Thread by @SaxonKate

Actors: a few thoughts regarding games acting. Thread. Firstly, it’s a great industry to get into if you’re not already & it’s continued to thrive through lockdown. I’ve been lucky to direct hundreds of games and it’s seeing me through this tough time. Maybe it can you, too.

Performance capture shoots are fewer during Covid. However, voice recording is busy. Many actors ask me how to get a voice agent: this is tough, as many don’t want anyone extra just now, but it’s also important to put a reel on @SpotlightUK (UK based).

Casting for games is very very fast: clients (ie games developers) often send a brief to an Outsourcer (studios who specialise in games and bring the ‘talent’ on board, ie you and me) or to the CD, fairly close to the date they want to start auditions.

Therefore, there’s likely to be an element of Outsourcer or Casting Director bringing back some trusted actors who deliver. However, they’re also keen to find new (to them) actors, so they’ll speak to agents & search @SpotlightUK, esp if looking for a very specific brief.

So please make sure your cv is up to date & honest! Firstly, starred accents are native *only*, non-starred; proficient. We’ll trust that if it’s on your proficient list, you can deliver it seamlessly so can be booked for a job in that accent. If you can’t, please delete!

NB: only star native. Tho if you’ve 2 native accents, say 1 US, 1 UK parent etc, we’ll understand that’s why 2 are starred. But star several accents & it leaves us in the dark as to what’s native, & if client request is for native only, it simply means you won’t be brought in.

Secondly, do put an up to date showreel up there too, if you’ve screen experience that shows you at your best. We do watch them, as well as listen to the voice reels. IMO you don’t need a specific games reel. I want to see/hear you acting, doesn’t matter the form.

Do research games outsourcers and casting directors who work in games, & send them your spotlight link. You can also do the same with performance capture studios, as they can cast projects too, and some games developers occasionally also cast directly.

It can, however, be tricky to know who to contact at a games developer, as it’s not always obvious who deals with casting, if anyone. So research first: it may be the narrative lead, the lead sound engineer, the games director, the audio producer.... the list goes on.

But, as I said, it’s more common for the casting to be dealt with by outsourcers, performance capture studios (both easily Googled), and freelance casting directors, so they should be your first port of call.

Check out @CDGNews website as you can read all CDs biogs to check who works in the genre & contacts are visible. You can search for CD specialisms, but unfortunately they’ve not added games to the list yet so you need to scan all biogs to see. Hopefully they will soon?: @CDGNews

Once you get your audition, you’ll be sent a script & possibly a biog and an image for your character too. Trust & study the image as to who that character is: games are strong on design, & I often find you can glean more from the art work than the biog.

Once in the casting, my tip would be to pitch a games casting at a level of energy that equates to what you’d use in a small theatre. ie, truthful, nuanced, but with a voice and energy that’s engaged and connected. (ie don’t whisper it as though you’re in a close up on film).

They may give you some battle shouts & ‘grunts’ to do as well. Please don’t be embarrassed by these: they’re in the audition for a reason - to see if you’re happy to commit to the raw energy that’s needed on a battle field. So envisage the scenario, be physical & go for it.

This seems daft to have to mention but it’s a note I give more often than any other when directing battle lines: be pacey! If there’s a bomb headed your way, and you call out ‘Get Doooooooooowwwwnnnn’ you’re probably dead before you’ve finished. Bluntly, get off the stage!

‘Mess’ is good in battle too. If you think of the adrenalin & chaos that is inherent, the last thing clients will want to hear is beautifully ‘landed’ lines: rawness, intent & speed will see you through. General note: if you’re military, don’t panic! Keep that for the civilians.

All games will have a performance tone they want to go for: can be anything from contemporary realism to high theatricality depending on the game. So, if you’re given the name of the game, it’s good to go online and see what you can find out about the franchise first.

It’s more likely, however, that you’ll be given a codename for the title, due to NDAs. In which case, trust the tone of the text, and if you have it, the image. And of course, it’s a quick ask at the beginning of the casting if necessary.

Games audition scripts may have single lines, sent out of context, so it’s helpful I think, if you choose for yourself 3 adjectives that sum up the character, then land those characteristics clearly on the lines. Variety is good, making real shifts according to the content.

And I think that’s about it for now! If it’s something you’re looking to get in to, I hope this helps. Good luck!
#games #videogames #actors #actresses #casting #director #voice #performance