We were thrilled to feature on BBC Upload recently. Upload host, Adam Crowther, interviewed Melissa Thom - podcast producer, voice actor and BRAVA founder - who has lent her voice to some of the biggest brands and video games, including Grand Theft Auto V, Elder Scrolls, LL Cool J, Google and Amazon. Melissa shares her journey into voice acting, insights into the industry, and her experience producing her own podcast, High Notes, where she explores the art and business of voice work and talks to creatives in the field.
Melissa and Adam discuss her work with major brands, the varied world of voice acting, and her role at the BRAVA. They delve into tips for aspiring voice actors, such as the importance of training and crafting a high-quality demo.
Listen to the full conversation or read the transcript below:
Transcript
Adam: This is Melissa Thom now, she's a podcast producer and voice actor. You may have heard her voice and not even realised it. She's done voiceover work for huge brands like Google, Amazon, Facebook, but also for the video game GTA V for Rockstar Games, worldwide super hit Grand Theft Auto of course. She's launched a very own podcast earlier this year called High Notes, which features conversations on the art and business of voice with all sorts of industry professionals.
We'll chat to Melissa in just a few minutes time after you've heard this from High Notes.
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Melissa: In this episode of High Notes, I'm joined by award-winning producer, screenwriter, games and audiobook director and photographer, Daniel Jewell. High Notes, a podcast on the art and business of voice.
Melissa: I could talk about your film work all day, but let's move on to your games and working specifically with voice actors. You're a lead voice director for AAA game projects, for studios including Ubisoft, EA, Massive Entertainment, Warner Brothers Interactive, the list goes on. How did you move into directing games?
Daniel: It came through a documentary. I was working at Pinewood Studios and I pitched this idea of making a documentary about foley artists who are the people who create sound effects for movies after they're made. So every cloth move or cup sound or door shutting. One of the foley artists said that he had to, I think it was in one of the Harry Potter films, there were spiders on roller skates. So making the sounds of that. So it can be incredibly creative, you know, the sound of a foot on snow, etc.
So, I was making a film about them and this documentary did really well. We had 150 million views online. I thought it was a very obscure subject matter that only I would be interested in, but it went viral before TikTok, etc. And so the team there were really happy with how I portrayed them. And they said, look, we're also now not just doing films. We're going to do games. Would you like to direct a few days of the game project? We're just starting. And so I did that for a few days and they were happy with the results. And then I think that game went on for over a year.
And then from there I got hired on another one. I've worked on quite a few Ubisoft projects that they seem very nice to work with. And for me as the director, when you're working in film, if you're a successful director, you're probably making a short film or a feature film every three to five years sometimes, or there's big gaps where you're not directing actors. And when you do, you're on set with them for very few days. But then in games, I direct maybe four actors every day. Some could be straight out of drama school, some could be, we had Simon Callow doing one, for example. And so... that was amazing for me. I've become a much better director because of working with voice actors and games. So it's been a real pleasure really.
Melissa: Let's talk a bit about skills that you look for in voice actors. I'm really interested in that. Can you share any insights that would help voice actors when auditioning for titles or games?
Daniel: Yes, as a director working in games and audio, I think for me, when I'm looking at an actor is, is their sight reading good? Do you mean are they going to be able to flow through a session? Because I think what's hard for voice actors, they often won't have the script in advance. So you're coming in to a studio and people are like, okay, let's give you a little bit of context. And then it's, okay, go. Are they nice? Is it another thing? If you're cast in one of these games, we might be working with you for over a year, maybe even two years, because we have downloadable content now. So if a game is released, they'll still create more content for it. So you might get more scenes. Are you nice to work with? Do you respect the NDA? Then on the technical side, I think games often really demand a lot of projection.
But when I do those sessions, I really try and break up those scripts from, we usually have conversational, projected and then highly projected. And if there's a lot of highly projected, I try to do those in maybe like 20-minute slots, then give a 10-minute break. Or if we're doing multiple sessions, then we'll just do little bits of that in each session because you can damage your voice. And I think if an actor has been pushed too hard, you should be able to say, look, I don't think I can do any more today or, is there another way to do this? So I think actors should never damage their voice to try and please a client. Because I know when you get a job, you just want to really deliver to them. But I think you have to be careful with your voice.
So I think probably do warmups as well. But I think you do need the ability to project when you're especially in the game world, I would say.
And then when you do get a job, advocate for yourself. If you need hot lemon and honey, if you need a break, if you need them to not have so much highly projected in one go, push back a little bit in a polite way.
Interested in listening to the full episode with Daniel Jewel? Listen here...
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Adam: It's just incredible to hear that, isn't it? Lots of things that people won't even necessarily be aware of when it comes to things like voice acting and the world of voiceover. Melissa, tell us a bit more about it, because there are so many aspects to what you do as a voice actor, aren't there?
Melissa: There are so many. And I think that's something to remember when people are interested in in taking up the skill or learning the craft, if you like. But there is it covers so many things. There's narration, there's commercial, there's characters and within those genres, there's even more sub genres. So there's lots and lots of things to learn. And I think people generally underestimate how much work there is to do in the training, but it is the best job in the world. I would say that, I know.
Adam: Yeah, you would say that, but it must be though, mustn't it? And we've just heard you chatting there with another industry professional about the sort of relationships that they expect when people come into a studio to do some voice acting for them in a professional environment. But I guess for people who are looking at getting into this. There are things that people could be doing and we'll get onto that a little later on, but what was it that you were doing when you first started out in the world of voice acting? Where did it all begin for you?
Melissa: Oh my goodness, well it all began in the world of broadcast radio actually. Ah! Many, many years ago I cut my teeth really at a tiny station in Brighton, best job ever. Surf 107.2, I was stationed there and then I worked in commercial radio for many years as a breakfast host.
And I love those days. You know, I look back now and I think there's no way I could be doing what I'm doing now without that experience. So that was a really fantastic place to start. Obviously, the world of radio has changed a little bit over the last 30 years. And I went into all sorts of different areas. I went into marketing, I went into advertising, I worked in digital agencies, and all of that has played a part in the role I play now.
I also ran startups, I moved to California, so I worked as a voice actor as well in California and that's really where I started my characters journey. Before that I had always done corporate and commercial work in the UK. So I've done an awful lot and I think all of that has a big part to play in my role at BRAVA and in coaching other people to do the same.
Adam: I was about to ask you a bit about the work that you did in the world of sort of the big corporates because you've done voiceover work for huge brands with the likes of Google, Amazon, Facebook, all upon your CV for your voice acting and voiceover work. That must be a wholly different universe from the sort of stuff that you've done for perhaps video games. You know, you've been a voice on things like Grand Theft Auto.
Melissa: Yeah, it's so varied, honestly, and you never know what you're going to book. So quite often we'll have actors or talent that come to us and say, well, I only do corporate. And I think, well, you don't know what you're gonna book, so you need to train.
I can tell you so many stories when I've had a call to book a job and I thought, okay, here we go and let's give it my best shot. And that's what I love about the trade, if you like all the crafts. So yeah, gaming is a very different kind of skillset to corporate or commercial work. I mean, I love it all, honestly. I love corporate. I know most people kind of don't love it. I love it. I have great relationships with my clients. I've worked for a lot of these big brands as well. So I understand it from the client side, which I think is really useful.
But then I love gaming work. And somebody asked me once, what's the best job you've ever booked? And I thought, well, I can't really answer that, but I have got an answer for that now. And I have to say it was when I got a call from LL Cool J.
Adam: What? Hang on, we're gonna need a story. Tell us more.
Melissa: Well, there's not really much to tell. To be fair, he didn't actually call me, but I'm a child of the 80s and I got a call, I think it was on the 2nd of January a couple of years ago and someone said, oh, you know, he loves your voice. And I thought, oh my, it's LL Cool J. You know, I'll do anything. I'm so happy. So that was probably one gig where I just thought, yeah, I'm really proud to do this. But I mean, I'm proud to do all of my jobs, but yeah, that was the one that got me quite excited. But Grand Theft Auto V was fantastic. I've just done two versions of Elder Scrolls. You know, they're all so different. And the thing I love about them the most, honestly, is the people that you work with, the producers, you know, from gaming all the way to radio, you know, got to love a radio producer because I've done that for so many years and everyone is genuinely, you know, kind and supportive and I think that is a real privilege to be able to have a job where you work with really lovely people.
Adam: Indeed, indeed. Now, tell us a bit more about Grand Theft Auto V because Grand Theft Auto is one of the most successful video game sagas of all time and there's a new one on the Horizon too that I know that people are really excited to get stuck into playing, but people won't necessarily always think about voice acting when it comes to the world of gaming, will they? But it's so crucial because you have so many characters, even some of the little bits and pieces that people might not necessarily think of. You know, when you think of Grand Theft Auto, you might get in a car and there are suddenly 20 different radio stations that you can pick through and all of those need voicing up. What role did you play for GTA V?
Melissa: Well, it's funny you should say that. That's exactly the role that I played. I did the radio imaging in the car, which was great because it really played to my strengths. So I think I did all the voices, a lot of the voices, not all of them, for iFruit Radio and Skepta's show. And so I was back to what I'd started off doing 30 years ago, which was radio imaging. So that was a really fun gig, really, really great experience working with Laszlo on that. And it was a tiny part, but honestly one of the most fun jobs I think I've ever had.
Adam: And of course, I've mentioned about the new one coming out. You probably won't be able to tell me even if you are, but are you involved in the new one in GTA 6?
Melissa: Not as far as I know. Even if I was, I wouldn't be able to tell you. So we'll just move on from that question, I think.
Adam: Okay, let's move swiftly on. You've got your own Academy now, the Bristol Academy of Voice Acting, BRAVA. Tell us what it is and what it's all about.
Melissa: Well, it really grew from lockdown when I, you know. Voice actors have been, and radio presenters have been in studio, darkened studios on their own for a very, very long time. And when COVID hit, you know, suddenly a lot of actors were in the same position. And some of my colleagues from my alma mater, Bristol or Vic, I just did a foundation course there years ago, and they just kind of looked really broken. And I sort of said to them, well, I'll train you to be a voice actor. And we'll certainly do some intro stuff. And honestly, it just grew from there. And now we're full, now we've got a team of 15. We're based in the UK and in America. So it's just grown so quickly. And I think it's because, you know, there's something about tapping back into that creativity that everybody has. You know, I don't really believe that you're either creative or you're not. I think we actually have, you know, we're complex individuals. And the great thing about voice acting is you can be any age, which isn't always the case in the world of stage acting or TV or film.
So it has exploded exponentially. You know, we're generally fully booked. We're certainly fully booked till Christmas, and we haven't even thought about January yet. But it is a real privilege to work with the talent that we work with. Every single person that comes our way, you know, offers something completely different. You know, we work with opera singers, we work with actors, we've got a reverend and a rapper, who's the same guy, which is brilliant. So, you know, no one person is the same. So a real privilege to work with every single one of them.
Adam: And what I love is that you've just mentioned that you can be any age, because people will need actors to voice things that are characters of all sorts of ages, or will want someone from any age to be represented in their corporate video as a voiceover, for instance. So you genuinely can be any age and get into the world of voice acting.
Melissa: Oh, you really can, you really can. And the training is the best bit, by the way. It's so much fun. I can't tell you. But, you know, and you really have to spearhead your own work. You know, I mean, that sounds obvious when I talk about it, but there is work out there despite all the technologies that are being developed, you know, there's certainly work still coming in. Age is a, you know, we talk about diversity, age, you know, it's, sometimes I think it goes forwards and sometimes I think it goes backwards, but we do struggle to cast from various sectors. And, you know, I'm always on the lookout for new talent, no matter what age they are, you know, no matter what their background is, there is room for everyone, but you have to have you know, so much more to your skill set. It's not just about having a good voice. You know, you have to be quite ruthless in business and negotiation. And I love all that, to be honest. But that's why we're here. We kind of can support actors and talent and individuals through all that. And we do support all of our talent, you know, as long as they need us. So, you know, it's a really great experience. I love that.
Adam: Now, I'm sure that you're one of these people that you'll pick out people's voices and be able to analyse bits and go, oh, if I was to do that, what sort of tone or volume would I use here? Or you must be doing that all of the time.
Melissa: Yeah, we do. I do quite a lot of intense work with all sorts of people. So not only do we train voice actors, but we also work in the corporate world. We teach speech and presence and communication. And, you know, all I can do is bring in my experience from all these different sectors. So, you know, I've worked with individuals from Biotech and Silicon Valley and all sorts of people. And there is so much more that can be learned. I think generally people tend to think if someone's a great orator, a great presenter, they just rolled out of bed like that. And I can categorically tell you that it is a craft and it does take years to learn. But anybody can learn it, anybody can improve. And the difference that we see in our talent and our clients is you know, it's huge. And I think a lot of that is down to confidence. That's really what it boils down to.
Adam: I think you're completely right. I've worked in radio for so many years. And I think that it is about belief in yourself and it is about those confidence sort of moments where you sort of think, actually, I can do this because I'm doing it and I need to make sure that I've got that belief in myself. And that is such a big part of all of this sort of stuff.
Right, Melissa, you're a pro. We need your top tips for people who are perhaps starting out their voice acting or voiceover journey, what top three tips would you give to anyone that's thinking about getting into world of voice acting?
Melissa: Well the first thing would be get proper training. Do your research, there are lots of different ways you can train. It's a relatively new thing in the UK, training in voiceover. Probably been around maybe eight to nine years, something like that. There are lots of different ways you can do it. Here at BRAVA we have a certain style, it's quite different to other offerings. So do your research. Pick up the phone, send an email, ask loads of questions. Don't ever feel pressured to book something until you're ready to commit. So that would be my first tip.
My second tip would be, do not underestimate how much there is to learn and the time and the effort, and you will have to put some budget into it. And that's why you need to ask those questions. Any sort of organisation or individual or coach worth their salt will take you through all that and explain it all.
Other than that, I would say you will have to think about creating really high quality demos. Trust me, if you're going to make your own demo and you haven't worked in the radio industry or TV industry, or you just don't understand the industry, do not cut your own demos because we can hear it in two seconds. You know, don't cut that demo until you have done the training.
So those would be my three top tips.
Adam: I think those are brilliant tips. Proper training. Don't underestimate how much there is to learn and make a high-quality demo. Three brilliant tips there.
Melissa, thank you so much for chatting to us today. If people want to find out more about you and the work that you've done or about BRAVA, where do people go? I'm assuming you've got loads online where people can search you out.
Melissa: Yeah, you can just go to brava.uk.com and all our details are on there. You can drop us a line, you can give us a call, whatever you want really. And we're really happy to chat to you about any of your questions.
Adam: And there's loads of information as well. Give a good old plug to your podcast because it's brilliant.
Melissa: Oh, thank you so much. It is a labour of love, I'll be honest. It's what I would call scrappy. But you know what? I think sometimes the best podcast is scrappy. But when I say scrappy, I mean, scrappy in the way we put it together, but not scrappy in the content or the quality of it. And I just it's just me talking to people I find interesting. So it's called High Notes. You can access it any way you get your podcast, or you can just find it on BRAVA website.
Adam: Brilliant. Thank you so much for chatting to me.
Melissa: Thanks Adam, pleasure.
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