UPDATE 2024-09-06: Sorry, but casting for this part is now closed. Thanks to everyone who applied. I’ll be reviewing all of the auditions over the next couple of days.
Gravia Voice Acting - Round 2
Welcome, voice actors. Gravia is currently looking to fill one major voice role during this casting round. Casting is open through Thursday, September 5.
Director James Alviston - Male - Age 60 - 2200 words / 90 lines
About the Game
Gravia’s a sci-fi, first-person, gravity-based Action/Puzzle game. Using your “Gravia Glove”, you create small black holes called “Rifts”, which attract and destroy objects. You can also use them to move yourself around quickly. Use this skill to complete a variety of platforming and puzzle-based challenges.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcWKyurrRek
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/906470/Gravia/
The full game is planned to be roughly an 8-10 hour experience, with about 80% of it complete so far. The script for the game is roughly 130 pages, with a linear storyline presented in short “comm” messages to the player, as well as some larger cutscenes. The tone of the game is fairly serious, with occasional light comedic elements. But overall, it’s a tense adventure to save the day. Characters should generally sound “realistic”, as opposed to sounding over-the-top or cartoony.
The Characters
Each character lists their name & age, how much dialog they have, and a non-final view of the character model. A brief description is included, along with some sample lines of dialog.
Director James Alviston - Male - Age 60 - 2200 words / 90 lines
James Alviston is the founder and Director of Gravia Technologies. He’s a visionary scientist who discovered/invented the technology to create and control Rifts, which are like small black holes. He’s exceptionally competent, but without any apparent arrogance or contempt.
Alviston is very hands-on with the technology, but he also cares deeply about all of the people working at the facility. He’s protective, fatherly, and warm-hearted. But he also has his own personal goals and agenda, which may end up being at odds with the safety of those around him…
Alviston doesn’t have any specific accent, but his voice is commanding and strong, inspiring, but kind. I'm most inclined to deeper voices, with a definite sense of Alviston's somewhat advanced age.
Sample Lines:
Line 1:
DIR. ALVISTON
(Smiling grimly)
My friends.
(Ashamed)
My efforts to contain the disturbance have failed. The Threnody[1] Experiment is a complete loss.
(Firm, more urgent)
I'm now ordering the full evacuation of all civilian personnel. Drop what you're doing and leave immediately.
(Distant, regretful)
I'll do what I can to delay the inevitable. I'm sorry. Be safe.
Line 2:
INTERVIEWER
(Exalting)
Ada was...a visionary. Tell me, Director. If Ada Johnson were still with us today, what would she say about the impact her company has had on the world?
DIR. ALVISTON
(Mildly amused, sentimental)
I believe... she'd tell you not to waste her time with pointless questions.
(Casual)
For Ada, it was only about the science, the quest for understanding.
(Slightly sad, uncomfortable)
There wasn't room in her life for much else.
Line 3:
NOLAN
Director Alviston? Is...this a recording?
DIR. ALVISTON
(Firmly)
I'm not a recording, Nolan.
(Disapproving)
Yes. I know who you are. And I know what you've taken.
(Tentative, suspicious)
But, for the moment, I'm willing to look past that.
(Fatigued, desperate, reluctant)
I need your help.
Line 4:
During the fight, Alviston continues to speak to Nolan periodically.
DIR. ALVISTON
(Bitter, villainous, loud)
You should have trusted your instincts, Nolan, and run when you had the chance.
DIR. ALVISTON
(Bitter, villainous, loud)
You think stopping me will redeem you? You can't change what you are.
Applying
Please send audition requests to dan@graviagame.com. Please include the following, along with anything else you think is helpful:
- Your name and a little about yourself and your voice acting background
- Your rate/fee (See below about how I’m pretty ignorant of this)
- A demo reel of other work you’ve done
- A recording of the sample lines for your character, which emphasize some of the emotional range of the character. (Hopefully this is obvious, but just in case: I won’t be using the recorded sample lines for anything other than evaluating you as a candidate. The recordings won’t be used in the game or anything else.)
Disclaimer
Gravia’s a solo, indie project, and I don’t have a huge budget, but I’m also realistic about what I’m asking for. I was given a link to this page, as a good baseline for what to expect in terms of rates and compensation for voice talent: https://www.voiceactingclub.com/rates, so that’s what I’ll be using, but I’m open to discussion on the topic. I’m expecting either to be paying on a per-hour basis, or per-line basis, or equivalent. (Note that I’m most likely only going to be able to afford non-union voice actors for this project.) That page also links to a good, basic Voice Acting Contract that I'm happy with if you are too.
For the selected voice actor, I’d anticipate the project to run something like this:
- An initial chat/call where we talk about the story, your character, and any important details about the script that might not be obvious.
- Recording of the full script with live direction. Live direction is important to me, so please only apply if you're comfortable working that way.
- There are a few "efforts" (grunting, pain) to be recorded, but I'm fine with those being done in a private session, since that can get a bit awkward.
- In the future, I expect most of the characters will need a few new lines as I have to adjust the game or the story. So, I’d definitely be looking for someone who will be available for some follow-up work over time.
Please be patient with me as I try to figure out how to manage this really big step in my game. I promise to respond to all applications, just to confirm I got your audition, generally the same day you send it. And after casting closes, and the final decisions are made, I’ll follow up with everyone one way or the other.
Thanks.
-Dan
[1] Pronunciation: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threnody