Casting strategy
Great voiceover starts before anyone steps into the booth.
I help game developers prepare for casting, sharpen the actor-to-character ratio, and attract performers a step above the expected budget — independent strategy, no agency agenda.
The short version
Casting is where great voiceover starts
By the time an actor steps up to the mic, most of the important decisions have already been made. Who you’re looking for. How many roles they can credibly cover. Whether your brief gives agents a reason to send their best people your way. Casting strategy is the work that happens before all of that — the thinking that turns a character list into a plan.
What I actually do
I’m not a casting director or agent. I don’t hold a roster, I don’t take a cut of actor fees, and I don’t have a stable of favourites I quietly steer toward every project. I help you get the right talent for your characters and the most from the budget you have. That usually means some combination of:
- Casting asset review — character breakdowns, sides, and audition briefs that give agents and actors enough to work with, and no more than they need.
- Actor-to-character ratio — how many roles one performer can carry without it being obvious they may be talking to themselves.
- Talent strategy — where to look, whether a casting professional is required, how to attract performers a step above your budget, and when a name is worth the money.
- IP and approvals — planning around the extra weeks that licensed IPs almost always add to casting.
Who this is for
Developers adding voice to a game for the first time. Studios scaling up from a handful of lines to a full cast. Producers who’ve been burned by a casting round that didn’t land and want the next one to go differently. If you already have a casting director you trust and a process that works, you probably don’t need me for this part. If any of the above made you nod, we should talk.
How it works
Most engagements start with a call. You tell me about the project — the characters, the budget, the timeline, the constraints. I tell you honestly where casting strategy will make a real difference and where it won’t. From there it’s either a fixed piece of work (a casting brief, a talent plan, a quote review) or ongoing support through the casting round. Day rate or project package, whichever fits.
Casting strategy
The right voices, without overspending to find them
Casting is where great voiceover starts, but timelines and budgets can derail without the right planning. I help you prepare the assets, set the ratios, and build a strategy that attracts the right talent — including performers a step above what you thought you could afford.
How casting works
How I approach a casting strategy
Every game is different, but the shape of good casting is the same. Here’s how I work with developers to get the right talent in the booth — and the most out of your budget.
Start with a conversation
We talk through your game, characters, budget and timeline. I ask the questions that expose the tricky bits early — IP approvals, union considerations, the ratio of leads to incidental — so nothing derails you later.
Audit your casting assets
I review your character briefs, audition scripts, and reference material. If they’re not casting-ready, I’ll tell you what’s missing and help shape them into something actors and agents can respond to. Don’t know where to start? I have templates to help.
Plan actor-to-character ratio
From a solo tutorial narrator to a world of characters, casting decides how the performances enhance your world. Your budget both dictates and is directed by a good ratio assessment — how many actors are needed to voice your characters. Having managed casts from LittleBigPlanet to The Witcher III, I can guide you through it.
Build a talent strategy
Once we know how many actors you need, we plan who you’d love on board — a familiar games name, someone with a similar style, or a fresh direction. As an independent I represent no one, so I can have honest conversations with the agents I’ve worked with for almost 20 years about your budget and goals.
Hand over a plan you can run
You leave with a documented casting strategy, briefs ready to send, and a clear view of what happens next. I can stay involved through casting and recording, or step back once you’re set up.
FAQ
Common questions
Are you a casting director?
No. Casting directors search for talent, use their market knowledge to find suitable options, and run auditions. I work with you before that — shaping character briefs, structuring your character list, preparing materials, and deciding how to spend your budget before a single audition request goes out. When you’re ready to cast, I can recommend the right partners or platforms.
Can you actually get us bigger-name talent?
Sometimes, yes — with the right preparation. Higher-profile actors respond to well-prepared briefs with sensible schedules, respectful terms, and a clear reason why they’re the one you want. I help you build an approach that makes your project attractive to talent who can bring extra sparkle. It might still be a no — stars turn down even the biggest directors — but a good pitch increases the chance of a yes.
What’s a good actor-to-character ratio?
It depends on your game, your budget, and how much doubling up your players will accept. For most projects there’s a sensible range, and a few characters where the same voice would annoy players. I’ll look at your cast list and tell you where to consolidate and where to hold the line.
Do you take a cut of actor fees?
No. I’m independent and charge only for my time — day rate or project package. I don’t represent actors, I don’t take commission, and I have no incentive to inflate your cast or your budget.
When’s the right time to bring you in?
Earlier than most people think. Once you have a rough character list and a sense of your budget, there’s usually work worth doing. Bringing me in before you approach casting directors or agents tends to save the most time and money.
Next step
Get your casting plan right from the start.
Casting looks like the easy part — but get it wrong and you’ll lose time, money, and patience. Tell me about your project and I’ll show you where casting strategy will save you time, budget, or headaches.