Last weekend I attended a conference dedicated to voice over in video games called Get Your Game On Los Angeles. Presented by the Voice Over Network, the conference was an all-day event with incredible presenters who are well-established in the video game industry, including voice actors, casting directors, and voice directors. Suffice it to say, the day was jam packed with content and impossible to unpack in a single article.
The final panel of the day featured an array of the day's speakers who were all asked "What's one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring voice actors?" Here are their responses:
Simple, yet powerful, and something we all probably need to hear from time to time. And coming from the Senior Casting Director at one of the biggest video game companies in the world, I think it's safe to say this advice is universal and needs to be heard by everyone from the beginner to the seasoned VO veteran.
Dave urges us to remember that "our characters don't have scripts." We, the actors, get to read our lines over and over again, but each time the character says it, it must be as if for the first time. And playing a character honestly comes down to strong acting.
You should love the learning process. It is full of self-discovery and personal growth. The actors who best connect with their characters are those who have learned to connect with themselves.
Focus instead on what you can control:
Everything else is out of your hands. The performance that you bring to the table is just one part of the larger puzzle.
Don't make the mistake of trying to be who you think other people want you to be. When you do that, you leave behind the one thing that sets you apart from everyone else - yourself.
In addition to letting go of what you can't control, do yourself a favor and stop dwelling on what isn't happening for you and shift your focus to the positive, to the little things you achieve every day. Okay, so maybe you didn't book the part, but you got the audition! Celebrate that!!
The perfect quote to button up this list. Just... wow.
Andrea Toyias also revealed the number one thing missing from auditions right now (drumroll, please)....
Let that sink in. Acting. Storytelling. Truth. Among the hundreds of auditions she receives, less than 10% have good acting! And you'd be sorely mistaken if you think that only applies to the lead roles, she says, "because even if you're an orc, troll, demon, or goblin, video games are about the human experience."
Well, there you have it. Good voice acting, surprise surprise, requires good acting.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 21-27) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 14-20) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 7-13) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 31-April 6) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 24-30) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 10-16) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 3-9) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 24-March 2) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 10-16) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 3-9) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 27-February 2 and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 13-19) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 6-12) and what's coming your way next week.
Don’t overlook these ten essential tasks for wrapping up the current year.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 16-22) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 9-15) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 25-December 1) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 18-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 28-November 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 21-27) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 14-20) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 7-13) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 30-October 6) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 23-29) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 16-22) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 9-15) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 3-8) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 26-September 1) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 19-25) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 29-August 4) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 1-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 24-30) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 10-16) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (June 3-9) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 28-June 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 13-19) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (May 6-12) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 29-May 5) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
Check out this article from People Magazine to see if you can guess the actors behind iconic '90s and '00s cartoon characters!
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (April 1-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 25-31) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 18-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (March 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 26-March 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 19-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 12-18) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (February 5-11) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 29- February 4) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 22-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 15-21) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 8-14) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (January 2-7) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (December 4-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
We wish you happiness, success, and good company this Thanksgiving
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 20-26) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 13-19) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (November 6-12) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 30-November 5) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 23-29) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 16-22) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (October 9-15) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 25-October 2) and what's coming your way next week.
Celebrating Hispanic Voice Actors for Hispanic Heritage Month
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 11-24) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 11-17) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (September 5-10) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 28-September 3) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 21-28) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 14-20) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (August 7-13) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 31-August 6) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 24-30) and what's coming your way next week.
What does the SAG-AFTRA strike mean for Voice Actors? NAVA shares a helpful resource.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 17-23) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 10-16) and what's coming your way next week.
A quick look at what's new, what's here this week (July 3-9) and what's coming your way next week.
Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian, and Voiceover
