It’s a constant issue that producers will run into time after time. Casting. ‘Who will fit the voice? Who can bring this character to life?’ I see many directors here on this site deal with this issue quite too often, some have closed down production due to lack of actors.
So how do you get voices for your next project you say?
There are two main ways of casting, which are scouting and creating audition threads.
There are sites dedicated to voice actors; some do it for a pure hobby, while others want to pursue it professionally. The Voice Acting Alliance and the Voice Acting Club are two main sites that are quite popular.
WARNING:
KEEP IN MIND THAT MANY SITES, ESPECIALLY THE VOICE ACTING ALLIANCE, DO NOT ALLOW ADULT MATERIAL ON THE FORUMS. If you have anything above PG-13 rated at the VAA, you can be in serious trouble, since many Voice Actors are below the age of 18. Some Voice Actors will not accept roles which include sexuality, violence, and profanity. Just a heads up and it’s quite serious, since people can get, and have been, banned for posting that.
Whatever method you choose, casting or audition threads, it’s all about presentation, especially if you are new to the forums. If your thread or message is extremely disorganized and messy; it gives off an impression that the producer does not fully care about the project and odds are that the production will fall through. (Uncompleted projects is one of the biggest pet peeves of any Voice Actor)
How to create an Audition Thread.
In the Voice Acting Alliance, there are multiple projects going on daily and two visual categories for projects. Here is where to put them.
- Fan Visual- anything fan related and what goes in the world of the story. (Fandubs, Batman fan fiction)
- Original Visual- anything new originally. (Original animation or machinima in a new world, live action as well. Video games. )
- Follow guidelines when it comes to the audition threads, since a moderator coming in and giving the link to fix your thread doesn’t give a good image.
Name: Character Name
Age: Character age
Bio: Description of the character
Voice type: Describe the voice type. Is he a chain smoker? A hero? A monster? etc. etc.
Audition line 1: First audition line.
Audition line 2: Second audition line.
(add more if needed)
- Include full information about the project, the more detailed it is, the more it will help the actor.
- Use proper grammar and check for spelling errors.
- Include visuals to attract interest; also include past works as well.
- Keep text normal, it doesn’t have to be neon flashy or big- it usually annoys many people, myself included.
- Include contact information and most importantly a deadline! It’s heavily encouraged to include one, since it gives actors time to prepare an audition.
- First come, first serve casting is a no-no. It discourages many actors- wait until the end to make a decision, since from experience; a lot of auditions usually appear at the last minute.
- Be patient. Bump once a day if needed and do not rant on the threads on why you do not get auditions. It kills your image faster than anything…
Around the web, many people create demo reels to showcase their talents as an actor. They are quite short, around 1-2 minutes, but they give an impression of what they can do, voice and roles.
Creating a scouting request is quite simple, it’s all about presentation.
- Be very clear with the project and its role, explain in detail.
- Use proper grammar and check for spelling errors.
- Include visuals and past works.
- Be polite and include contact information
- Once again be patient, it takes time.
- If they decline, respect their decision and move on.
That should be it, I can add more if needed.
Edited by Benjamin Tuttle, 09 February 2013 - 07:30 PM.