1. FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
Hello there! My name is Jalen Askins. I am a professional voice actor in the Los Angeles area and have been pursuing voice acting for about 7-8ish years. I have provided voiceover in many different genres such as video games, ADR, Animation, Commercials, and Promos.
2. PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.
I got started in the industry really just posting stuff online of my voice like fandubs, covers you name it, and while that was going on I was taking classes with Del Mar Media Arts, Voicetraxwest, and other mentors. Then, I booked my first agent in 2021 and did my first ever gig for a museum. After 3 ½ years of just auditioning I was also in some great indie projects that made me better as an actor. I started working on audiobooks back in 2023 and went full time in that same year. Finally, by 2024 I took a class with my agent Arielle Negrin at Voicetraxwest for my first class, and ultimately became repped with my current Agency Atlas. Since then I’ve been a full time voice actor and been grateful and blessed to work with many great talented individuals.
3. WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY?
Growing up my parents bought me all the renaissance disney movies on VHS and I watched them consistently because I loved and adored animation as a whole. When I was 4 I started doing impressions of the animations I watched growing up like Scooby doo, Yogi Bear, Mickey Mouse, Looney Tunes and so forth. I was excited to go to the movies as a kid because it meant I got to see my favorite animated movies. So since I was little I had a love and overall admiration paired with inspiration for voiceover and animation that made me ultimately decide to want to pursue this career.
4. PLEASE SHARE A MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOU WANTED TO BE INSPIRED TO BE A PART OF THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY.
At the age of 4-5 I watched an amazing pilot that was Avatar the Last Airbender which changed my entire perception on cartoons. It handled tough subjects while having you fall in love with these animated characters, and what got me was the actors were doing it just with their voice and made these characters come to life.
5. PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES.
One of the top challenges I went through is loving my voice. I was always insecure because I kept comparing myself to the greats, or colleagues, and peers. How I overcame that challenge is practicing everyday and realizing that my voice does have value, especially realizing that my voice is unique to me and only I can do it. Imposter Syndrome is another challenge that many voice actors big and small go through as a whole. Yes it never goes away no matter the achievements, but I’ve learned along the way each milestone is a new lesson and to embrace the journey of voiceover instead of looking for a big ta da moment to validate my craft and what I do. It;s a challenge for sure some days but there are a lot to admire and love about what we do as voice artists.
6. JAPAN IS KNOWN FOR SO MANY GREAT ICONIC VOICE OVER PEOPLE, SUCH AS CHARACTERS FROM ANIME OR MOVIES AND DUBBED TV SHOWS. WHO IS SOMEONE INSPIRATIONAL THAT YOU ADMIRE IN THIS INDUSTRY?
Some individuals that inspire me as a voice actor would be Christopher Judge, Kevin Michael Richardson, Jim Cummings, Mako, Simon Pegg, James Arnold Taylor, and Keith David.The reason being is that each one inspired me in my journey at different times and stages of my adolescence to my adulthood. For example, Christopher Judge’s portrayal of Kratos didn’t just make me cry but made me relate with him more because I now better understand the concept and the feeling of change after strife and the past that haunts us. I went through that a lot for the past 2-3 years with my own family and that game was definitely my healing process to let me know it’s okay and there’s more stuff on the horizon that will bring me peace and its not all doom and gloom.
7. IS THERE ANY PROJECT OR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OR COLLABORATE WITH?
I would honestly love to voice for an Avatar animated project, because when I think about it I love the storytelling and world building that the avatar franchise has built. Whether it’s a love interest, comedy relief, villain or even one of the main heroes it would just be an honor to play in that world. Another would definitely be the ninja turtles just to play one of the iconic four turtles that bring us that joy and imagination. Even a marvel animated series would be cool to be a part of, and most definitely would love to join in on some Kung Fu Panda project whether it be a series or a film because I also love the story and world of characters they have created that are timeless.
8. PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON.
Currently I’ve been getting into more indie animation and trying to break into more animation roles. Reason being I love recording animation because of how expressive, fun, and overall exciting when I get to record or just ad lib when I can. I’m also loving audio descriptions because of how fun they are and the projects I get to work on and seeing everything come together.
9. PLEASE TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT.
What I enjoy about Hollywood Entertainment is that it allows creativity and expression to be fully fleshed out. Like there’s a resurgence for animated movies and shows to be made in many different mediums. I get inspired with each and every new film I see like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Looney Tunes: The Day That The Earth Blew Up, and more! I love how interesting the ideas are getting and how fun these films are becoming. Right now a lot of great stuff is being made and worlds are being explored overall, and the more we push the imagination the impossible becomes possible.
I like several types like Audio Descriptions, ADR, Video Games, Animation, Commercials, and Promos. Each one I see as a different style like the martial arts. They all have the same core principle but different ways to tackle and learn them.
10. WHAT VOICE OVERS DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST FROM HOLLYWOOD?
The voiceovers I admire most in Hollywood are those that make me feel something in terms of I forget who is voicing the character where I’m rooting for that character, hate them, love them, those performances are memorable. Like Jack Black as Po I know it’s Jack but the character can be separated from the actor because of how good the actor is to where I forget who it is since it's not the voice that matters it's the acting of the character. I’m loving that the voiceovers are getting more voice actors recognized for their craft like look at the voice actress for tails in the sonic movie. She is a legend and they could’ve replaced her with any actor on camera but instead chose her because she is what Tails represents and is a key factor to bringing that iconic character to the big screen. I’m just loving seeing voice actors get bigger roles in this crazy industry.
11. WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE ACTOR?
What makes a good voice actor in my opinion is someone that doesn’t just act but embody the character to the point where I get lost in the world and story. An actor that is dedicated to the craft and gives to their craft such as giving the character authentic life and development. Someone who is willing to learn that these characters we voice need as much nuance as life
gives us.
12. NOW IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, EVERYTHING IS DONE BY REMOTE WORK. DO YOU ENJOY THIS PROCESS, OR DO YOU PREFER TO SHOW UP AT THE STUDIO?
I do enjoy remote work and I also enjoy studio work. I believe remote work is here to stay and I champion remote work. There are a lot of talented va’s around the world and I believe that the more we do in the remote space I feel we will have more greats in the making. I just enjoy connecting with people whether it be on zoom, source connect, or just driving to LA to work.
13. WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALTY IN VOICE OVER WORK DO YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON, OR DO YOU HAVE SEVERAL TYPES?
I like several types like Audio Descriptions, ADR, Video Games, Animation, Commercials, and Promos. Each one I see as a different style like the martial arts. They all have the same core principle but different ways to tackle and learn them.
14. WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOICE OVER ACTOR?
A typical day would be to wake up and check my emails for projects, auditions, and so forth. Do my warm ups and drink warm water to warm up the vocal cords.Complete tasks such as tight deadlines like Audio Descriptions which are usually due in a day or two. Maybe get on a call or two if I have a session or drive out to LA. Then send invoices to clients after jobs are done to be paid.
15. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN VOICE OVER WORK?
I recommend practicing every day whether it be 25 minutes or even 40 because the voice is like a muscle, and if you don’t use it how do you expect to get any better? Also, look into classes I would highly recommend if you are in the LA area or you are remote try Voicetraxwest! They are an amazing studio and have classes in person and if you can come they have zoom options as well. Another I would say to look into is Red Scythe Studio. They have great classes and mentors that will definitely work with you. Get yourself a mic, not an expensive one, just one that can help you practice and audition for some indie stuff just to see how the audition grind is like and immerse yourself in the flow. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY! Watch animations, anime, video games, etc. Hear what the greats are doing no matter the genre to learn acting, inflections, tonation. Learn your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to your voice that’ll help you better understand your instrument as a whole. Your voice is valuable and is amazing because no one else has your voice. Find and meet friends within the vo community and dub stuff for fun, take classes together, and just find your core group to grow with and uplift each other.
16. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A GOOD VOICE OVER ACTOR?
Someone who is willing to learn and give themselves to the craft. Someone who can bring out not just the character but the story to life. In life we as actors pull from our own personal experiences to bring these characters, spots, etc out. A good voice actor knows how to pivot, how to hit those emotional beats like a musician knows how to bring those melodies and harmonies out. They are a master of their instrument and every inflection is deliberate and every decision is intentional. They are the ones that guide you through the story or whatever medium as if we are on an adventure.
17. YOU ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE AS A VOICE OVER. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR 2025?
I want to get into more commercial voice work and get into more animation vo work to flex my animation muscles. I’m definitely getting into more stuff that I’m loving to work on and I’m excited to share when the time comes.
18. CAN YOU SHARE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON NOW?
Yes! I am working on some cool projects that are being worked on such as an indie pilot named Zipped Up which I play the Big Bad Vapor which is currently running a kickstarter and would love for folks to donate to because the creator and the team along with the cast are phenomenal. I also have an animated series debut on Amazon Prime where I voice a cool character coming in the upcoming months. I am also in a project called the Lunchbox project my Team Horizon who are working very hard to get the short out. I got some stuff behind the scenes happening so keep a lookout on my social media.
19. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FOR ANY VOICE OVER WORK, CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR WEBSITE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU?
Of course for any voiceover work inquiries check out my website www.jalenaskins.com
20. ANY LAST MESSAGE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE READERS ?
Keep going the journey is worth it. There is a lot to this business to learn and there is room for everyone to win, especially those who want to be a part of this craft. Whether you want to get into animation, video games, etc do not limit yourself. You may think you are a good fit for one thing but you may be a good fit for multiple things. I want to hear your voices or even work with you guys someday there’s always stories to tell so start now. Write that story, get that $100 mic and do a funny dub with your friends, but in the end just start. You got a voice and if this is your passion the world needs to hear you. Even in the times where you may think you will never make it, but take it from me it takes time and patience. Remember it’s not a race it's a marathon.
