing.
Alissa, please go die. Thanks.
Alissa, that was a stupid comment. I am happy Mr Ebert is alive and well and I am sure it will help a great deal to have a voice..
Alissa...you're a genuine moron. He had surgery that left him disfigured. Grow a heart and f.ck off.
Alissa, I'd like to see what you would look like after surgery for JAW CANCER. The world could use less people like you. What a jerk.
what an odd looking person