From The Booth: Volume 3

What makes a character?

It would be simple enough to just put on a voice and line it up with the right animation or pronounce your words clearly with a memorable accent…

But there’s no fun in that!

So how do the greats in the voice acting industry bring their best to the roles they play? How do they bring their characters to life?

Boy. Teenager. Fearless. Energetic. Bright tone.

This is the kind of thing you might see when auditioning for a role as a voice actor.

But how can you take that description…and turn it in to something that tells a story?

A character, in any fiction novel, movie, or game represents many different things. They may be the embodiment of the joy or the bringer of pain. They may manifest things otherwise fantastical and mythological. A character is not only whatever their creator desires them to be but also what those who meet them perceive them as.

When you read — Boy. Teenager. Fearless. Energetic. Bright tone. — what do you imagine?

The more obvious answers are that this character is male, not a child but also not an adult, who would not be known for cowering in the face of danger or conflict, does not act fatigued, and has a clear voice with higher frequencies.

But let’s go beyond that.

Being a voice actor, you have quite a bit of creative freedom — Although oftentimes, the person directing you has a clear vision for the character. If you work collaboratively, this process works out more smoothly than you might think.

You and your director might be thinking of certain people you know personally who fit into those criteria (Boy. Teenager. Fearless. Energetic. Bright tone.) because human imagination pulls from realities we have experienced. Those characteristics remind us of past encounters in our lives, whether fictional beings or family members.

And thus, it is a chance to build upon those memories, those hopes and those dreams, while also creating someone new, something novel, to the world.

Within the framework of narrative context which this character exists, there are certain expectations to fulfill.

Now imagine our Boy. Teenager. Fearless. Energetic. Bright tone. was born in a country named Loredinia where kings and queens ruled the land and beings, like unicorns and dragons, roamed freely. As you watch the first scene, this character is swinging a long, silver sword violently as he stands with his back to a girl younger than him. You assume he is protecting her, and this is confirmed as the gruesome, towering monster he is fighting is revealed and the words, “I will not let any harm come to you, sister!” are prompted to you.

There are times when you do not know where the plot will lead and whether this character you are giving a voice to ends up the villain or the hero. But in that moment, you are to bring him to life.

First, immerse yourself in the mind of the fearless teenage boy whose only current desire is to protect. Allow yourself to see and feel the environment he is in.

Then, consider how you might vocalize that line as him, considering who is he speaking to and what action he is simultaneously making.

Finally, let your voice do the work! Act it out not only in the words you say and sounds you make but perhaps also through the motions you express.

Now, it’s time to get into character!

Sincerely,

Tessa Huffman, Voice Actor

Find me at TessaHuffmanVO.com