FEATURING MORGAN
Please introduce yourself and give us a little background on how you got started?
Hi there! I'm Salena Metreger, a voice actor based in sunny Oceanside, California, but I'm originally from outside of Chi-CAH-go. I studied English Lit in college, but like a lot of folks who graduated during the housing crisis, I took the job I could get, which for me was in manufacturing. I never imagined I'd be in manufacturing for 17 years...but I did, and I'm proud of that. Over the years, I worked my way up, learning business and eventually earning my MBA. I blended the creative with the analytical - balancing market- ing, numbers, tech, and long-term strategy - and really climbed that corporate ladder. I worked with an incredible range of people: from farmers to engineers, CEOs to homemakers, all across the globe. It was an education in humanity and busi- ness, and it's a huge part of what shapes me as a voice actor today.
What got you into a career in voice-overs?
During my time in marketing and product management, there were always moments when a voice was needed - whether for a sizzle reel, a training video, or a product launch. I volun- teered every time. I loved it. I also gave a ton of presentations and made it my mission to keep people engaged. Because let's be honest, we've all zoned out during day-long meetings. I wanted my audience to walk away understanding what I was saying and caring about it. In that regard, voiceover had been in my head for years, and with my little tastes of it at work kept feeding the idea until I finally stopped just thinking about it and did it. I started taking classes. I took classes for nearly 8 months before I did a demo. And I waited till I had a demo to really start putting myself out there.
Can you give an example of a project you have worked on as a voice-over artist?
I've got a video game coming out soon where I voice a few characters-super fun. I just finished a children's eLearning script that made me smile the whole way through. I'm also the event voice for Black Horizon Brewing Company in Willowbrook, Illinois. I'm working on a few audio drama podcasts, and I've voiced a bunch of social media promos and local business content. It's a great mix.
How do you approach a voice-over script?
I always start by reading it out loud straight, just to get the gist. Then I break it down: Who am I? Where am I? Who am I talking to, and how do I feel about them? What's changing emotionally? Which words need to pop? Do I need to plan my breaths?
If it's for a brand or company, I like to research them-what they do, who their audience is, and what this script is trying to accomplish. I make sure I can pronounce everything correctly, follow any notes or direction, and really bring it to life from the inside out.
Do recommend? Setting up a home studio or using a commercial recording facility?
Home Studio. If you can carve out a corner, a closet, whatever you can, make that home studio. But do it right. Sound treat your space and get the right equipment for your space. A large- diaphragm condenser Neumann microphone is incredible, but if you just have blankets up in your closet, it's going to pick up your neighbor's television and you'll never have clean enough sound. The best setup is the setup that gives you that broadcast quality sound WITHOUT having to use compression and gates and noise reduction plugins.
Do you have a specialty in voice work, or do you do several types?
Right now, it's probably social media promos for businesses. But my love is video games and ani- mation. I just did Portia's Scotts animation work- shop and Michael Scott's Video Game workshop at VO Atlanta and that is what I've been working with my coach, Emmanuel Menjivar, on as well as working on more auditions and opportunities there. I play a lot of games and watch a ton of animation, so it's a world I genuinely want to be part of.
Can you recommend any online resources for aspiring voice talents?
Shameless self-promotion... I produce and edit The Great Voice Podcast - available on all podcast platforms, but we specifically host on Podbean. The host is the incredible Susan Berkley of The Great Voice Company. She's the voice of Citi Bank, was the voice of AT&T, she's been around and knows her stuff. Each episode she coaches a student through a script, helping them improve their performance, giving tips on how to break down the script, and so much more. There's industry interviews and countless free insights. It's a great podcast.
https://greatvoicepodcast.podbean.com/ Other than that, there's so many great podcasts, great websites, VORadioOnline is a great one, GVAA and voiceactingclub have great rate guides. NAVA is a great resource. There are wonderful discords and reddit groups that support Voice actors of every skill level. Just be careful online. Make sure they're good, quality sources. Not all advice online advice is created equal.
What does this industry mean to you?
Whoa. That's a big question. Every time I get behind the mic I feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Whether it's a corporate e-learning script or playing the seductress villain, I'm grateful that I can do this. It's the creative outlet I always needed. This industry is filled with such incredible, talented, beautiful people and the fact that I get to have a small, tiny sliver of it is mind-boggling. This industry brings characters to life, tells stories, teaches people, helps those with disabilities, promotes the smallest businesses to the world's largest, helps doctors and patients, it brings joy and entertainment, and so much more. Voiceover is everywhere and it truly matters.
What are the feelings when you hear and see your peers on shows on the big screen?
Internal and sometimes external screaming. People are so darn talented. Add in all the writers, engineers, producers, directors and everyone that goes into making the finished product, I know just how hard it was to get it to that point and I am just so happy to my friends and colleagues out there KILLIN' it.
How competitive is this industry?
It depends on how you look at it, I guess. Very, but also, it's not a competition. Each and every project has a team of people who have a vision. And I am either a part of that vision or I'm not. It's not about someone else being "better" than me, it's about who has the sound, tone or vibe they're looking for. Just the other day I got a "hey, thanks but no thanks. You're not what the director wanted, but you're exactly what I am looking for on a different project. Are you interested?"
What are some of your favorite voice acting roles that you've played?
Absolutely the video game I can't yet talk about. I played two extremely different characters, and each one came with a different challenge and it really pushed me. It was so much fun.
What do you wish you like to see change in the voice over industry?
There's still a lot of lingering industries that are very much stuck in - women do this work and men do that work. Which is silly nowadays. Men are wearing makeup and pushing fashion trends and women are killing it at sports and tech so why not have a woman promoting the NFL and a man selling the beauty line? It's about know- ing your customer. And if you're not advertising to all your customers then you're leaving money on the table. Christy Harst at Building Doors VO is working on this. Go check her out. She's amazing.
Also, I want to see the industry handle Al responsibly. Al is a tool, and it's not likely going anywhere, but human voices are what give this work its soul. So, let's protect that. Don't use our voices without consent or payment. Don't train Al on our performances without permission. We are quite literally the life behind the voice. Let's make sure we stay front and center.
How do you stay competitive?
Learning. Always be learning. But also staying active online and with people. Be humble.
What is next for you what can we expect for you to do this year?
More episodes of The Great Voice Podcast are coming out-so definitely tune in. I'm also on LinkedIn, and you can find me on TikTok at @ wordtalktome, where I mix my love of voiceover with nerdy word history and etymology. It's goofy-but you'll learn something.
That mystery video game should drop later this year (and I'll finally be able to talk about it!), and you'll keep hearing my voice in social media promos for Black Horizon Brewing Company. I'm also working with a few Oceanside businesses to level up their content-and hopefully, by this time next year, I'll have even more video game and animation credits to share!
What do you love most about the world of entertainment?
I love the joy and escape it brings to people. We don't all love the same things. But there's something out there for everyone.