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Post by Deven on Nov 29, 2017 1:01:02 GMT -8
I was interested in doing video games, maybe anime as well. I did realize that AAA games are recorded in LA, problem is though, I'm Canadian. I live near Toronto. I've heard from some VAs that Toronto is a pretty decent hub, and that "everything" is recorded there, like commercials, animation etc. But I haven't heard it's a hub for video games, and I haven't really seen anything so far to suggest that it is. So I'm left with the prospect of moving to LA, which would require, from how I understand it, that you prove that you're among the absolute best of the best and that you will make America a better place. Pretty much impossible for me at this current moment, I'm still starting out with this. I have family in Ohio/Texas, but since they're not immediate, they wouldn't be able to sponsor me for a green card. Makes me wish I was born down there -_- EDIT: I'm not trying to make it sound like I'm not willing to put in the work where it's due. I'm just worried that this will now and forever remain a pipe dream, given the hurdles with immigration. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're saying the lack of AAA video game productions in the Toronto market is the sole reason why you find moving to LA an absolute necessity? Unless ethical reasons are involved, this is a business where you take what work you can get. You'll be hard-pressed to find a game or anime actor who wouldn't be interesting in doing commercials and cartoon series, where they're most likely make significantly more money.
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Post by Rebekah Amber Clark on Nov 29, 2017 5:03:44 GMT -8
So I'm left with the prospect of moving to LA, which would require, from how I understand it, that you prove that you're among the absolute best of the best and that you will make America a better place. Pretty much impossible for me at this current moment, I'm still starting out with this.
Remember, the people standing closer to the head of the line got there sooner and have been waiting longer. In other words, if you're just starting out then I think you should build your business FIRST. If you're good enough, in 2, 5, 10, or 20 years (depending how fast you can rise) immigration may be less of a problem. Or perhaps Toronto will start doing AAA games by that point in your career. Basically, you're way too early in the game to be fretting so hard about immigration to pick and choose types of VA work. As Deven said, even most established VAs don't focus on one area to the exclusion of all others and are delighted to get work where they can.
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Post by ThatLGDude on Nov 29, 2017 8:16:50 GMT -8
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're saying the lack of AAA video game productions in the Toronto market is the sole reason why you find moving to LA an absolute necessity? Unless ethical reasons are involved, this is a business where you take what work you can get. You'll be hard-pressed to find a game or anime actor who wouldn't be interesting in doing commercials and cartoon series, where they're most likely make significantly more money. I guess that is the way I made it sound, isn't it? You bring up a great point. I knew that you can't afford to be picky in this business, voicing in a high profile game is just one aspect of voice work I wish to take part in. I'm not going to cut anything else out, if I can get work in commercials and cartoons, that's great. And maybe I'll feel differently down the line when I've booked that kind of work.
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Post by ThatLGDude on Nov 29, 2017 8:22:29 GMT -8
So I'm left with the prospect of moving to LA, which would require, from how I understand it, that you prove that you're among the absolute best of the best and that you will make America a better place. Pretty much impossible for me at this current moment, I'm still starting out with this.
Remember, the people standing closer to the head of the line got there sooner and have been waiting longer. In other words, if you're just starting out then I think you should build your business FIRST. If you're good enough, in 2, 5, 10, or 20 years (depending how fast you can rise) immigration may be less of a problem. Or perhaps Toronto will start doing AAA games by that point in your career. Basically, you're way too early in the game to be fretting so hard about immigration to pick and choose types of VA work. As Deven said, even most established VAs don't focus on one area to the exclusion of all others and are delighted to get work where they can.
I know. You're right. I wasn't trying to say that this has to happen right now, but I figured it was a big enough deal that no time is too early or too late to start thinking about it. But I guess there is if you haven't even really made strides in your career yet. Apologies, I was being childish. EDIT: Apologies also for the fact that this is my first time using a forum of any kind. Can you tell? So if you saw any of your posts show up with no reply, sorry. But I can't delete them, so... yeah.
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Post by Rebekah Amber Clark on Nov 30, 2017 8:32:45 GMT -8
Remember, the people standing closer to the head of the line got there sooner and have been waiting longer. In other words, if you're just starting out then I think you should build your business FIRST. If you're good enough, in 2, 5, 10, or 20 years (depending how fast you can rise) immigration may be less of a problem. Or perhaps Toronto will start doing AAA games by that point in your career. Basically, you're way too early in the game to be fretting so hard about immigration to pick and choose types of VA work. As Deven said, even most established VAs don't focus on one area to the exclusion of all others and are delighted to get work where they can.
I know. You're right. I wasn't trying to say that this has to happen right now, but I figured it was a big enough deal that no time is too early or too late to start thinking about it. But I guess there is if you haven't even really made strides in your career yet. Apologies, I was being childish. EDIT: Apologies also for the fact that this is my first time using a forum of any kind. Can you tell? So if you saw any of your posts show up with no reply, sorry. But I can't delete them, so... yeah.
I don't think you're being childish. =) And it's never too early to start *thinking* about it, I just hate to see you start *worrying* about it prematurely, if that makes sense. In over 30 years I maybe listened to 1 audiobook or 2 in my life, then started recording them. If you'd asked me a month before I found that line of work what sort of voice work I'd want to do, and if I'd be interested in audiobooks, I'd most likely have said "Audiobooks? Nah, I've never really been interested. I think they're pretty boring." But ask me now that I'm more immersed in it, and I find a lot of them to be pretty interesting and have even started listening to them a lot more in recent times. =) Likewise, what if you put all your eggs in the basket of immigrating for AAA games, and then find out you absolutely HATE the recording process? Or don't feel as comfortable as you expected integrating with the local culture in your day to day life? Doing the work available in your area, now, will not only give you experience and skills to help you *get* those dream jobs later on, but will also give you valuable insight on what each kind of voice work entails so you can make a more educated guess about whether video games really ARE what you would truly enjoy doing.
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Post by Kyotosomo on Nov 30, 2017 9:07:50 GMT -8
I'd love to know how San Francisco is for VAs as I live less than an hour away and I've yet to take advantage of it despite knowing there's a lot of startup companies there including game developers.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2017 14:49:21 GMT -8
I'd love to know how San Francisco is for VAs as I live less than an hour away and I've yet to take advantage of it despite knowing there's a lot of startup companies there including game developers. I haven't been there but I hear there's supposed to be a lot of commercial work and also some video game work as well. There's also an elite VA training program called Voicetrax in San Francisco that I'd recommend looking into if you do end up going there.
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duffyweber
Member
Posts: 220
I Am A(n): Professional Voice Actor, Semi-Professional Voice Actor, Audio Engineer
Pronouns: Any OK
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Post by duffyweber on Feb 3, 2018 13:56:48 GMT -8
I was interested in doing video games, maybe anime as well. I did realize that AAA games are recorded in LA, problem is though, I'm Canadian. I live near Toronto. I've heard from some VAs that Toronto is a pretty decent hub, and that "everything" is recorded there, like commercials, animation etc. But I haven't heard it's a hub for video games, and I haven't really seen anything so far to suggest that it is. So I'm left with the prospect of moving to LA, which would require, from how I understand it, that you prove that you're among the absolute best of the best and that you will make America a better place. Pretty much impossible for me at this current moment, I'm still starting out with this. I have family in Ohio/Texas, but since they're not immediate, they wouldn't be able to sponsor me for a green card. Makes me wish I was born down there -_- EDIT: I'm not trying to make it sound like I'm not willing to put in the work where it's due. I'm just worried that this will now and forever remain a pipe dream, given the hurdles with immigration. I'm late to the party but I would DEFINITELY look around if I were you. LOTS of cool studios in Toronto. I'd start knocking on doors and handing out cards (figuratively speaking.) Also, most of the VA I do is for video games (though not a lot of AAA) and I do it from here (here being Cincinnati.) But the cool thing about VA, in general, is that studios will get a little bit of everything, and honest to goodness, sometimes a clever ad or explainer vid is JUST as fun to do as games. I got to do a character voice for a museum display a few weeks ago (dunno if I can talk about it any more than that, yet. Gotta keep it vague enough for NDAs!) and it was a FREAKING BLAST!
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thenthorne
Member
I'm an Audio/Video Technician with a passion for voice acting.
Posts: 6
I Am A(n): Aspiring Voice Actor
Pronouns: he/him
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Post by thenthorne on Feb 5, 2018 21:22:48 GMT -8
I'm just now trying to make my start in the world of Voice Acting from the Portland Oregon area. Anyone have experience or knowledge of what the market is like here, if any, or would it be more limited to online work until I could get to one of the main hubs?
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Post by Deven on Feb 6, 2018 0:17:11 GMT -8
I'm just now trying to make my start in the world of Voice Acting from the Portland Oregon area. Anyone have experience or knowledge of what the market is like here, if any, or would it be more limited to online work until I could get to one of the main hubs? Not very familar with the market as a whole, but I know Portland has a good agency that gets in a decent amount of commercial VO opportunities. www.InBothEars.com
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thenthorne
Member
I'm an Audio/Video Technician with a passion for voice acting.
Posts: 6
I Am A(n): Aspiring Voice Actor
Pronouns: he/him
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Post by thenthorne on Feb 12, 2018 20:54:09 GMT -8
I'm just now trying to make my start in the world of Voice Acting from the Portland Oregon area. Anyone have experience or knowledge of what the market is like here, if any, or would it be more limited to online work until I could get to one of the main hubs? Not very familar with the market as a whole, but I know Portland has a good agency that gets in a decent amount of commercial VO opportunities. www.InBothEars.comWow! Thank you! That's an excellent resource to have a look at!
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