Voicebank.net’s VoiceRegistry Blog

All I ever needed to know, I learned from a 13 year old voice actor

I’m here again in the field at Video Box Studios stage managing a radio play for the BBC called, “The Highest Tide.” The main character is Miles (Forrest Landis) a 13 year old kid from Puget Sound in Washington, fascinated by the sea. Watching (and listening) to Forrest has taught me a lot about voice work. He’s got pages and pages of narration and approaches it like a pro. This is only his second voice over job. Hard to believe. Kate McAll the BBC Radio director and Forrest work in tandem as a wonderful creative team. What astounds me about Forrest is his sheer fearlessness (at 13 so many are already self-conscious) and his ability to adapt and listen. When he stumbles on a line his mantra is “Whoa!” It’s as if he’s on a fun roller coaster ride instead of beating himself up for making a normal mistake.

I’m surprised that this energetic, playful teen can buckle down and focus when he hears “we’re rolling.” Although, he has had experience as a film actor (Cheaper By The Dozen 1 & 2, Flight Plan and others), the voice acting environment is very different. Today he has long stretches of text to create pictures of basically the entire story of “The Highest Tide.” Right now he’s voicing a passage where he discovers his best friend, an older woman, Florence, dead in her home. We’re all in tears as we listen to this young teen saddened by what has happened. But he’s not overly dramatic, not even crying, he’s just real. There is a powerful simplicity to Forrest’s performance.

Forrest checks his ego at the door, has an open mind, is a real pro, works well with others and above all else, has a blast. Sounds like more than a recipe for being a successful voice talent.

Hear more from Forrest Landis in an upcoming Voice Registry podcast interview coming soon.

-Tracy Pattin