Featuring Bruce Nix
I was so excited when I read the email, how- ever, at the time, my wife was having back surgery and we discussed it and she wanted to me to go and I said I would do the callback and immediately fly back to Memphis, TN, where we are living at the time. I went to LA and that is where I felt the magic of the voice- over community. I met so many talented artists who were so supportive of each other and was greeted with hugs and smiles, for an introvert like myself, it was a bit overwhelm- ing while also being relaxing, knowing I am in a community that cares about each other and our growth as artists.
After the callbacks, as I mentioned my plan was to simply hop on a plane and go back home. I was talking with a friend and talented VA, Trisha Lynn, and told her what was going on and she suggested I should at least talk to the judges. So, I waited until all the callbacks were done and went in to the thank the judges, Stephanie Thomas, Tim Friedlander and Dave Walsh and let them know I appreciated the opportunity and that my wife had back surgery and I need to get back home.
I remember Tim looking around and saying "To- night?", I made a comment like "I mean unless I made it the next round", never believing that I would. He said to give them some time and wait outside. I was waiting anxiously around the corner with my friend Trisha, when Tim came out, looked at me and said "You need to change your flight plans". Needless to say I was extremely excited at being chosen as one of the six finalists. I was also feeling apprehensive as my wife was back home recovering, and our daughters were there tending to her needs (I don't want the readers thinking I abandoned my wife!) We discussed the opportunity and decided I would stay one more night and go through the next round.
When my name was called as one of the finalists, it was a moment that I will never forget. I was assigned a fabulous coach, Issa Lopez, who was so insightful and supportive and when we went on the stage for the final reads before the audience and judges, I was so nervous and remember looking at the other talented finalists, many of whom I am still in contact with today and just thinking how lucky I am to be living out my dream.
The finals came to down to 3, then 2 and when Joan called my name as being the winner, I literally said "No, fucking way". It was during that conference, that I decided I wanted to be a bigger part of the community and started looking for ways to give back even in small ways. When Joan asked me to be a callback Judge at the 2024 SOVAS CBS audition spotlight competition, I jumped at the chance, and sitting next to the same judges I met for the first time when I won, was a very surreal moment. I have mentored young voice actors who are wondering how to get started, and I look for opportunities that I can recommend other voice actors for.
Please talk about the challenges you face in this industry and how you overcome them.
Voice acting is an amazing career, however, like anything worth pursuing it is not without its challenges.
One of the biggest challenges, is your own mindset and believing in yourself. As I have mentioned, I was not very confident in myself in the beginning and certainly admit