Actress, voiceover star and improviser Amanda Troop is famed for starring in pictures such as The Death of Superman, where she played Maggie Sawyer, and television series including Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters, which has been a huge hit with audiences.
Amanda Troop / Photographer: Birdie Thompson, Hair & Makeup: Allison Noelle, Clothing: Pin-up Girl
Though her schedule is jam-packed, we did recently get the chance to put some questions to the star to find out a little bit more about the voiceover world, which shows she'd love to be a part of in the future, and more. Read on to find out what she had to say...
The world of voiceover is one that's quite mysterious to anyone who's not in it! Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day working in voiceover, and what you get up to? If indeed there are any 'typical' days!
Yes! I do agree that it is a tad mysterious to anyone who is not in the world of voiceovers. Funny story actually, when I moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, I realised that doing voiceovers were also a part of it! I had grown up listening to audiobooks and watching cartoons, but it took me a minute to realise that the “voices” I heard were all just acting jobs.
In general, there are two kinds of days: the days you have a job and the days you work towards getting the next one. When you do not have an acting job, those are the “work” days, and the days you do are the “fun” days.
When I’m going in for a voiceover recording session, I will be sure to have done research on my character beforehand. This could include reading the script, researching who played the role previously, and creating a biography and backstory. I also leave time to get warmed up, both physically and vocally. I’ll pack my purse with lozenges, a thermos of tea, and a sweater in case it’s cold in the studio. When you arrive, you’ll be given your material and meet with whoever is going to be with you in the session. Usually, the voice director will be there along with the sound engineer, and then any number of people from the creative team (writers, producers, etc..). The sound engineer will enter the booth with you and make sure your mic is at the right height, and he’ll get your volume levels. Then you are off to acting!
Depending on the project, you might have other actors that you get to perform the scene with or you could be alone. There is an occasional animation or film reference when you act, but it is not common. You might record one line at a time and do multiple takes of each line, or you might get to go all the way through a scene before a second take. In between the takes, the director will confer with the creative team on the sound and make sure your performance is what they envisioned. After a while you all feel the rhythm together and when you get to the end of your lines, you are done!
You recently played Maggie Sawyer in The Death of Superman; what was that whole experience like?
It was a lot of fun! I got to work with one of my favourite directors, Wes Gleason, and I got to play an iconic character. Finally, seeing the finished product at the premiere at Comic Con was such an exciting experience! I am very happy that the reception to the film has been so positive.
You also act in the world of live-action; do you have a preference when it comes to getting in front of the camera, or in the voiceover booth?
There is no way to choose! I love being able to use my whole self in storytelling, which is something I do whether I am in front of the camera or behind the mic. In both instances, you have to call upon personal experience to create well-rounded and empathetic characters, but in voiceover you can play all kinds of creatures, animals, and superheroes! Typically these are things you might not get to play on camera, but I would never want to give up telling stories on the big screen.
The way in which we indulge in entertainment nowadays is constantly changing, with streaming services and the like. What do you make of all that's going on and the evolution of the industry?
Wow, that’s a big question! I think that we want our entertainment instantaneously but also want satisfaction of being engaged. I sometimes livestream video games and RPGs with EasyAllies.com and HyperRPG. While we are streaming, people watching are typing in responses and questions, wanting to be engaged with us as we game or create a narrative. Actually, along with my improv troupe Ripley Improv, we have done live streamed improv shows and have gotten live suggestions from people around the world while we are performing.
I think there is a hunger for more entertainment, but as audiences we also demand that there be a layer of sincerity and connection. I am curious to see where we are in another decade, as virtual reality and augmented reality become more mainstream. I think we also might see a return to live television and the content we will be getting will be more targeted to demographics through platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
As of now we are in a major boom for compelling scripted content, especially on Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO. It feels like there is an insatiable hunger for greater entertainment. It is an exciting time for storytellers, and a smorgasbord of entertainment for viewers.
You've been in some great shows throughout your career, but are there any you've not yet been a part of that you'd love to in the future?
Oh yes, so many! Right now the top of my on-camera wish list is to be on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or on the new Star Trek. For the world of voiceover, I think Steven Universe tops the list at the moment.
What advice do you have for people out there who'd love to carve out their own career in the entertainment industry?
If you want this career, dive in. It takes time and commitment but when you love what you are doing, it makes the hard work an exciting challenge. If you want to be an actor, always be acting and doing what it takes to become one, either being in an acting class, acting in a play, or even reading monologues or books out loud at home! Practice is the key. As the saying goes, “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”
Every career path in this industry is different, but if you move to a city like L.A. where there is a big entertainment scene, the first step is to start meeting people in your chosen profession. My suggestion is to attend networking events, join a class or a theater company, show up to conventions, and watch the kind of work you want to be doing. Get involved, keep practicing, and your career will start to show itself to you!
Of course, don’t forget to maintain your health and non-career life as well. Mental health is especially important! Finding time for meditation, therapeutic activities, and giving yourself down time with friends or family will all keep you feeling strong when it’s time to buckle down in the career.
Can you tell us about some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career to-date?
The biggest challenge is persistence. This career is a marathon, not a sprint, and there are times when the journey of the marathon is not what you had expected. Every actor experiences lulls in their bookings, and there are times when you think, “Well, that’s it! I guess I am never going to book another job!”. These lulls can pass and suddenly you can be overwhelmed with work where your schedule is full and you feel burned out!
Ideally, an actor gets to act their whole life, so learning the proper pace is crucial to a healthy and lengthy career.
Comparatively, what have been some of the biggest highlights you've experienced?
Every job I book is a highlight and I think most actors feel that way. Even getting the chance to arrive on set or to a voiceover session in order to perform your role is a wonderful feeling!
I’ve been lucky enough to work with amazing actors, creative professionals, and even those iconic actors that have been role models of mine all my life. I got to be on the Cartoon Voices panel at WonderCon one year with Maurice LaMarche, which was a thrill. I have had the pleasure of working with Tom Kenny, Candi Milo, and had a long chat with Rob Paulsen on his Talkin’ Toons podcast. These are the actors that I have looked up to for years in voiceover and I am so honored to get to work with them now. One time I arrived at a session to discover that I was going to be working with John Goodman and Holly Hunter! Ultimately, the job remains the same, which is to bring your full self to each session—your vulnerability, professionalism, and talent—and then you get to play!
What do you like to do to entertain yourself when you get some free time?
When I have the time, I love to cook and feed people. I am also in two book clubs, so I love to read a lot. I also play video games when I have the time. Every year my husband and I try to go on at least one camping trip. One of the things I do is to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature.
Finally, what's next for you in the coming weeks and months?
I am in an independent animated show called Box Peek and the first five episodes are set to come out this Fall via EasyAllies.com. Also, Ripley Improv (my all-female improv troupe) is producing a film! We have been discussing for some time the idea of moving our art from stage to screen, and now we are doing it. We will be improvising five films from start to finish, over a five day shoot week, and each day we will be working with a different suggestion which the cast will only learn a few minutes before filming begins. The cast is all women and the crew is majority female or female identifying. We are really excited to get to bring our storytelling to the big screen. You can follow our filmmaking journey on Twitter @RipleyImprov, Instagram @ripley_improv, or you can stop by our website RipleyImprov.com.