Again But Better: Working with Voice Actors
Mike Bodie
Voice Actor, CEO
- When:
- 14.07.2022, 17:00–18:00
- Hall:
- Yellow Sea Hall (mix)
If you’ve ever worked with voice actors you probably learned it’s a bit more complex than you initially thought. Fortunately, in this talk you’ll be made aware of some of the pitfalls and first-time errors to avoid in the future. Additionally, Mike Bodie will take you through his funny and sometimes not-so-funny stories from working in & out of the recording booth. “Again But Better” will hopefully arm you with new ideas for your next VO session whether you’re an indie or veteran developer.
What the talk is about
Mike Bodie, a voice actor, explains how developers can work with voice actors effectively and avoid common beginner mistakes. He covers where to find actors: outsourcing studios, colleague recommendations, agents, conferences and social media. He advises vetting candidates and asking for a demo of their studio. He recommends casting early, running several audition rounds, choosing by sound rather than looks, and warning actors about sensitive content in advance. He goes into money: hourly rates, the one-off buyout for using a voice, and separate terms for trailers. He also urges giving actors context (under an NDA if needed), preparing pronunciation lists, leaving screams to the end of a session, and crediting and promoting actors. Useful for indie teams and producers organizing their first VO sessions.