ARCANE FICTION

• Pentagram
• ARCANE FICTION
• LIMITED EDITION n
• SEPTEMBER 2025
• Editorial Print

MY NAME IS BRYAN ROCES. I'M A SINGER, ACTOR, VOICE ACTOR, AND PRODUCER BASED IN SASKATCH- EWAN, CANADA!

OVER INDUSTRY.

I kind of fell into it. I always knew I wanted a creative career. Growing up, I was heavily involved in musi- cal theatre, dance, and acting for film and TV. I dis- covered voice acting through my favourite cartoons and anime-it blew my mind that you could bring animated characters to life using just your voice. That sparked my interest, so I started taking classes, workshops-anything I could find to learn more.

Eventually, I took a step back to focus on school, and a couple of years later, I ended up working as a radio producer. In 2019, I decided to return to voice-over part-time, and I've been steadily building my career ever since.

PLEASE SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

I had the chance to meet Jess Harnell, Maurice LaMarche, and Rob Paulsen at the Calgary Expo in 2013. I grew up watching Animaniacs, so meet- ing the voices behind some of my favorite child- hood characters was an absolute dream. Jess Harnell, in particular, really inspired me and made a huge impact on the start of my career.

I chatted with him for a bit and told him I was interested in pursuing voice-over professionally. What re- ally stuck with me was that when he came back two years later, he actually remembered me--and again, even three years after that. He's such a genuine guy, and I'm incredibly grateful for his encouragement and those interactions. They played a big role in mo- tivating me to pursue this path.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU

FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVER- COME THE CHALLENGES.

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY IN- One of the biggest challenges I've faced in this indus- TRODUCE YOURSELF.

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE I've learned to embrace mistakes and treat them as try was overcoming my fear of failure. For most of WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR? my life, I was focused on doing everything perfectly, which made it hard to take risks. But when I started my voice-over journey, I realized that failure is part of the process-it's how you grow and improve.

A good voice actor is open to making mistakes and having fun with the process. Don't be too hard on yourself-if you mess up, just try again. It's all part of the journey. Always listen to your coaches; they know the ins and outs of the industry, and they genuinely want you to succeed. Never stop learning from them.

But perhaps the most important thing I've learned is to take care of yourself. Your health and your voice are your instrument, so you need to treat them with care. Finding balance in your life and prioritizing opportunities to learn. If you're unsure about some- thing, ask questions. There's always more to discov- er. Voice-over is a marathon, not a sprint. If you stay curious, keep learning, and aren't afraid to stumble along the way, you'll keep moving forward and even- tually master your craft.

ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE your mental health is essential. Taking care of your TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?

body is just as important as honing your craft.

Oh man, it would be a dream to work with Dante Basco-whether on a show like Avatar: The Last Air- bender or in a film. I'm Filipino, so collaborating with a fellow Filipino actor on a project would be incred- ibly meaningful to me

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

I have a warm, youthful tone in my voice, which makes me a good fit for PSA work and upbeat, fun reads for commercials. I really enjoy those types of projects. At the same time, I'd love to explore other areas like working with accents and creating mon- ster noises. I'm excited to see what other possibilities I can discover with my voice.

Another person I'd love to work with is Mark Hamill. He's such an incredible actor, especially in the world of animation. I've watched interviews where he talks about how he finds voices for his characters, and it's fascinating to hear his creative process. From the Joker to Firelord Ozai to Chucky-it's amazing what he can do with his voice. I really admire that level of skill and creativity, and I aspire to become a per- former like him someday.

YOU ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE AS A VOICE OVER. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR 2025?

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PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU FD ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

Right now, I'm focused on several areas of voice- over, including commercial work, character roles for video games and animation, dubbing, as well as explainers and eLearning projects. As of this inter- view, I'm also diving into imaging and learning a lot from it.

Imaġg with the fan astic co ch I'm really ength po ess.

Th re's so ma h to learn in this g n e, ad I lb fo ward to th d y I can release my d mo ad start eoim wp tin ties.

I'm really enjoying the process of exploring differ- ent voice-over genres. It's been exciting to discover new skills and find my voice in various spaces. I'm grateful for where this journey is taking me and look forward to what's next.

media!

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

While it's not voice-over related, I'm excited to share that I'll be auditioning for Grease the Musical with Broadway North Theatre Company, and the show is set to happen in the summer. If I'm offered a role, it's going to be a busy but exciting summer, and I'm really looking forward to it.

As for voice-over work, I'm not able to share anything specific at the moment, but once those projects are released, I'll be sure to announce them on my social

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

You can find more about me and my work on my website at bryanrocesvo.com. Feel free to reach out to me via email, or you can follow me on social media @ bryanrocesvo to stay updated on what I'm working on.

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF. My name is Cary Hite. PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

I've had an interest in voiceover since watching cartoons as a kid. Once I started acting, the road to get into this part of the industry opened up. At the behest of an agent, I went to an audition for Audible, booked the projects (four in total), and haven't looked back since.

SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICEOVER INDUSTRY.

I was on a roadtrip. The driver, instead of music, plays a Harry Potter audio- book. I took that as my cue to sleep - until I heard the performance of the narrator (the incomparable Jim Dale). I remember saying that I'd love to do that one day. I end up in a NYC stu- dio, some years later, and the producer of my project asks if I'd like to meet the person that narrated the Harry Potter books (who was recording in an adja- cent studio). I immediately said yes and was able to tell Jim Dale, to his face, how he inspired me to be a narra- tor. Serendipitous. TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.

The current fight is the continued usage of hu- man voices over Al. I get contracts for each project I voice and I noticed there wasn't specific language stipulating my voice wouldn't be used for ma- chine learning or Al duplica- tion. That particular publisher created an addendum to assuage my concerns. Before long, every publisher with whom I work had similar protective language in their contracts.

ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COL- LABORATE WITH?

I'd love to voice a long-form nature documentary. That's definitely a goal of mine.

TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CUR- RENTLY FOCUSED ON.

Aside from audiobooks, I'm focusing on network promos and animation projects.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?

Being a great storyteller. Having a "great" voice is nice but not a requirement of being a good voice actor. It's all in the storytelling.

free reedom

NOW IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?

I still prefer to show up to the studio. Noth- ing replaces working with an engineer in the session. They are your first audience, your first ears. When they're engaged in the story with you, they're an invaluable collaborator.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

I like several types. I MUST, however, highlight audiobook narration! I've voiced commercials, I've voiced games, I've voiced e-learning modules and so forth, however, being able to bring an entire story to life, verbally, and have the listeners feel it and take that same journey with you - epic.

WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICEOVER ACTOR?

So much admin. I don't have an assistant so all the emails I receive, I'm the one respond- ing. All the social media posts, created by me. The public appearances I make, arranged by me. There isn't enough time in the day for all of it but, as an entrepreneurial entity, I have to book all projects, appearances, & travel myself.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANY- ONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK?

GET COACHING!!! I cannot stress that enough. As I've said previously & will con- tinue to preach - being a master storyteller is mist important in this industry.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICEOVER ACTOR?

An excellent storyteller.

YOU ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE AS A VOICE OVER. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR 2025?

I'll be narrating a bevy of stories for audiobooks. I'm looking to expand my talents into network promo work, animation, and video games.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CUR- RENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

I have to adhere to an NDA contract for the majority of projects I accept. I can say I've had an amazing time bringing them to life.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICEOVER WORK, HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

My website is - www.caryhite.com. On social media - IG & LinkedIn - I'm @CaryHite

ANY LAST MESSAGE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE READERS?

I narrate for the historically muffled and silenced voices in our commu- nity. I narrate for those that never graduated from elementary school. I narrate for those that spent a time in the streets but got their GED. I narrate for the college-educated brothers and sisters. I narrate for every low-income housing fam to the silver-spoon benefactors be- cause storytelling is transcendent.

caryhite.com

PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

Kia ora Fusion readers!!! It's tubularly rad to get to chat with you in this interview! Thank you so much Fusion team for inviting me to chat with you! My name is Chloë Elmore (the umlaut is just a bit of spicy pizzazz) and I am a New Zealand voice actor, working full-time from my beautiful custom-made recording studio here in the lush countryside of Middle Earth! To get the numbers out of the way, I'm 32 years old and I've been pursuing VO part-time for 11 years, but I've been doing it full- time as my only source of income for 3 years.

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED?

Let's start at the very beginning, it's a very good place to start... I'm so glad print media doesn't let you hear me sing that, hah! Although... I'd voice it in my best sultry, seductive femme fatale voice and you would re- ally dig that! Anyway, I digress. So, I mentioned that I've been pursuing VO for 11 years, but it really started in my teens. As a homeschooler, I didn't have the opportu- nities that other kids have - like drama classes or singing lessons at school, etc. so I was a late bloomer. But I was going through a huge amount of trauma through my young years and was severely suicidal, having at- tempted it as an 11 year old. I was painfully shy - a vessel empty of confidence and stuffed full of self-hate.

I just wasn't at the same life stage of a lot of kids my age. I was both more mature and more stunted. I know that my trauma aged me in many ways, ulti- mately shaping me for incredible good - both per- sonally and for my craft. My pain and subsequent healing journey have been my most potent form of Actor Training. Through greater self-awareness in recovery, I got to the heart of why I wanted to act and perform. Yes, partly to escape the unbearable pain of my personal life and to wear the skin of a fictional character (even with their own pain) be- cause my own struggles were too much. But also, because I wanted to live life to the full. To live on the frontlines of life. In the trenches, with my fel- low humans. To stop numbing myself and checking out of life, but to really become more fully human - spirit, soul, relationships and all. Acting is my avenue to feeling most truly human.

SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

There were a few moments that were very decisive in my choice to pursue the VoiceOver industry. One negative, one positive. Firstly, the negative factor was during drama school (before the Me Too Movement, it's important to note) where the "con- nection exercises" left a prudish Christian home- schooling virgin feeling sullied and compromised beyond all recognition. I saw that if I continued in an industry that demanded profanity and nudity for 99 out of 100 jobs - "OR ELSE" - then I was going to become a person that I never recognised. Keep in mind, I had just started to discover the true Chloë. And I could not risk losing her, having just found her. I needed to be truly faithful to my inner compass, and screen & stage acting were un-mak- ing me and reshaping me into someone I did not like. But voice acting opened up such a liberating horizon to explore deep vulnerability and raw emo- tions while avoiding nudity and not exposing my body (with which I still had a very hate-filled relationship at the time). Voice acting allowed me to perform with full freedom, unshackled by fear of judgements about my body.

Secondly, there was a positive determinant: one of many must say. We did some deep breathing exer- cises at drama school. Gosh, I'm glad they warned us that when you "breathe into your groin," some deep memories and traumas can resurface, since they are stored in the lower abdomen and can be unlocked by breathing. The more breath work we practiced, the more I found my authentic voice and the more my bizarre vocal affectations fell away. As well as my timid, aspirate vocal quality, and the more I realised that the area of the Voice was my heart's desire. I read a book by Patsy Roden- burg, the Head of Voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, called "The Second Circle," which unpacks the key to unlocking your power and the inspired life that comes with it. Patsy Rodenburg dissects three basic ways human energy moves between people. In the second of these 'circles', you are focused, you give out energy and you receive it. And by working on your breath, posture, voice, language, listening skills, focus, courage and trust you can access the second circle on a daily basis.

After reading that book, I was never the same again. And while I didn't realise at the time, but I had found my life calling.

IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?

Heck yes!! A total dream would be to work with Ben Starr in a AAA video game. I have voiced for Warframe, but it was 'Koumei and the Five Fates', not '1999' in which he played Arthur.

But still! I was close! I would love to voice a lead char- acter in a Final Fantasy - but I mean, who wouldn't! One awesome dream that happened just a month ago was being flown to Chicago to act in an audio drama and all 30+ of the cast were voicing in the same studio with each other for a whole 9 days of pure bliss!! Yeah, it wasn't a huge game and they weren't names you'd know, but they are my people, my family, and hang- ing in the same hotel and going to restaurants every night, chatting in the hotel hot tub, and laughing until our abs ached was a massive dream for this little kiwi. It's rare to ever meet your castmates, let alone record in the same room with them, so I was so blessed! I am so content with how my career is skyrocketing, but I do want to reach the stars, of course! I have realised so many dreams of working on national commercials across America, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, but I would love to become a long- running 'Brand Voice' for a big company. That kind of legacy would be such an honour. Those brand voices shaped my secluded homeschooling childhood and gave me so much comfort and connection growing up.

TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CUR- RENTLY FOCUSED ON.

I am focused on all of it, hah. Video games, animation, audio dramas, commercials, corporate narrations. All of it. Definitely video games is front and centre for me. I would crawl over broke glass on most days in order to get cast in quality video games. Especially AAA. Tragically, I can't yet work on many US jobs since I don't have a SSN. Not YET. And that's a firm requisite for the LA and NYC scenes - which are where all the AAA games get produced. So I definitely have a far worse handicap than the vast majority of English- speaking voice actors in the world, since they are based in America. I definitely have my eyes peeled on commercials, since I find them so so fun and far less damaging to my vocal cords than video games and anime, etc. Also, they are a tidbit easier to do from outside the USA and UK. I work in many different accents, so I pinch a lot of work from those countries and get to voice some amazing content! I tend to get quite a few luxury car spots. Currently, at the time of this interview, my voice can be heard on national commercials for Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, and MG in New Zealand and the UK. So I've got my beady eyes on that automotive arena. But honestly, I believe that what- ever plants itself in my lap or comes across my path is meant to be. And at the moment, I'm so blessed to say that's most genres of VO. **I am engaged in a hard- core pursuit to be a Swiss Army knife voice actor.**

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR 2025?

My plans and dreams for 2025 are grand and expan- sive, but also, I am just taking things one day at a time and I am wearing my dreams like a loose garment. Maybe my 2025 visions and hopes will happen this year, maybe the next or the one after that. And that's totally okay. I feel so so blessed to have the opportuni- ties I'm getting each day, so I feel very content. What- ever happens happens. As long as I can continue "be- ing a joy to work with," as Maurice LaMarche advised me, then I will keep getting maximum bliss out of my job! I just came back from America a couple of weeks ago, having been a presenter at VO Atlanta 2025, so I am hoping you'll hear me at Dallas One Voice Confer- ence as a speaker. I'll be heading to PAX Melbourne in Australia as a speaker in the video game space and to the NZ Game Developers Conference too. And on top of the awesome VO opportunities that I am blessed with, I will be starting to coach VO this year, officially realizing my very first dream from drama school of helping people find their authentic voice and find their freedom and presence in VoiceOver.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

Oh gosh, so many exciting things at the moment, a lot of which I can't yet disclose. BUT I am recently released from NDA, so I can officially say I've had the total joy of voicing in the AAA video game 'Path of Exile 2, an action role-playing game developed by Grinding Gear Games and sequel to the long-running 13-year-old original POE. You can hear me as two of the beautiful Lead Class characters: the ballsy, rebellious Yorkshire Huntress as well as the sarcastic, Stoical British Ranger. You can check out the newly- released gameplay trailer for Dawn of the Hunt on YouTube, which had 4 million views in the first few days of release. I am super proud of being a part of the POE family and being embraced by such a passionate and kind community of gamers! Also, just released yesterday - I've voiced the fan-favourite Boss "Monsi- gnor Loskid" in Soulslike ARPG 'AI Limit!

CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

If anyone wants to follow along with my career, I'll attach my list of Social media links, since I love to stay active and keep it fun and interesting for my followers!

www.chloevoices.com

ANY LAST MESSAGE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE READERS?

Slow and Steady Wins the Race! Love what you do and do what you love. And don't take rejection personally. 'Develop the heart of a child, the mind of psychotherapist, and the hide of a rhinoceros.' And stay connected some good people in this industry. The rejection and isolation get too hard otherwise. I see this industry as a Connection Industry not a Rejection Industry.

PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

My name is Chris Johnson and I am a profes- sional Voice Actor based in Los Angeles. I have been involved with Voice Acting for the last 11 years.

HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

In 2014, I was working at an advertising agency and gave a presentation to a client. I was approached afterward and asked if I had ever thought about doing Voice Acting...which I had not. Two days later another person asked me the same question, out of the blue, so I started to ask myself if I SHOULD be thinking about it. I was in a band at the time and wasn't a stranger to performing, but pursuing something like Voice Acting never crossed my mind. I did a little research and found a 4 hour "Intro to Voice Acting" class which I decided to give a shot. I immediately fell in love with it and started tak- ing more and more classes from there.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

When those colleagues brought up Voice Act- ing in the span of a couple days all those years. ago, I think it sparked something in me that I had never fully explored. I knew I had always loved music and singing so my involvement with that was a no-brainer, but I had never let my mind explore the possibility of using my voice in animation or commercials or anything else really. I knew it was a job that existed, but it always seemed like something other people did for a living and while it seemed like a lot of fun...that was for them, not me. It turns out, it was definitely for me, I just needed that initial synchronistic spark

PLEASE SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

This whole journey has been inspirational, but if I want to take it back to when seeds were planted...one of the first times I remember being fully aware of a Voice Actor's performance was when I watched Aladdin when I was around 10 or 11 years old.

I remember sitting on my couch, being com- pletely enamored by the scene when the genie is first released from the lamp. Robin Williams cracking jokes at break-neck speed while the animations did their best to keep up was pure magic. I remember rewinding the VHS count- less times, trying to memorize all the beats and quirks of his delivery. While it didn't dawn on 11 year old me at the time that I wanted to do that, in hindsight it was definitely a mo- ment in time that drew me in and planted the seeds that would take root many years later.

CHRIS JOHNSON

PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.

This industry is very challenging on many levels, some you can foresee and others that pop up along your journey. You are a one- person business in this industry, responsible for not only your own performances and craft, but also your own marketing, invoicing, networking, technical setup and know-how and everything else it takes to run a successful business.

This can certainly be an uphill battle. I was fortunate to have worked in the corporate world and dealt with invoices, client interac- tions, contracts and networking...but I did not have an acting background. I knew this would be a large hill for me to climb, so when I started out, I didn't look for work for the first couple of years. Instead, I took class after class after workshop after workshop so I could develop my skills and make sure I was "ready" when I started looking for work.

You have to take an honest look at yourself and your skills early on and work on the areas where you may need some extra support.

Once I eventually transitioned out of the corporate world and began doing Voice Acting full-time, I also found challenges I didn't ex- pect. One was getting used to working alone every day. I had worked with colleagues in an office for years and going from that, to locking myself in a padded room by myself all day... was an unexpected adjustment

ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?

Collaborating with any Voice Acting royalty from my childhood would be absolutely amaz- ing and some of the amazing Voice Actors I have met and worked with thus far have also made the work so fulfilling. I tend to answer "everyone" to this question not as a dodge, but there are so many talented folks in this industry and you never know who you are going to have great chemistry with, so I just keep the doors open to any and all opportuni- ties and feel fortunate when my path crosses with others.

As far as a particular project, I would like to be part of something that lives on beyond my career. Whether that be an iconic animated character in a video game or a TV show or an impactful advertising campaign, it would be really fun to have a performance impact people beyond my time.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

I pride myself on being versatile. I have done commercial work, video games, audiobooks, eLearning, on-hold messaging, promos, corporate tutorials, narration, etc. So I am perpetually focused on putting myself in front of people and projects who think my voice and performances can be a fit, no matter the Voiceover genre. I am always learning, evolv- ing and developing as an actor.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

There is a constant buzz in the entertainment industry. There are always so many amazing projects that are at various stages of develop- ment and it gives the industry a certain life and energy that can be a lot of fun to be a part of. There are so many talented creative people, striving to tell stories that excite them and can teach us so much about ourselves both individually and collectively. Being at a point in time that makes it technologically possible for people to consume these stories in so many ways, is very exciting.

WHAT VOICE OVERS DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST FROM HOLLYWOOD?

There is a lot of great work being done. In the movie space, I admire the Voiceover work from films like Toy Story, Shrek and Her. In the commercial space, branded work by the likes of Jon Hamm for Mercedes is really well done and as I mentioned earlier, I do have a soft spot for all of those great cartoons of the 90's and early 2000's that entertained me when I wasn't even thinking about Voice Acting. When the character and work shines through and you are just entertained, you know they are doing a great job.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR

Contrary to popular belief...it is not all in the voice. The reality is, that this industry has the need and the space for all types and qualities of voices. I always tell people that it is a low- ercase "v" in voice and a capital "a" in acting. Acting is the foundation. If you have the most amazing smooth and rich voice, but don't de- liver believable and connected performances, it likely isn't going to work out. A good Voice Actor will put in the time and work to learn the craft. The learning never stops either, so it is also important for Voice Actors to continu- ally be open to their own evolution and open- minded to try new things. Also, persistence.

I tell new and upcoming Voice Actors that there are times when persistence is more important than skill. Even for people who are incredibly talented, there will be times where no matter what you do, it feels like you can't book a job. It makes you question your talent, your path and can be very mentally taxing. Finding ways to persist and power through those moments, is key.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

The genres in which I am hired the most are commercials, corporate narration, and eLearn- ing...however, I have done work in all sorts of genres. I really enjoy more character-driven work, so whenever I can be part of projects like audio dramas or video games, it is always a fun time. It is important for me to remain versatile, so I do like to focus on many differ- ent niches

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025?

The exciting (and potentially terrifying) part about this industry is that sometimes, you don't know what is right around the corner. Sometimes you will have on-going projects but that big commercial or breakout role, may be an audition that you get next week. I like to focus on controlling the things that I can control..which includes making sure I am at the top of my game, that my materials are cur- rent and updated, and that I am being honest with myself. That way, when those opportuni- ties do present themselves, I know that I am ready to give it my best shot.

ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

I have some regional commercial work that is running across the country currently and I am working on some eLearning material for some pharmaceutical clients. I do have some other work that I am barred from discussing via NDA agreements, but I hope to be able to discuss those very soon!

• TONY
• JACKSON
• PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

Tony Jackson. Phoenix AZ. Scorpio. I love spicy food, heavy metal, and living life. I officially started my voiceover journey late 2019. In addition to being a voice actor, I also write grants for a disability focused nonprofit, have been a power wheelchair soccer ath- lete since 2009, coach, and broadcaster since 2012, and recently began downhill skiing competitively.

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

WOW...that could be a small chapter in a book. Long story short, I discovered voiceover at my college radio station (The Blaze @Arizona State University) in the early 2000s. I worked my way to becoming the production director and thought, "people get paid to do this stuff...". Back when online radio was still very underground, I found a heavy metal station based in Alaska and offered my services. They said "yes" and that was my first ever VO gig...and I got paid! Then I didn't pursue it any further. I don't know why.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

15 years after college radio, an acquaintance told me about an "intro to VO" workshop in the area. I had been working other jobs, but voiceover would knock on my door occasionally and remind me it was still there. I said to myself, "it's now or never. Do this or move on with your life. With a friend's encourage- ment and help, I signed up and the rest is history.

SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE IN VOICE OVER.

The moment I got my first paid job and realized people make a living behind the microphone. At that moment, I knew my life had to eventually land behind the microphone.

INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME IT.

I face many of the same challenges my fellow voice actors do...building the business into existence, carv- ing out a space within this community, and mouth clicks. Living with a physical disability presents other unique challenges. I had to design a custom booth that can accommodate my power wheelchair. I rely on caregivers to help me live every day, and since they don't live with me, my time is a bit more limited. I can't get up at 3 AM to get in the booth and record. However, I do what I can with what I've got, and it's worked out well so far. If I'm going to pursue this goal, I have no choice but to figure out solutions and make it work.

IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?

I want to voice sports promos in the future. MLB on FOX. NFL on CBS. English Premier League on NBC. College Football on ABC/ESPN. If it's sports on network TV, I want to voice commercials for it. Or if Aqua Teen Hunger Force came back, I would be all over that. C'mon Adult Swim!

PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

I am working on improving my commercial reads. With my broadcasting background, it has been challenging to knock the "announcer" out of me. I'm much better now than I was (thankfully), but I still have so much more room to improve. Also, I am going to push into more training for promo and radio imaging work.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

I think that there is still something alluringly magical about Hollywood. Certainly, the mystery behind the curtain has been pulled back over the years, however there is still something glamorous about it.

TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS Although entertainment is much more democratized and accessible these days, Hollywood still has an impact on us culturally and that's not going to disap- pear anytime soon.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?

A great voice actor makes the listener feel some- thing. They can embody the story and with their vocal folds vibrating air, a great voice actor can influ- ence the way we feel in that moment. It's a powerful human ability.

EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?

I have only ever worked remotely. However, I thrive in group settings, so I look forward to the day when I get to work in the studio.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

I've been training in commercial, TV promo and movie trailer, and a little bit of animation (more recently). I want to dive into radio imaging, which is essentially voiceover that serves as branding for the station. Radio production in college influenced that.

WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR?

Wake up. Get in the booth. Record auditions. Cry. Leave the booth. Send out marketing emails. Cry some more. Eat breakfast. Stop crying because you're not hungry anymore. Send more marketing emails. Get back in the booth and record that audi- tion that's due in 10 minutes. Sometimes book a gig.

HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

They can email me at [email protected] and visit my website at tonyjacksonvo.com to hear samples.

LiL

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

Hi: I'm Nancy German

PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

I was working as a high school guidance counselor. One of my students was a dancer in music videos at the time. She kept telling me I should get on her agent's talent roster, because I made her laugh.

Well, she was serious. For about four months, she pestered me all the time to join it. I had some acting background in my youth, but for commercials? In Maine? It never occurred to me I could make a living at this.

I loved this girl but she was relentless. So, I finally signed up.

Initially it was for on-camera work, but after driving in a snowstorm for an hour and a half and not getting the gig, I was about to give up but then booked a voice over job for a company phone message. I was so excited!! I thought this was it! Then about three years passed where I was so interested in the work but just didn't know what to do to further it.

I then found an online application for a group of pro voice actors to meet and share knowledge. I didn't lie about how much work I had under my belt, but to this day I am not sure how I passed the application test.

That was the pivotal moment in the start of my journey into voiceover. I finally had the information I needed and finding my "tribe of like minded creatives. Twenty-five years later, I am so happy I found it!

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

I loved my job working with teenagers, but I always was a creative person at heart and needed an outlet for that. It became very clear, as I got older that acting and the challenge of it, really fed my soul.

SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

It's funny, but I think it began when I won a radio contest when I was ten. I had to say the "two all beef patties, special sauce" lines as fast as I could. I think I won a burger meal. It was so fun and I thought, do people get paid for this? Little did I know it was my "first" of many commercials to come.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.

Even though, now, much work is done remotely, I still think I face biases when I send auditions from Maine to casting in L.A. and New York. They may not be conscious biases, but I think there may be a perception that because I'm from a small town, I may not have the abilities or knowl- edge that other actors might.

This is why I try to make my auditions very strongly competitive and also have trav- elled often to train with some of the best coaches in the business, so I stay relevant from my little corner of the world.

Additionally, I have had to advocate for myself with some agents, who may see me as an "older lady" only capable of certain types of reads. Well, I'm proud that I book character work and very comedic work as well as my straight pharma and medical reads. I don't want anyone to ever limit me, in what is possible for me, though I know I still have to sound young enough to book some things.

IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?

My work has been largely commercial, but I am very interested in the storytelling of documentary work and just completed a job where I played a woman who was part of the Canadian government's use of psychics in military intel.

I love learning about history and my dream job would be to narrate for Ken Burns or on Discovery, Smithsonian, or the History Channel, Crime Network, really anything about ghost stories or haunted places would be fun. Especially in Scotland, Eng- land or Ireland.

TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

Currently, I am focused on commercials and pharma largely, but am often hired for luxury products and travel as well. I have been working with coaches in animation and video game work and documentary work and would love to book more in those genres.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

I have a compassionate, trustworthy sound because that truly is me as a person. I'm an LCSW therapist as well. So it lends itself to insurance, finance, medical and pharma reads naturally.

This is what I book the most, but I also focus on many genres, including automo- tive, luxury, live announcing, animation and video games.

I know some people only like doing one type of thing but I love all of it. Though I don't have the patience for long audio books at this stage of my life. I like to do shorter non-fiction, since my commercial work takes priority.

I'm happy now to be booking conversation- al reads that were hard when I had trained as an announcer in the beginning. Thanks, Scott Parkin, in particular, for changing that for me, where I was formerly stuck!

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJ- ECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORK- ING ON NOW?

Unfortunately, much of my recent exciting work is under NDA at the moment but I'm excited to say I have two promos coming out on one of the streaming services for a very popular show that I booked from an old client. This is unusual in that it did not come from an agency casting.

I'm also proud to be able to work as a SAG AFTRA actor now, and look forward to more SAG projects. A recent one using my comedic skills.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

My website is www.nancygermanvoiceover. com and my Linked In profile is www. linkedin.com/in/nancygerman My email address is listed on both sites as well as my contact info and I am very responsive.

NANCY GERMAN

KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

My name is DJ Dykes. I'm a professional voice actor who's been in the industry for almost five years. I'm represented by ACM Talent and VOX.

HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

I stumbled into this career in 2020 while looking for a way to make money from home during the global pandemic

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

I honestly got started because my wife and I were looking for a decent work- from-home opportunity. I happened to see a YouTube video about voiceover and thought, "Hmm, I could totally do that." The rest is history.

SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE INDUSTRY

My original understanding of voiceover was the voices you hear on animation and movie trailers. I know it sounds intuitive, but I was honestly surprised when I learned that VO extends to so many other genres like commercial, TV promos, in-show narration. That was when I knew I could carve out my own spot in this vast industry.

TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY

Frankly, I haven't encountered any major challenges; just small things here and there. I know that sounds like I had an easy path, but it's absolutely not the case. I simply have an unrelenting self-belief, and understand the power of small daily efforts. I've yet to face a challenge in this industry that makes me doubt my abilities. I also under- stood early on that voiceover is an entrepreneurial endeavor. That means you have to try and fail a lot and be proactive, don't lie around waiting for things to happen. So yeah, unrelent- ing self belief, 1% better everyday, and an entrepreneur mindset; I think those qualities are found in every successful voice actor, regardless of the genre(s) they specialize in.

ANY PROJECT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH?

I don't have any particular project or people I would like to work with. I like to keep it loose and go with the flow. However, I keep a list of professional goals that I work toward. I aim to be the promo voice of a major network, and an A-list movie trailer VO.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?

I always defer to Sanford Meisner's quote: "Acting is behaving absolutely truthfully under the imaginary circum- stance." Without a doubt, understand- ing who you are at the emotional level is the most important skill. Too many aspiring voice actors rely on their voices to do the heavy lifting. The game-changing discovery I made was that every facet of your performance - voice, expressions, gesticulations...all follow your emotions.

Develop your emotional recall. It will provide the lattice that supports your storytelling throughout the script.

NOW IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, EVERY- THING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?

So, I joined the industry during the global pandemic, so I've only ever known remote recording. As such, it's just normal for me. Source Connect makes it possible to connect with anyone around the world and facilitates a high-fidelity recording session.

WHAT TYPE OF VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

So, I specialize in commercial, promo, trailers, and narration. I love having a new and different project to work on every day, and those genres offer that.

WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR?

A voice actor's day is ever-changing. I reserve mornings for the crazy amount of auditions I receive from ACM Talent and my agents. Then I offer VO coach- ing for an hour before lunch. In the afternoon, I knock out the second wave of auditions, spend time practicing my reads, do some marketing outreach, communicate with clients, etc. I adjust my schedule based on bookings. Some days, I cannot even do one audition be- cause I'm so busy recording for clients. Then there are the various workshops and coaching I attend to keep my skills sharp. My schedule, it's never really set in stone, ya know?

I learned that VO extends to so many other genres like commercial, TV promos, in-show narration. That was when I knew I could carve out my own spot in this vast industry.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK?

Be a self-starter. I've met too many folks who say they want to get into the industry but have any number of reasons why they haven't yet. Months down the road, they still haven't even started yet.

There are a lot of things you can waste time overthinking: which mic to use, which software, which genre, which platforms or marketing services...it's all unnecessary at the beginning. Just pull out your phone and start video recording yourself talking. You'll learn more from that simple exercise than any amount of microphone research.

Also, consume as much free information as possible before spending a dime. Do not pay for coaching. Do not pay for demos. Just spend the first few months recording yourself on your smartphone, watching YouTube vid- eos (like the ones on my channel), listening to VO podcasts, free VO webinars, etc. There is more free information out there now than there has ever been.

DJ DYKES

Once you've done that for a while, you should have a clearer idea of what to do next.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

I'm the in-show narrator of NBA's NBA On Fire weekly recap series, which airs inter- nationally in markets like Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. I also have a small role in an upcoming Netflix animated film set to release Q2 2025.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

You can learn more about me at www. djdykes.com and email me directly at dj@ djdykes.com. Or you can reach out to my manager, Jeffrey Umberger at ACM Talent: [email protected].

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

Yes absolutely! For your neutral English and Spanish needs, I'm your girl! I also provide transla- tion services. To learn more about me please visit my website elizabethcarrillovo.com. There you will find links to my socials and ways to contact me directly or to contact my agents.

KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

¡Hola Fusion! I am so excited to be sharing space with you today. My name is Elizabeth Carrillo. I am a first genera- tion Mexican American bilingual voice actress. I am a bonus mom to an almost 12 year old and a cat mom of 6. I love plants...oh and earrings!

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED

IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

I think one of the first things I did was buy equipment (Some of you are probably cringing by reading this. I know! If you're new and reading this, PLEASE DON'T BUY EQUIPMENT FIRST) I bought all the wrong stuff and eventually had to sell it on Facebook Marketplace and then get the equip- ment I actually did need. I remember I booked a 1-1 session with a voice actor on a pay to play site that gave me some basic information. From there I started to buy books on voice acting, I listened to podcasts, and I took classes. Being able to attend any class remotely made learning super accessible.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

Ultimately, it was the support and nudge from my partner, Gilbert. Like we say in Spanish, fue la gota que derramo el vaso. It's the drop that made the cup overflow. Uff, but it was such a long time from when the first voice over seed was planted until I actually started to water and nurture the idea! I NEVER thought I would follow a creative career until my high school Spanish teacher, Mr.Rojas, made a comment. I was always the type of student that would volunteer to read out loud. He was the first to tell me, "you should be a voice actor." I honestly just shrugged that off, like "yeah ok." I saw myself pursuing other careers. From the time I was re- ally little, I wanted to be a teacher and then the dream switched to wanting to become a veterinarian. Eventually I went to college for Clinical Nutrition and Spanish, and that's when the "what if" of the comment by Mr. Rojas about voice over echoed. I couldn't change majors, are you kidding. I'm the daughter of immigrants and I had my mind set on a good career that was fail proof. I was going to be a dietitian. Ok, well fast forward to 2020, Gilbert and I are sitting in our studio apartment during one of those nights we had a curfew during the pandemic. We questioned if we felt like we were really living a fulfilled life. I mean, it was a scary time. More and more people were dying each day be- cause of COVID, and life felt so precious and ephemeral. We wanted more from life. I wanted to be a voice actor. "Why not me?"

FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.

At first, the challenge was overcoming some negative thoughts I had about my own voice, because I was teased for it for so long when I was a teenager. My voice may have been a target of ridicule at one point, but now I see it as my super power.

Currently, one of my biggest challenges is balancing my full time job while also pursuing voice acting. I work full time as a lactation consultant at a hospital. I've arranged my schedule so that I work on the weekends so I can be more free during the week for when auditions are more likely to come in from my agents. Working weekends is tough. I mean I've missed birthday parties, tías visiting from Mexico and even quality time with my partner. It's been really hard, but I know it's going to be worth it. It has been so far!

WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

Since the beginning of my acting career, I have definitely focused heavily on the commercial side of voice acting. It's the type of auditions I get the most of. But in the last year I was able to branch out and book some animation and dubbing jobs!

EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?

I definitely like that work can be done remotely, because if I had to come into the studio to audition, it would be very difficult for me to fit in with my full time job. BUT when it comes to recording final projects, I love when there's an option to record in studio. It's great to meet the engineers and other people collaborating on the same project. And going into the studio is a great excuse to bring in donuts!

WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR?

For me, it can vary immensely. If it's a hos- pital day, it means getting to work before 7:00am so that I could be home by 4:00pm so I can start recording and submitting auditions.

ALL PHOTOS BY EMILY SANDIFER.

ANY LAST MESSAGE YOU LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE READERS?

Your college degree doesn't have to decide the rest of your life. You're allowed to change your mind. Explore your "what ifs." Be bold with your life and take chances. If there's something that excites you, something you can't get your mind off of...ahí es mamita! Take the first step and let yourself feel new at something again.

JALEN ASKINS

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH?

Hello there! My name is Jalen Askins. I am a professional voice actor in the Los Angeles area and have been pursuing voice acting for about 7-8ish years. I have provided voiceover in many dif ferent genres such as I would honestly love to voice for an Avatar animated project, because when I think about it I love the storytelling and world building that the avatar franchise has built. Whether it's a love interest, comedy relief, villain or even one of the main heroes it would just be an honor to play in that world. Another would definitely be the ninja turtles just to play one of the iconic four turtles that bring us that joy and imagination. Even a marvel animated series would be cool to be a part of, and most definitely would love to join in on some Kung Fu Panda project whether it be a series or a film because I also love the story and world of characters they have created that are timeless.

video games, ADR, Animation, Com- mercials, and Promos.

• TALK ABOUT
• HOW YOU
• GOT STARTED
• IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

I got started in the industry really just posting stuff online of my voice like fandubs, covers you name it, and while that was going on I was taking classes with Del Mar Media Arts, Voicetraxwest, and other mentors. Then, I booked my first agent in 2021 and did my first ever gig for a museum. After 3½ years of just auditioning I was also in some great indie projects that made me better as an actor. I started working on audiobooks back in 2023 and went full time in that same year. Finally, by 2024 I took a class with my agent Arielle Negrin at Voicetraxwest for my first class, and ultimately became repped with my current Agency Atlas. Since then I've been a full time voice actor and been grate-story. An actor that is dedicated to the craft and gives ful and blessed to work with many great talented individuals.

Currently I've been getting into more indie anima- tion and trying to break into more animation roles. Reason being I love recording animation because of how expressive, fun, and overall exciting when I get to record or just ad lib when I can. I'm also loving audio descriptions because of how fun they are and the projects I get to work on and seeing everything come together.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?

What makes a good voice actor in my opinion is someone that doesn't just act but embody the char- acter to the point where I get lost in the world and to their craft such as giving the character authentic life and development. Someone who is willing to learn that these characters we voice need as much nuance as life gives us.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

Growing up my parents bought me all the renais- sance disney movies on VHS and I watched them consistently because I loved and adored animation as a whole. When I was 4 I started doing impressions of the animations I watched growing up like Scooby doo, Yogi Bear, Mickey Mouse, Looney Tunes and so forth. I was excited to go to the movies as a kid because it meant I got to see my favorite animated movies. So since I was little I had a love and overall admiration paired with inspiration for voiceover and animation that made me ultimately decide to want to pursue this career.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

I like several types like Audio Descriptions, ADR, Video Games, Animation, Commercials, and Promos. Each one I see as a different style like the martial arts. They all have the same core principle but differ- ent ways to tackle and learn them.

I STARTEDDOING

IMPRESSIONS OF THE ANIMATIO WATCHED GROWING UP LIKE SCO

DOO, YOGI BEAR, MICKEY MOUSE, LOONEY

TUNES AND SO FORTH.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE OVER ACTOR?

Someone who is willing to learn and give themselves to the craft. Someone who can bring out not just the character but the story to life. In life we as actors pull from our own personal experiences to bring these characters, spots, etc out. A good voice actor knows how to pivot, how to hit those emotional beats like a musician knows how to bring those melodies and harmonies out. They are a master of their instrument and every inflection is deliberate and every decision is intentional. They are the ones that guide you through the story or whatever medium as if we are on an adventure.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

Yes! I am working on some cool projects that are be- ing worked on such as an indie pilot named Zipped Up which I play the Big Bad Vapor which is currently running a kickstarter and would love for folks to do- nate to because the creator and the team along with the cast are phenomenal. I also have an animated series debut on Amazon Prime where I voice a cool character coming in the upcoming months. I am also in a project called the Lunchbox project my Team Horizon who are working very hard to get the short out. I got some stuff behind the scenes happening so keep a lookout on my social media.

HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

ANY LAST MESSAGE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE READERS?

Keep going the journey is worth it. There is a lot to this business to learn and there is room for everyone to win, especially those who want to be a part of this craft. Whether you want to get into animation, video games, etc do not limit yourself. You may think you are a good fit for one thing but you may be a good fit for multiple things. I want to hear your voices or even work with you guys someday there's always stories to tell so start now. Write that story, get that $100 mic and do a funny dub with your friends, but in the end just start. You got a voice and if this is your passion the world needs to hear you. Even in the times where you may think you will never make it, but take it from me it takes time and patience. Remember it's not a race it's a marathon.

KARI

SUTCLIFFE

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

My name is Kari Sutcliffe, also known as Anne Marie Lebeaur - My spin on X-Men's Rogue - (and other aliases, depending on how PG the proj- ect is). I'm a voice actress, narrator, and fiction producer. I build worlds, voice the monsters in them, and catch them on fire-metaphorically. Mostly.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

I've always loved acting and storytelling. I was in every play, every theater class I could find. I wrote characters obsessively and devoured every major fantasy and sci-fi novel published. I trained in radio/TV production at a career center, got accepted to the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts on scholarship-then didn't go.

My father is FLDS. Acting, in his world, is considered something women do when they lose their way-Jezebel-type behavior. He once took me to Hollywood Blvd to show me where "actresses" end up. That stuck for a while. It felt like I had fought for my passion, and lost. We were pulled back into the church community to repent of our errant ways.

TO STORYTELLING

A car crash and a hard spiral later, I found myself a single mom with two kids and a drug- ad- dicted boyfriend, waiting tables instead. Another way to make money acting. ;) Years passed. It wasn't until I realized remote voice acting was a real option-home studios, virtual auditions -that I started to find my way back. I started with narration because I love, love books. Audi- tioned constantly, took every class I could afford, joined every group I could find. Within a year, I was working full time.

By year two, my partner quit his work as a general contractor and joined me. We became a duo, picked up by a publishing house that kept us booked solid. And we've been running ever since-voicing dozens of characters for clients across video games, commercials, audiobooks, and even escape rooms.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.

I'm sure the challenges are similar for most of us—the hardest part is getting attention. There are so many incredible voice actors out there, and it can be tough to perform in a way that sets you apart and brings noticeable depth to a character.

The constant hustle of auditions burns you out quickly, and there's not much security in the industry. I've found the key is relation- ships. You have to remember that people work with people. A big part of why someone hires you is you. Professionalism, humility, and honesty matter a lot more than people think.

JAPAN IS KNOWN FOR SO MANY GREAT ICONIC VOICE OVER PEOPLE, SUCH AS CHARACTERS FROM ANIME OR MOVIES AND DUBBED TV SHOWS. WHO IS SOME- ONE INSPIRATIONAL THAT YOU ADMIRE IN THIS INDUSTRY?

I admit, I'm Sailor Moon fan. The voice cast is dynamic and full of energy. Cyberpunk:

Edgerunners and Fullmetal Alchemist are up there for me too.

I've always been drawn to voices with edge-dark, sultry, or grounded in something heavier. People like Aoi Yūki and Emi Lo as Lucy in Edgerunners, Romi Park and Colleen Clinkenbeard as Edward Elric, and Laura Bailey's performance as Lust-unbelievable talent that brings depth and danger. You be- lieve the character because the voice doesn't

I've always been drawn to performance and storytelling, but voiceover became the first version of it that felt possible again. I could do it from home, on my terms. That made all the difference. I didn't get into voice acting because it looked fun-I got into it because it was the flinch. door open I could walk through towards my dream. And once I did, it stuck.

PLEASE SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY

I think the moment it clicked for me was realizing my favorite characters were voiced by real people. Esmeralda was a big one-I wanted to be Demi Moore. Her voice was grounded, sultry, and strong without trying. That left an impression. I was never drawn to slapstick or caricature voices- I care about voices that feel natural... and maybe a little dangerous.

Rogue from X-Men was another huge influence. Lenore Zann has everything-toughness, vulnerability, attitude. She's the reason I chose the pseudonym I use today.

And the villainesses! Maleficent is an incredible character. Her performance had weight. PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT

Hollywood has produced some truly iconic stories-ones that shaped a lot of us growing up. When it's done right, it reminds you how powerful storytelling can be. I tend to admire the projects that take risks and aren't afraid to push boundaries or dig into heavier themes. The Matrix, The Fifth Element, and Dune all did that. They didn't just entertain-they built worlds, asked bigger questions, and left a mark. That's the version of Hollywood I respect.

That's the kind of work I admire.

IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?

I already collaborate with incredible perform- ers and creatives! To answer the question though, I would say the voice actresses I mentioned before, whose work I deeply re- spect-Laura Bailey, Romi Park, Aoi Yüki, and Colleen Clinkenbeard. Performers who can deliver edge, control, or vulnerability without overselling it. I'd be honored to collaborate with them on a project.

As for producers, I'm drawn to people creat- ing grounded sci-fi and dark fantasy worlds- something with emotional depth and moral complexity. If it feels a little dangerous little broken, I'm probably interested.

WHAT VOICE OVERS DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST FROM HOLLYWOOD?

I'm drawn to performances that stay honest-even in exag- gerated roles. Jack Black is a great example. He can go big without losing his human nature. That balance takes skill, and it's rare.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?

Many people can pull off a cool character voice-but that's not what's required. Acting means giving yourself up to the character completely. You have to get to know them, feel what they feel, and then cut loose-no holds barred. And most importantly, they serve the story, not their ego.

I focus mostly on fiction-narration, audio drama, and character-driven work. Anything that requires emotional depth or character-building, I'm in. I've voiced everything from cyberpunk mercenaries to haunted narrators in fantasy epics. I'm not interested in surface-level roles. I go where the story has weight.

Ironically, though, a lot of my early work came from Siri- type or Al voice gigs. I recorded the countdown for the 2025 National Cheer Majors in the voice. The Al voices are so ad- vanced now that if you want that classic "systems" voice, you have to pay a real person to sound artificial. There's something uniquely satisfying about that.

WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR?

VENOU

NOW IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, EVERYTHING IS DONE BY RE- MOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?

Yes-I love it. Working remotely gives me freedom. I can record in my pajamas. No ones watching. I can really get into character and take risks without embarrassment. Even getting dressed for live directed sessions or meetings, it only has to be from the waist up. ;)

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HA VE SEVERAL TYPES?

or character-building, I'm in. I've voiced everything from cyberpunk mercenaries to Coffee. Too much coffee. My partner and I swap between the booth, our business, and the kids- so the days aren't slow. Boredom is a luxury. If you forget to hustle for new work while you're buried in what's already on your plate, you'll feel it next month. It's a grind—but a good one. Things are happening.

In general, as a voice actor, you can expect to struggle with healthy routines. It's easy to forget your body when you work in a box. You have to break up booth time with movement and sunlight, drink lots of water, and take care of your voice. Staying on schedule is its own challenge when you're your own boss, you still have to show up for the people depending on you. No one's leaning over your shoulder, but that doesn't mean deadlines don't exist.

ass.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE THAT IS INTER- ESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK?

Practice - for real! This might sound obvious, but-listen to yourself. Really listen. And whenever you can, compare. Not just "Do I sound good?" but "How do I sound next to this person?" Try a Spider-Man voice-or whatever character you love-and play it side by side with the original. Who sounds more believable? Why? Is your audio just as clean? You'd be surprised how many voice actors never actually listen to themselves. No shade-I had to learn that too. Also, please note, voices and acting are dif- ferent skill sets. You can have all the voices in the world and still fall flat if you don't know how to act. Act with other peo-

Oh-and remember: if you piss off your team, especially the sound designer, they do know how to make you sound terrible. So maybe don't be an AS A VOICE OVER. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR 2025?

These days, most of my focus is on producing. I still do some voice acting, but it's mainly for my own produc- tions- under Arcane Fiction. I take on occasional client narration work to keep the lights on, but most of what I do now is about building and releasing original stories.

ple! Take classes and take it seriously. Learn timing, presence, nuance. That's what distinguishes a voice from a performance.

Oh, and truly, your mic doesn't matter as much as you think it does. A $1,000 mic in a bathroom won't beat a $40 mic in a proofed room. And nothing makes up for a half-baked perfor- mance. Even entertainment veterans make this mistake.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE OVER AC- TOR?

Someone who shows up, takes direction, and understands the story isn't about them. It's about serving the character and the scene. A good voice actor knows when to hold back, when to let go, and how to stay consistent over long sessions. Talent helps-but discipline, awareness, and humility are what make

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

Right now, our main project is Into the Beanstalk-a cyberpunk retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk with military grit, full-cast audio, and an AR-integrated motion comic to flesh it all out. I voice the main character and serve as the narrator. We're also developing a series of short-form exclusives for our patrons and preparing to launch our fic- tion magazine, which will feature original stories, comics, and immersive media all in one place. It's a lot-and we're just getting started.

OF THE AFTERMATH

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Talk about Arcane. What is your company all about?

We're storytellers here at Arcane - this is our core, and we tell stories in many different ways. From books to audiobooks, audio dramas to fiction podcasts, comics, and immersive AR (augmented reality) motion comics, we bring fiction to life across every mobile medium. If it lives on your phone, or you can hold it in your hand, we create it.

We search for the perfect stories- through independently published authors or with the help of our col- laborative publishing partner World Weaver Press-and build them out across multiple formats. We start with a full-cast audiobook, then evolve it into a fiction podcast with original music and cinematic sound design. Next, we work with some of the best artists in the game to turn it into a comic. And when it makes sense, we take it one step further- combining the audio and visuals into the interactive AR comics. It's all about giving our fans new ways to experience the story, wherever they are.

Why did you decide to create an audio comic book company?

We moved into the comic realm because we love the artwork-ac- tion packed covers, character illustrations comics tell a story at a glance. It made sense to bring that into our process. There are also certain artists we were simply dying to collaborate with. Pairing our au- dio dramas with original comic art, adds visual depth and blends retro elements with modern storytelling. In 2026, we're taking it further by launching a fiction magazine that features the original stories, the comics, and the audio-all in one place. Best of all worlds.

Also, I'm on a mission to sup- port creatives. This medium holds space for real artists. In general, entertainment seems to be moving away from true art - even CG and everything we're doing with film is less about individual creators and more about the tools used. This is somewhere we can still appreci- ate original artists. It's an honor to collaborate with such an incredible team of creatives-from our stellar cast and visionary artists to our brilliant sound designers, incredible lead composer, and our wizard of AR programming.

Another reason we love comics is because they bring out things that society and people are often not willing to talk about - things that might be too offensive, too off- putting, or just too hard to explain. A tagline of ours is "Stories for the BOLD," because we aim to push some limits.

Talk about your idea of comic books. What makes you different from others?

Our AR comics set us apart, they are a rare medium, and not many produce them. Immersive comics take real dedication. We love that it preserves the original story - you can really engage with the charac- ters, follow the killer images of origi- nal artists, and it's not eating away at the narrative like many animation or films do. It blends the nostalgia of comics and classic storytelling with future tech. Traditional comic books aren't as interactive - you can't hear the birds singing beside you or the people screaming.

It's a whole new way of experienc- ing stories. To me, this is the perfect middle ground. Films take an original story idea and completely botch it, and when you're watching it, you're often watching it passively. Traditional audiobooks can be, well, boring. This way you're engaging with all your senses, you can still hold it and read it, you can watch it in action scene by scene, listen while you work, it's fully immersive, while maintaining it's artistic and literary integrity.

I also like to think we're courageous and don't shy away from stories that push you to stretch your curiosities a bit, that our tales are extraordinary.

Talk about the challenges that you face, and how do you overcome the challenges?

The biggest challenge is cost. We started in the audiobook space as narrators and voiceover artists, before deciding to create our own stories with full casts and all the bells and whistles - and, turns out, that's pretty costly. You can produce an audiobook for between $2-4K

• J. Paul Roe
• INTO THE BEANSTALK
• Arcane Fiction
• RAINING
• IN TOKYO
• FABLEPUNK
• Cyber Tales
• RATHE
• Altered Stone Adventures
• ARCANE

JOE RUIZ & ALESSANDRO SACCOTELLI

ARCANE FICTION

PERSONAL DREAM OF MINE IS TO COLLABORATE WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS JOE RUIZ TO FULLY REALIZE HIS COMIC T.O.T.A "TRIBES OF THE AFTERMATH" AS A FULLY CAST AUDIO FICTION PODCAST AND MOTION COMIC per 30-minute episode-around $20K for a four-hour book. If you expand it into a full AR comic experience with original art, animation, and programming, the total production cost for four hours of content can reach over $100K.

We break it up in stages so it's bite-sized and manageable, and this helps pace the cost. The good news is this problem is easily solv- able, and we're already seeing results. We have a unique fan base because it's such a cool medium - it's easy to entice people into people our universe. Every trailer gets great reviews and feedback. It's a powerful opportunity for sponsors, too-we partner with brands. that share our love for bold, unconventional storytelling and a fanbase that lives outside the mainstream. Our format makes easy to weave sponsors directly into our narra- tives, creating more engaging (and actually interesting) brand integration.

Time is another big challenge. With five kids and two businesses, my partner and I are running lean. We started as narrators and voice actors only, but found ourselves quick- ly wearing every production hat-always learning and building new ways to bring these stories to life. We're also still taking on client work to stay afloat, but the more we grow, the more we can focus fully on creat- ing. Every step forward brings us closer.

What does the future hold for Arcane Fic- tion Productions? What is your vision for the future of Arcane Comics?

Our goal is simple: make more stories, faster. We have a lineup of incredible projects, but full-cycle production-from audiobook to AR comic-takes time. Each story becomes four to five different experiences, so whether you're into audiobooks, audio dramas, com- ics, or the full immersive package, there's a way in for everyone.

A personal dream of mine is to collaborate with one of my favorite artists Joe Ruiz to fully realize his comic T.O.T.A "Tribes of the Aftermath" as a fully cast audio fiction pod- cast and motion comic. He's also been brew- ing an incredibly insightful, provocative, and very relevant Scifi project titled "Mandatory Happiness" which MUST be realized in the world as an interactive story.

bey

ARCANE

FICTION PRODUCTIONS

Looking ahead, we're exploring deeper AR and even VR storytelling with the help of mastermind Rob Shields-where you can step inside the world and interact with it. Think somewhere between a game and a comic.

We're not chasing Hollywood or selling IP. We're focused on building our own worlds, our way, with the right people beside us.

What kind of selection of comic books are you focused on now?

Right now, we're rooted in sci-fi-and we'll probably stay there for a while. We've got an incredible backlog of cyberpunk stories and twisted sci-fi fairy tales that could keep us busy for years. That said, we're not op- posed to branching out in the future. We have a couple fantasy titles in the mix, thanks to our amazing co- producers (shoutout to Altered State Adventures!) and their killer D&D-style adventure, Rathe.

On the flip side, we're actively exploring other ways to layer the story experience through VR- like using different QR codes to unlock alternate versions of scenes, hidden content, or sneak peeks. So when it comes to choosing which comic to move forward with, we're looking for stories with rich world elements and secrets we can hide inside the AR experience.

One thing's certain: it'll always be fiction, and almost always sci-fi or fantasy.

How do you collaborate with your artists and edi- tors about the comic books you release?

In todays world, I have to start with saying we only work with human artists, writers, and editors. People, not their tools.

We're also very intentional when it comes to art style. We're drawn to gritty, retro-future illustrations-think '80s Heavy Metal sci-fi-with expressive, detailed work that stays authentic to the theme and creators. We don't rush the process. We want our artists to be proud of their work.

It takes time to find the right fit, and when we do, we aim for long-term collaboration. Our lead artists typi- cally carry an entire season-not just covers. If able and willing, they head up the art direction across the whole production: comic pages, covers, pod- cast thumbnails, and AR assets for the motion comic.

We give our artists a lot of creative freedom. We choose them because of their unique style, and we trust them to lead. Many also act as their own comic editor, han- dling layout, character design, and even building their own teams of colorists and co-illustrators. It's a true collaboration-and one we take seriously.

Any exclusives you'd like to share? Any new comic books that fans can expect?

• CHAPTER 4:
• THE HUNTRESS STRIKES
• PROJECT GNOSIS

CHAPTER SHADOWS OF THE DSAD

We love our patrons, and we create all kinds of exclusives for them. There are stories that do not go outside of Arcane's jnner circle we'll produce in-house epi- sodes-short stories that go all the way through to comic and AR comic form-that will never be released to the public.

you can imagine who Rumplestiltskin would be in a dystopian future, well... you can't.

"Into the Beanstalk" is our magnum opus right now. We typically run one major project at a time, with an anthology run- ning in the background. Beanstalk will be our lead for 2025-2026, and we're taking it all the way through to full AR comic and motion comic.

The only way to access them is by getting closer to us! Becoming an Arcane Initiate - part of our community on Patreon - or by purchasing the whole thing outright.

It's a cyberpunk fairytale retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, but in a way you would never expect. The author, J. Paul Roe, did a fantastic job of spinning it.

We keep the more *ahem* controversial ones close to our belt.

We've also got something extra fun brew- ing: like I hinted at before, certain Patreon tiers will unlock special QR codes that lead to entirely different AR experiences. You will think two people have the same comic... but they won't. ;)

He has personal experience that contrib- utes to the kind of cyberpunk future that has gritty military aspects. The protagonist is a real fighter who's seen some tough knocks. It's really believable, fast-paced, and action-packed, perfect for Arcane.

Right now, we've got two large series on the table-it's just a matter of which one moves first. We're also sitting on killer cyberpunk fairytale retellings for a series we're dubbing "FablePunk." If you think

• PROJECT GNOS19
• MADIA
• PROJECT GAOS13
• JON CHIT
• OF THE WAPP
• SIDAL 30:00
• THS FURTO
• Produced by MQMEDIA
• 2004 O MECHA
• SEASON 2
• URBAN AUDIO DRAMA
• DIGITAL & CASSETTE

What is the process like when you are creating a comic book?

Our process is a little different because our foundation is audio. That's where we start. A lot of people making motion comics. begin with the comic and then add voiceover and music at the end, almost like an afterthought to include with the animation.

We do it in reverse.

We focus first on creating really engaging audio-cinematic perfor- mances, immersive sound design, and original music that can stand on its own. At the same time, we're already thinking visually. We bring on our full team from the begin- ning-artists, sound designers, composer, and our AR program- mer-and we all collaborate on a shared storyboard. That helps us make sure the audio and comic. stay in sync and nothing important gets lost between formats.

The pacing is different, so the teams split off. The comic and mo- tion comic move faster-it's more visual and scene-driven-while the audio takes more time to breathe and explore the narrative. The comic usually ends up being about half the length of the audio.

The art is the longest part of the process. We try to not rush our artists. We want the visuals to have meaning and detail-something they're proud of and something that lasts. In the end, we bring it all together and layer in our AR ele- ments to create the full experience.

You have something special that you are doing now as a collab with FUSION. Talk about that. What can fans expect from your comics that you are releasing?

I'm really excited for the pros- pect of collaborating with Fusion. They've built such a bold and inspiring platform for indie enter- tainment, and we're honored to be a part of it.

I can't reveal too much just yet- we're still locking in the details, and we want to keep some of it a sur- prise-but let's just say you might start seeing regular features of our comics in Fusion Magazine.

What's especially exciting is the chance to introduce Fusion's audi- ence to the world of AR motion comics. If you love indie entertain- ment-and if you're reading Fusion, you definitely do -you'll get a first taste of what it's like to see a comic come to life with sound, anima- tion, and interactive elements. It's a whole new way to experience stories, and we can't wait to share it with you.

How do you select your voice- over actors for the comic books that are tied to the stories that you are creating?

We start with blood samples and contracting their firstborn. Kid- ding... mostly.

We work with an in-house roster of unbelievable talent, and don't cast a net outside of that unless we need to. I have to say we have the absolute BEST community of performers with us, hands down! Every day I am reminded of how fortunate we are to have caught the attention of such incredible creatives.

When casting, we're looking for personality. Not just a fun voice- but that rare magic where the voice tells us who the character is. When someone reads a line and you feel the rogue's smirk, the weight in a war vet's silence, or the fracture behind a villain's calm- that's what we're after.

SUCCESS FOR THE COMPANY IS ALL OF US BEING ABLE TO QUIT OUR WORK WITH OTHER CLIENTS AND FOCUS SOLELY ON THE STORIES WE WANT TO PRODUCE. THAT'S THE SAME FOR MY TEAM MEMBERS TOO-EVERYONE'S WORKING FOR OTHER CLIENTS NOW, AND WHILE WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEM, IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC TO FOCUS JUST ON OUR OWN STORIES.

ARCANE

FICTION PRODUCTIONS

We cast blind and narrow it down with help from the team-some- times even from our fans. We don't care about names, credits, or clout. It's about the story. I don't even check the actor's identity until the casting is done. It's always a surprise. That grizzled mercenary? Turns out he's a soft-spoken librarian with a $40 mic. Or sometimes we find out the guy with two lines is an award-winning industry legend. Go figure.

And if someone nails the role but doesn't have the gear, we help them get there. We'd rather have raw talent than polished nothing. Perfor- mance comes first. Always.

Describe how you define and measure success for the company and for yourself.

Success for the company is all of us being able to quit our work with other clients and focus solely on the stories we want to produce. That's the same for my team members too - everyone's working for other clients now, and while we're grateful for them, it would be fan- tastic to focus just on our own stories.

For me, success means Arcane Fiction becomes a name people trust. When someone sees Arcane on a cover or in the credits, they know they're in for a great story-no extra context needed. They don't have to be into comics or audio dramas. They just see the name and know it's going to hit. That's the goal: for Arcane to stand for quality story- telling, wherever it shows up-in any format, on any scale, anywhere in the world.

As for personal success-I'm already living it. I'm doing the work, building the thing, showing up every day. When challenges come up, my partner looks me in the eye and says, "This is just what we do. We've already succeeded-we just need to figure out how we did it." And he's right. No matter what Arcane becomes, we're already suc- cessful, because we're doing it.

TATYANA MAGA 53Y 2014

Q: What are the main steps for creating an AR comic, from concept to release?

A: I create my AR comics like you would a tradi- tional comic. I write the script and then create a rough storyboard for the entire issue paying close attention to pacing, dialogue placement and variety in composition. The AR is used as a final step to enhance and expand the traditional comic experience rather than replace it.

Q: How many creatives typically collaborate on a project like this, and what roles do they fill?

A: There are eight major roles to fill, writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, animator, au- dio design and programmer. For Neon Waste- land #2 I took on all roles except audio and color. Ideally each role would be filled by an individual or multiple individuals to increase production time dramatically.

Q: Right now, the audio includes music and SFX-how do you plan to incorporate full-cast voice performances? Is it possible? Will read- ers be able to choose when to hear characters speak?

A: Yes, in Lost Souls of Saturn we experimented with spoken narrative sections which can lend some real gravitas to your pages. I think it's fine to have spoken work as long as you give the read- er the choice to mute it or to speed things along. The last thing you want to do is slow them down or rush them through the pages.

Q: Where can someone get a printed copy of one of your AR comics?

A: Both Neon Wasteland and End of the World Pizza are sold out but I will be offering a very limited number of copies on my webstore for a limited time. This will be the last chance to grab the original comics before the remake hits shelves in 2026. Scan the included QR code to visits my online shop.

Q: How do you use the AR app? Is it easy to get?

A:Yes the app is 100% free and is available for both Android and iOS devices. Use the QR code to download the app for your device. Once installed open the app and point it at the sample pages to bring them to life.

THE INTERNET WILL

• ABOUT
• ROB SHIELDS
• M2

Q: Do you think AR comics are a good medium for storytelling? What advantages do they offer over tradi- tional formats?

A: AR comics can be a great medium to tell modern day stories. We live in two worlds, one physical and one digi- tal. Playing with this duality through the medium itself can get a lot of the obvious stuff out of the way and let you dig deeper into what might be problematic or exciting about the dueling realities that we live under.

Q: Where do you see the future of AR heading-espe- cially when it comes to comics and immersive storytell- ing?

A: The physical world is being mapped into the digital world with more and more fidelity all the time. As this advances we will continue to have more accurate and intuitive information fed to us in real time based on real- world conditions. This can help us make stories that not only entertain but also inform readers on how to build a better future and avoid the pitfalls of the past.

Q: How do you balance interactivity with narrative flow? Can tech ever get in the way of the story, or vice-versa?

A: Yes tech can get in the way of story if it is too heavy handed. The goal is to make a meaningful experience not to add unnecessary bells and whistles. I wrote a bit more about this topic in the included article called the Art of Interactive Story Telling.

Q: What platforms or tools do you use to build AR experi- ences, and what drew you to them?

A: I use game engines like Unreal and Unity to built out my narrative AR R experience. These programs leverage a host of features from physical engines to behavior trees that open a lot of possibilities on the interactive side. I also experiment with WebXR interfaces to build lighter and faster experiences that give readers a bite sized taste of what the full apps can offer.

Q: What's one creative or technical breakthrough you've had on a project that made you think, "Yes-this works!"?

A: There are a lot of small technical breakthroughs that happen all the time. Some are worthwhile and some are not. The most exciting part of this medium for me is knowing that I can set expectations and then subvert those same expectations almost immediately as the reader travels across the story's multiple mediums. It gives a real sense of mystery to what is happening in the story and I love that.

CREATED BY ROB SHIELDS

VFUK

NEWS channel

UNDEAD DRIVER

ONLY THE HERO OF LEGEND CAN DELIVER THE PIZZA OF THE DEAD IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS.

• OF COURSE.
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DELIVER ON TIME

OR WILL HIS NFP FALL INTO THE HANDS OF...

• GET 'EM BOYS.
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LOST SOULS OF SATURN

SHIELDS TROXLER MOFFA. BUNDLIE SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION

THIS COMIC IS SCIENTIFICALLY AUTHENTIC IT IS ONLY ONE STEP AHEAD OF PRESENT REALITY

IT WAS A YOUNG BOUNTY HUNTER NAMED Q7 WHO USED THE SIGNAL TO LOCATE THE BLACK SUN CORPORATION.

TO STEAL A CUBE

OF COSMIC POWER...

ALONE IN HER VESSEL, SHE TRAVELED TO THE TWELFTH MOON OF SATURN...

THAT COULD REVEAL THE HOLES IN THE HOLOVERSE AND FREE THE LOST SOULS OF PLANET EARTH.

ZZAP!

SGLISH

• SCANNING...
• CUBE DETECTED
• DOWNLOADING

• INCOMPLETE
• A A Security breach LEVEL B
• GO CHECK
• IT OUT!

• ZAP
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• STOP HER!

POWERS

OMEB2 TIM POWERS

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

Hey there, folks! I'm Tim Powers, and I'm thrilled to be here. I wear a few hats in the American voiceover industry: I'm a voice actor, a director, and a coach. I'm an actor, first and foremost, with a passion for bringing characters and stories to life and I love developing talent.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

Honestly, it feels like I was born into it! From the age of nine, I dreamed of being on the radio, I was constantly doing impressions of my teachers and friends, and just making silly voices. I devoured cartoons and loved watching actors perform, though I never imagined I'd become one myself. I started out in radio in the mid 80's, which was a tough nut to crack financially, so I dipped my toes into comedy, which was mildly successful but equally challenging for the wallet.

Then, one fateful night at a party, a friend and I were improvising new dialogue over whatever was on TV. Someone overheard our shenanigans-and that someone happened to be a director for a major L.A. studio! They told me I'd be great in voiceover. The rest, as they say, is history: I got trained, got coached, recorded a demo, and here we are, living the dream!

SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY

I've always been captivated by sound and the magic of the human voice. I remember being able to identify different actors in cartoons just by their voices, whether it was Disney or Hanna-Barbera. The actors with truly distinctive voices always fascinated me. Growing up in the ,70s, I spent a lot of time listening to the radio, mesmerized by the voices that came through the speakers. While my own voice is pretty classic, nothing particularly wild, I always yearned to be part of an industry where I could make a living just by speaking. And now, here I am, an actor using my voice to tell stories. It's a dream come true.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.

I was lucky enough to kick off my career in Los Angeles, even recording on the legendary Disney lot! But then, the pandemic hit, and like everyone else on the planet, I faced some serious professional curveballs. I found myself relocating from the entertainment capital of the world to a mid-sized Rust Belt city, and honestly, I thought my career was over.

Fortunately, our industry adapted swiftly to the pandemic. Now, with surprisingly affordable equipment and reliable internet service, I can literally work anywhere in the world from right here in my closet! It's a challenge that turned into an incredible opportunity for flexibility and global reach.

THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?

Oh, absolutely, the list is endless! My ultimate dream job would be to play Reed Richards in a Fantastic Four video game or a live-action cartoon-though that ship has probably sailed! I'd love to dive into anything related to the Marvel Universe, especially in a video game.

As for collaborations, I'd genuinely love to work with everyone in this industry. There are so many incredibly fun, cool, and talented people, and I've been fortunate to work with many of them already. I'm always eager to collaborate with anyone who has a creative vision and wants my voice to help bring it to life. So yeah, short of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon studio making a miraculous comeback, you'll find me playing around in the Marvel Comics and DC Comics universes, whether as a hero or a villain!

PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

I juggle quite a bit! A lot of my time is spent on commercials - both for major national brands and local advertisers. I do a significant amount

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

Nope! I have plenty of exciting things I'm involved with, but I've signed more legal documents than I can count that prevent me from spilling the beans. So, keep watching television, enjoying cartoons, listening to the radio, and playing video games to hear more of me!

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST of automotive work, cutting about 30 commer- cials for local car dealers each month.

Beyond that, I absolutely love doing video games, and I get to play some fantastic char- acters there. I also do a fair amount of medical narrations. I also do quite a bit of ADR, which is dubbing video content that was shot in the non-English speaking world into English for American audiences. You have heard me in Money Heist on Netflix and a zillion other things. Honestly, if I can deliver the work from my home studio, I'm usually in! The only thing I typically don't do is audiobooks, but I've even voiced telephone systems!

YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

You can find me and all my work at www. voiceofpowers.com. It's a pretty robust site where you can check out my demos, learn about my coaching for aspiring voice actors, and get the scoop on some of my more exciting projects and clients. Feel free to reach out through the website!

I'm not in this for the money, I do it be- cause I love it and need to be doing it, and this is the next step in growing my career. That said, it is a business that I've invested a large sum of money into, and I have to work on making back that in- vestment!

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJ- ECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

I wish I could! I've got some things lined up that are confidential. I've been cast in a couple of anime series.

Like everyone else, I would love to be involved in a project at Disney or Nickelodeon. My biggest goal in this career, though, is to work on South Park.

WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

I haven't narrowed it down to any one genre, but mainly I've been submit- ting for commercial, animation, video

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

I love movies and TV shows. I love story- telling, and I love a good performance. I favor originality, so when I see something new that's not a reboot, sequel, prequel or spin-off, it feels refreshing and much more stimulating. Imagination and cre- ativity are the heart of the entertainment industry and we've lost a lot of it, so I re- ally appreciate it when I do find it.

games, and dubbing. I'm also learning more about audio description for the visually impaired. I'm interested in that because it combines doing what I love with helping people.

WHAT VOICE OVERS DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST FROM HOLLY- WOOD?

Maurice LaMarche, E.G. Daily, Hank Azaria, H. John Benjamin, Debra Wilson, and the late Mary Kay Bergman.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?

It's generally agreed that au- thenticity and the ability to live truthfully in the moment are what makes a good voice actor. Improvisational skills and the ability to take direction are ad- ditional musts. Voice actors who are well-prepared, have a good attitude, and show up on time are the ones who will continue to get hired.

NOW IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, EVERYTHING IS DONE BY RE- MOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?

I can appreciate the conve- nience of recording at home, but I definitely prefer being in-studio, by far. Nothing feels more legit than being in a glass booth in a professional setting, with a director and an engineer just feet away. That's how you really feel the magic happen-

WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR?

Auditioning. Lots of audition- ing. I spend a lot of time recording multiple takes and then editing down to the best one or two, and lightly clean- ing up the audio so it sounds as professional as possible. There's also a lot of interact- ing on social media and LinkedIn, marketing yourself and maintaining relationships with people like directors, casting directors, producers, and others who can be benefi- cial to keep in touch with. The same with colleagues. I talk to other actors like myself on a pretty much daily basis. Keep- ing up with each other, sharing resources, giving advice, cel- ebrating our wins, and venting our frustrations! It's important to have that community and be active in it.

ing, and the excitement of artistic collaboration.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FO- CUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

I love being a character. Anything that allows me to do that is the best, so I do focus mainly on animation and video games since those are the most obvious avenues for that. I have a good ear and am a strong mimic, so I also do accents, voice matching, and creature sounds.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE OVER ACTOR?

The voice actors I admire are ones that are full of personality and put everything they have into their char- acters, and have great comedic timing. I do love it when I can't recognize the actor's voice from one character to the next, and though that's not necessarily what makes someone good, it is an extra layer of talent that I think puts them over the top.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025?

My plans are to book more main- stream professional jobs. I've been at this for three years as of this month, and have almost exclusively worked on independent projects, mostly unpaid, to build my resume. Now that I have representation in the LA market, I'm hoping to start working on features, series, and games on major networks and platforms.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK?

Save up your money, and train, train, train! Learn as much as you can from reputable teachers and coaches. Strengthen your skills as much as possible. A lot of people (myself included) start out with the misconception that the sound of your voice and how much you can change and manipulate it is so much more important than it actually is. You have to be able to act. The voice is just a matter of personal taste to casting directors, if they even factor it in much at all.

HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?

My website is www.sarahnoelau- dio.com and I'm also on Instagram at @notthes tnoel

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF

My name is Sarah Noel. I'm a voice actor na- tive to Los Angeles.

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

I started with group Zoom classes at a place called Kalmenson & Kalmenson. I learned the basics as well as what next steps to take to get my foot in the door, which was hiring a private coach, getting a commercial demo produced, and reaching out to talent agencies for representation.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

Like a lot of others at my level, Covid! We all seemed to have the same epiphany dur- ing quarantine: we're stifling our creativity and not letting it be a priority. I had always wanted to be a voice actor but thought it was nothing but a pipe dream, and was unrealistic to pursue, so I never looked into it. The catalyst was that I had a dream job offer unrelated to voiceover, that turned out to be too good to be true. It fell apart in a very traumatic way, and I was distraught, and I couldn't bear the thought of being back to having nothing but my day job. So I pivoted, and threw everything into VO.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.

It's a very volatile industry. Things change all the time and it is hard for me to deal with inconsistency. I thought the biggest challenge would be not getting a part I auditioned for, but that actually hasn't bothered me too much. I've learned that parts you do get offered sometimes fall through, for all kinds of reasons out of people's control. So far, I haven't been met with much else that has really felt like a hardship other than the disappointment of being excited about something and then being let down. It's also hard when there are periods of time when nothing seems to be happening, which can feel discouraging, especially when you see your peers sharing a lot of casting announce- ments. The only way I can get through these moments is to just keep going. I focus on how far I've come, and on continuing to audition and train. It won't be the last time a great opportunity comes along. The future is full of possibilities and that's exciting, and I sometimes have to remind myself of that excitement.

ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COL- LABORATE WITH?

PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

My name is Tracy-Ann Leith, and I'm a bilingual voice actor living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. My voiceover career started in September 2011.

After taking a 6-week voice acting course at the Mon- treal Radio & Television School, the owner gave me my demo with the email of a Toronto-based non-union talent agency and said, "Get in touch with them, you're good". In 2012, I signed with PN Agency.

That same year, my demo made its way to a radio sta- tion by January 2012, I became a co-host for a morning weekly radio show called "Réveil Tropical".

Talk about the challenges you face in the voice over and how do you overcome them?

When I was diagnosed with ADHD in June Di t was a major turning point that helped me to better understand myself, which was the missing piece that I needed to make sense of my life. With proper medication, I was able to get the proper treatment to fully life my life.

What in your life experience was most helpful to you in becoming a voice actor?

When I decided to sign up for the Voice Acting course, that's when I made the choice to change my life. It was an inner calling that motivated me to do more with my life.

ny classes, books or programs you recommend?

Anything that helps you learn more about yourself and bettering your craft, go for that. Recently, I heard something that resonates with me "Words. Don't. Teach". Words have the ability to inspire, mo- tivate, and move others to become better versions of themselves.

Can you give an example of a project you have worked on as a voice-over artist?

Having voiced hundreds of different, from TV and radio commercials to corporate promotional videos to doing live event announcements, I was fortunate to have worked on several TV spots for Raymond James.

How do you approach a voice-over script?

Every script is unique. That being said, I'll start with looking over the specs, to get a sense of how they wanted it sound. If I have any questions, I'll ask the client to provide additional information. Always keeping in mind that I'm there to work with the client to help give them a great final product.

What do you recommend? Sett up a home studio or using a commercial recording facility?

In having an at-home studio, you're able to position yourself better in the interests of providing fast and high-quality turnaround. It's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the local recording studios, in case you receive a project that offers different types of services (i.e.: dubbing, large-scale projects).

Do you have a specialty in voice work, or do you have several types?

The bulk of my work is in IVR (Interactive Voice Recognition) or telephony systems. That being said, I've worked on various types of voice projects: Corporate E-Learning, promotional videos, radio

& tv commercials, and live announcements (Voice of God)

What's a typical day like in the voice-over busi- ness?

Daily life as a voice actor can be quite different, one day to the next. Being an entrepreneur means that you are responsible for every aspect of your business: accounting, marketing, social media content management, IT expert, administration, customer service, and voice talent at any given time. It's quite challenging, but very rewarding at the same time.

Every day, there's always something new and inter- esting to learn about and do.

What does the industry mean to you?

The voice industry is made of incredibly creative, supportive and generous people and I consider myself fortunate to be part of.

What are the feelings when you hear and see your peers on shows on the big screen?

Voice actors are some of the most encouraging indi- viduals you'll ever meet. We all root for one another. Anytime I hear a voice I recognize on TV or radio, I say "Hey! I know that person!"

How competitive is the industry?

Competition is only useful as a tool for comparison with oneself in order to become better at one's craft. The only person that you need to worry about is yourself. There are so many elements that come into play when agents and casting directors decide who they should choose that have absolutely nothing to do with you.

When you focus on the things that are actually within your control, you allow your true creativity to come through

Provide an example of a time when you had to per- form multiple roles in a single recording session.

During a directed session, I had to do the narration, record the audio, and configure the video conference to enable audio playback for the client. Sounds simple, but it's a lot of juggling!

What do you wish you like to see change in the voice over industry?

More awareness and representation of the neurodiver- gent communities.

How do you stay competitive?

Always keep learning. Our industry is ever changing, and we have a responsibility to be adaptable, and flex- ible in order to thrive in this business.

What is next for you what can we expect for you to do this year?

I've taken up acting and will be in an independent film. I'm playing a mafia hit woman which is a com- pletely different than what I'm usually asked to do. Shooting should be done in a few more months.

What do you love most about the world of enter- tainment?

The incredible creativity of the artistic community. How an actor can choose to become someone com- pletely different in each role they take on. There is freedom in being a creative individual.

When performing, do you prefer to have others in the recording studio with you, or would you rather work alone?

Since I work from home, I pretty much work alone. My dog, Gizmo is my constant companion and keeps me company. It's a welcome change when I do get asked to record off-site as it allows me to get out of my booth and see other people.

What is your main inspiration towards voice acting?

It may sound cliché, but it's the voice actors them- selves. We inspire one another to be better and do better. Voice actors are incredibly supportive, always encouraging each other's success. There's an energy within the voice acting community that is unparal- leled.

Describe your process for preparing for a voice acting role?

Meeting new clients, understanding their needs, and working with them to bring their projects to fruition. I love the collaboration aspect of it.

How difficult is it to land work in the voice over world?

There's work everywhere, if you look for it. The goal is to create strong relationships with your potential clients, to ensure consistent and repeat work.

What makes you stand out as a voice actor?

Being a fully bilingual actor, I'm able to provide clients with a seamless experience, in English and in French. I'm also focused on the human aspect of the business; being professional means politeness, listening to my client's needs, flexibility, lots of patience, and under- standing and being okay with the fact that anything can happen.

What do you think is the most important skill for a voice actor to have?

Patience, understanding, the ability to have fun, and always stay passionate about the craft.

How do you handle receiving feedback and direc- tion from producers or directors during recording sessions?

Every session I go into, I already know that everyone in that session wants me to succeed. That way, I can relax and fully be present during the recording, and adapt my narration according to their director or producer's request, whether it's slowing or speeding up the cadence, changing the inflection or removing words from the script to be able to fit the spot.

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