I had moved from Portland to LA in 2007 and at the end of the year I booked a series of TV and Radio spots for OnPoint Community Credit Union in Oregon.
Go Figure.

The audition spec I received was: a natural, subtle, textured, non-announcer voice that could compliment the visuals and tell the story of each spot. Good thing my voice is already textured.

Another lesson I learned is how much easier it is to record for clients that you actually like. I have been a member of various credit unions since college, and believe they are a better option than traditional banks. Credit unions typically serve the local community directly, have very reasonable rates and terms, and I’ve always received great customer service.

I was the voice of OnPoint for various TV and radio spots, going into a studio multiple times a year for 8+ years. I’m super grateful for the long running work with such a good client including Josh Streufert heading up the copy and direction at Weber Marketing, now called Strum.

View the fun spots OnPoint puts out on YouTube.

After the first session, Josh wrote,
“Thank you again for being a part of it. I’m really happy with the spots this year. They turned out great.”
-Josh

Other credit unions across the country had seen these OnPoint commercials. Three other credit unions end up booking me to voice some of their spots, most notably Metro Credit Union out of Omaha, Nebraska.

See “Commercial VO Work” for more voice work in commercial projects.

Voice of OnPoint

The post OnPoint appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

I was the voice inside the player’s head on this long running mobile game by Square Enix. And yes, the character’s name is VOX. Direction for VOX was an etherial, all-knowing, god-like voice, who was also manipulative, toying, and vengeful. First recording sessions were in 2015 and I’d go into Tom Hays’ amazing studio, Rocket Sound in LA a few times a year to record new chapters. The great James D. Mortellaro voice directed me for all 5 years, the super fast and furious Zavosh Rad engineered with mass efficiency, Daniel Khim rocked the details. Many thanks to all the producers at Square Enix that wrote and directed us talent in this game.

See “Video Game Work” for more voice work in games.

Here’s some quick answers to common questions about voice actors in videogames.
1. Most voice jobs in games are done within a few hours, while bigger roles and games with expansion packs and updates will have actor come back for more sessions in the future, but not often.
2. Actors rarely see a script. Usually, we know very little about what we’re working on. We jump in the booth and read lines from a monitor that has our lines on it.
3. Even if the job is SAG-AFTRA actors don’t get residuals. It’s a flat rate for the session and a very small bump if millions of copies are sold.
4. It’s very fun, but challenging work.

voice of VOX on Mobius Final Fantasy

The post Final Fantasy: Mobius appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

I love experimental projects like this.
This was equal parts on-camera and voiceover work in an interactive video.

Interactive video, eh? How does that work you ask? Well, basically you, the viewer, are in the mind of Jed while Two voices in his head guide you, allowing you to make choices, directing Jed toward disaster or rapture. Other patients include a famous escapist, a religious scholar and an ex-nurse. All battle mental illness, banding together to help Jed escape. But can you ever outrun madness?

I’m Serge, one of the two voices that guide you. You know the good angel / bad angel thing… well surprisingly, I’m the good(ish) guy. The rational, logical one trying to keep a lid on the chaos. Not exactly in my wheelhouse, but my best friend is totally this guy, so I did my best Brian Watkins interpretation.

A highlight from this project was working with Vicki Lewis, a very talented woman who’s work on News Radio I just loved. Very fun. Ron Jeremy was also on set. Great crew, super fun project. Thanks again Mercedes Bryce Morgan (director), Ilan Benjamin  and Michelle Hantman (writer), Josh Epstein and Timothy Kerigan (producers), and Ian Quill, Cinematographer, and everyone else on this one.

See “Video Game Work” for more voice work in games.

Mike Vaughn is SERGE in Chatterbox: Escape the Asylum

Chatterbox, which is backed by the experimental entertainment company Adaptive Studios and produced by the media-tech company Eko, is more indie than those other projects. 

The post Chatterbox appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

Nope, I’m not German, but I did spend my Junior and High School years growing up in Frankfurt, Germany.
My parents were civilians working for the American Armed Forces, but we lived on “the economy” which meant we lived off-base with the locals. Which meant my friends were German, Israeli, Armenian, Turkish, Russian, Polish, Czech, French. Despite the diversity we all basically spoke either English or German.

True story:
While skateboarding in Bad Soden (Frankfurt suburb), I tried my best to fit in and speak the limited German I had learned up to that point. I fumbled out the words “Wir gehen aus der Bahnhof.” My friends kept skating by when Christian yelled, “Shut the fuck up, it’s faster if we just speak English.” So… we mostly spoke English, but always with various German and other accents. Never realized how useful it would become 20 years later.

For The Red Book Movie, producers were looking for someone who could believably sound like psychologist Carl Jung, but younger and as if he was reading and reminiscing over his thoughts.

See “Promo VO Work” for more voice work on Promos and Trailers.

Voice of Carl Jung in The Red Book Movie Trailer

The “Red Book” is Carl G. Jung’s carefully-crafted journal of his process of self-discovery, born out of a series of terrifying waking visions. Jung thought he was on the verge of losing his mind.

Now, 100 years since its creation, the private contents of this book have been made public for the first time. The Red Book documentary brings to life the astonishing story behind the Red Book and the man who created it.

The post Red Book appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

I’d like to show you what a job like this looks like from start to finish.
First up, is the audition that came from my agent, which listed:

Specs:
Male (30 – 50)
Think horror movie i.e. S7ven
It has to be dark
Looking for a strong actor
Client thought Mike’s demo was too ‘peppy’ so they’re looking to hear some edge in the audition
*Would be great to have three different takes on the script. 1) Dark and a little on edge 2) A little more demented 3) Completely demented
No accents please.

VO:
OPEN
Why do I do what I do?
It calls me.
It torments me.
There is no logic. No reason.
If the physics cannot be reconciled…
If the risks shadow the rewards…
How can any rationale within my mind….be truly justified?
This is my obsession.
Why I dare.
Why I drive.

As a voiceover actor, you take all that, make your acting choices, and give it a few efforts to see what’s working and what isn’t. I remember making the choice that I was a scientist on a personal mission to fix the injustices of the current world order had placed on the masses. A mission that nobody else understood.

I read anywhere from 3 to 12 takes after I’ve made my acting choices. If one of the latter takes works, I do some light editing and send it off asap.

And by the way, this job was auditioned, booked, and recorded in the same day. That’s how fast this VO business can work.

You can watch the full video on YouTube here.
There’s more “Promo VO Work” for more voice work on Promos and Trailers, and if you’d like a free scratch track, just ask. If I can get to your request, rest assured I will.

Home Studio Notes:
Auditions and jobs recored in my professional home studio using: Sennheiser 416, Rode 2000, and NT2 microphones, Focusrite ISA One Pre Amp, Scarlet 18i20 Interface, Logic Pro, ProTools. Connections available: Source Connect Standard, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Phone, pretty much whatever. I’m always happy to offer free scratch tracks to help with your edit.

Indy 500 Promo Voiceover

The post ESPN appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

One of my first major network promo voiceover jobs was for ABC, more specifically the show “Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23;” Which, by the way, was originally titled Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23. A couple of producers mentioned that the pilot script was more edgy and could have fit over at HBO. Twas, ABC who produced it and smoothed out the edges a bit. Ok, a lot of bits.

If you’re reading and wondering what “Promo Voiceover Work” is all about, just think of the advertisements for TV shows and networks that are shown in commercial breaks. It’s not so much the “In a World” guy as much as it is, “Coming this Fall to CBS” guy. Before you write you letter of complaint, by “guy” I mean man or woman. But if we’re being honest about this industry, it’s a disproportionate amount of men who voice this stuff.

Side note: Have you noticed less and less of the voice person in both movie trailers and TV promos? Your ear is correct, there is an active trend to use the actual content of the show to tell the story and avoid the VO person altogether.

These promos were created before this trend, but producers were looking for a non-traditional promo voice. Someone with a coolness, a texture, an edge, a raw, wry take on this in-your-face show. My technique for this project was mostly imagining I had a scotch in one hand, a cigar in the other, while talking to my cool ass neighbor Sam Altman, who had a hand in helping me get this gig in the first place. Amazing how things work, isn’t it?

I have more Promo VO Samples, and if you’d like a free scratch track, just ask.

My Home Studio is PROficient. Utilizing: a Sennheiser 416, Rode 2000, and NT2 microphones, Focusrite ISA One Pre Amp, Scarlet 18i20 Interface, Logic Pro, ProTools. Connections available: Source Connect Standard, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Phone, pretty much whatever. And I’m always happy to offer free scratch tracks to help with your edit.

ABC Promo Voice

The post ABC appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

Now this was one incredible ride.
In late 2007 I drove to my voiceover agent’s office to record a batch of auditions. Two of those auditions were for the voice of Spider-man, but one was for an upcoming videogame while the other was a promotion for Underoos (yes, the kids underwear company); wherein, kids would get a phone call from their favorite superhero.

A week later my agent called. “You got the Spider-man job,” she said with glee.
“The underwear phone thing, right? Cool.” I asked.
“No the game!” she said.

I’m still in shock. There wasn’t a callback, just one audition and I was the guy. Awesome.

The script was extra large because players can play as Red or Black spidey which essentially doubled the page count. Writer, producer, director, Mark Walters told me they heard my audition and “just knew it was a fit.” They were looking for a young voice who could be playful and still carry the action.

After 20 sessions at the wonderful PCB Studios, my job was finally done. During that time I had the honor of very briefly meeting Fred Tatasciore and Steve Blum between session times.

There’s more to my story with Spider-man: Web of Shadows, so next time you see me ask how Comic-con 2008 went.

See more Videogame Samples, and if you’d like to pitch your project, I’d love to hear it.

While I have a very PROficient home studio, I do fly often to Los Angeles for recording jobs, so don’t let distance be a factor in getting the right talent for your game. 

Voice of Spider-man in Web of Shadows

The post Spider-Man: Web of Shadows appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

One of my very first promo voiceover jobs was for a show on PBS called “Wild Kratts” in 2010.

It was, and still is, a popular kids show using animation and live action. Following that job I’d receive a few other auditions for various PBS shows, but only booked a couple.

Then in 2016 I was asked if I was interested in being the promo voice for a new channel called PBS Kids. It was one of those extra stations you get with an HD antenna or on cable, and now streaming online as well.

Of course I said yes and I’ve been voicing various PBS Kids promos ever since. They have always been one of my more gracious, kind and ultra-low maintenance clients.

Working on PBS Kids has allowed me to explore a much more fun and playful side.

It’s quite a contrast from my usual bad-scary guy stuff. The acting techniques I use for most PBS Kids jobs is that of “talking to one person” while telling them new information they must know about right now! And that “one person” is usually a kid I know who would actually watch the show I’m talking about. It’s various combinations of: friendly, excited, cool brother, fun uncle, and sometimes lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek gravitas. No matter how I break it down, it’s always a fun session and it’s fun to hear the results when my 3 year old has the station on.

Quick info for those of you not in the voiceover business. “Promo Voiceover Work” is just one of many categories of vo work. In this case Promos are ads for TV shows and networks. 

I have more Promo VO Samples, and if you’d like a free scratch track with pretty fast turnaround for your project, just ask.

The stuff you hear on PBS to this day was recorded in my professional home studio where I work with Sennheiser 416, Rode 2000, and NT2 microphones, a Focusrite ISA One Pre Amp, Scarlet 18i20 Interface, Logic Pro, and ProTools. Connections available: Source Connect Standard, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Phone, pretty much whatever. And I’m always happy to offer free scratch tracks to help with your edit.

Voice of PBS Kids

The post PBS Kids appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

This was a very unique experience; a combination of a promo read with the voice of the killer from the series sneaking in right at the end. It is definitely one my my favorite voiceover jobs.

I had already provided the for the killer who calls his victims on the phone for the first season of MTV’s Scream: The TV Series, and season two had just finished filming when we got this call. Normally, I’d go into a big fancy studio and record my lines to picture. Turning on that ominous, threatening, menacing yet playful voice that toys with the teens of Lakewood. For this project I recorded from my home studio, and started with the promo voice. A snarky, slightly playful voice that simply explains what had happened in season one. You can watch the clip to behold the twist at the end.

If you’re not familiar with the term “Promo,” just think of the advertisements for other TV shows and networks that are shown in commercial breaks.

I have more Promo VO Samples, and if you’d like a free scratch track for your project, just ask. I’d be happy to put it on my to-do list.

My Home Studio is PROficient. Utilizing: a Sennheiser 416, Rode 2000, and NT2 microphones, Focusrite ISA One Pre Amp, Scarlet 18i20 Interface, Logic Pro, ProTools. Connections available: Source Connect Standard, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Phone, pretty much whatever. And I’m always happy to offer free scratch tracks to help with your edit.

Scream: The TV Series Promo and Killer Voice

The post Scream TV Promo appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.

Providing the voice of the killer on the phone for MTV’s Scream: The TV Series was one of my favorite gigs. It also brought me some new fans. Fans who have interviewed me for their podcasts and what have you. Below is one of those interviews.

How did you get into voicing the Lakewood Slasher and how did you audition?

What I did was I got an audition for Scream, they wouldn’t say what it was, so I didn’t know if it was a game or a TV show or what. They kept it all very hidden, and the audition was the scene from the movie with Drew Barrymore, the scene that everybody knows.

I said to myself, “I really don’t wanna do what Roger Jackson did before. I want to do something different, and not really worry about it. Let’s just have fun.” So I went outside to my deck at night, had a cigar and a scotch, looked over the sides once, and said, “Okay. It’s not gonna get anymore loose or fun than the state I’m in right now.”

I went right upstairs into my booth, it must have been about 11 o’clock at night and I literally just ran through the scene once for fun. No editing, no nothing. I didn’t give a shit, just did it for fun and woke up the next morning thinking, “Ah, I’m gonna have to re-do it.” I gave it a listen and said, “Nah, fuck it! Good enough,”

I sent it and there were a lot of wheels behind the scenes that I came to discover. You have no idea as an actor how many people are working on your behalf. It’s a lot!

The casting director knew me from on-camera auditions and callbacks. My voice-over agent knew the casting director and he was saying, “God, I’m having a hard time with this,” and my agent said, “Listen to Mike Vaughn’s file. I think he had the best take on it,” and he did and it was down to me and one other guy and they just made up their mind that it was me, and so, I just had fun with it, and just booked it because of people talking to people and recommending me, and me having an okay reputation of being reliable, and I guess talented, I don’t know, and so I just ended up booking it and no callbacks, nothing. Same way I booked Spider-Man. One audition, and that was it, which is, you know, rare, but it’s nice.

So, it was just a matter of letting go, having fun, and doing that and then you ask, how I got into it and all that. Well, I didn’t wanna do what Roger Jackson does, and so I used all my actor tools, which is what do I want, who am I talking to, you know, and all that, and so my whole goal was to play.

I just wanted to play with the person on the other end of the phone. That was it, and so, how would I play with somebody? That’s all I did, and so I just played with them. I toyed with them, and my first session on Scream, the first episodes, the note was play, play… and play some more. So, it was great. The killer in Scream is a guy with a cat, with a ball. That’s all I was. I was a cat with a toy ball. That was my job, and the toy ball was the people I was calling, and I had my claws out and I was ready to kill them. That’s all I had to do. It was really fun. That was one of my favorite gigs ever.

6. Did you have a favorite kill in the series?

Uh, the barnyard with the saw above his head, I forget who that was. That was pretty good. That one shocked me. I was surprised that went to air… The blonde kid (Will Belmont), he’s sitting in a chair and then Emma spots him and the thing drops on his head, splits on his head, I was like, “Holy shit!” My wife and I were both like, “Oh my god, did they just show that?” So yeah, that was a good one. But yeah, I didn’t get to see a lot of the footage when I was doing my work, cause we don’t have time to watch the show. We just only had time to do the scenes I need to be on. So, I didn’t see much of anything until I watched it as a viewer.

7. How did you record your voice? Did you do it in your studio and just sent them over or did you record it on set?

I went to a studio called Wildfire that’s not around anymore. I would walk in and sometimes there were other actors from the show who were there to fix their lines. I’ve met Tom Maden (played Jake), Amadeus Serafini (Kerian) and Tom Everett Scott (Emma’s Dad). We’d  pass each other in the studio, a big recording room with a large projection screen, two microphones, one’s out in the distance, one’s a little closer, and they give me the lines as I show up.

So, that’s the thing about voice work, especially in games, you don’t get the material ahead of time. You have to jump on it ASAP. There’s no time to prep. So you get the lines and you make your decisions fast, and you go and you hope for the best. So, one time too, they wanted me to do lines ahead of time called “scratch tracks,” just so they can edit to my voice instead of somebody else’s voice, and the producer handed me his cell phone, with the scripts on it, and I literally just flipped through his iPhone with my thumb and read all my lines, and two of them went straight to air. Like I paid for that (laughs). I didn’t even have to come back into the studio! So, that was amazing.

8. What were your favorite killer lines to deliver?

“Did you just lock me out or did you just lock me in?” (1×02 Emma’s Call) That’s not exactly how I said it, but I love that moment, and the very last line that I said ever which was “Who gave you permission to wear my mask?” (2×12 Kieran’s Call) Those two were, those were the heroes to me, I love those lines. Those were great. Those were the most fun too cause I knew what was happening.

9. How was it like meeting Amadeus Serafini (Kieran)? Were you guys like, “Hey I’m you!” or did you know he was the killer beforehand?

Uh, we didn’t say that to each-other, cause I didn’t know and as actors, you don’t really talk about like that sort of thing. He was very quiet, he was sort of, you know we’re just there to do our job, and we’re nice to each other and I said, “Hey, enjoyed your work!” You know, and like “Cool man, cool, yeah.” That’s it, and then your gone. Jake (Tom Maden) was a little more friendly, the guy that played Jake… we talked about voice work a little bit.

But yeah, you don’t really talk about the actual project your on, I guess. As an actor, you reserve what your doing, as an actor for the performance, you don’t sort of spill it on somebody else when it’s not recording. Yeah, the Scream stuff was so long ago. I’m sad that Season 3 was all new production crew, all new everybody, yeah, it didn’t continue Season’s 1 and 2.

See more of Mike’s character work.

Voice of the killer in Scream: The TV Series

The post SCREAM: The TV Series appeared first on Mike Vaughn | actor.