As much as I have loved screenwriting, I’ve always had a bug in the small of my stomach for acting. Even when I was in orchestra and band in high school, I remember walking into the theater class and perusing the movie posters hanging on the walls of the theater. My mouth would drop, and I’d take it all in. “How cool would this be?” I’d ask myself. But, alas, I was committed to band, and a huge commitment it was. I had relationships with people I loved and was not about to let go. So with that, I became content with writing books and, many years later, screenplays.

I still love writing screenplays and will forever hone that craft. And yes, learning is a forever thing, and as one who is addicted to learning, that suits me just fine.

While I love writing, my passion for performance never faded. The more I immersed myself in storytelling, the more I realized I wanted to bring my words to life in a different way.

I Believe in the Value of Small Beginnings

Just as much as I love live action, I love animation. So I thought, why not start with voice acting? Being blessed with material to draw from, I made a list of types of voice samples I could include in the reel.

Here’s what I came up with:

• Evil Character (gaming) - demon - low pitch/gravelly
• Evil Character (gaming) - serpent leader (Phobos) - high pitched
• Hero - Middle age /distressed
• Narration - calming/English
• Narration - calming / Spanish
• Narration - commanding
• Movie Trailer - Southern draw
• Audiobook Narration - normal voice (baritone)
• Explainer commercial
• Podcast Intro
• Latin Accent - male

Feeling like I needed more, I asked my Stage 32 family for input as to what else I could include. I went to the Acting Lounge and put up a post, asking for voiceover reel suggestions. My friend, Maurice Vaughan, added a sports or theme park commercial. Mandy Nelson, a talented and experienced voiceover artist, suggested I perform the lines in Spanish. Pure genius! Then our amazing Head of Community, Ashley Smith, suggested adding a character-driven narration sample (like a scene where you’re voicing multiple distinct characters) to show off how you differentiate voices in a longer format, such as an audiobook.

These are perfect examples of why it’s good to reach out to our Stage 32 family. These suggestions are pure genius. Starting small, I translated each line of dialogue into Spanish. So, for each English version, there is also a Spanish one directly following. You would have thought that being Hispanic, I would have thought of this, but I didn’t. It took me reaching out to fellow creatives to see what they saw.

The Lesson There... Use What You Already Have

This past week, I had a meeting with a local recording artist who had worked with the same record label I worked with. Although it was a cordial meeting, the cost of recording a voiceover with him was simply out of my budget. So, I reached out to my friend Mike Halsey, President Emeritus of Magnetic Dreams Animation Studios, for advice. He gave me some great tips on setting up a home studio, and I ended up creating one in my closet. With all the clothes surrounding me, it turned out to be the perfect place to start small. The only obstacle I came across was the hissing in the background.

After a whole day of troubleshooting, it was such a relief to finally pinpoint the issue. I was using an old microphone that I used for Zoom calls, but I quickly realized I needed to upgrade to a Shure MV7X to eliminate the hissing. The upgrade worked like a charm! My next step is to upgrade my computer and get a portable vocal booth for absolute quiet. Until then, I’m incredibly grateful for what I have right now. It’s not about waiting for perfect conditions. It’s about adapting, learning, and building with what you have. That’s a mindset that extends beyond voice acting to every creative pursuit.

A Multi-Hyphenate is a Strong Tower

One reason that I love screenwriting is that I can never get bored writing a new story. As do most other crafts, it is one that requires patience and a love for lifelong learning. I’ve always been good with that. As I mentioned before, I’m addicted to learning. This does not mean that we should ignore or cast aside other crafts that we are capable of. So long as we manage our time well, I firmly believe that we can patiently and with perseverance develop other “gifts” alongside what we are currently developing.

That “other” talent doesn’t have to be in the limelight or in front of a camera. If you have a knack for the business side of things, learn producing. The same goes for wardrobe, lighting, building, anything. The more you know, the stronger your position. If there’s a dream that keeps nudging at you—one you’ve been putting off—start now. Use what you already have, no matter how small. Record that first voice sample. Write that first scene. Build with what’s in front of you. And if you’re unsure, reach out. You’ll be surprised by how much support is out there. The only way to fail is to not start.

And in the Journey, Being Thankful is the Key

Whether they are inside of us or obstacles on the road of our journey, we all have giants to slay. Recently, we had one crisis after another, and there came a time where I was out of breath. As I mentioned, it took me asking my Stage 32 family for input for me to see what was already there.

So if you’ve ever doubted yourself or you’re not sure of what is already there, or someone lied to you and told you that you weren’t talented enough, seen enough or don’t have what it takes to slay the giants who are trying to steal your dream, let me remind you.

You are talented.

You are wise yet hungry for knowledge.

You are persuaded.

You already have what you need.

If you know what love is, you’ve already made it. And you will not give up.

Not now. Not ever.

And you will never be alone.

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