The Voice Over / Nathalia Hencker

GI VI NGASPOTLI GHTTOTHEVOI CEOVERI NDUSTRY

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FUSION MAGAZINE

PERSPICIATIS UNDE OMNIS ISTE NATUS TEAM JERRY CORIA MONICA MAY RACHEL PETERSON LUNA STEVENS RACHEL BECK

JAMES CUEVAS MATT SHULTZ AMANDA HARDY ADAM WARREN SARA HENDERSON

CHIEF EDITOR JERRY

CORIA

MARKETING JOEY MACLAREN MIKE ROGERS

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PRODUCED BY JERRY CORIA

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DAREDEVIL The new season of Daredevil has premiered. As we go into this season, we speak with the actors about their favorite aspects of filming and what fans can anticipate from them. In this season, New York comes to life, as we delve into the connection between Matt Murdock and Nelson Fisk, among other fascinating topics.

LATE MARCH 2025

06

BABYMONSTER

As BABYMONSTER embarks on their first U.S. tour, we take a closer look at the band and the reactions of their fans at the Kia Forum.

58

GIVING A VOICE TO VOICE ACTORS

W&W

20

As we delve into the duo’s music and electronic dance music (EDM), we cover all the bases, including their upcoming tour.

97th ACADAMY AWARDS

40

As we bring you up-to-date on the most stylish moments from the 97th Academy Awards, we also invite you to join us backstage for exclusive interviews we had with several winners in the winner’s circle.

DAVID HARBOUR

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From his views toward his fellow performers to his thoughts on being on set of his new picture, A Working Man, David Harbour delves into the experience of working alongside Jason Statham, the character he is currently playing, and what he hopes audiences will take away from the film.

12

FEATURED

NATHALIA

HENCKER

TOP

M OV IE

SELECTIONS

S K C I P P O T S E I V O M UNTIL DAWN

1

HAVOC

3

2

Another Simple Favor

OUR SELECTIONS

MINECRAFT

5

Release Date: April 25, 2025 Starring: Ella Rubin, Odessa A’Zion, Michael Cimino

Release Date: April 25th 2025 Starring: Tom Hardy, Timothy Olyphant, Release Date: May 1, 2025 Starring: Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, Allison

UNTIL DAWN

4

THE SURFER

Release Date: May 2, 2025 Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julian McMahon

Minecraft is a popular video game. Now live-action film is in development. Although plot elements are being kept under wraps, the world-building, survival-mode video game has never been about story, so film possibilities are infinite.

The film will star Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge, Steve (Jack Black), Dawn (Danielle Brooks), and Henry.

FRIENDSHIP

Release Date: May 9, 2025 Starring: Paul Rudd, Tim Robinson 6

Thunderbolts

Release Date: May 2, 2025 Starring: David Harbour, Hannah John-Karmen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Florence Pugh, Harrison Ford

FREAKY TALES

Freaky Tales, set in 1987 Oakland, California, explores four interrelated narratives that celebrate the city’s diversity and culture. After its January 2024 Sundance picture Festival premiere, the picture gained popularity and excited spectators for its theatrical release.

M OV IE TOP SELECTIONS

MICKEY 17

BLACK BAG

This adaptation of Edward Ashton’s science fiction novel Mickey7 is the second feature film by South Korean director Bong Joon Ho, following his Academy Award–winning picture Parasite. Join Robert Pattinson as he embarks on a journey to settle a faraway world in this film about a disposable employee. His body gets rebuilt with his previous memories intact every time he dies.

An forthcoming spy thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh, who won an Oscar, will combine suspense with mystery.

Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett play an intelligence officer couple whose marital bliss is disrupted when Cate is accused of betraying her nation.

SNOW WHITE

ASH

Even though they’ve gotten mixed reviews from critics, Disney’s live-action adaptations of their iconic animated features have been commercial successes, which may explain why Snow White is getting the same treatment 87 years after the original 1937 cartoon came out. Starring Rachel Zegler of West Side Story and Gal Gadot of Wonder Woman, the film is directed

by Marc Webb of The Amazing Spider-Man and co-written by Gerta Gerwig. Gal plays the role of the Evil Queen.

The sci-fi horror film Ash follows Eiza González’s character as she uncovers the murder of her entire space crew. The film is reminiscent of Alien with director, Neil Blomkamp having previously worked on the science fiction film, District 9 and González’s experience in 3 Body Problems and Aaron Paul’s role in Westworld. Ash strives for detailed visuals to bring its plot to life.

THE ALTO KNIGHTS

A WORKING MAN

In this Barry Levinson picture, Robert De Niro plays Vito Genovese and Frank Castello, two legendary Italian American mob bosses. As mid-20th-century New York mafia bosses vie for power, the pair’s two crime families collide.

A Working Man, based on Chuck Dixon’s Levon’s Trade, depicts an ex-marine who returns from retirement to rescue his boss’s daughter after her kidnapping. Jason Statham, Michael Pena, David Harbour, and Jason Flemyng should star alongside Statham.

MUSIC TOP PICKS

JENNIE — Ruby

LADY GAGA - ABRACADABRA

TOKiMONSTA — Eternal

Selena Gomez & benny I Said I Love You First

TIESTO I Follow RiversReverie

Marshmello & Kane-Miles on it

MUSIC PICKS TOP

UDAGAWA GENERATION Sakurazaka46

G-Dragon

DOTSORI NO UTA FEAT. ENKO INOUE Mrs. GREEN APPLE

TIMELESS The Weeknd, Playboi Carti

ukka

BARRIER SixTONES

NOT LIKE US Kendrick Lamar

OVERCOMPENSATE Twenty One Pilots

TOP PICKS FOR MARCH 2025

TOO BAD (FEAT. ANDERSON .PAAK

TOKYO LANDED GIRL

IS ON THE RISE FOR THEIR SOLD OUT TOUR

BY VALENTIN ILIEV // PHOTOS DEVIANTART

BABYMONSTER WORLD TOUR

PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF YG ENTERTAINMENT

BABYMONSTER WORLD TOUR

PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF YG ENTERTAINMENT

The seven-member girl group—consisting of Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita.

Held at the world-famous Kia forum in Los Angeles, the show took off as fans cheered as they eagerly anticipated the Hello Monsters World Tour. The concert kicked off with fans waving their red and white glow sticks, cheering for BABYMONSTER arriving onstage in regal outfits. YG Entertainment spared no expense for their fast-rising performers, investing heavily in the concert production. YG Entertainment treated MONSTIEZ to a Hollywood-worthy performance, complete with pyrotechnics, high-budget visuals, and four individually designed outfits.

As they performed their first few songs to get the crowd hyped and excited for the night, there was an in-between pause as BABYMONSTER did a little quick introduction of themselves to make sure that for the guests that came along for the ride to enjoy their music, they got a more personal experience to get to know.

During BABYMONSTER’s brief introduction, you can hear fans enthusiastically applauding their favorite member as they present themselves. As members of BABYMONSTER continue to exclaim, “wow, this is a dream come true,” the realization that they are truly performing in the City of Angels was simply too much for them.

With a full set list, the group had a lot in store for the night. Many of the songs they performed were their top hits: SHEESH, FOREVER, DRIP, CLICK CLAK, and WOKE UP IN TOKYO, to name a few.

YG entertainment has done a fantastic production when it comes to introducing new talents to overseas fans.

Additionally, fans watched and shouted as an introductory movie showcased the immense effort and sacrifices made by the members of BABYMONSTER to achieve their success. For these members, joining BABYMONSTER was a lifelong dream.

BABYMONSTER wants to show how far they’ve come despite the chal-

lenges. The production value is high because YG entertainment, known for creating high-energy shows, put a lot of effort into all their live performances, as they have done with all other artists on the YGE roster.

All things considered, more is on the way for those who enjoy BABYMONSTER-style music.

Both YG Entertainment and K-pop are just at the beginning of their meteoric rise to fame.

BABYMONSTER AT KIA FORUM

BABYMONSTER WORLD TOUR

More activities and more artists are now coming to Los Angeles to offer more performances and to do fan service to all the fans that yearn and to see them in live concerts and that’s not all BABYMONTER is still on a world tour which is being held throughout August and September so if you’re debating whether or not you should check them out we highly recommend BABYMONSTER if you’re a fan of K pop this is a must see.

PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF YG ENTERTAINMENT

Every year, more and more artists and events are popping up in Los Angeles, so fans can enjoy more performances, meet their favorite performers, and attend live concerts. However, it is not all. If you are still on the fence about seeing BABYMONSTER live, you can still see them on tour during their August and September globe tour dates. Anyone who enjoys K-pop should definitely check out BABYMONSTER.

PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF YG ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF YG ENTERTAINMENT

NATHALIA HENCKER

BY VALENTIN ILIEV // PHOTOS DEVIANTART

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF. My name is Nathalia Hencker. I’m a bilingual voiceover actor. I moved to Los Angeles from Colombia in the early 90’s and I have been working in entertainment since my early 20’s. From live radio, TV hosting, singing in a pop band in Colombia, to dubbing movies in LA, and recording radio and TV spots for big brands like McDonalds, Verizon, Audi, Wells Fargo just to name a few.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY. When I graduated from Advertising in Medellín, Colombia, and while working on my thesis, I auditioned to be a Video Jockey for a 24 hour a day Music Video channel; this was my first exposure to voiceover, even though it involved video.

I became aware of the importance of using my voice in an effective way to convey a message. Shortly after, I was offered a job in a radio station called ‘Radioactiva’ and went on to work with them as the first female disc jockey in a national Spanish Pop-Rock radio station in Colombia.

I had a couple of TV shows as an interviewer and host, where my voice work was starting to develop as well as my passion for it. I was also the singer for ‘Climax’, a pop/dance band that toured throughout Colombia. I then moved to Los Angeles and started managing a dubbing studio in Burbank, where I learned all the ins and outs of the dubbing industry.

Managing was great, there was so much to learn, but my passion was in performing. So little by little, I snuck my way into the studio and tried to lip sync just like all of the other actors did. It was so challenging! And fun!

I fell in love with dubbing and the skills it required, and I followed that passion to this day; so basically, I’ve been working with my voice since the very beginning without even realizing it.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY? It was actually by accident. I went to college to study Advertising, which I had an interest in. I got my degree and I hung it on the wall.

But shortly after, my life presented itself differently for me, and I decided to follow the path. One thing is for sure, as soon as I had my first gig in front of the mic, I knew there was something special in there for me, and I knew that’s where I was supposed to be.

WHAT PROJECTS TO THIS DAY HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? Definitely Pocahontas comes at the top of my list. I was the original voice for the Disney animation movie. We are actually celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the film’s release this year in June of 2025. It has definitely marked my career in a very special way.

Disney is at the top of the list when it comes to the classics they have created, and I have the honor to have it as part of my career’s story. I’ve also recorded voices for the Disney Theme Parks for rides and attractions such as Star Tours and Galaxy’s Edge.

The role of Wilma Flintstone fell on my lap as a very special surprise. I had admired The Flintstones since I was a child, especially Wilma. And to have the unique opportunity to try to put my own spin on the character, being as truthful as possible to the original voice, was a beautiful and memorable experience.

I have dubbed many actors in the course of my career: Amy Schumer in “I Feel Pretty”, Chandra Wilson in “Grey’s Anatomy”, Shailene Woodley in the trilogy of “Divergent”, “Insurgent” and “Loyal”, Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games”, and many more; however one of the projects that is dearest to my heart is Brooke Logan from “The Bold and the Beautiful”, a soap opera that I’ve been dubbing consistently for the past 23 years; it airs daily on CBS and is the project with the most longevity in my career.

I AM EQUALLY DEDICATED

PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? As globalization and social media grow, so does the desire from more and more people to be a part of the Voiceover industry, which makes the slice of the pie smaller for all of us.

I do see it as a “glass full” kind of situation, as it calls for better preparation. It makes it an interesting challenge, puts you on your toes and makes you aware of the kind of commitment you have in front of you. It makes you stay on top of what is current and presses on the kind of dedication you want to give to your craft. It is an industry that evolves constantly. Also being self-employed, it is important to have a Plan B of sorts to diversify.

ASIDE FROM BEING A VOICE ACTOR, DO YOU PLAY ANY OTHER ROLES IN THE INDUSTRY? I am the owner of Henckahontas Studios in Burbank, a dubbing and localization focused recording studio. I opened my company in 2009 and based it in the knowledge I acquired as a studio manager when I first moved to LA and fulfilling the need to direct projects that came my way. Since the start, I have had the opportunity to produce and oversee the dubbing of films, TV series and animation, commercials and many other projects; among the most important ones in my book are: Netflix original series ‘Bojack Horseman’, ‘Tuca and Bertie’ and ‘Flaked’; as well as the biopic ‘Bosé’, the life of Miguel Bosé for Paramount + among others.

I am equally dedicated to my voice over career as well as my business. Expanding the capacity of my studio became one of my goals, and in 2023 I opened my second recording studio, which is a huge accomplishment. In addition, I am a dubbing director in my own studio as well as other studios around town.

TO MY VOICE OVER CAREER AS WELL AS MY BUSINESS.

WHAT AREA OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY INTERESTS YOU MOST? OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL AREAS OF INTEREST? Dubbing is my passion, and I get to create every single day, which fills my heart and my soul with joy. Commercials, TV and Radio campaigns are my bread and butter.

I am beyond grateful to have a wonderful talent agency, SBV, by my side since they opened their Spanish Voice Over department and with their incredible support, I get to record TV and radio spots pretty regularly with wonderful clients.

I have also done voice over for Video Games, which are so fun to work on! I’ve been honored to work on several video games, such as ‘Uncharted’, ‘Rainbow Six’ and a new one that I recently worked on which will be released in the fall, so I’m still under an NDA and can’t talk about it just yet, but be on the lookout; it is going to be hot! My dream is to be able to be a part of more video games. It is such a cool part of our industry!

PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON? Besides my regular dubbing gigs with CBS’s ‘Bold and the Beautiful’, I have been

selected as part of the dubbing cast for HBO’s ‘Poker Face’. I am part of a Looping Group and we are working now on ‘FBI’s Most Wanted’, ‘Law & Order’, & a few others. I am also directing the Spanish Audio version of ‘The Bible’, which will be released this fall, with 368 characters and high-profile Spanish celebrities as part of the cast.

Stay tuned!

IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE? Being the voice of a Disney princess is a dream come true, but you can never have too many Disney credits on your resume, so I have made room for one or more Disney

titles in there. I would love to work alongside Dave Fennoy in an action packed video game and to be directed by giants like Neil Druckmann, Leslie Benzies or Amy Hennig.

Continuous learning is key. Taking lessons is vital because growth never stops. We should always be learning, evolving and keeping our creative muscles active.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?

Taking care of our instrument -our voice- is essential. This means getting enough sleep, having a good diet to make sure you avoid foods that irritate your vocal chords, maintaining good mental health and keeping our brain’s sharp. After all, a healthy mind is a crucial part of being a great performer.

Listening! This is a crucial skill not only in daily life but especially in the voice acting industry. It helps you stay updated on sound, styles and advertising trends; understand scenes more deeply and ultimately improve your performance. In dubbing, listening is essential for capturing the essence of a scene and the nuances of the original language. It also fosters effective communication with the Director, ensuring a smooth session and a great studio experience.

IN TODAYS SOCIETY EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK, DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS OR DO YOU PERFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?

I am a people person. I love connection, so for me, being in the studio, surrounded with wonderful, creative people is ideal. Having said that, living in Los Angeles, traffic can get pretty hectic, so this is a tossup. There’s beauty in working alongside other individuals, but in hindsight being able to drive three minutes to my own studio, or recording from home, sometimes adds to a much more peaceful recording session.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE THAT IS INTRESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK?

Connection with other individuals and people in the industry are excellent ways to get plugged in. The best places to do this are voiceover conferences and events. The biggest and most important ones are: That’s Voiceover Career Expo, which takes place in Los Angeles in early December; it’s an event where you can meet a lot of talented people and surround yourself with incredible humans that are eager and willing to share their knowledge. Another standout event is VO Atlanta, which is usually around the middle of March, go and fill your brain and your heart will all things voiceover. And like I just said, taking classes on a regular basis and staying on top of your craft.

YOU ARE CURRENTLY ACVTIVE AS A VOICE OVER ACTOR; WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU THIS YEAR? There will be some noise for sure regarding the 30 year anniversary of the release of ‘Pocahontas’.

People will be able to join me, and two other incredible friends and colleagues: Fabiola Stevenson and Angelines Santana in a special X Session held as part of VO Atlanta, where we will be teaching all things related to Dubbing & Audio Description.

I have also been invited by SAG-AFTRA to be a panelist for a Voice Over Dubbing Seminar this spring.

I will also be directing all of the celebrities invited to be a part of the Viva La Biblia project, bringing the Bible to life.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU? I am available and visible in all the platforms.

I want to invite the readers to follow me on Instagram and Tik Tok with the handle: HENCKAHONTAS. For all studio news, projects we are currently working on and casting, and anything studio related, please follow us at: HENCKAHONTAS STUDIO on all platforms..

People can also visit our studio website at: www.henckahontasstudio.com

together quite fast and in the height of the pandemic, so we weren’t really sure how it was all going to come together, if it was going to come together, and yet all of the right and perfect souls, you know, collected in our cast and our crew, we spent really quality time off camera together having meals, breaking bread, having fun, just leaning into the characters when we were actually on camera. I think really doing right by the script that we were given, yeah, it was really a magical experience.

Can you describe the film in 3 words?

Zack: Love, acceptance, and redemption. why do you think this is a film for audiences to need now?

Zack: yeah you know, the world is a hard place, and there’s a lot of pain there’s a lot of suffering in the world all the time, and we all have these ideas of the way that our life is supposed to go you know we have these idealized versions of ourselves that we see of the life that we think we’re supposed to be living.

ZACHARY LEVI

when those things aren’t adding up when our expectations are not being met, that can lead to a lot of suffering, internal turmoil, anxiety, fear, anger, and things like that, and I think that this film is a really beautiful example of radically accepting the life that you’re given and, in doing so, finding so much beauty on the other side of that, figuring out more how to love yourself better, and therefore having those around you even more.

WHAT IS THE STORY OF THE UNBREAKABLE BOY, AND WHO DO YOU PLAY IN THE FILM? ZACK: I play Scott Laurette, and the story of the unbreakable boy is a true story about Scott and Teresa Laurette and their two sons, Austin and Logan. Scott and Theresa meet and know they start falling in love on their third date. they get pregnant with Austin, which is definitely a curveball, but they’re like hey let’s do this let’s figure this out as we go. Austin is, as they come to find out, born with osteogenesis imperfecta, which is brittle bone disease, which is yet another curveball, but they keep, you know, journeying and walking with that, and then they have their second son, Logan, who is born seemingly healthy, and then a few years go by, and Austin is behaving in some atypical ways, and then they have him tested, and they find out that he is on the autistic spectrum, so the movie is really about a family kind of navigating those waters while, you know, Scott and Teresa are still navigating figuring out their own internal conflict in themselves, figuring out their relationship, and figuring out how best to love their children.

Can you talk about meeting your real-life counterparts?

Zack: I met the real Austin the first time I met him, about a week into filming, he sent me a message on Instagram and said hey I hear you’re portraying me in the movie. I’m really excited to meet you. Our family thinks that you’re going to do great, and so I messaged him back, and very quickly we got on the call together, and I was really excited to meet him he was incredible, and then a month later he and his family came down to the set actually it wasn’t a month later, but around 2 weeks later, he and his family came down to the set, and we were able to meet them in person, and it was incredible they’re lovely people.

Zack: I think initially I had a phone call with them, so I got to kind of pick his brain about their story you know Scott was very

brave, and Theresa was both in Scott writing their story in the book the unbreakable boy that the film was based on, and so I was able to kind of glean, you know, a little bit from those conversations, and then ultimately when they came to visit us on set, we got to, you know, spend more time with them and learn more about their dynamic and their energy. obviously you know when you’re making a film, there are some artistic liberties that are taken, and you know how to piece all that together, but the script that

John Gunn wrote was really such a beautiful script and a great blueprint for us to follow ultimately in making sure that we were, you know, honoring them, honoring their story, but yeah, we got to spend some really good quality time with them while we were making the film.

What was it like working with your incredible costars and your director, Jon Gunn?

Zack: yeah I mean, it was a beautiful family that was really God-breathed. I mean, you know, the movie came

W&W

THE BEST OF EDM MUSIC IS HERE! OUR EXPLORATION OF W&W MUSIC IS EXTENSIVE. DURING OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE DUO, WE DISCUSSED THEIR RECENT BEGINNINGS, EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE DOING AT THE MOMENT, AS WELL AS THEIR NEW MUSIC AND THE CAT THAT BROUGHT THEM TO THE PATH OF GLOBAL RENOWN, WHICH HAS NOW LEAD TO ARENAS THAT ARE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT. AUTHOR JERRY CORIA

For all our readers, please introduce yourselves and share a bit about your background.

Hey! We’re W&W, comprised of Ward van der Harst and Willem van Hanegem. We’re electronic music DJs and producers, born in the Netherlands.

How did this journey begin for you? What were your initial steps in the music industry?

When we were younger, we were really inspired by the rich Dutch electronic dance culture. This shaped our passion and started our journey into producing and DJing.

Our journey began in 2007 when we decided to make music together after already

DJing and producing separately.

After a while, we figured out that all the music we made together was better received than our solo projects.

Once we realized that, we decided to focus fully on our project together, W&W.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC BACKGROUND DO YOU HAVE, AND WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DID YOU GROW UP LISTENING TO? We both have diverse backgrounds; we grew up listening to a range of genres. Willem’s dad listened to blues rock, and his mom listened to Nirvana.

Ward’s dad makes Selmer acoustic guitars and his grandparents were both full-time musicians, so growing up, music was all around us.

However, neither of us has had any classical music training, we are both self-taught.

The first CD Willem bought for himself was Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Be Dee). After that, he was totally hooked on

everything dance music related. For Ward, that CD was Trance The Ultimate Collection 2001, and before that he enjoyed Mauro Picotto - Komodo which was always on the radio.

we do, every week we try to get better and evolve our craft.

What are your main inspirations, and what keeps you going?

What are the challenges you face as W&W, and how do you overcome them?

Our main inspirations would be being able to move people with our music and seeing the joy it brings them, both on social media platforms and at our shows in person.

One challenge that we think is prominent in entertainment in general, is staying relevant without losing your identity and what you stand for in a rapidly changing industry.

With the

There’s nothing more rewarding than being able to give people a unforgettable experience. What keeps us going is the fact that we truly enjoy what

All the feedback and love from the people that our music reaches is a huge motivation to keep going.

constant rise of new social media apps, marketing techniques, and ways to reach people, you need to evolve quickly.

We try to overcome this by continuously evolving our sound and exploring new technologies in music production. This journey can be difficult because you may lose people along the way, and it can be very scary to shed what’s normally expected of you. But sometimes we feel we don’t have a choice because we’ve personally evolved and lost connection with certain things of the past.

Could you share how W&W was conceived and explain the significance behind the name?

W&W was born from our first name initials, Willem and Ward. When we made our first track and sent it to Armin van Buuren, we didn’t have a project name or anything. It was so last minute that we just used our initials and named the track, ‘W&W - Mustang.’

What comes to mind when you think of performing for a massive crowd at an EDM festival? Do you have any memorable experiences?

Nothing compares to the experience of playing in front of a super energetic crowd. We are lucky enough to have plenty of memories of those moments, and are still making new ones! The adrenaline we get is unmatched when you’re in sync with such a big mass of people it can create a special connection.

There’s no better feeling than hearing a crowd singing along and reacting to a track that you’ve spent months creating.

What is the best live EDM event you have ever experienced?

In 2010, we experienced our first Tomorrowland together when we played on one of the smallest stages the festival has to offer. After our set, we walked to the Main Stage and were overwhelmed by the full valley of people with this insane stage and production, fully in sync.

We were looking at each other and said, “Imagine if we could ever play there?” obviously thinking that it could never happen, it was just a silly thought. Fast forward four years later, we played that MainStage for the very first time in 2014.

With name-dropping some events we don’t do all of them justice, each event has its unique audience. The global big brands like Tomorrowland, Ultra, and EDC, are always an honor to play for, but almost every single country has its own festivals that shine and capture the unity that dance music brings to people.

We weren’t expecting anything from this project or song, and we were not seriously considering continuing the project together, it was sort of a placeholder name. It started from being friends, going to different electronic music events together, talking, and

MOST COMMOM MISTAKES & MORE What is one mistake you see many up-and-coming DJs making? What advice would you give to aspiring DJs? A common mistake made by upand-coming DJs is doing something identical to someone who is already successful in the same field. Being inspired can kickstart your musical journey and exploration of your own musical taste and self, but try to create your own musical identity after that. Once that’s been reached, perseverance is everything, and working hard for your own vision can be key.

We are cat lovers! How did the cat become part of your marketing and promotion strategy?

Willem and his girlfriend Sarina, both being big cat lovers, have been sharing the OIIA meme back and forth with each other since July 2024. While it was funny, they thought it was a small niche meme. Once we saw how popular the cat was getting, we had the idea to remix the sound and put Ethel (the official cat from the meme), on the LED screen for our next set. We played it for the first time at Countdown NYE in Los Angeles, and as soon as the green screen with Ethel popped up, the crowd went crazy. We created it just as a fun moment to share with fans, but once the initial video was uploaded, it skyrocketed to over 90 million views across platforms in less than 48 hours.

The reception surprised us so much, and when we saw that Ethel and her owner never received any royalties for her usage all over the internet, we decided to release it as an official track. Proceeds from the song go directly to Ethel, the blind Ohio cat behind the trend, as well as a portion donated to the Cat Welfare Association, the non-profit shelter that gave her a second chance. Since the release, the trend has exploded further and Ethel even made it to massive billboards in NYC, LA, China, and beyond.

sharing a passion for trance music at the time. After Armin actually played the song on his radio show, A State Of Trance, and his label Armada wanted to sign it, we thought “Oh, this is serious!”

NEQUE PORRO NEQUE PORRO QUISQUAM EST,

M

QUI DOLORE

Your big commercial breakthrough came with the release of Bigfoot. Can you talk about that day and the expectations that followed?

The process of creating ‘Bigfoot’ took us almost half a year! We tried to fuse our signature MainStage bigroom sound with elements from the emerging trap scene at the time. There was a lot of back and forth to get the mix and blend sorted out in a way that worked for us.

We were really surprised the day it came out that it had actually charted commercially since we were not expecting that at all! Having a commercial breakthrough

If you mean a track of our own, Rave After Rave is a song that we don’t get bored of.

The live reception when we play it over the years has been increasing, which is insane since it’s turning 10 years old in 2025. A song not by us would probably be Tiësto - Flight 643, it’s been almost 25 years since that song came out and you can still play it today.

Or Tiësto’s remix of Delirium - Silence, hence why we remix that song every few years to be able to play it in our sets again!

What do you think is cool about Japan? What do you like most about it?

For us, Japan is an amazing blend of tradition and futuristic technology. The culture, food, and the warm reception we receive from fans there is incomparable! We really ap-

track is amazing, but it also brings in a lot of pressure for your next projects. You always want every track to be as successful or more successful than the one before.

But throughout the years we figured out that that is close to impossible, and that’s why a lot of artists get stuck and don’t want to share the music they’re making because they’re afraid of not living up to the success and expectations of their previous work.

What is one track that never gets old for you, no matter how many times you hear it?

preciate how respectful the people and culture of Japan are, which makes us feel extremely comfortable and welcome. Another thing we like about Japanese people is that whatever their craft is, they’re very dedicated and truly work until they are a master which is very inspiring for us to always go the extra mile. Also, both of us are huge Sushi lovers, and Japan has, in our opinion, by far the best in the world! Every year, we’re looking forward to our next trip to Japan.

We are based in Japan—do you have any plans to relocate here in the future?

We’re coming back to Japan for a special Back to Back set with R3hab at World DJ Festival on the 28th of June this year! It’s the first time we play B2B with R3hab in Japan, and both of us are really excited, we’re going to make it a very special show! About living there—we could definitely see ourselves living in Japan! But we have no plans to do that yet, haha.

How do you choose the tracks you play during a set?

We try to read the crowd’s energy and mood and take it from there.

We also learned over the years which tracks usually work well in certain countries or cities. We actually have a database of every tracklist we’ve ever played. When we return to a specific place or event, we try to do our homework and play favorites from our last show there but also bring 50-70% of new material to keep things interesting and fresh for the crowd.

For every set, we fully prepare what we think would be the best track selection, but we often find ourselves having to change it on the fly because we cannot fully predict the crowd’s vibe beforehand.

Can you describe your creative process when mixing tracks?

When it comes to mixing tracks while live DJ’ing, we try to keep the energy constantly flowing.

We call our mixing technique a ‘power mix’, because we try to blend in the most important parts of tracks in a very dynamic mix, which consists of quick and short transitions without losing the crowd’s attention. When it comes to mixing our productions in the studio, we prefer a loud dynamic, and powerful mixdown. A producer’s mixdown is like a signature, a lot of times, you can hear who a song is produced by purely off of that.

What do you think is the most challenging aspect of mixing live?

Reading the crowd and maintaining the right energy can be challenging. You have to adapt quickly to their reactions while staying true to your style. Sometimes you feel like a song has to be played at a certain time even though you know it doesn’t fit where you currently are in the set because of its tempo or key. Trying to find a creative way to make it work can be challenging!

How do you read and respond to a crowd during a performance?

We look at people and if they’re singing along, if they dance or smile, then we know we’re on the right track. If not, then we have to try something else! Ward looks more at the individual people and selects them to see if they’re enjoying themselves.

Willem looks more at the overall energy of the crowd to see if the connection to the music is staying strong. It’s another example of how we work together during our live performance to keep the energy flowing. We’ve seen a big change in the way people react to our performance in recent years! Even though people are jumping, dancing, and smiling, there are a lot more moments when phones come out. But we remind ourselves that these are moments that people want to re-live over and over, and if they’re filming it means it’s a moment they want to keep.

How do you handle difficult situations, like technical issues during a set?

We stay calm and remember that unforeseen issues happen.

Anything can go wrong, especially with larger productions, and we are lucky enough to work with professional people and teams that are usually quick to identify the problem and help sort it out. Often, engaging with the crowd and keeping the energy up can override technical difficulties.

What do you think have been the biggest changes in the DJ industry over the past few years?

Technology has transformed how we produce music and perform shows, all these inventions in software and hardware is making it easier for new artists to enter the scene, which creates more competition and can also cause over-saturation.

But this can also be a good thing, forcing people to innovate and push things to new limits, since it’s harder to stand out. The rise of social media makes it easier than ever before to reach new people, making it an extremely powerful tool to showcase your art.

How do you think you can shape and influence the EDM world? What impact do you hope to make with your music?

We aim to make dance music fun for people, to make our shows a time to really live in the moment and enjoy. We hope to spread positivity and unity, we understand that people come to our shows to let go and escape their normal lives. Our purpose is to make them feel that in every moment that they are there, they are having the best time they possibly can.

WHO ARE SOME PRODUCERS OR DJS YOU WOULD LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH? To be honest, any DJ or producer that we have a creative click with is inspirational to us. We really don’t look at the name or profile too much, if the music is fun and the vibes are great that’s what’s most important to us.

What’s next for W&W, and what can fans expect from you in the near future?

After the success of OIIA and our last several releases, we’ll be looking out for a fun followup to that one. We have a lot of new music ready to be released, some of it we have been slowly testing out in our sets. We’re also looking at how to enhance our live performance to be more visually stimulating and how to make it more interactive. Currently, we’re also spending a lot of time on our label Rave Culture and our side project NWYR, which we have exciting things in store for this year.

Are you currently working on any new music that you can share with us?

Absolutely! Whenever we are not touring we are producing new tracks, experimenting with different genres and sounds. In the studio, we’re focusing on some solo W&W singles as we’ve had a few years of big collaborations, but those will continue as well. While we can’t give away too much just yet, we can confirm that there will be new releases in the following months with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Steve Aoki, and KSHMR, just to name a few. There will be some new original tracks and remixes coming out very soon.

You are the main feature for Fusion magazine, and you’re on the front cover. What message do you want to share with your fans?

First of all, it’s an honor to be the main feature and be on the cover of Fusion! Thanks a lot for all the love and support! Let’s keep spreading positivity and good vibes through music.

Remember to chase your dreams, and never forget that music unites us all.

Any final words or a special message?

Thank you so much for all the love and support over the years, and for making our dreams come true every day! We’re incredibly excited about what’s coming next and can’t wait to share it with you. Stay tuned, keep dancing, and let’s make more unforgettable memories together!

DEMI MOORE Demi Moore’s statuesque silver and gold beaded dress had a plunging neckline, spaghetti straps, a dramatic train, and ruching along the hips to highlight her waist. The actress continued the multi-watt look with a silver cuff bracelet and crystal chandelier earrings. Moore maintained her usual glam for her Oscars presentation, styling her raven black hair in long loose waves and highlighting her features with a delicate smokey eye and a mauve lip.

2025 OSCARS FASHION

,

LISA

SELENA GOMEZ

The singer wore a Markgong dress with tuxedo-inspired details, including a black coat with satin lapels, a carnation brooch, and a collared white shirtdress.

Lisa accessorized with stylish patent leather boots, delicate gold hoop earrings, and a diamond-encrusted ring.

Selena Gomez wore one of the most unforgettable costumes to the 2025 Academy Awards. The pink-hued, bedazzled Ralph Lauren gown, which had over 16,000 drops of glass, was created as a tribute to Italian actress Sofia Loren. Perhaps surprisingly, such an extravagant appearance was difficult to carry off.

MILEY CYRUS

DOJA CAT

ARIANA GRANDE

Miley Cyrus wore McQueen’s beaded highneck gown with a drop waist that led to a sheer skirt and matching beaded sheer gloves.

She completed the look with diamond fringe earrings and a bracelet from Boucheron Fine Jewelry. She finished her look with bleached brows and smokey eyeliner.

Doja Cat is wearing a plunging leopard-print corset dress embellished with hand-sewn sequins.

Arina donned a baby pink dress that coordinated with the pastel looks. It had architectural embellishment that juts out from the waistline and airy, sparkly layers of tulle that drift to the ground. The molded bodice feels like a second skin, while corset detailing on the back adds texture and visual intrigue.

The singer’s mermaid gown was custom-made by Olivier Rousteing and was inspired by a nearly identical Pierre Balmain design from 1953.

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2025 OSCARS RECAP

ADRIAN BRODY

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A little fashion question.

I’m just wondering about the brooch. if there’s any significance you want to share.

Adrien Brody: Of course, well, it’s just beautiful.

You know there was a lot of significance tonight. it’s Elsa Jin, who’s a friend of mine and a wonderful artist, and I’m very grateful to get to wear something so beautiful.

Your speech was so moving, so powerful.

Can you tell us why you felt that it was such an important time to mention anti-Semitism and hate and racism? Why did you want to highlight that in your speech today specifically?

Adrien Brody: I think we all know that it’s an important time to recognize that there’s no place for

intolerance, and as I had mentioned in my speech, I’m, oddly, receiving recognition for representing a time in history. That we witness unchecked antiSemitism. and that hatred and oppression have no place in this world and that we must learn from the past.

I want to ask you a bit about what you were asking before. Do you feel that the issues that you show in the film are something that people are forgetting? Is that another reason you feel that this film is important? And secondly, you seem to talk about your journey. your journey that maybe was a bit of a roller coaster, and almost like, you maybe never thought you would get back to this point again. Can you talk about that as well?

Adrien Brody: No, you are not mistaken; it has been a long and beautiful journey, and an artistic path, and I’ve. As you try to navigate creative choices, There are many variables, and there are wonderful ones; there’s an enormous number of talented individuals all vying for very few great opportunities, and that’s the bottom line. I have been working very hard for the past 22 years, but nothing quite connects. I’m aware of this, and I’m grateful for the good fortune I’ve had of being selected by Brady and Mona to be a part of a very meaningful story, one that speaks to injustice and not just along the lines of what we had discussed, it’s also important to consider the lives of others, people who hope and dream of being free from oppression and very difficult circumstances abroad, like my grandparents’ struggles, loss, and resilience. paved the way for my own positive fortune, and I had an opportunity to honor them in this film, and the truths and the insight that I’ve gained from these hardships of so many people of many different backgrounds and ethnicities have made me aware of We need to be empathetic.

What it was like for you to work with Mona Fastvold and what you would like to say about her script.

Adrien Brody: Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet co-wrote a remarkable script and one of vast storytelling and tremendous intimacy and nuance and frailty, so I’m truly grateful for their contribution to cinema and their own bravery. and for believing in me and for giving me an opportunity to be a part of something of such importance and against all odds.

This is a, this has been a seven-year journey for them. and I’m truly grateful to have helped them tell a story. of great meaning and to be included as part of this very special project.

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MIKEY

MADISON

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What does it mean to you to not only win this best actress in a leading role Oscar but also for Sean to win four Oscars in one night for the same movie?

Mikey Madison: Oh my gosh, it’s an I, for lack of a better word, just incredibly surreal. I never thought anything like this would happen in my life. I just—I love making movies, and I’ve dreamed of being an actress that would be able to be in a film like Anora my entire career as an actress. it’s a huge honor, one that I think will soak again later down the line hopefully um I really did not expect it at all, and I mean, Sean is such a wonderful, incredible filmmaker he is an incredible writer and amazing editor he is a true lover of cinema, a kind person he has dedi-

cated so much of his career to telling really important stories.

I’m so happy for him because he’s been, you know, he’s just a true indie filmmaker like we went off and just made this weird, crazy movie and had fun and poured our hearts into it, and you know, all of this started at Cannes, which was just a dream come true for me, a career-long dream, to even just go to a Film Festival specifically Cannes, and so everything that has followed has been wonderful.

I’m just so happy for him. I adore him, and I adore Sammy Quan and Alex Coco and the entire team, and so I could keep talking about them forever, but I’m so, so happy for them.

WINNER FOR ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

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You’ve starred in less than 10 feature films so far in your career how do you hope this win will influence your career going forward?

Mikey Madison: yeah it’s interesting.

I’ve been thinking about the future a lot and also the past, and I’ve been really trying to remind myself to stay as present as possible throughout all of this, so I don’t know. I really don’t know what will happen in the future. I just want to keep making movies and, you know, continue to work with people who inspire me and play interesting characters, tell stories that are compelling, and so that’s just what I hope to do, and I really don’t know what will happen. I just know that tonight I’m going to go home to my new puppies and probably, you know, clean up their mess, and it’s going to bring me right down to earth, yeah.

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You’ve previously stated that Anora helped you come out of your shell and gain confidence, so now that you’ve received this honor, what would you tell Anora?

Mikey Madiso: Oh gosh, I don’t know you know I think that making this film gave me confidence as an actor and as a creative. I think that it really inspired me, reinvigorated my love of cinema, and reminded me of the kind of work that I want to do, so I don’t know what I would say to the character.

I still have so much love for her, and it was really one of the first characters that I don’t know. was sorry I’ve my mind is all over the place, and my heart’s about to explode right now, but I don’t know. I don’t know what I would say.

I would just say that I’m grateful that I was able to portray you for a short period of time, and there will always be a small part of me that carries around the experience of making the film and the character because it has changed my life in so many ways, you know, not just because of all of this that’s happening right now, but just the experience of being able to work with Sean Baker. the experience of learning and meeting incredible people from the sex work community has been such a wonderful part of this, and I’ve met and made so many incredible friends, so I would just say thank you.

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Congratulations.

Kieran Culkin: Thank you.

You went from almost saying no to being a first time Oscar winner.

So knowing all this hard work that you put in, how does this win feel?

Kieran Culkin: I don’t know.

I’ve already been asked that about three or four times in whatever span of minutes it’s been. I’m not fully inside my body right now.

I’m trying my best to be present.

I don’t know. But like I, the thing is

with almost saying no to the movie was, it wasn’t for any creative reason.

It was just the way the schedule changed right before we started, it was taking me away from my kids for almost a month, and I was like, well, I don’t want to do that.

And then I got talked into it, which, obviously I’m very glad that I was. I have no idea how I’m feeling is the answer to that question. when you were filming this role, did it feel any different to any other role you’ve done or like did it feel a bit more special?

Kieran Culkin: It definitely, it felt different, in the, like the, the script was incredibly tight that I didn’t want to rehearse it or talk about it or anything.

It just felt like it was the first time I ever read something and went, I fully understand this guy.I don’t even want to read it again. I wanna show up on the day and go, what scene are we doing?

Oh yes, this one. And the words got in here really quickly because they were so well written. So that was, that was a fun new approach.

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And it felt like I knew who this guy was, but I couldn’t identify it and I didn’t want to analyze it because right away upon reading it, I went, I know who this guy is.

I’m just gonna leave it and just do it. It wasn’t until almost a year later when I watched it that I was like, oh my God, I know someone exactly like this, and I didn’t realize I was doing that.

And the moment I realized it my wife leaned over—it was at like a theater—

she leaned over and said his name in my ear. And I was like, you’re right, I’m totally doing him and I didn’t even know. Oh, that kind of unusual experience, I’ve never had that before.

What did this role and movie teach you about yourself? that’s too heavy a question.

I don’t know. I feel like whenever I’ve worked on something important I end up taking things with me. Like sometimes people will say like, oh you’re a lot like that character.

I’m like I wasn’t until I did it, and now

I feel like I took something with me.

But I’d like to think that I’m a little more together than that guy. I’d like to think that I’ve figured some stuff out, but I don’t, I got, that’s too, that’s my terrible answer to your otherwise excellent question. Sorry.

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ZOE

SALDANA

Now you’re standing here with your first Oscar if you could go back to any moment of your life and let that version of Zoe know this is only going to make you stronger and prepare you for this moment, when would it be?

Zoe Saldaya: I think it’s every time that I went after a part and I didn’t get it, and I cared so much, and I was so heartbroken for sometimes a day, sometimes a week, but I got up again so at the end of the day, if I don’t act, if I don’t do my art, then what am I who am I and realizing that it’s not about the win when you learn to let that go, and it is about the work day in and day out, the day that you do when you just have a deeper appreciation for it, and you feel that you have appreciated every experience and every moment that has led you here.

There’s a musical song in the movie Emilia Perez that says let the people talk. How would you sing this song to someone, and how would you react to the politics in South America when the movie Emilia Perez was released?

Zoe Saldaya: You know that the art that is created doesn’t have a manual with instructions; it was created with love, hope, and prosperity, and art is a form. It creates topics that sometimes people wouldn’t understand right away, and to create these movies, it’s to bring more voices to the table for discussion, and that’s precisely what the director intended in doing by making this film.

a film with a lot of love and with your heart wide open. When the film doesn’t receive positive reviews, you begin to question why, what transpired, and what went wrong.

But after you take a deep dive, explore, and process the film, you have to come to an ultimatum decision. and with that i always follow my heart, and i stay true to myself because I know during this film I did it with a noble conscience, and I know that this film that I created as an actress was in noble art, so therefore i don’t regret being a part of this film.

What would you say was the largest obstacle you’ve had to overcome to get here tonight?

Zoe Saldaya: I think it was myself, you know; there’s so many external factors that can impede you moving forward if you stop moving forward, you know, I had a hard time sometimes getting out of my own way and, you know, self-sabotaging and thinking that, oh, trying to believe what others wanted me to believe or trying to believe what others saw in me and not listening to my voice. we have an instinct, and that instinct that keeps us from falling or helps us put our hands, you know, in front of our face to protect us when we fall, that’s the same instinct that when you’re reading a script or you’re meeting someone and you just know that you’re right for that part and you know that you being a part of that will be something exceptional, and you just have to listen to that, so I can spend so much thinking about all the things that I don’t have that I should acquire, but I can also think about Fuck it let me just, like my husband says, throw myself into the unknown and see what comes of it, and I’m having a lot more fun when i do that.

This movie is not inspired by a true story. If I had to make this film again, I would do it 1000 times. This film holds immense importance, is visually stunning, and was created with a great deal of love and sacrifice.

I can only talk about it in this light because that was my personal experience; of course, all the politics that happened with the film really hurt a lot because you, as an actor, create

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE WIN WHEN YOU LEARN TO LET THAT GO, AND IT’S ABOUT THE WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT THAT YOU DO WHEN YOU JUST HAVE A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR IT, THAT EVERY MOMENT HAS LET YOU HERE. COURTESY OF ©A.M.P.A.S.

Charlie Cox: At the beginning of born again is something has happened in his life, something significant, something that changes everything for him and changes who he is, and, um, what he’s trying to do is refine an identity, rediscover who he is, um, make amends where possible for past mistakes, um, and also deny an element of himself um however that becomes impossible for a number of reasons, and one of those reasons is Wilson Fisk.

Vincent D’Onofrio: there’s a couple of different ways to look at that, I think, like, as if you—I’ll just step out of my role in this whole thing for a moment—you know, the idea is that it’s two men that sort of need each other to exist in a way, and that’s how it’s been so far they motivate each other in the most dark ways. I think that that’s a big deal the easiest example is when you bring the two characters together we do it as little as possible because it’s so intense when we do it. it means something, saying earlier that it has to be the beginning of something we need to have a scene with the two of them together it has to be the beginning of something we are going to use throughout or some of the way, or it’s the end of some-

thing, and sometimes it’s both and so their planned well, and this season especially, Dario did a wonderful job when he put them in. I think Charlie and I have a little bit to do with that, but it’s mostly Dario’s way. His writing structure is really good, and I think that they, um, you know, there’s immediate tension; there’s immediate interest when the two of them are facing each other. I think they kind of wish each other didn’t exist but sort of know that they need each other.

Charlie Cox: it’s such an honor to work with some of the actors in this show, Deborah Ann Woll and John, particularly. Um, you know, I don’t think that the show daredevil would have had the emotional impact that it has had without Deborah and Elden, who have played the characters foggy and Karen they are the heartbeat of this world that we exist in; they remind us of the audience. I mean, they remind us of what it is to be human in a world of superheroes, and they’re just phenomenal actors and people, you know, so it’s such an honor that they’re back, that they do

such a beautiful job with those characters. John’s frank castle is the best there has ever been, in my opinion he’s an extraordinary actor with the most infectious charisma, and I love working with him he’s always bringing something unexpected to a scene, and I think that, you know frank castle and daredevil kind of push each other in a direction, which is always fun and always unexpected.

Vincent D’Onofrio: Unfortunately, my character disappeared without giving Vanessa a reason. This occurred in the timeline while I was dealing with the Echo character. After this disappearance, demonstrating Ayelet’s incredible acting skills.

I say that as a her peer but also as a good friend of hers so I know the way she works I know how much she puts into it and you can just see it when you’re working with her there were times when we were working together that there was no acting needed I was reacting completely just receiving everything that she was doing and saying and just reacting off of it I think

this is similar to similar to Charlie and I like we get to know each other so well and Ayelet and I know each other so well for so long now it’s an incredible thing it’s a very intense relationship she is trying to understand her husband the best she can because she loves him very much and Ayelet you know has feelings for me because we’re like really close buddies and have been for a while and I feel the same about her and it’s it’s just you know I can’t not include that when it comes to me talking about her performance because we are really taking each other in and receiving each other and reacting to receiving each other and it’s it makes for a really fun scenes to do even though we’re going through pain or emotion sometimes during the scenes it’s a lot of fun so I think that you know she’s comes the idea that Dario had and we loved and we all know that Ayelet is the stronger one of the two at this moment and she’s really kept things together but he has a plan and he needs and he has he asks her to forgive him and come along with the plan

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she is trying to understand her husband the best she can because she loves him very much, and Ayelet, you know, has feelings for me because we’re like really close buddies and have been for a while, and I feel the same about her, and it’s just, you know, I wanted to include that when it comes to me talking about her performance because we are really taking each other in and receiving each other and reacting to receiving each other. it’s it makes for a really fun scene to do even though we’re going through pain or emotion sometimes during the scenes it’s a lot of fun, so I think that, you know, she comes up with the idea that Dario had, and we loved it, and we all know that Ayelet is the stronger one of the two at this moment, and she’s really kept things together, but he has a plan, and he needs it, and he asks her to forgive him and come along with the plan.

PHOTO BY JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES

in this new life that matters, building and constructing for himself, he meets someone new who doesn’t know him; he’s not from his past.

Heather Glenn is played by the amazing Margarita, and he attempts to have a relationship with someone where he is vulnerable and open and honest to an extent, but what he doesn’t tell her is probably the biggest secret, which is that he has had an alter ego, and a byproduct of that is that he doesn’t let her know.

In this new life that matters, building and constructing for himself, he meets someone new who doesn’t know him; he’s not from his past.

Heather Glenn is played by the

THE IDEA OF SHOOTING HERE IN NEW YORK WAS A MUST. WE MADE SURE THAT IS WHERE

WE WANTED TO SHOOT.

amazing Margarita, and he attempts to have a relationship with someone where he is vulnerable and open and honest to an extent, but what he doesn’t tell her is probably the biggest secret, which is that he has had an alter ego, and a byproduct of that is that he doesn’t let her know.

He doesn’t explain to her that he has heightened senses and, despite being visually impaired, he is able to function without the need for a cane. This is a significant aspect of his withholding, and it’s fascinating to observe how difficult it is to understand why someone would choose to conceal this from the world, especially when they struggle to maintain an honest and open relationship. it’s probably doomed from the start, but it’s very tender at times it’s very supportive he moves in with someone for the first time we’ve never seen Matt live with someone, cohabitate, and Margarita brings such a—she’s so—there’s such a humanity to it and such a kind of sexiness and a vulnerability to her performance she’s I think she’s a bit of a big breakout from Season.

I mean, she’s an amazing character actress like she’s good; she could do leading parts, obviously, because she’s so beautiful, but her style is

Daredevil: Born Again was created by Dario Scardapa-

ne and Matt Corman & Chris Ord for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Daredevil. It is the 13th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, via its Marvel Television label, sharing continuity with the films and television series of the franchise. Born Again is a revival and continuation of Daredevil (2015–2018), an earlier series produced by the previous Marvel Television production company and originally released on Netflix. Scardapane serves as showrunner with Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead as lead directors.

ART BY DAREDEVILSHOTS

PHOTO BY SONIA BROMAN

ART BY

DAREDEVILSHOTS

very much, I think, a very specific kind of characteristic she builds these characters, and if you see in her other work, what she does is nothing like what she’s doing in our show. it’s amazing. I was just thinking, if I may add, I don’t know if this matters or anything, but it’s amazing how we have these

three actresses how lucky are we? I think about it when I work with them individually, but if you group them all together, this is the first time I’ve ever said out loud grouping those three people together and the talent and the gutsy way that they’re so different yeah it’s amazing.

I mean it’s very imposing I have to say those three are incredible actors yeah it’s it’s a good way to ask the question in New York City is a character in our show it’s it more in this show more than even the Netflix show I mean we’ve go even further that the film makers go even further with the way they use New York and I think that this way that Daria has written this show and is just New York he’s made New York a big part of it the I think that for Charlie right but if I may say that the idea of shooting here in New York was a must you know we kind of made sure that it was where we wanted it to shoot I think as a team we both wanted very much so it’s New York is very important to us I think if when you watch this series you’ll see how exactly it is important to our story

COURTESY BY DISNEY

What is it about the franchise and these characters that make them so popular?

Dario Scardapane: I think it’s vulnerability. I think that Matt Murdock is a hero he deals with the disability; he deals with the world that is hard, and he has a really deep kind of spiritual and internal code, and that makes him vulnerable so you write to the parts of him that are in conflict with himself, the parts of him that are insecure, the parts of him that are, for lack of a better word, a challenge to be a better person than his nature may allow him to be, and that makes it super interesting and not easy, but there are places to go writing-wise with a character like that.

Sana Amanat: you know the elements from the old show that we felt like were really important to include were really about the characters themselves and what the core principles of them are, and you know Matt constantly being a tortured and complicated individual and Fisk being someone who constantly wants more and his affection and love for Vanessa being really a guiding force for him.

Of course having, the character interactions with Karen and foggy but also understanding that there are a lot of dynamics that Matt and

Fisk have had with other characters that they constantly influence in the same way that they influence them and having them in the show, having new characters in the show was, I think, a really good sort of testament to that fact, so we have some new players that I think are going to challenge our characters in some fun and exciting ways.

who is Matt Murdock how did he become Darrell daredevil?

Dario Scardapane: well who is Matt Murdock? it’s the big question. I mean, isn’t that the question that we’ve all been wrestling with since the moment he came onto the page in 1964 and since he came onto the screen with the earlier show in this iteration in this version?

DAREDEVIL HAS A DEEP SPIRITUAL AND INTERNAL CODE

Matt Murdock is the person we saw at the end of the Netflix show 7-8 years later he he’s whole and happy and in a place of, kind of, for lack of a better word, as close as he gets to peace, and then rapidly that’s torn apart, and he has to once again kind of rise from the wreckage, and that’s the joy of daredevil for me he is that character who takes the punch and gets back up to use all the boxing metaphors, but yeah, you hate to see him get hit, but you love to watch him come back.

what is Wilson Fisk taking on in the new series?

Sana Amanat: well I think this is a whole new adventure for him um adventure is such a software for Wilson, actually.

I think pondering the question, and I know Vincent has a very specific take on this, but as an audience, as someone watching him, I always wonder, has he changed he is in a new position and a position of a different kind of power, and he’s in the public eye now in a way that he hadn’t been before.

He was hiding in the shadows and making moves, and now he has to do it publicly, so for me, I don’t know; sometimes I want to believe that he’s changed, and maybe ultimately he hasn’t, but I think that’s an intriguing question, and seeing his relationship to New York and how that, um, and what events transpire based on that is going to be the intriguing question, but I just can’t help but, like, I kind of want him sometimes to win, which is crazy.

Dario Scardapane: I always write

PHOTO BY SONIA BROMAN

his stuff as sincere, yeah, like as if he’s and that’s the cool thing about Vincent: you write it straight; he’s not a liar no he’s telling you what he wants and who he is, yeah, well.

Sana Amana: I think Charlie and Vincent have been doing this for a very long time, and they know these characters better than anyone, and the smart thing for us is to listen to them and kind of let them roll they embody them both in terms of their physical manifestations and their overall presence it’s really transformative when they walk on set.

I love seeing you know there was one moment where Charlie, when we do action sequences, we have our stunt doubles, and when Charlie comes on, I just always know it’s Charlie in the mask it’s hard to tell,

but I know when it is because he just has a Polish and a swagger to the way that he does his court, his fight choreography, and there’s like one move he did in the opening it was just so cool he like just stopped his legs and screamed, and it was just so, so awesome but I feel for me as a fan, it’s just really awesome to see these characters come alive through these amazing actors.

Dario Scardapane: yes Matt has a new love interest in Heather Glenn, played by Margarita Levieva, and it’s a new place for Matt. I think that this is, like, for lack of a better word, a grown-up relationship, and he’s trying to be—it’s that same struggle he’s trying to be the best man he can and be the best person he can in this relationship, and part of the fun is watching that fall apart, for lack of a better word.

It’s like watching the struggles he has to maintain a normal relationship, and it’s just going 8 different kinds of sideways, so credit to Margarita Levieva for kind of creating this really interesting character that is carried along by events that she’s really trying hard to wrap her head around until she gets to a moment where it’s like no more shell; she draws a line in the sand, I think.

Sana Amana: you know what I love about marvel in general is that New York is a major character, especially in the comics, and for daredevil fans people know that New York and Hell’s Kitchen are a big part of his story it was so awesome to shoot here in the streets of New York. we got to shoot in Hell’s Kitchen we actually shot across the street from my old apartment building, which was a crazy and weird feeling, just like the places I used to go to were right there, and then you see Matt, Karen, and foggy walking around it

PHOTO BY JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES

was very surreal, so it was nice to have that backdrop and to make people know that this is a grounded and gritty New York, a New York that you recognize, and the people were real there’s a thing that we did to kind of bring the streets of New York into our story where two friends of our directors, Justin and Shawn, who are documentary filmmakers, did these interstitials that are as far away from establishing shots as you could ever get.

feel that this is not a New York that was shot on a back lot or not a New York that was kind of crafted in Toronto this is New York, and the people in it are New Yorkers, yeah, and that’s important.

Daredevil: Born Again is now streaming on Disneyplus catch the latest episodes now.

it’s people and places that just feel like real New York they don’t feel like moving New York, and we threaded that, for lack of a better word, vibe throughout the entire season so you

What i love about Marvel is that New York is a major character, especially in the comics, and for daredevil fans

COURTESY BY DISNEY

Talk about your character “Gunny” David Harbour: Ghani is a friend of Jason’s Levin character. I think gunning might call him levon but Ghani is a guy who’s been on several, you know, sort of teams with him and has served with him on various tours, so they’re military buddies they’re sort of brothers in arms. gunny functions in several different ways, but the biggest way that he functions that I think is a mirror to Gunny functions in several different ways, but the biggest way that he functions that I think is a mirror to Levon’s limitations is that I think, in the scene, we talk about him wanting permission to do things, but I think also Denny’s been a product of levon’s failure to a certain degree. blindness he’s blind because Levin wasn’t able to save him from being hit with this thing, and I think he reminds him constantly of his sort of vulnerability and his limitations as a man.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Emma McIntyre/Getty

I think that’s part of the reason for the character there—to check him, to tell him that he’s not immortal and that he’s not perfect and that there is collateral damage to his actions.

much as he appears he’s seems pretty grounded and real and yet has a certain vulnerability, which I find admirable for somebody who makes action movies.

Why did you want to be involved in this film?

I sort of think I was like, maybe that’s the reason why we like watching Jason Statham movies, because he’s just very human and very engaged in a way that I really like, and you know, he’s really game to play around.

I mean, we’ve been trying to deconstruct the scenes, and that’s David’s big thing, as he likes to go in and really pick him apart and see what’s really important or what’s vital to the story of the character we’re going to reveal, and you know, Jason wants to get in there as well and wants to play around and dig around for some of the depths, and so that’s been a lot of fun. I really enjoy being around him off camera, you know, and I enjoy working with him on camera.

David Harbour: I just really like

Jason Statham movies, so I wanted to do one of those before I die, and then the other thing was I wanted to do another David Ayer movie because we’ve worked together in the past twice on a movie called end of watch with them, and I did a little bit in Suicide Squad as well, and Dave and I have known each other for years, and I think he’s a really great writer/director and has a very specific point of view and a very specific deep flavor take on the world you know it’s nice to dip into that.

How was It working with Jason Statham?

David Harbour: you know he’s

been very gracious it’s always interesting to me, you know, big stars, and see what they’re really like behind the curtain, and I think he’s pretty

How was it working with Director/ Co-writer David Ayer?

he’s a real searcher, David, like I think he’s really, um, searching always to try to deepen, and he’s not precious, which I really like, but he really wants collaboration; he really wants the actors to bring things; he wants the prop guys to bring to the light. I mean, he really wants other people to enliven this world, um, you know, as I say that, it can sometimes be rare with writer-directors, but I really like that, so it’s always a bit of an adventure with him.

How did you prepare for this film?

David Harbour: it’s an odd thing, like being an instrument in a band. I don’t necessarily know that me understanding the meaning of the song makes me a better guitarist. I sort of feel like the chords that I have to play sometimes are based on story dynamics as opposed to the actual histories of something, and my relationship to a military situation is not going to be a military guy’s relationship to a military situation, so a lot of times I’m having to work with my own internal metaphors around stuff as opposed to actual content. occasionally it’s useful to have just the language of, like, it’s been useful to have good military advisors on this to talk us through, you know, a

PHOTOGRAPHY: Frazer Harrison/Getty

lot of the language of the weaponry or the teams these guys were on or how they work together or why they work together, and what, to me, is most important is not always the content of that research but more to see the fire that it ignites in another person when they speak about it, and so that’s always very valuable to see what draws people like I know nothing about cooking, but when I watch a chef talk about what sour tastes like, it gives me a real clear indication of how to play a chef.

I believe that this movie requires you to approach it in a certain way, incorporating metaphors. However, as I continue to research, I’ve discovered that stories are deeply personal. I believe that the more personal your work becomes, the more effective it can be.

Talk a little more about your character and their role in this story

David Harbour My character sort of enters early in the movie and then kind of finishes the movie as well, um, and so we’re starting very early when levon comes here to try to figure out whether or not he’s going to be able to accomplish the task and sort of view me as this mirror said to his limitations and to see if it’s you know, if he’s able to let go of some of the guilt of what’s happened between us to be able to be called to action. we’re also shooting the end; there he comes back, and we sort of wonder if he’s ever going to be rid of this drama in his life, so we’ve been shooting that we’re out in this beautiful cabin; it’s like a fire pit, and there’s some lovely woods and stuff the production value is amazing; it’s a pain in the ass to get here, which is always great for production value, but it’s

beautiful, and you know, we’re sort of trying to carve out what this brotherhood is between these guys and trying to find that.

SIXTA MOREL PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF Hey! I’m Sixta Morel. Growing up I always felt self-conscious of how much I talked, and now as an adult I get paid to do it! How cool is that?

I was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the U.S. Storytelling, art, and connecting with audiences have always been a big part of my life.

I spent most of my career in front of the cameras, working in live Spanish television, before transitioning into full-time voice acting.

Now, as a bilingual voice actress, I bring scripts to life in both Spanish and English for all kinds of projects.

I also produce a real-life stories podcast in Spanish and help others on their public speaking journeys. If it involves words, I’m in!

Beyond work, I’m a mom of two amazing boys, an indoor plant lover, and someone who’s always looking for ways to connect with people.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

I had done VO as part of my job as a TV host, but in 2020, after putting my career on pause for years to focus on my family and young kids, I decided to take classes to refresh my technique.

What I thought would be a simple refresher turned into an eye-opening journey—I discovered that VO was a whole world of possibilities. A friend recommended A Voz Academia as a great place to start, and as I explored the many avenues of the VO industry, I started auditioning right away.

After that, I couldn’t stop! I continued my trainings in English and Spanish, in different genres. The more I learned and practiced, the more excited I became about this new chapter in my career.

right path. So, anything that allows me to voice an interesting character excites me. A bigger dream? If I get to co-create that character it with the production, so we can showcase more of my culture as a Latina VA, with Caribbean roots.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED

When I moved to the USA ten years ago, I had to put my career in pause for a few years, but I always knew I wanted to come back once the time was right.

So, once my kids were a little more independent, I felt it was the right time to ease back into work.

I wasn’t sure if I’d return to TV or where this new journey would take me, but I was excited to start taking the first steps. That’s when I decided to start training, and in the process, I discovered the incredible world of voiceover.

I do a lot of projects where they need an English speaker, with a slight Latin American accent. I also work a lot on Spanish PSA’s and video narration and commercials. Currently I am focused on scaling my business, so I am training for genres that I haven’t tried yet and looking for new opportunities in long form narration like audiobooks and E-leaning.

SHARE A MOMENT IN WHERE YOU GOT INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDSUTRY I had no idea how kind and giving the VO community was, neither that this could be a full career itself! This all came as a beautiful surprise to me. But once I started joining the different VO forums, classes, I discovered that no other community of artist that I’ve been part of, can compare to the VO community.

I keep telling people: I have never seen anything like it! Of course, no community is perfect, and neither are we, but man!

The amount of support, resources and guidance shared every day is incomparable. It inspires me to give back, whenever I can.

ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE? I dream of voicing a female superhero in my native Spanish, but I also love the possibilities that arise when you are opened to new opportunities, and with the support of my amazing animation agent Portia Scott, I feel I am in the

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK YOU LIKE TO FOCUS OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES? I work both in English and Spanish (with different levels of accents) and I work almost in all genres of Vo: commercial, audiobooks, corporate narration, IVR’S systems, animation, E-learnings, PSA’s, etc. My voice is often sought after for projects that need a warm, motherly touch, and I love tapping into that side of myself to bring those emotions to the spot. Dubbing is my favorite genre, without a doubt.

WHATS A TYPICAL DAY IN THE DAY OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR? It really can vary from actor to actor, because we all have different workflows depending on factors like genres, number of agents, full time vs part time, etc. But must of us will tell you, that a typical day, can look like this: Warmups, auditions, script prep. live sessions, auditions, self-record sessions, follow up emails, pick-ups, auditions, invoicing, editing audios, breaks, etc.

Again, depending on the genres you work and how much time you dedicate to your business, this might look a little different, but overall, is so much fun! In one day, you can be a parrot, a toddler and a knowledgeable-conversational nurse, depending on your scripts.

YOU ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE AS A VOICE OVER, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR 2025?

More joy; more work. Since 2024 my goal was to scale my business, and this year I want to continue that path.

I think many of us grew up afraid to talk about financial goals, and I have learned to embrace that I can do both: enjoy my work as much as I do, while also having big goals financially speaking. We are artists and business owners; we can do both.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW? ummmm * NDA’s ** HAHA In all seriousness I work on a lot of amazing teams, and this year one of my goals is to collaborate more with other creatives. I just started to work in the pre-production of the 8th season of my award-winning podcast Gente, Historias y Emociones and I am really exited about that!

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU? you can find me on socials as @sixtalee, or visit www.sixtamorel.com , contact@sixtamorel.com ANY LAST MESSAGE YOU LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE READERS? If ever you need a bilingual -English/ Spanish talent, I’d be happy to help!

Reach out, and let’s work together!

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING PLEASE KINDLY

IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE

make my focus this year about profes-

INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK

sional development and “getting in front

WITH OR COLLABERATE?

of people”, so to speak. I audition and

My name is Mike Cunningham, and I am a remote voice actor from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In terms of my career, I was in the USAF as a nuclear weapons maintainer during 9/11 and onward.

Finishing my time doing that, I came home to find out I was pretty much qualified to be a bus boy. I did that for a while until I put myself

look for work, but what I really want to Not sure the magazine would be able to

focus on is relationships.

fit the list in! I am a big Bethesda games fan so I would love to work in anything

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJ-

involving Fallout or The Elder Scrolls. I

ECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY

played World of Warcraft for years and

WORKING ON NOW?

back in school for IT, specifically networking, with the GI Bill. Settling in Bethlehem, I went on to achieve 3 degrees, including an MBA. Currently I work during the day at a local college in the IT department. I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 1 chameleon, and am married to my wife Sarah since 2011. I mostly book in video games, but I also do animation, commercials, phone systems, promo – you name it!

love things like Diablo from Blizzard and

PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?

would love to break into those worlds.

I have a few larger things cooking that

I want to work with my childhood

I cannot talk about currently, but, I can

heroes and my friends. It would be a

tell you about some ongoing projects I

dream come true to be involved in an

have been doing for fun. I am working

animated series with talented folks like

with a few folks I know on an audio

Tara Strong, Hank Azaria, Nancy Cart-

drama called Leo Brawn from Shoe-

wright, Rob Paulsen, Yuri Lowenthal,

string Productions. I play The Man

Tara Platt, Jim Cummings, Steve Blum,

in the Ugly Orange Tie. It is a gritty hor-

I got started in VO because of the persistent nudging of my wife and some very good friends. They found an online program during COVID that seemed to be a full service to get going. After a lot of discussion and frankly, self-doubt, I decided to go for it. I needed a hobby to keep me busy during the pandemic because I am a pretty social person. This seemed like a way to keep me occupied with a thing that was completely outside my wheelhouse. What you don’t know about the industry when you first start can fill a book. I ended up getting an incredibly good coach – someone who was miles above the standard for that kind of service. His name is Tim Powers and I was absurdly lucky to have been paired with him. He helped me hone my ability and put me on the right track. Tim didn’t give up on me and would not let me give up on myself. That is invaluable stuff when you look to get started.

Kimberly Brooks.. I mean, the list can go

ror podcast about demonic possession

on forever!

and the worlds beyond. Season 2 will be

PLEASE SHARE A MOMENT IN WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED YOU GOT INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDSUTRY

animation and video games. That being

I was a child. I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s and like every kid, I loved cartoons. I would imitate all the looney toons characters I could endlessly. I thought it was so cool that people like Mel Blanc could do the things they could with their voices. Remembering those old times and cartoons, I think about how I would read the credits to see who the voices were. As I grew, The Simpsons became the rage and Hank Azaria seemed like a God to me. Then South Park. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are men I admire for their work ethic, talent, and sense of humor. It really was something in the back of my mind that stayed their my entire life. Fast forward to when the pandemic hit. I was 40 years old. I felt like my life had hit a lull. The world was going down in flames and I was contemplating the things I never got to do that I always wanted to make happen.

Now we are here!

makes things difficult in terms of meet-

starting this year! I am also in another PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF

ongoing audio drama called Set Sail by

WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY

Iridescent Acorn Productions. This is a

FOCUSED?

choose your own adventure style pirate audio drama about abandoned children

At this time I have been largely focused

stowed away on a pirate ship. You can

on video games. Last year I was in

hear me in this as Waverly the Master

several larger releases, and it seems to

Gunner. Aside from that, I will already

be where the industry is pointing me.

be in multiple multi-platform games

I am working on new demos currently

this year, so keep your eyes peeled!

to showcase how my skills have grown over time – specifically for said, I am also working specifically on my networking. Not being based in LA ing people. We meet everyone on video calls or at conferences, so I decided to

WHATS A TYPICAL DAY IN THE DAY OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR? Typically, I wake up and hydrate. Hydration is key – you need to constantly be drinking water or you can injure your vocal chords and have a lot of pops and clicks in your performances. I check my email for auditions, jobs, messages from coaches and colleagues, and such. I go to work on the administrative portion of my work – responding to those emails, calling people I need to call, checking websites and whatnot for opportunities, and reaching out to studios and casting directors about rosters.

I try to make a post or two on social media as well – largely on X / Twitter.

Believe it or not, a lot of being a freelance voice actor is about administrative work.

You are your own secretary, boss, accountant, and manager. Once all of that is out of the way, I hydrate again and settle in to working on auditions. Sometimes this can take hours, sometimes it is quick – it just depends on the day. After that, depending on the day of the week, I get ready for coaching or a workshop session, or podcast. This work can have you spending all day doing it. 10+ hours I not uncommon. You have to make sure to take breaks to eat, drink, socialize, and get OUT of

your booth. In between all this there are sessions withdirectors for jobs and other jobs I need to record on my own. Doing it part time is REALLY difficult, because you can easily make your entire life about work. However, that is what it takes to make it – it is a borderline obsession with the work. You really have to love it to get somewhere.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK YOU LIKE TO FOCUS OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES? From the beginning, my original coach Tim Powers told me that the industry kind of decides where you fit in best. The industry told me video games and animation.

I focus mostly on video games currently.

My specialty is what they call “efforts” and “combat chatter”, or the noises people make when engaging in combat or moving around. I have a very powerful voice and it does not get tired easily, so I can yell, scream, get injured, jump, dodge, respawn, die, and such for a long time! I keep foam weapons in my booth to aid me with the swinging of a sword or axe, or the blocking of someone’s attack. Recently I completed a promo demo as well. My vocal print and cadence lend themselves very well to things like trailers, network bumpers, some more announcery

kind of reads, etc. I have a dream of eventually being the voice of a sports game or trailer for a major production.

NOW IN TODAYS SOCIETY EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK, DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS OR DO YOU PERFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO? Being that I started doing this remotely I do quite enjoy it. I made my studio by hand – framed, insulated, picked out the colors. I made it a space I want to be in, so I have no issue being remote. I do like working in studio, though, and it is something I wish got to happen more often. I love the idea of traveling to a studio to meet folks in person and to get a real feel for what they want in a live, directed session. You get to really feel like a pro when you are at someone else’s place, you know?

HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU? Absolutely! My website is www.micunningham.com and you can reach me there, at my email - mike@micunningham.com or reach out to me on X / Twitter or Instagram @micunninghamvo

MIKE CUNNINGHAM TATYANA MAGAZINE PAGE:

39 | JANUARY 2014

Da’Nelle: I’m Da’Nelle Grier, a voice actress from Inglewood, CA, who also stunt doubles as a flight attendant a few days a week TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.

DANELLE GRIER

Da’Nelle: My challenges are centered around occasional self-doubt and juggling my voice and flying schedules. As Da’Nelle: I got my start as a student at Columbia an actress, my next booking is always College Chicago about 9 years ago, where I earned unexpected. At times, I’ve gone months my B.A. in Radio with a minor in Voiceover. After without a gig, and other times I’ve taking a semester of voiceover courses and learnbeen booked back to back. The dry seaing how to produce my own demo, I reached out to sons are when self-doubt creeps in, but talent agencies for representation. Soon after, I got then I remind myself that it’s the nature signed by NV Talent in Chicago and started booking of the business. As for managing two commercial work! careers, I’ve become an excellent multitasker! Flying allows me the flexibility WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN THE VOICE to create my own schedule and make OVER INDUSTRY? last-minute adjustments for studio sessions. It took years and patience to get Da’Nelle: Honestly, I loved how much fun I had here, and it’s not always easy, but it’s being in the booth in class — performing different WORTH IT! scripts, learning from my instructors, who are also working voice actors (shoutout to Deb Doetzer, IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE Tim Frank, and Brian Plocharczyk!), and receiving THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK constructive feedback from my classmates. Discov- ON OR COLLABORATE WITH? ering all all the cool things my voice could do was incredible. Da’Nelle: I’d love to be a recurring Then, I asked myself “why not?” before submitcharacter in an adult animated comedy, ting my demo to agencies. Although I initally took similar to Family Guy or Bob’s Burgthe classes to improve my commercial reads on ers! I’m also interested in children’s tv Columbia’s on-campus radio station, WCRX 88.1 FM, shows, animated movies, and narrating I quickly realized a newfound passion. true-crime series. My dream collaboration would involve Debra Wilson, Cree TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN Summer, Issa Rae, and/or Keith David!

THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES. TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

Right now, I’m focused on breaking into animation and video games. I’m ready to branch out!

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT. Da’Nelle: Being from L.A., I grew up surrounded by pop culture. I’ve always been fascinated by what makes someone captivating enough to draw in large audiences and offer an escape from reality.

WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE IN THIS INDUSTRY? Da’Nelle: Debra Wilson is one of my favorite voice actresses! She’s spent almost 30 years voicing popular video games, animated series, radio & TV commercials, dubbing — everything. I grew up a huge fan of hers on MADtv (the Oprah and Destiny’s Child impersonations cracked me UP). The creativity and versatility in her on-camera work is also what I love about her voice. The way she morphs herself into any character, from a crying baby to a mythical creature to the fierce leader of an army is extremely impressive. After recently having Debra as an instructor, I’m even more inspired to follow in her footsteps. She’s a living legend!

WHO DO YOU RESPECT IN THIS TYPE OF INDUSTRY? Da’Nelle: The ones that challenge the actor (or actress) to step completely out of their comfort zone.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR? Da’Nelle: Someone who’s, first and foremost, a good ACTOR! I always say that having a nice voice means nothing if you don’t know how to use it. Training is everything. This is way more than reciting words on a script; it’s theater of the mind. Secondly, you’ve genuinely gotta be passionate about this. The hustle involves more time auditioning, marketing, and investing in yourself than it does getting paid.

IN TODAY’S SOCIETY, EVERYTHING IS DONE REMOTELY. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO BE IN THE STUDIO?

Da’Nelle: I prefer being in the studio. Of course working from home is convenient, but there’s nothing like everyone creating in the same room. That vibe is somethin’ special.

WHAT’S YOUR SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK? OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES? Da’Nelle: My specialty is within commercial, promo, radio, and e-Learning work. However, it’s a lifetime mission to gain new skills and grow in other areas.

WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR? Da’Nelle: For me, I’ll spend my day submitting to auditions my agents have sent, recording in studio sessions, and profusely checking my e-mail LOL. At night, I’m in voice class! If I’m flying that day or week, I do my best to handle any voice-related work before I leave. Then somewhere in the middle, I maintain a social life WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK? Da’Nelle: Take classes! Start off with an Intro to VO class, then explore other courses from there.

Give yourself time to find your voice and your niche. Experiment, experiment, EXPERIMENT! Then, when you feel solid in your techniques and ready to work, get a 1-minute demo produced by a professional VO demo producer.

WHAT’S ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PROJECTS THAT YOU’VE DONE & WHY? Da’Nelle: Without a doubt, my role as Megan Thee Stallion’s talking horse in the 2024 Paris Olympics TV promo!! It first aired on Thanksgiving during NBC’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. First off, I love Megan DOWN. Secondly, I was her ONLY talking horse in that spot! That’s both an honor and a career highlight. My friends, family, and the internet were extremely proud.

AS AN ACTIVE VOICE ACTOR, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU IN 2025?

Da’Nelle: Expect to continue hearing from me on your TVs, radios, and movie theaters! I’m constantly auditioning and I aim to be booked and busy all year long.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON? Da’Nelle: I have a few commercials in the works! And in addition to becoming a full-time voice actress, my other dream is to create my own, animated children’s series. I have several ideas and I’m working on building a team to help bring that dream to life. Stay tuned!

HOW CAN THEY REACH YOU?

Da’Nelle: Please contact my agents at DPN Talent—Matt Ambrosia, Liz Klausner, and/or Matt Smith. You can also follow me on Instagram (@nellyfuhrelly)

Natsuko Yamazaki FUSION: can you tell us more about yourself?

Natsuko: I am a voice-over talent who runs a company for producing television programs in Japan. As a production company, we have a history of over 20 years, producing variety shows, documentaries, and corporate videos, and have also covered traditional Japanese culture rooted in the local community, such as festivals, pottery, sculpture, Japanese paper, Japanese sweets, and food culture, and have continued to create works that remain in the memories of the interviewees and viewers and provide the highest quality narration.

As a Japanese voice-over talent, I have a career of over 30 years and have provided “voices” in a wide range of fields, including corporate commercials, corporate videos, television and radio programs, e-learning materials, audiobooks, and animation works. My voice is the life I have lived. My experiences of coming into contact with various traditional Japanese cultures through interviews, reports, and event hosting, and at the same time touching the feelings of many people, are expressed in the tension and resonance of my voice in each work. Sometimes I gently wrap my heart, and sometimes I

deliver stories and messages to listeners with a clear and reliable sound. My particular strength is understanding the brand’s recognition and the worldview of the work and expressing it as voice. Many people have highly praised the corporate commercials and audiobooks I have voiced, and I have received numerous repeat customers. I am trusted by local TV stations and production companies and have been receiving offers for more than 20 years, both as a company and as a voice-over artist. For TV programs and corporate videos, I have won the Japanese government’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award (Grand Prize),

and at the international SOVAS VOICE ARTS AWARDS held in December 2024, I won the Grand Prize for Japanese audiobook narration and was recognized for my world-class quality. I will continue to work closely with the works from a global perspective, weaving stories with my voice and maximizing the appeal of the brand.

FUSION: How did you get into the voiceover industry?

Natsuko: It all started when I was a second-year university student. I auditioned for Nagoya TV in Aichi Prefecture and was selected as a weather anchor for their morning information program. For two years until I graduated from university, I would wake up at 4am every morning and enter the station at 5am to report on the weather in the three Tokai prefectures.

During the hectic morning hours, I would broadcast from the viewers’ perspective, helping them know the weather for the day and what they should wear for the day. Since it was a live broadcast, I tried to provide information that would effectively stick in the viewers’ ears while managing the time on a minute-by-minute basis, which changed every day. I learned the joy of continuing to support someone’s day with the power of words, even in a limited short time. Thereafter, I built my career as an announcer at a local broadcasting station and have been doing news and reports, commercials and program narration, live radio wide-format programs, and even voice-over work for 30 years. This accumulation of experience is my passion for “work that communicates with voice” and the foundation of my professionalism. In particular, my experience in live broadcasting at Nagoya TV and my experience in a two-hour live music program on FM Toyama radio for eight years are useful in the commercial field. Our job is to use an effective voice that matches the various sensations read from words and sounds with music, with tempo, strength and weakness, and pauses, in a short time of 15 to 20 seconds, to leave a lasting impression on people’s memories. We provide a voice that matches the company brand, with a confident, deep voice, a bright and cheerful voice that bounces, a whispering voice that penetrates the heart, or a clear voice that exudes trust and kindness so that people who hear the commercial can imagine the brand in their mind and want to try it out.

FUSION: WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK YOU LIKE TO FOCUS OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?

Natsuko: In my voice-over work, I am particularly focused on TV program narration, corporate video narration, and commercial narration, but at the same time, I would like to work on various types of work such as movies, animation, and games.

I believe that experience in a wide range of genres will broaden the scope of my expression and allow me to deliver emotions to more listeners.

I am particularly interested in challenging myself with emotive character voices and stories. I am also interested in actively participating in e-learning and educational content to provide educational value. By working in a variety of genres, I would like to hone my skills and continue to take on new challenges.

FUSION: PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED? Natuko: I run a television production company, so I put a lot of effort into TV program narration and commercials.

When reading a script so that Japanese people can understand it, the “pause” where no words are spoken is very important. Sometimes, when I listen to Japanese narration without this “pause” overseas, it leaves an unnatural impression. If you want to ask the listener a question, you should always leave a little “pause” to give the listener time to think about it, so that the listener can think about the question within themselves. “Pause” not only saves time, but also resonates deeply with the listener’s heart. It is important to match it with the video, but I also suggest that this “pause” is essential for Japanese people when listening to it as sound. I value that the work is properly conveyed to the people of Japan. In addition, I work hard on a wide range of genres of work, including e-learning, audiobooks, and hosting.

In addition to the “desired voice” in every project, I also put effort into proposing new ideas and sensations and delivering the best performance in a short time. I run a television program production company, so I understand the work of directors very well. I think it is important to reduce their burden and provide a smooth production environment. When I receive a job request, I try to respond quickly and make revisions day or night if necessary. My job is not just about delivering the work. I always strive to establish trust and provide comfort, enabling clients and directors to proceed with the project with confidence.

And the most important thing is to clearly communicate the message that the work is trying to convey.

FUSION: IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABERATE? Natuko: In voice work, I believe that all projects, small and large, are valuable. I am a craftsman who provides “Japanese quality” and pursues voice expression with attention to detail. With confidence and responsibility, I place the utmost importance on delivering the results that customers want. I would like to collaborate with all those who nominate me.

In particular, I am passionate about commercials. My specialty lies in producing commercials that effectively communicate the brand’s value in just a few seconds on TV and radio, inspiring listeners to take action. Even if it is just one word, I feel immense satisfaction in expressing the essence of the company or brand and delivering a message that resonates with the heart.

I would love to participate in any project that values ​​ corporate brands and wants to make new ones known in Japan. I look forward to helping you reach more people with my voice.

FUSION: HOW CAN SOMEONE REACH YOU FOR ANY WORK?

Website: yamazakinatsuko.com/en/ Email@natsuko.japanesevoice23@gmail.com

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF? Hey Fusion Fam. My name is Benni Latham.

I am a voice actor from the city of Compton, California. I am the voice of Dot Malto on Nickelodeon’s Transformers EarthSpark on Paramount Plus. I am also the voice of Serafine Savoy on the upcoming series Lackadaisy Cats. I have done commercial voice work for Nike, Geico, and Ross and ADR for numerous television shows and films.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY? I studied voiceover work for a couple of years before I pursued a professional career.

I took classes at Kalmenson and Kalmenson in Burbank. I took some improv classes at the Groundlings School of Improv as well as Upright Citizen’s Brigade to sharpen my performance skills. I got my start in the voice over industry doing ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) for the show Insecure for HBO. From there, I booked some commercial voice over spots for BMW, Geico, Hotels.com, and was the voice of Cedars Sinai Hospitals in California. My animation career started with the pilot for the series Lackadaisy Cats which is based on a popular webcomic. My biggest role to date came in 2022 with the role of Dot Malto on Nickelodeon’s Transformers EarthSpark.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY? I’ve wanted to be part of the voiceover industry ever since I was a little girl. As an 80s baby and 90s kid, some of my favorite cartoons were Rugrats, Inspector Gadget, Batman the Animated Series. I loved the idea of making up character voices and performing them so other little kids and adults could enjoy them. Animation is such a powerful medium and I think a lot of folks are beginning to see how powerful it can be.

SHARE A MOMENT IN WHERE YOU GOT INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY The moment that inspired me to pursue voice acting stems from a tragic circumstance. I was a TSA agent for LAX airport from 2006 to 2016. In November of 2013, and individual came to the Terminal 2 checkpoint with a weapon and targeted TSA officers. Passengers and agents were injured and one of my coworkers was killed. That moment changed my life forever. I realized that I owed it to myself to see how far my talent could take me. I saved up as much money as I could and took improv and acting classes on my off days until I quit in 2016.

Funny enough, my first professional job was

BENNI LATHAM in a 2018 for an on-camera Samsung phone commercial where I played a TSA agent. I booked Transformers EarthSpark in 2021 during the height of the global pandemic and recorded the entire first season in my bedroom closet.

As unconventional as my path to this industry has been, I have no regrets. I’m thankful to be a working actor.

that I am in the rooms with the people I admire because I worked hard to get there. My worthiness is not tied to how famous I am, but rather the talent and the skills I’ve cultivated.

TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVER COME THE CHALLENGES?

There are so many talented people and projects in the voice over industry that I would love to work with. I just watched the series “Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman” which is headed by Jeff Trammell and I was blown away. I’d love to work him. I’d love to work on the independent projects that are making waves like Hazbin Hotel and Lackadaisy Cats. Anime would be amazing to do and there is so much to choose from in the genre. I’d love to be a Disney Villain, or a DreamWorks heroine.

One of the biggest challenges that I face as a voice actor are the feelings of impostor syndrome. I have been in rooms with famous actors and established voice over actors and felt like I did not belong. I have had the honor and privilege of working with so many people that I admire. Sometimes the pressure of trying to make a good impression can shake my confidence. In those moments where I feel intimidated, I remind myself of how proud ten-year-old me would be to see that I am doing what I love for a living. I ground myself in the notion

IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABERATE?

TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED?

I try to focus on all aspects of voice work because the industry is ever changing. Animation and commercial work are my primary types of work, but I study things like motion capture and dubbing as well. I also focus on technology.

Technology has changed and global events like the pandemic changed the way the business moves. There was a time when voice over auditions well done exclusively in person. The only people that had home studios were those who could afford to have one custom built in their homes. Now that tech has become more advanced and accessible, learning how to record yourself is important.

TALK ABOUT WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT? What I like about Hollywood entertainment are the new kinds of stories being told. When stories are diverse, the art form expands and entertains people from all walks of life. I also like when creators take chances with storytelling and seeing how those chances shape the industry.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK YOU LIKE TO FOCUS OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES? I’m trained in different disciplines of voice acting, so I can do a wide range of voice work. I’ve done commercial work, animated voice work, ADR, voice matching, and motion capture.

Thanks to my improv background I can play a range of characters from all kinds of genres.

Education and training open you up to different ways to use your voice.

You can expect an extension of my ongoing work with a few surprised here and there. I can only say so much.

SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK? I always recommend to those interested in voice acting to enroll in an acting or improvisational class.

Improv class helps with generating ideas for characters. I also recommend learning voice acting in a proper studio in order to under-

stand the recording process. Acting and voiceover classes allow those who are interested in voice acting a way to learn the business and make mistakes in a safe learning environment.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR 2025?

I can share that I’m working on the rest of season 3 of Transformers EarthSpark for Nickelodeon. I love this show and can’t wait for everyone to see it.

Episodes of Lackadaisy Cats are coming soon and I can’t wait for everyone to see what the team put together.

WHATS A TYPICAL DAY FOR A VOICE OVER ACTOR? A typical studio session day starts the night before with hydration and rest. I drink lots of herbal tea and water the night before so my voice is well

lubricated. I make sure I am well rested so my voice is at peak performance level. I do some vocal warm ups and go over my script before driving to the studio to record. If I’m recording from home, I’ll take a hot shower to warm up my body and voice before I sit in my booth.

Some sessions are a couple of minutes and others are a couple of hours. I make sure to go on vocal rest for several hours after I’m finished to preserve my voice and recover.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU? The best way to book me is through my agency. I am represented by Portia Scott of Coast to Coast Talent.

Chika Nozaki FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

projects, and sharing my voice and passion with the world.

Chika; I’m Chika Nozaki, and I’m truly honored to share my journey with you today. I have been a voiceover artist in Japan for over 25 years, starting my career as a passionate announcer for television and radio. In those early years, I hosted programs, delivered news, narrated shows, voiced commercials, performed in radio dramas, and connected with audiences as a DJ. I worked with a fantastic agency for many years, primarily focusing on TV program narration, live broadcast narration, and various productions. Six years ago, I transitioned to freelance work, which has allowed me to explore a diverse range of projects.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICEOVER INDUSTRY?

I specialize in corporate voiceovers, web commercials, e-learning, and audiobooks, delivering clear and engaging messages tailored to my clients’ needs.

Since last summer, I have been actively preparing to expand my career into the international market. I look forward to connecting with global audiences, collaborating on various

Chika; I discovered that announcing was not just a job but a thrilling adventure that ignited my passion every day. I was fully immersed in it and always eager to continue along this exhilarating path. However, a twist came when my fiancé received a job transfer to the bustling city of New York. After a year of deep contemplation, I boldly chose to leave my role as an announcer behind.

I had made the ultimate sacrifice for love, but fate had another surprise in store! After our beautiful wedding in New York, unforeseen circumstances caused my husband’s bank to exit the U.S. market, and we returned to Japan six months later. Instead of viewing this as a setback, I saw it as “my chance!” I eagerly enrolled in a voice acting school, which rekindled my passion for voice work. This marked the beginning of my journey as a voice actor.

PLEASE SHARE A MOMENT WHEN YOU FELT INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICEOVER INDUSTRY. Chika: It’s fascinating how a single moment can shape our entire journey. When I was just seven years old, a shy first grader, I experienced the transformative power of my voice for the first time. My teachers selected me to represent my school by delivering a speech at the graduation ceremony. I remember standing in front of a room full of parents, teachers, and fellow students, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves.

As I spoke, I felt something shift within me.

For the first time, my voice became more than just a means of communication―it became a bridge connecting me to everyone in the room. The recognition and encouragement from my teachers and peers left an indelible mark on me.

I realized how powerful self-expression could be and how fulfilling it was to share my emotions and ideas with others.

That experience planted a seed that continued to grow throughout my career. As an announcer, I discovered the profound joy of stor y telling and the ability to connect with audiences through words and emotions. Now, as a voice actor, I carr y that same passion with me, constantly striving to create meaningful connections through my work .

IS THERE ANY PROJEC T YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLL ABORATE WITH?

Chika: About a year ago, I recognized the remarkable potential of Japanese voiceovers in the international market , which opened up new avenues for grow th and collaboration. When I learned that a colleague had been nominated for the prestigious Voice Ar ts Award (SOVAS), I was inspired to explore the global landscape of Japanese narration fur ther.

Chika: Excelling as a voice actor involves much more than simply showcasing strong acting skills and expressiveness―these are the starting points. You need mental agility, physical stamina, and a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement to succeed in this dynamic field. This commitment to growth is what will set you apart in the industry. Voice acting is a rich, collaborative art form that demands seamless synchronization with directors, co-stars, and production teams. This is often done while navigating tight deadlines and unexpected obstacles. Whether adapting to a sudden script change or capturing the ideal tone in a highpressure scene, each session offers a valuable opportunity to evolve.

For those ready to rise to the occasion, voice acting offers limitless creative expression and a profound sense of satisfaction. It transcends being just a career; it ’s a craft , a fer vent passion, and an incredible journey.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

Chika What I find most touching about Hollywood is its ability to craft stories that transcend borders, touching people’s hear ts from all walk s of life while celebrating the richness of diverse cultures. A shining example is the Golden Globe-winning series Shōgun, which vividly brings Japanese histor y and culture to life. It ’s rich stor y telling and power ful per formances by actors like Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai ser ve as a testament to Hollywood’s dedication to authentic and meaningful narratives.

This new found motivation led me to join VOJ, a program actively suppor ting Japanese narrators in accessing international markets. Joining this program was a significant step in my journey, and just six months later, I was thrilled to receive my nomination for the Voice Ar ts Award.

I am excited to expand into overseas markets, build par tnerships with talented individuals globally, and contribute to sharing diverse stories with a broader audience. By embracing ever y oppor tunity, I can help create a more interconnected world of narration and stor y telling .

TALK ABOUT THE T YPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.

Chika: I excel at narrating educational content , corporate videos, e-learning materials, audiobook s, and more. While accuracy is vital, I emphasize delivering information clearly and engagingly, exper tly synchronizing my narration with music and visuals.

This approach has enabled me to forge strong , enduring relationships with my clients, and I am genuinely grateful for their trust . Looking ahead, I am determined to expand my “synchronized voice” strategy to the global market , collaborating with international clients to create truly impactful content .

WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE AC TOR?

Hollywood’s commitment to innovation is nothing shor t of magical. From the breathtaking visual effects that transpor t audiences to fantastical worlds to the immersive soundscapes that make ever y moment feel alive, these technological achievements elevate stor y telling , transforming it into an unforgettable experience for viewers ever ywhere.

The industr y ’s emphasis on collaboration is par ticularly inspiring . I saw this firsthand at events like the That ’s Voiceover! Career E xpo, where professionals from all backgrounds share their stories and exper tise. The celebration of diverse voices left me feeling both welcomed and deeply inspired, highlighting Hollywood’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity and mutual understanding .

Ultimately, what I love most about Hollywood is its unique ability to bring people together through stor y telling , the magic of innovation, and the warmth of collaboration. These qualities make Hollywood not just an enter tainment hub but a true beacon of inspiration and connection for people worldwide.

NOWADAYS, EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS OR PREFER STUDIO? Chika: Remote work has transformed many industries, offering flexibility and exciting new opportunities.

While I greatly value the vibrant studio environment in Japan that shaped my artistic growth and collaboration skills, I am enthusiastic about the possibilities remote work presents. Setting up my remote workspace has filled me with hope and excitement for the future.

The prospect of collaborating with talented individuals worldwide is both inspiring and humbling. It opens doors to creativity, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connections that transcend cultural and physical boundaries. I’m eager to embrace these opportunities and continue growing as a voice artist.

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICEOVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES? Chika: From the moment I started my career as an announcer, I was captivated by the power of voice to inform, engage, and inspire. Early on, I focused on delivering news and narrating commercials, honing my clear and practical communication skills. Over time, I discovered a passion for creating engaging content and narrating e-learning materials, audiobooks, corporate videos, and television programs.

Today, my specialty is in e-learning, where I enjoy making complex information accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.

I am also eager to explore opportunities in dynamic web content and immersive gaming projects, as these fields are rapidly evolving and in high demand.

Narrating documentaries has always been a dream of mine. The ability to bring real-life stories to audiences and inform and move them through the power of voice drives me forward. Each project offers an opportunity to connect with audiences and share meaningful stories, and I am excited to continue this journey.

WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICEOVER ACTOR? Chika: As a voice actor, maintaining a routine and good physical condition is essential, especially given the irregular hours that this profession demands.

Every morning, I start with vocal exercises―a discipline I developed as an announcer. Even a brief session helps to tone my voice and sets a positive tone for the day. Recently, I have begun incorporating digital tools and platforms, such as LinkedIn, into my routine to connect with professionals, stay informed, and explore new opportunities within the industry.

Although I am still in the early stages of this process, I aim to make these tools a regular part of my daily workflow moving forward.

Everyday life serves as a constant source of inspiration. Watching movies, attending plays, reading, or engaging in casual conversations often spark ideas and enrich my performances. By embracing these experiences and remaining dedicated to my craft, I continue to grow as a voice actor and look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN VOICEOVER WORK? Chika: If you are passionate about becoming a voice actor, the best way to achieve this goal is to take action. Look for training schools, acting classes, or any activity bringing you closer to voice acting. You will learn more by doing than by reading.

Cherish your voice and understand its unique qualities. This journey will last a lifetime. Having confidence in your voice is essential to growing as a voice actor.

Your voice brings characters and stories to life.

Moreover, if you love your work, you will stay dedicated. I started as an announcer, went to voice acting school, belonged to an agency, and participated in workshops. These have inspired me throughout my career. In today’s evolving voice acting industry, with expanding opportunities in games, web content, and global productions, it’s an exciting time to jump in.

Above all, enjoy the process and challenge yourself.

Opportunities will come if you have passion and persistence. I truly believe so.

YOU ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE AS A VOICEOVER ARTIST. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU? Chika: I am excited to embark on a meaningful journey of global exploration, particularly within Japanese narration projects abroad. With my remote recording setup fully prepared, I’m eager to collaborate on international projects and expand my network, connecting with talented professionals worldwide.

At the same time, I am looking forward to strengthening my domestic network and exploring new fields, such as corporate narration or educational content. This is a year full of potential, and I am determined to embrace every opportunity with enthusiasm and dedication.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON? Chika: I am proud to announce the release of two short story collections I recently narrated as a voice-over artist on Audible. Following these, an animal-themed essay collection will also debut. This essay collection reflects on daily life with cats and dogs, offering both heartwarming moments and thoughtful insights into the responsibilities of pet ownership, including caring for aging pets. In this project, I had the joy of voicing animal characters, bringing them to life in a unique and engaging way.

For the full svisti fusiontvmeda.com to check her LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/chika-nozaki7voiceoverartist

The first short story collection allowed me to portray a wide range of characters, from a five-year-old child to a 100-year-old elder, which was both a challenge and a rewarding experience. In addition, we have added a second volume to our popular series featuring five talented women writers. Each story in this series is brought to life by a separate voice actor with a unique voice. Among them are respected mentors who have significantly shaped my career and studio/owner voice actors to whom I owe much. Being part of such a fantastic lineup is both a thrill and an honor!

These projects reflect the ever-growing possibilities in audiobook storytelling, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

WHAT VOICEOVERS DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST FROM HOLLYWOOD?

Chika: Attending the “That’s Voiceover!” event and listening to Nancy Cartwright was an incredibly emotional experience for me. Her steadfast dedication to bringing Bart Simpson to life over the years, paired with her genuine passion and creativity, truly highlights the profound impact that voice acting can have in connecting with audiences on a deep level.

I was equally touched by Joan Baker’s heartfelt commitment to uplifting the voice-acting community. Her advocacy and mentorship efforts resonate strongly with many of us, providing invaluable tools and opportunities for voice artists to shine.

These meaningful experiences have reignited my passion and commitment to honing my craft and pursuing projects that can genuinely connect with audiences worldwide.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICEOVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU? Chika: You can reach out to me through my website, where you’ll find my portfolio and examples of my previous work: www.nozakichika.com

It’s inspiring to see how her work embodies the most compassionate aspects of our profession: creativity, dedication, and a deep desire to uplift and support one another.

For professional connections and updates, feel free to visit my LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/chika-nozaki7voiceoverartist

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