Welcome to Episode 7!

On this episode we were joined by casting extraordinaire Julia Bianco Schoeffling!

Julia's list of Casting and Casting Director credits among AAA games cannot be understated, including the 2026 Wolverine game, Spiderman 2, Fortnite, Medal Of Honor, Metroid Prime 4, Multiple Crash Bandicoot Games and The legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom to (literally) just name a few of them!

Julia is also the author of well renowned industry book The Art And Business Of Acting For Video Games, which ties nicely into what this episode is all about...

With her knowledge and expertise, we had a really fun and enjoyable conversation about what she looks for in auditions and we learned about her 5 star audition filtering system so you know how to stand out

We discussed mentality and burn out and most importantly remembering that being asked to audition is a win in itself and to just enjoy the process

This and loads more about being creative behind the mic, taking more educated risks and being mindful of the basics so many mistakes people still trip up on that can slow your progress down

Hope you enjoy it and get alot from it!

You can get Julias book here https://www.amazon.com/Art-Business-Acting-Video-Games/dp/B0B3N2GND7/

Thanks again Julia for your time and insights!

M&J

Julia can be found at https://www.juliabs.com

Michael can be found https://www.manchestervo.co.uk

Jen can be found at https://www.jenlawtonhunt.com

Hello and welcome to Episode 6!

We're joined today by the super talented Voice Director Daniel Jewel!

Having been a well established and highly decorated director behind the camera, Daniel spends alot of time working with Voice Actors these days on AAA games such as 007 First Light, Crimson Desert and Skull and Bones to name but a few, as well as being on the Amazon Audible Multicast adaption of Harry Potter and much more besides

We talked all things about what he looks for when working with Voice Actors and he offers his thoughts and opinions on what Voice Actors can do to improve the experience for themselves and the people they work with We talked about the mental aspects of working in an industry where rejection is much more common and we discuss all things great about collaborating on projects and getting the best out of performances

All this and much more in a great episode filled with insights from a highly regarded Director!

You can find out more about Daniel, his work and his service to Voice Actors such as reels by visiting https://www.danieljewelfilm.com/

Michael can be found at www.manchestervo.co.uk

Jen can be found at ww.jenlawtonhunt.com

Thanks again Daniel!

M&J

Hello and welcome to S5 E5 with the wonderful Pete Wicks! We had a right laugh chatting to Pete and we reckon this is a good one on the relatability scale for voice actors at varying stages of their career! In this episode, Pete shares his journey from stage and screen acting to voiceover work. We talk about the challenges of the acting industry, including mental health struggles, the transition to and from a 'normal' job, and Pete talks about his process of reigniting his passion for voice acting. We talk auditions, mental fortitude, and the balance between work and personal life. The episode highlights the realities of pursuing a career in the arts and the resilience required to navigate it.

And pretty much everything else in between!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did M&J

What a privilege it was to have Actor, Voice Actor and world renowned Impressionist Mr Jim Meskimen join us on the podcast this week!

In this chat with Jim, we talk about his early days where a chance encounter with Harvey Keitel set him on a more focused path of pursuing something he felt passionate about, acting.

From his journey from art and illustrating on Thundercats and The Comic Strip, to involving himself in Improv, theater and voice acting, im talks on the importance of improvisation, authenticity, and continuous learning in a successful acting career.

Jim also shares insights into his diverse career in voice acting, on-screen roles, and the evolving industry landscape, including the impact of AI on voice work.

Jim often cites the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health by L. Ron Hubbard as one of his first beginnings on getting his mindset right, and with a strong self belief and blocking out things that don't serve him, Discover his process for character development, tips for overcoming self-doubt, and his thoughts on the future of entertainment.

Jims website is a treasure trove of further information including his coaching service and his online community as well his 'Meskiverse' and of course his infamous 'Jimpressions'

You can find out more by visiting www.jimmeskimen.com

Thanks again Jim!

Hey Folks

An absolute delight to have on the podcast for this week's episode, the wonderful Billie Fulford-Brown!

Billie has narrated 300+ audiobooks and built a career spanning romance, horror, audio drama, and video game voice work. We chat to Billie about leaving traditional acting for VO, preparing for explicit and emotionally demanding content, and what it takes to sustain a character across a full-length narration.

We cover things like game voice acting and localization, the emotional weight of indie titles dealing with grief, and why networking in this industry is about real relationships, not transactions.

We close on a topic every VO parent and freelancer will recognise: protecting kids online, and protecting your own time from an industry that never stops asking for more.

Hope you enjoy it!

Michael & Jen

You can find Billie at https://www.billiefulfordbrown.com/

Michael at https://www.manchestervo.co.uk

Jen at https://www.jenlawtonhunt.com

Hey Folks

Super happy to share this episode with the one and only Nick Apostolides! It was great to get to know more about Nick and his journey as a Voice Actor and what would eventually lead him to be cast in one of gamings most iconic characters, Leon S Kennedy!

But we also got to learn about his love of gaming in general, the Resident Evil franchise specifically. He also talks about the mentality to succeed in our competitive industry so there's definitely some words of wisdom for people still auditioning and growing their career!

Thanks again Nick for your ite and a really enjoyable chat!

Michael & Jen

You an find Nick at https://www.nickapostolides.com/

Michael is at www.manchestervo.co.uk

Jen is at www.jenlawtonhut.com

#voiceacting #residentevil #voiceactor

Hellooooooo

Welcome to Season 5!!!

We kick off this new season with a bit of a random chat about things that have been going on in the industry and things that are coming up

A few things have been going on such as the heatwaves everyones navigating, the controversy around Fish Audio, upcoming conferences and of course some other Ai bits that are relevant and personal goals and milestones

It was great to just hit record and waffle for 30 mins about stuff (it was originally MUCH longer 😂) but outside of this chat we have some really special guests joining us this season that we cant wait to share with you!

Hope you enjoy it!

There are some links below that reference some of the things we discussed

• Human Consent Registry — Protect your voice likeness and movement rights
• Kate Blanchett AI Voice Registry — Oppose unauthorized AI voice use
• Develop Brighton Conference — Industry event for devs and voice actors
• UK Voiceover Industry Associations and Legislation Updates — Stay informed on legal protections and industry standards

• Michael on https://www.manchestervo.co.uk
• Jen on https://www.jenlawtonhunt.com

Welcome to Episode 10 - Press Pause!

In this final episode of Season 4 we did a Q'n'A on each other about aspirations, goals, funny moments, awkward moments, what were proud of and what we would like to aim for in the mid to the long term, something that everyone who listens can think about for themselves

Its good to sometimes talk about these things as it sets you mind on what the long term plan may be and also take stock of where you started and where you are now

We'll be back in June for Season 5 which were really looking forward to along with a revamped YouTube channel and some other little things thrown in besides

A huge thanks to everyone that's been part of this fantastic season, we really appreciate the time you've taken to come and chat with us. And of course a massive thanks to everyone who has been listening and downloading!

See you for S5!

M&J