CRAZY TALK

Crazy Talk is a software program that must be downloaded to your computer in order to use it.  It is not free (I purchased the "bare bones" basic package at the educator rate of $39.95, and it has been more than enough to dazzle my students.  Essentially, Crazy Talk allows you to use any picture and, after lining up a few dots and dropping in an audio file, animate it! For my first project, I used a picture of Langston Hughes and an audio files of him reading "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."  I loved the reaction from my students!  Now, this can become a time-consuming project, if you are a perfectionist who insists on everything looking completely perfect, but I have to admit that it is a lot of fun.  Also, the company offers a free trial version (the final product will appear with a watermark) so you can try before you buy.  If this seems too complex and it's just not for you, I recommend trying Blabberize for a similar effect.  The drawback to Blabberize is that the end product is not nearly as professional-looking; however, the time and money saved might be enough to keep you happy.

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