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Draft:Pete Gustin

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Pete Gustin
Gustin in 2019
Born
Winchester, Massachusetts
Other namesBlind Surfer
EducationBoston University
Occupation(s)Voice actor, internet celebrity
Websitehttps://petegustin.com

Pete Gustin, also known as the Blind Surfer, is an American voice actor and internet celebrity. He is best known for for his web series, Blind Surfer Pete Gustin on YouTube, voice over work for commercials for movies and TV series such as The Walking Dead, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Family Guy, as well as his voice over work on Fox News.[1][2]

Personal Life

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Early Life and Education

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Pete Gustin grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts. He attended and graduated from Winchester High School in 1995, and went on to attend Boston University where he studied advertising and psychology. [3][2]

Blindness

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Gustin was born with Macular Degeneration, a disease that would slowly render him legally blind. This disease would stunt his ability to find voice over work, as agents rejected him due to his disability. This conflict would lead him to hide his disability in order to pursue his career.[4][5] Pete would finally go public with his disability in August of 2013 with a YouTube video entitled "How does a blind guy "read" copy for a living? - Pete Gustin", which detailed his diagnosis and early struggles, how he was able to over come some of the obstacles of his disability through use of a computer generated voice reader as well as some of his personal achievements in the voice over industry.[6]

Career

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Voice Over Work

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While he was studying at B.U., Gustin worked for WRKO where he would get his first bits of experience in the field of voice over work. After graduating, he would continue working for WRKO as well as WEEI.[3][7]

Gustin won SOVAS Outstanding Movie Trailer, Best Voiceover in 2018 for his work on trailer for the movie Uncle Drew and again in 2020 for his work on a trailer for Unhinged. In the same year he also won Outstanding Promo – TV or Web, Best Voiceover for his promotional work for Archer 1999.[8][9]

Blind Surfer Pete Gustin

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In 2016, Gustin moved to San Diego, California where he would pick up surfing.[1] Due to his poor eyesight, Gustin would opt to wear a rash guard with "Blind Surfer" printed on it to warn other surfers of his disability. Following an interaction in with Taylor Knox at a surfing event, where the pro surfer mentioned the impact Pete's story had on him, Gustin was convinced his life story could provide motivation for others online.[10] In 2019, he created a Youtube channel called Blind Surfer Pete Gustin. The channel chronicles aspects of his daily life and his struggles with his disability as well as motivational messaging.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b Haro, Alexander (2020-04-09). "The Inspirational Story Behind the Web Series 'Blind Surfer'". The Inertia. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  2. ^ a b "Behind the Mic: Pete Gustin". Benztown. 2019-07-10. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  3. ^ a b "Alumni spotlight: Catching up with Pete Gustin". Wicked Local. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  4. ^ Bergado, Gabe (2013-08-20). "The Inspiring Story of a Man With No Vision, but a Big Voice". Mashable. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  5. ^ HEADLEE, CELESTE (August 23, 2013). "Blindness Didn't Keep Voice Over Artist From Success". NPR.
  6. ^ Pete Gustin (2013-08-19). How does a blind guy "read" copy for a living? - Pete Gustin. Retrieved 2024-11-04 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Randall, Eric (August 20, 2013). "How the WEEI Voice Over Guy Reads Scripts Despite Being Legally Blind". Boston Magazine. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013.
  8. ^ "2020 Winners – Sovas". Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  9. ^ "2018 Winner – Sovas". Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  10. ^ Snow, Jackie (2022-12-12). "How a blind surfer got over his fear of wiping out (and you can too)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  11. ^ "Blind Surfer Pete Gustin". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-11-04.