A cast panel for Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy was held at Anime Pasadena 2023. Kenessa Johnson (or geekinvie) moderated the panel which included the following actors:
Paul St. Peter – Xemnas (Kingdom Hearts)
George Newbern – Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)
Steve Burton – Cloud (Final Fantasy/Kingdom Hearts)
This hour-long panel started with Kenessa kicking things off with her questions for the first 30 minutes, then transitioned to audience questions. Many aspiring voice actors were in the audience at this panel, eager to learn more about the processes. Most of the questions asked were about breaking into the industry.
Here are some takeaways from the panel:
Finding The Voice For Your Character
When it comes to voice acting, this trio knows all the best techniques for choosing a voice for a character they are auditioning for. For Paul, if there’s a photo of the character available, he studies that in addition to examining the sides he receives for the audition. He likes focusing on physical characteristics that might affect the character’s speech pattern or demeanor. George added that it’s crucial to trust your intuition and try to find something about the character that resonates with you.
Steve’s experience is unique because he has only voiced Cloud. After hearing his voice in the movie The Last Castle, Disney contacted him to audition. He mentioned how important it is to be receptive to new opportunities. As an on-camera actor, he talked about the differences in how these gigs work. Steve’s journey serves as a great reminder that there is no one way to break into the voice-over industry and that everyone’s path is unique. Keep taking chances and putting forth your best effort; you never know who could see your work.
The Importance of Hydration and Vocal Warm-Ups When Voice Acting
Understanding and knowing how to use your voice correctly is essential. Steve discussed how many of his sessions lasted eight hours and how staying hydrated was key to maintaining a consistent performance. To reduce inflammation, George has discovered that it helps him to begin his sessions with warm drinks and gradually go to colder drinks as the sessions go on.
Paul’s regiment starts with speech warm-ups and scales. Once he’s in the booth he drinks a pint of water every 30 minutes. “The client needs the voice they hired,” Paul said. If you overwork yourself or compromise your safety, you will ultimately be doing more harm than good to yourself. Remember that the Voice Director and team are rooting for you, so don’t be afraid to ask for a break if needed and communicate with them.
Voice-Over Inspirations for the Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy Cast
It was nice for fans to hear about the legends that have inspired them throughout their careers. Actors like Frank Welker, Malcolm McDowell, Mel Blanc, and Seth MacFarlane were among the many names given by the trio. When practicing your acting, think about the actors that inspire you. Try to identify and study the techniques that they are using when voicing characters.
Panels aren’t always serious business. Fans asked fun questions too, like which Disney movie or series they would want to see included in Kingdom Hearts 4. Their answers may surprise you! George went with Wizards of Waverly Place, while Paul said The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. While many of us had to Google what The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh was, we all agreed that Alex Russo and Sora would make a funny duo.
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