FINAL FANTASY XIII - Talking With Serah

[Cydonia]

Cydonia: Your natural accent worked nicely for this. Your acting stayed away from being cute, and hit the spot between that and honest/open-minded. They were pleasantly natural deliveries and thought it gave Vanille the type of sound needed for her to stand out while not stealing the show.

I've been listening to all of you for a long time now. Would be great to have a chance to work with you three some time when the opportunity presents itself. =]

Thank you so much, Niel! That really means a lot. ;-; We'll work together soon, I promise! Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching!

You guys, I genuinely forgot who was behind the voices after a while and had to remind myself that this was a fandub. I'm sure it'll come to a surprise what the official voices are if I ever play the game, but you made your characters very real. Don't have much to say since I don't know how it's 'supposed' to go, just know I was really impressed. Somehow I knew Serah's voice wasn't supposed to be that low but jeez, it probably sounds more realistic than whatever they used for the game itself.

I love you, Trish. <3 Thank you!

[Kauritsuo]

Karitsuo: I have to echo InstraClassic's comment about the interesting casting choice. Not exactly the sound I imagine Serah having. The alto maturity was jarring, but unique in a good way. I certainly would have liked to hear much more from you in terms of energy behind your reads. Your acting was accurate, but didn't ring true as precisely as I had hoped. In a few words, your reads sounded very similar (i.e. tired and not very sincere) and there were points where I heard uncertainty in your delivery. Again, your sound was an interesting diversion from the norm, but I had trouble buying into your performance.

Thanks for your honesty . Yes I know my voice isnt laura Bailey's, but thats the reason why Cydonia cast me as Serah...

As for the line delivery. I always... ALWAYS ask if the lines work for the directors... I am ALWAYS willing to redo lines if they dont work, but she told me they were great the way they were. So for my "acting.." I feel like I gave her a different look at herself and a different look for the audience.. not someone whos highpitched and whiny. For the most part I TRY to follow the rhythm of the voice in the video so it has the same flow... but I am not Laura Bailey. Serah I dont think, needed any more energy than I gave her... it was a quiet, reflecting moment that didnt need any explosive outbursts of emotion. But that's just me.

Again, thank you for the honest critique... and I would enjoy a chance to work with you aswell.

You guys, I genuinely forgot who was behind the voices after a while and had to remind myself that this was a fandub. I'm sure it'll come to a surprise what the official voices are if I ever play the game, but you made your characters very real. Don't have much to say since I don't know how it's 'supposed' to go, just know I was really impressed. Somehow I knew Serah's voice wasn't supposed to be that low but jeez, it probably sounds more realistic than whatever they used for the game itself.

You are adorable Thanks so much!! <3<3

[Ramune]

Thanks for your honesty . Yes I know my voice isnt laura Bailey's, but thats the reason why Cydonia cast me as Serah...

As for the line delivery. I always... ALWAYS ask if the lines work for the directors... I am ALWAYS willing to redo lines if they dont work, but she told me they were great the way they were. So for my "acting.." I feel like I gave her a different look at herself and a different look for the audience.. not someone whos highpitched and whiny. For the most part I TRY to follow the rhythm of the voice in the video so it has the same flow... but I am not Laura Bailey. Serah I dont think, needed any more energy than I gave her... it was a quiet, reflecting moment that didnt need any explosive outbursts of emotion. But that's just me.

Again, thank you for the honest critique... and I would enjoy a chance to work with you aswell.

Don't worry about not sounding like the official VA. Even if I had played the game (which I haven't), I do try to stay away from comparing performances to official VAs. I know very well you aren't Laura Bailey so I did not expect you to be Laura Bailey. My critique was solely on my perception as a fellow VA, the moment of the scene, and the script being read. That way, I can be honest and give a critique that isn't biased (and possibly helpful).

Going for a different kind of approach was what I liked most about your choice of tonality and read. You took a risk and allowed for your own acting skills to craft the role for yourself. That's very important in acting in general and certainly applaud you for it. I know Holly was satisfied with your performance. We all know that we can only give what the director wants, and if they're happy, then we've done our due service. I don't count that (or Holly's direction) against you at all. =]

Please don't take my suggestion for "energy" like how so many newcomers describe it. I don't mean it in a sense that you needed to be gushing/over-the-top to compensate for bad acting. There were a number of lines, moreso nearing the end, that I do believe could have been livened up a bit rather than maintaining that matter-of-fact approach all the way through. Consistency isn't a bad thing, but based on the script provided, I simply think it would have been okay to take a livelier, more sincere turn at times while still keeping true to your character tone, pacing, and uniqueness.

I do hope we can find a chance to work together for sure. =]

Thank you so much, Niel! That really means a lot. ;-; We'll work together soon, I promise! Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching!

Don't mention it, Holly! I earnestly want to support my comrades and try to make time to do so. =] My plate is pretty full at the moment, but let's make it happen soon!

[Kauritsuo]

Don't worry about not sounding like the official VA. Even if I had played the game (which I haven't), I do try to stay away from comparing performances to official VAs. I know very well you aren't Laura Bailey so I did not expect you to be Laura Bailey. My critique was solely on my perception as a fellow VA, the moment of the scene, and the script being read. That way, I can be honest and give a critique that isn't biased (and possibly helpful).

Going for a different kind of approach was what I liked most about your choice of tonality and read. You took a risk and allowed for your own acting skills to craft the role for yourself. That's very important in acting in general and certainly applaud you for it. I know Holly was satisfied with your performance. We all know that we can only give what the director wants, and if they're happy, then we've done our due service. I don't count that (or Holly's direction) against you at all. =]

Please don't take my suggestion for "energy" like how so many newcomers describe it. I don't mean it in a sense that you needed to be gushing/over-the-top to compensate for bad acting. There were a number of lines, moreso nearing the end, that I do believe could have been livened up a bit rather than maintaining that matter-of-fact approach all the way through. Consistency isn't a bad thing, but based on the script provided, I simply think it would have been okay to take a livelier, more sincere turn at times while still keeping true to your character tone, pacing, and uniqueness.

I do hope we can find a chance to work together for sure. =]

Thanks~ I'll work on it. Im still kinda-pretty new at VAing so all I can go is up! haha

[Sayaka]

Cydonia As Vanille - I really love your rendition of Vanille, Cydonia. A more solemn like this definitely calls for an more down-to-earth approach, and you definitely delivered that here. All of Vanille's sorrow, regret, and fears were greatly felt through your performance, and moreover came through as real and genuine; something I thought the official English VA failed to deliver. [It was just too preppy-happy for me] Wonderful job.

Kauritsuo As Serah - I thought your deeper voice was a nice change for the character. I always imagined Serah to have a younger and youthful voice to showed her delicate and slightly vulnerable side as opposed to her sister, Lightning. But I did enjoy listening to your version a lot. I thought you did a great job, but perhaps a bit more energy in some of your lines as I did feel there was something missing from the performance. I'm sure you are well aware of this; nevertheless, wonderful job~!

Murdog As Snow - I love it. I thought you kept the toughness intact and still was able to show that bit of vulnerability. There wasn't much to go on here, but you definitely came through. Wonderful job to you, too!

Mixing-wise, it was well done~!

[Kauritsuo]

Kauritsuo As Serah - I thought your deeper voice was a nice change for the character. I always imagined Serah to have a younger and youthful voice to showed her delicate and slightly vulnerable side as opposed to her sister, Lightning. But I did enjoy listening to your version a lot. I thought you did a great job, but perhaps a bit more energy in some of your lines as I did feel there was something missing from the performance. I'm sure you are well aware of this; nevertheless, wonderful job~!
Mixing-wise, it was well done~!

Thanks for the honesty Im glad you liked the different take I took on her. I didnt want her to sound TOO vulnerable because well.. lets face it.. a lot of ppl found this character annoying lol. And I didnt want to be.

I could of punched up the performance probably, but I never know untill I hear it all together in a clip anyway, so what can yah do. haha.

[animeismyaddiction]

LOVE Vanille