FEATURING MORGAN
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.
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!