Originally posted on MangaBullet, on April 25th 2011. Reproduced with the kind permission of Drew Nelson.
Drew Nelson has a long and illustrious acting career. He's had parts in such seminal shows as 'Total Drama', 'Supernatural', 'Smallville', 'Degrassi: The Next Generation' and 'Queer as Folk USA'. He's been in films too. 'The Matthew Shephard Story' and 'Two Against Time' are just two of them. He's just landed roles in 'XIII' and 'Bakugan'. Exciting times.
But, back in 2006, he voiced another character and it was this one which pricked up the ears of the gang at Guns and Games. Drew Nelson is Death Note's Matt! (At least, he is in the English language dub.) He might have had less than a handful of lines to say, but Matt has put him firmly on our radar. And, bless him, Drew was happy to give us an interview all about our favourite Kira hunting gamer.
The call went out across Guns and Games. Our membership boomed overnight at the news. The questions poured in. By the deadline, we had 61 questions to dump onto the poor man! We couldn't do that to him, so MRS-Jeevas clumped them together into categories. All of the questions went, but like ones masqueraded as a single (very long and occasionally repetitive) question. Drew didn't even blink. In fact, reading through, it seems to us that he answered every one of them anyway.
A huge thanks goes out to Drew for taking the time to wade through this. He had to do it around a life that had suddenly become very busy for him. Yet he always took the time to keep us informed. Much kudos for that.
But, back in 2006, he voiced another character and it was this one which pricked up the ears of the gang at Guns and Games. Drew Nelson is Death Note's Matt! (At least, he is in the English language dub.) He might have had less than a handful of lines to say, but Matt has put him firmly on our radar. And, bless him, Drew was happy to give us an interview all about our favourite Kira hunting gamer.
The call went out across Guns and Games. Our membership boomed overnight at the news. The questions poured in. By the deadline, we had 61 questions to dump onto the poor man! We couldn't do that to him, so MRS-Jeevas clumped them together into categories. All of the questions went, but like ones masqueraded as a single (very long and occasionally repetitive) question. Drew didn't even blink. In fact, reading through, it seems to us that he answered every one of them anyway.
A huge thanks goes out to Drew for taking the time to wade through this. He had to do it around a life that had suddenly become very busy for him. Yet he always took the time to keep us informed. Much kudos for that.
"... that means you'll have a lot of questions to ask?"
Death Note's Matt
Melissa Did you have to audition for the role of Matt from Death Note?
Drew Nelson I actually didn't. I had done some dubbing for a couple of other shows for this studio in Vancouver, and they offered me Matt based on what I did for the previous shows.
Miyamashi What was it like to work on Death Note as a whole? Did you interact much with the other cast?
Drew Nelson It was cool. To be honest, I never got to meet anyone else from the cast, cause they would record us individually.
I had no idea there was such a fan following prior to doing it?!
Melissa Did you read the manga (comic) of Death Note before auditioning for a role in DN, if you did audition? Miyamashi Were you a fan of the Death Note series before you were asked to voice a character for it, or did you come into it with no prior knowledge? parasitic Have you watched the Death Note television series as a whole? If so, what kind of perspective does this give you regarding Matt's situation and characterization? SchoolGlue Did you read the series or watch up to it, before or when you got the job for Matt's voice? animeprincess Do you watch the entire anime/cartoon or do you view only the parts that your character is in? When you do a voice over/dub for an anime in which the manga has already been published, do you read the manga first?
Drew Nelson I did not read Death Note before booking the part. Like I said, it was literally offered to me.
My agent at the time must have sent them my voice demo and I guess they liked the quality and texture of my voice for the Matt character.
I've never watched the series. I probably should have, considering the popularity of the show.
When I'm in the booth, they play the scene back for me, so I can get a sense of how it flows; and then they count me in with three beats, and I try to match my line delivery with the movements of the character's mouth.
Drew Nelson I actually didn't. I had done some dubbing for a couple of other shows for this studio in Vancouver, and they offered me Matt based on what I did for the previous shows.
Miyamashi What was it like to work on Death Note as a whole? Did you interact much with the other cast?
Drew Nelson It was cool. To be honest, I never got to meet anyone else from the cast, cause they would record us individually.
I had no idea there was such a fan following prior to doing it?!
Melissa Did you read the manga (comic) of Death Note before auditioning for a role in DN, if you did audition? Miyamashi Were you a fan of the Death Note series before you were asked to voice a character for it, or did you come into it with no prior knowledge? parasitic Have you watched the Death Note television series as a whole? If so, what kind of perspective does this give you regarding Matt's situation and characterization? SchoolGlue Did you read the series or watch up to it, before or when you got the job for Matt's voice? animeprincess Do you watch the entire anime/cartoon or do you view only the parts that your character is in? When you do a voice over/dub for an anime in which the manga has already been published, do you read the manga first?
Drew Nelson I did not read Death Note before booking the part. Like I said, it was literally offered to me.
My agent at the time must have sent them my voice demo and I guess they liked the quality and texture of my voice for the Matt character.
I've never watched the series. I probably should have, considering the popularity of the show.
When I'm in the booth, they play the scene back for me, so I can get a sense of how it flows; and then they count me in with three beats, and I try to match my line delivery with the movements of the character's mouth.
parasitic When you were given the part of Matt, what kind of things were you told about him, and how did that play into your delivery? Miyamashi Did you prepare at all for Matt's part, or were you just told to go into a studio and read off the bit?
Drew Nelson It was a really simple recording as to what I remember - it's been a couple years now, ha.
I came up with how I was going to play Matt right then and there in the sound booth.
I did not prepare for the role prior. I feel that as long as you know the tone of the show, I find it's more effective to make choices right in the moment, so you have no time to get too clever with the work. Hope that makes sense!
WammyGirl When portraying Matt, what type of person did you have in mind and how did it influence the way you played him? How much thought did you put into the back story of him? parasitic Have you since looked for any more information on Matt's history? You may know that, although his part is very small, his overall influence to the story is broader, and there is some information about him that is not presented in the television series.
Drew Nelson I didn't know he was quite an integral part to the plot of the show? Had I known that, I probably would’ve put more effort towards the preparation in playing him... haha.
As far as keeping up with the show, I haven't. Once you do the gig, it’s best to have the mentality to move onto the next one. Unless, by some off chance, the producers ask you to come back!
Drew Nelson It was a really simple recording as to what I remember - it's been a couple years now, ha.
I came up with how I was going to play Matt right then and there in the sound booth.
I did not prepare for the role prior. I feel that as long as you know the tone of the show, I find it's more effective to make choices right in the moment, so you have no time to get too clever with the work. Hope that makes sense!
WammyGirl When portraying Matt, what type of person did you have in mind and how did it influence the way you played him? How much thought did you put into the back story of him? parasitic Have you since looked for any more information on Matt's history? You may know that, although his part is very small, his overall influence to the story is broader, and there is some information about him that is not presented in the television series.
Drew Nelson I didn't know he was quite an integral part to the plot of the show? Had I known that, I probably would’ve put more effort towards the preparation in playing him... haha.
As far as keeping up with the show, I haven't. Once you do the gig, it’s best to have the mentality to move onto the next one. Unless, by some off chance, the producers ask you to come back!
Miyamashi Did you hear the original Japanese language track before performing the dub? Did it affect your performance?
Drew Nelson Yes, they would play the whole scene for me in the original Japanese and then I would fill in the blank space when my character speaks, in English.
Matt1337Gamer Were you disappointed that you had considerably less screen time, and lines, than Matt had in the manga? SchoolGlue How did you feel about the lack of lines? Did you want to do more lines, like, possibly talking with Mello? omgryphon I wanted to ask Drew what additional lines he would've added for Matt if he could had extra ones added?
Drew Nelson Yeah, absolutely. I would love to have had more lines!
Unfortunately, you really have no say when you’re a 'gun for hire' on a show. Unless you're a major lead, you just have to show up, do good work, and hope you're asked back for more episodes.
catmoongirl You've had roles that are both small and large. When you perform a smaller role, such as Matt, how do you approach it? In smaller roles, do you tend to perform the role a little more freely because you know that the character won't show up much, so there's not as much pressure to create a solid, fully fleshed-out character? Or do you try and imbue as much depth and personality as you possibly can into only a few lines? Particularly for Matt, who speaks only once in the entire Death Note series, but has a somewhat heavy significance, how did you approach the role? Did you try and get inside of his head, his past, etc. and figure out what type of person he was?
Drew Nelson For Death Note, in particular, it was a very simple process. I was called in to do a couple different voices for the show, and Matt was one of them. So I approached it as I would any other role.
As far as the preparation from smaller to larger roles, I don't really see much of a difference. I think the key is to include as much of your own natural sensibilities to any character you play. That's the only way your 'take' on them is different to the next actor, and ultimately the most truthful. It's like putting your individual 'stamp' on everything you do. At least, that's how I see it.
Drew Nelson Yes, they would play the whole scene for me in the original Japanese and then I would fill in the blank space when my character speaks, in English.
Matt1337Gamer Were you disappointed that you had considerably less screen time, and lines, than Matt had in the manga? SchoolGlue How did you feel about the lack of lines? Did you want to do more lines, like, possibly talking with Mello? omgryphon I wanted to ask Drew what additional lines he would've added for Matt if he could had extra ones added?
Drew Nelson Yeah, absolutely. I would love to have had more lines!
Unfortunately, you really have no say when you’re a 'gun for hire' on a show. Unless you're a major lead, you just have to show up, do good work, and hope you're asked back for more episodes.
catmoongirl You've had roles that are both small and large. When you perform a smaller role, such as Matt, how do you approach it? In smaller roles, do you tend to perform the role a little more freely because you know that the character won't show up much, so there's not as much pressure to create a solid, fully fleshed-out character? Or do you try and imbue as much depth and personality as you possibly can into only a few lines? Particularly for Matt, who speaks only once in the entire Death Note series, but has a somewhat heavy significance, how did you approach the role? Did you try and get inside of his head, his past, etc. and figure out what type of person he was?
Drew Nelson For Death Note, in particular, it was a very simple process. I was called in to do a couple different voices for the show, and Matt was one of them. So I approached it as I would any other role.
As far as the preparation from smaller to larger roles, I don't really see much of a difference. I think the key is to include as much of your own natural sensibilities to any character you play. That's the only way your 'take' on them is different to the next actor, and ultimately the most truthful. It's like putting your individual 'stamp' on everything you do. At least, that's how I see it.
orangepunch So you probably know about how your character, Matt, was killed in the anime, and why. I think it is a really amazing thing when someone is so passionate about something (or someone) they are willing to die for it. I think what Matt's intentions are, behind his 'sacrifice', is up for debate here in this fandom, but having played his character, what are your thoughts on why he followed Mello to his death? Would you have done the same thing had you been him? Similarly, do you have something in your own life that you could be willing to possibly die for?
Drew Nelson My friends and family are who I'd take a bullet for. Keeping good, solid people around you only makes you stronger as a person and as an actor.
I believe that the company you surround yourself with is a direct reflection of who you are, which is why I cherish my close peeps.
shonenhump Considering the religious imagery present in Matt's best friend Mello, and Matt's supposed complacent attitude towards most things, what are your thoughts when fans compare them to martyrs?
Drew Nelson I can see why fans view it that way. I would have to agree, besides, martyrdom was considered to be quite the noble act, so why not in this case.
Miyamashi What's your opinion on the Mello and Matt thing? Does most fans' portrayal weird you out? Could you see it happening? Are they just friends? Would you rather just not ponder it?
Drew Nelson Since I don't know all the backstory as far as the show and especially their relationship, I’d rather not answer blindly. Don't want to offend any of you die hards out there!
Drew Nelson My friends and family are who I'd take a bullet for. Keeping good, solid people around you only makes you stronger as a person and as an actor.
I believe that the company you surround yourself with is a direct reflection of who you are, which is why I cherish my close peeps.
shonenhump Considering the religious imagery present in Matt's best friend Mello, and Matt's supposed complacent attitude towards most things, what are your thoughts when fans compare them to martyrs?
Drew Nelson I can see why fans view it that way. I would have to agree, besides, martyrdom was considered to be quite the noble act, so why not in this case.
Miyamashi What's your opinion on the Mello and Matt thing? Does most fans' portrayal weird you out? Could you see it happening? Are they just friends? Would you rather just not ponder it?
Drew Nelson Since I don't know all the backstory as far as the show and especially their relationship, I’d rather not answer blindly. Don't want to offend any of you die hards out there!
Mistress9 I want to know what kind of video games he thinks Matt plays and/or what kind of cigarettes he smokes!
Drew Nelson I don't smoke, so I'll say Camels. He'd definitely be a Call of Duty player.
However, if I had my way, he’d be an avid NHL 2011 gamer!
Deadly1395 How does it feel to have such a large fan base, even though your character only had two lines? AislinKagami Did you ever think, when you were asked to do this role for Death Note, that a character with such limited screen time would become such a popular character with the fans? animeprincess How do you feel knowing that your one liner in DN spurred such a worldwide fan base? Misandrie How does it feel to see such a huge fan base for a character with only two spoken sentences? Miyamashi What was it like to find out that the character you voiced a couple of lines (If we count "tch" as a line) for, in one episode, was more popular than most of the main cast? Melissa Did you realize Matt was such a fan loved character before you got the role? Were you ever made aware of it before this silly interview? ;)
Drew Nelson I had absolutely no idea that he'd be so popular among all of you! It's incredibly flattering to have all you fans interested in me and my career.
When the Total Drama series became popular, all these die hard TDIers were friending me on Facebook, and blogging and Tweeting about my character Duncan, etc. Next thing you know, I'm being asked to attend a panel at Toronto ComiCon, which was an incredible experience; and, of course, approached to do this awesome interview.
I'm very blessed to have all you peeps support what I do!
StripesCrosses (and Erin) Has Drew Nelson ever looked up fan art of characters he's portrayed or voiced before?
Drew Nelson Chris Potenza, who plays 'Chris' on TDI, put me on to DeviantART. Some of the work on that site blows my mind! Very talented artists. Check it out: deviantART.com.
(Note from MRS-Jeevas: That's surely a typo. He probably meant the Guns and Games Gallery, here at MangaBullet!)
Melissa Are we the first Matt fans to approach you for your role of Matt?
Drew Nelson Yes you are!! Thanks for reaching out and letting me know!
Acting Per Se
Miyamashi Can you tell us about your other roles in the past and present, or ones you hope to work on in the future? MRS-Jeevas What are you working on right now? Spoiled-Kitten Are you planning on voicing any more anime in the future?
Drew Nelson I'd love to do some more anime. At the moment, I'm voicing a recurring character on Bakugan. I play the lovable thug 'Ben'. Some notable roles for me are, of course, 'Duncan' in the TDI series.
For film and television, I've had a chance to play some cool parts. I played a cancer patient, 'Eddie', in a movie for CBS a few years back; very challenging, and an incredible experience working with director David Anspaugh (Hoosiers, Rudy) and Dead Like Me’s Ellen Muth.
I worked on Supernatural, and went toe-to-toe with my bud Jared - that was a lot of fun!
Another great experience was a basketball film for Showtime, with the late great Gregory Hines as our director. Through the duration of filming we all got to be very close with him, and actually got together for lunch one day when he was in Toronto, a year after finishing the movie. I'll never forget that.
Since I'm in the 'plugging' mode, I just wrapped a couple of episodes on a cool new show called XIII. It stars Stuart Townsend and Aisha Tyler. I play Jacob Locke, the political strategist to the President character on the show. It's an amazing part, and, if the series does well, my character will be brought back for the new season. So be sure to tune in when it airs! (I don’t know the air dates just yet?!)
(Note from MRS-Jeevas: It looks like April 20th to me, on Showcase, unless I have the wrong show! XIII Website.)
animeprincess Do you have a favorite role that you have acted/voice-acted?
Drew Nelson I'd have to say this character on XIII is my fav so far. It's a really challenging role and, when I was shooting a scene, it felt like I was filming an episode of The West Wing!! It's like a political/espionage thriller series like Bourne Identity.
My past roles would have to be the demon in Supernatural, and playing the cancer patient in Two Against Time. They had to shave my head completely bald every time I went to set. That alone messes with your emotions, and state of mind, and I felt I gave my most moving performance in that film.
Drew Nelson I'd love to do some more anime. At the moment, I'm voicing a recurring character on Bakugan. I play the lovable thug 'Ben'. Some notable roles for me are, of course, 'Duncan' in the TDI series.
For film and television, I've had a chance to play some cool parts. I played a cancer patient, 'Eddie', in a movie for CBS a few years back; very challenging, and an incredible experience working with director David Anspaugh (Hoosiers, Rudy) and Dead Like Me’s Ellen Muth.
I worked on Supernatural, and went toe-to-toe with my bud Jared - that was a lot of fun!
Another great experience was a basketball film for Showtime, with the late great Gregory Hines as our director. Through the duration of filming we all got to be very close with him, and actually got together for lunch one day when he was in Toronto, a year after finishing the movie. I'll never forget that.
Since I'm in the 'plugging' mode, I just wrapped a couple of episodes on a cool new show called XIII. It stars Stuart Townsend and Aisha Tyler. I play Jacob Locke, the political strategist to the President character on the show. It's an amazing part, and, if the series does well, my character will be brought back for the new season. So be sure to tune in when it airs! (I don’t know the air dates just yet?!)
(Note from MRS-Jeevas: It looks like April 20th to me, on Showcase, unless I have the wrong show! XIII Website.)
animeprincess Do you have a favorite role that you have acted/voice-acted?
Drew Nelson I'd have to say this character on XIII is my fav so far. It's a really challenging role and, when I was shooting a scene, it felt like I was filming an episode of The West Wing!! It's like a political/espionage thriller series like Bourne Identity.
My past roles would have to be the demon in Supernatural, and playing the cancer patient in Two Against Time. They had to shave my head completely bald every time I went to set. That alone messes with your emotions, and state of mind, and I felt I gave my most moving performance in that film.
Drew as the Crossroads Demon, in 'Supernatural'. Watch the clip here.
WammyGirl Do you prefer acting in things like shows, or voice acting? Melissa Would you do more voice acting should the opportunity be offered to you? Or do you prefer actual, in-person acting gigs? Which do you feel is more rewarding? catmoongirl Besides the obvious, what do you feel is the biggest difference between voice acting and screen acting? Do you prepare for a voice role differently than you would a screen role and vice versa? Do you find one more demanding or satisfying than the other?
Drew Nelson I do prefer live action to voice over. I love doing theatre as well; and I find that experience most rewarding. With theatre, you're a living/breathing character on stage for the entire duration of the play. It's about truly living in the moment, and that's when you feel most alive as an actor.
With film and t.v., you do get that, but it only comes in spurts. There's a lot of distractions on set, the crew, craft services, other actors, trailers, wardrobe/makeup people needing you for something etc. It can be really tough maintaining your focus on a set, but the great thing about film is that it's the only medium that can really capture subtle human behavior and intimacy at a micro level. I love that about film, and it's an ongoing challenge and study for me to get that detailed in my work. Phew... that was a mouthful1!!
Having said all that, I do love voice acting! It's a ton of fun creating and voicing a character, and the really cool thing about VO is the anonymity of it. Having never taken a voice class, I'm an open book when it comes to learning mic techniques, and ways to alter the placement of your voice, depending on the character. I'm learning more about the VO world with each gig I do!
Melissa Which was more difficult in terms of process: voice acting for Western shows like Total Drama, or having to voice over specific lip flaps for Japanese anime style shows? BrookeStardust Do you prefer dubbing over animation that's already been animated or would you rather provide a voice for an animation which is in pre-production?
Drew Nelson I find both to be the same pretty much. The only plus side for a show like TDI is you sometimes get to act opposite another actor in the booth. I once did a series called Girlstuff/Boystuff, where the entire core cast were all in the same room doing the episode live. It felt like a radio play. I prefer that out of everything, but it's rare these days.
It'd actually be really cool to make up a wacky character and then see how the animators draw him up. Usually, you get a pic and description of the character at the audition, and come up with something accordingly.
parasitic How do your other parts influence your portrayal of Matt? Or vice-versa? Miyamashi How do other roles compare to the role of Matt?
Drew Nelson Since Matt was seemingly such a 'small' part, I didn’t think too long and hard about it, just went with my instincts. So in terms of having influence on other parts I've played since, it didn't really.
Drew Nelson voices Duncan in 'Total Drama'.
Melissa When auditioning for Total Drama Island, did you specifically want to be Duncan? Was Duncan as fun of a character to play as he looked?
Drew Nelson Duncan is a ton of fun to play. The note from my director during records is always 'more attitude' haha. I love that my guy's a bad ass and can get away with more than the other characters on the show.
I actually auditioned for at least 3 or 4 different roles, including Chris McLean. The others were Chef, Geoff and Harold, but Duncan was the most up my alley, and obviously the producers thought so too. ;)
WammyGirl I love Supernatural so seeing you were in it made me really excited. What was it like playing a demon? catmoongirl How did you interpret and portray the character of the crossroads demon you played in Supernatural? What sort of traits or personality did you equate to a demon? Did you go with a personal take on what that sort of creature would be like, or did you try and fit with the atmosphere of the show?
Drew Nelson Thanks for the kudos! I loved playing the crossroads demon! The way the director had the scene play out in his mind lent itself to it looking incredibly filmic, and I was really pleased with the result. It's always fun tapping into the 'dark side' of yourself and that role was no exception. Plus, it was awesome seeing Jared again.
A little back story, but quite a few years ago, Jared was working on an Olsen Twins movie in Toronto, called New York Minute. I was asked to be an additional reader at the table read, so I met Jared there. We hung out quite a bit while he was filming the movie, and then shortly after he went to Vancouver to film the pilot for Supernatural.
After losing touch for a while, I moved to Vancouver in 2007. In 2009, I booked Supernatural, and the rest was history. It was a reunion of sorts that night, and we had a blast working together. During camera set ups, we'd be in his trailer having a corona, and catchin' up on life. It was quite surreal!
Drew Nelson Duncan is a ton of fun to play. The note from my director during records is always 'more attitude' haha. I love that my guy's a bad ass and can get away with more than the other characters on the show.
I actually auditioned for at least 3 or 4 different roles, including Chris McLean. The others were Chef, Geoff and Harold, but Duncan was the most up my alley, and obviously the producers thought so too. ;)
WammyGirl I love Supernatural so seeing you were in it made me really excited. What was it like playing a demon? catmoongirl How did you interpret and portray the character of the crossroads demon you played in Supernatural? What sort of traits or personality did you equate to a demon? Did you go with a personal take on what that sort of creature would be like, or did you try and fit with the atmosphere of the show?
Drew Nelson Thanks for the kudos! I loved playing the crossroads demon! The way the director had the scene play out in his mind lent itself to it looking incredibly filmic, and I was really pleased with the result. It's always fun tapping into the 'dark side' of yourself and that role was no exception. Plus, it was awesome seeing Jared again.
A little back story, but quite a few years ago, Jared was working on an Olsen Twins movie in Toronto, called New York Minute. I was asked to be an additional reader at the table read, so I met Jared there. We hung out quite a bit while he was filming the movie, and then shortly after he went to Vancouver to film the pilot for Supernatural.
After losing touch for a while, I moved to Vancouver in 2007. In 2009, I booked Supernatural, and the rest was history. It was a reunion of sorts that night, and we had a blast working together. During camera set ups, we'd be in his trailer having a corona, and catchin' up on life. It was quite surreal!
Drew Nelson and Jared Padalecki
Miyamashi Are you making any public appearances, where fans could get their copies of the manga/DVDs signed?
Drew Nelson I didn't have any plans to. I know I'll be doing some more conventions with the TDI crew soon, so maybe I can put together some Death Note swag for those. Any suggestions of places to attend would be great!!
Drew Nelson I didn't have any plans to. I know I'll be doing some more conventions with the TDI crew soon, so maybe I can put together some Death Note swag for those. Any suggestions of places to attend would be great!!
Voice Acting
animeprincess What made you choose voice acting? Melissa What interested you into getting involved with voice acting work? Was it something you planned to pursue, or something that fell into your lap and you decided to roll with? Miyamashi What made you pick voice acting?
Drew Nelson It was exactly that, an opportunity that fell into my lap. All my life growing up, I was the dude speaking in different character's voices and accents, so I had a feeling I was bound to get paid for it some day... haha!
I think my agent at the time started to submit me for voice over on t.v and radio and eventually animation. I got a couple lucky breaks becoming the voice of certain companies, other casting directors took notice and seemed to like the quality of my voice. It's funny the way it worked out, cause VO work's been paying my bills ever since!
BrookeStardust How did you get into voice acting as a profession? Do you have a demo reel or a manager which you use to find jobs in the field or is it more by word-of-mouth? WammyGirl How did you get involved in the voice acting industry, in the anime one in particular? animeprincess Do you have any advice for those wanting to get into voice over acting business? Miyamashi How did you find your start in voice acting?
Drew Nelson Again, my start was because of my first agent. He broke me into the scene. My agent after that was a dynamo, and had me working a lot in voice overs. We made a demo, and got quite a bit of work from that alone! He was the one who got me the TDI gig, and that was the job that really set things into motion for me.
As far as advice goes, I'd say if you need to be an actor or v.o. actor, make sure it's something that you can never see yourself NOT doing. If there's anything else you think you could be doing, then do that, cause the industry is only getting tougher and tougher, and fewer jobs are available, so only the truly committed ones survive.
Having said all that, there's no real rhyme or definitive reason why someone gets the part over another, so 'overnight discoveries' do still happen, but be prepared to WORK for it! (Ok, that's enough preaching from me.)
Drew Nelson It was exactly that, an opportunity that fell into my lap. All my life growing up, I was the dude speaking in different character's voices and accents, so I had a feeling I was bound to get paid for it some day... haha!
I think my agent at the time started to submit me for voice over on t.v and radio and eventually animation. I got a couple lucky breaks becoming the voice of certain companies, other casting directors took notice and seemed to like the quality of my voice. It's funny the way it worked out, cause VO work's been paying my bills ever since!
BrookeStardust How did you get into voice acting as a profession? Do you have a demo reel or a manager which you use to find jobs in the field or is it more by word-of-mouth? WammyGirl How did you get involved in the voice acting industry, in the anime one in particular? animeprincess Do you have any advice for those wanting to get into voice over acting business? Miyamashi How did you find your start in voice acting?
Drew Nelson Again, my start was because of my first agent. He broke me into the scene. My agent after that was a dynamo, and had me working a lot in voice overs. We made a demo, and got quite a bit of work from that alone! He was the one who got me the TDI gig, and that was the job that really set things into motion for me.
As far as advice goes, I'd say if you need to be an actor or v.o. actor, make sure it's something that you can never see yourself NOT doing. If there's anything else you think you could be doing, then do that, cause the industry is only getting tougher and tougher, and fewer jobs are available, so only the truly committed ones survive.
Having said all that, there's no real rhyme or definitive reason why someone gets the part over another, so 'overnight discoveries' do still happen, but be prepared to WORK for it! (Ok, that's enough preaching from me.)
animeprincess When assuming a character for voice over/dub, do you, as when you assuming a live action acting role, create a background for the character or are you able to just read the dialogue without analyzing the character at all?
Drew Nelson Depends on the role entirely, but for Death Note or Bakugan, you just say the lines on the page.
animeprincess Do you always do your dubbing in the studio alone, or are there occasions when you get to interact with the other v.o. actors while dubbing?
Drew Nelson Like I said, most of the time it's you alone, with your headphones on in the sound booth. Occasionally we did twosomes, when the cast dwindled down on TDI. So, for instance, Duncan and Owen would have a scene 4 or 5 pages long, so we were in the booth together playing it out.
BrookeStardust What are the contracts like? Do you have any rights to the distribution of your voice in the recordings? Are you able to use clips that you've spoken for your own personal projects or does that conflict with the production company's ownership?
Drew Nelson Great question. The contracts can be quite substantial! As far as rights, the production company owns the rights to our characters, therefore our voices as well. Unfortunately that's all the info I know regarding that.
BrookeStardust Any idea which programs the industry is using for sound capturing right now? Pro-Tools? Soundbooth Pro? Something else? Does it vary depending on the production company?
Drew Nelson I guess it would vary depending on budget. I would assume it's the industry standard, Pro Tools, but there could be others.
Drew Nelson Depends on the role entirely, but for Death Note or Bakugan, you just say the lines on the page.
animeprincess Do you always do your dubbing in the studio alone, or are there occasions when you get to interact with the other v.o. actors while dubbing?
Drew Nelson Like I said, most of the time it's you alone, with your headphones on in the sound booth. Occasionally we did twosomes, when the cast dwindled down on TDI. So, for instance, Duncan and Owen would have a scene 4 or 5 pages long, so we were in the booth together playing it out.
BrookeStardust What are the contracts like? Do you have any rights to the distribution of your voice in the recordings? Are you able to use clips that you've spoken for your own personal projects or does that conflict with the production company's ownership?
Drew Nelson Great question. The contracts can be quite substantial! As far as rights, the production company owns the rights to our characters, therefore our voices as well. Unfortunately that's all the info I know regarding that.
BrookeStardust Any idea which programs the industry is using for sound capturing right now? Pro-Tools? Soundbooth Pro? Something else? Does it vary depending on the production company?
Drew Nelson I guess it would vary depending on budget. I would assume it's the industry standard, Pro Tools, but there could be others.
Drew Nelson, the Man
Miyamashi Is voice acting your only job, or even your career? What other kinds of jobs have you held/do you hold?
Drew Nelson Yes, acting is absolutely my career, and has been for 11 years now, so there's no turning back... haha. I've done quite a few odd jobs on and off to help pay the bills, however I've been really lucky in that department.
Just this year though, I actually wanted to get a day job, so I'm currently working retail at Hugo Boss. I enjoy having a schedule, and this allows me to focus on my own personal projects on my days off and use them to my full advantage.
orangepunch What are your 'Canadian' problems? (This one comes from my house-mate; she basically described them as things that really annoy you, but in the end are really just trivial. Or trivial things that cause unrest for people who are more privileged than most. For example: "Ugh! The soda machine is out of syrup again, this is so unfair!")
Drew Nelson I gotcha, ummm, for me, I can't stand 'entitled people'. People that love to hear the sound of their own voice in conversations, and can't ever admit that they're in the wrong, things like that.
People who lean on their car horns for a ridiculously long time - while we're talking about driving, tail-gaters... hate 'em! That's all I can think of right now.
I'm a pretty chill guy, so not too much gets under my skin. I've learned throughout the years to not sweat the small stuff.
orangepunch Wammy's orphans, like Matt, have been both in canon and fandom characterized by their eccentric addictions. What is/are your greatest vice(s)?
Drew Nelson Going for brunch, reading magazines, music, grafitti, photography, cereal, the list goes on...
Drew Nelson Yes, acting is absolutely my career, and has been for 11 years now, so there's no turning back... haha. I've done quite a few odd jobs on and off to help pay the bills, however I've been really lucky in that department.
Just this year though, I actually wanted to get a day job, so I'm currently working retail at Hugo Boss. I enjoy having a schedule, and this allows me to focus on my own personal projects on my days off and use them to my full advantage.
orangepunch What are your 'Canadian' problems? (This one comes from my house-mate; she basically described them as things that really annoy you, but in the end are really just trivial. Or trivial things that cause unrest for people who are more privileged than most. For example: "Ugh! The soda machine is out of syrup again, this is so unfair!")
Drew Nelson I gotcha, ummm, for me, I can't stand 'entitled people'. People that love to hear the sound of their own voice in conversations, and can't ever admit that they're in the wrong, things like that.
People who lean on their car horns for a ridiculously long time - while we're talking about driving, tail-gaters... hate 'em! That's all I can think of right now.
I'm a pretty chill guy, so not too much gets under my skin. I've learned throughout the years to not sweat the small stuff.
orangepunch Wammy's orphans, like Matt, have been both in canon and fandom characterized by their eccentric addictions. What is/are your greatest vice(s)?
Drew Nelson Going for brunch, reading magazines, music, grafitti, photography, cereal, the list goes on...
Striped-Tabby I like to read scifi and murder mystery stories. What are some of your favorite things to read, and do you take from that, to inspire your voice acting/acting? And do you recommend any books to read?
Drew Nelson I'm really into grafitti art, so I'm always checking out an artists' blog, or at the bookstore reading a graf book or magazine from, say, Europe.
I admit, I'm a sucker for GQ, Details, FHM, etc. I dig fashion and photography, so it's good for that, as well as decent interviews with major actors I admire. Notably, The Lab Magazine is one of my favorites right now. It's a mag focussed on art, film, music, photography, world issues. Comes out twice a year. It's brilliant - check for it!
'The Hottest State' by Ethan Hawke is a wonderful book, and still one of my favorites to this day. It's a really moving, and honest portrayal of a breakup and depicts it in such a raw and truthful way.
I also read biographies, and self help books occasionally. I'm working on a feature right now, so I just finished a screenwriting book called 'Save the Cat'. Any aspiring writers out there, I encourage you to read this book! Very practical tips, and insight on how to write a structured screenplay.
MRS-Jeevas Is there anything else which you'd like to comment upon, which hasn't been covered here already?
Drew Nelson Just wanted to thank all of you for your ongoing support and getting this interview to me in the first place. It's really flattering to know that all of you dig what I do, and my work's had an affect on you at some point. Take care, and we'll be in touch soon.
Be sure to check for me on Facebook. The Official Drew Nelson Fan Page is your place to post things, make comments, and I keep it updated with all the latest news and announcements!
Drew Nelson I'm really into grafitti art, so I'm always checking out an artists' blog, or at the bookstore reading a graf book or magazine from, say, Europe.
I admit, I'm a sucker for GQ, Details, FHM, etc. I dig fashion and photography, so it's good for that, as well as decent interviews with major actors I admire. Notably, The Lab Magazine is one of my favorites right now. It's a mag focussed on art, film, music, photography, world issues. Comes out twice a year. It's brilliant - check for it!
'The Hottest State' by Ethan Hawke is a wonderful book, and still one of my favorites to this day. It's a really moving, and honest portrayal of a breakup and depicts it in such a raw and truthful way.
I also read biographies, and self help books occasionally. I'm working on a feature right now, so I just finished a screenwriting book called 'Save the Cat'. Any aspiring writers out there, I encourage you to read this book! Very practical tips, and insight on how to write a structured screenplay.
MRS-Jeevas Is there anything else which you'd like to comment upon, which hasn't been covered here already?
Drew Nelson Just wanted to thank all of you for your ongoing support and getting this interview to me in the first place. It's really flattering to know that all of you dig what I do, and my work's had an affect on you at some point. Take care, and we'll be in touch soon.
Be sure to check for me on Facebook. The Official Drew Nelson Fan Page is your place to post things, make comments, and I keep it updated with all the latest news and announcements!
Melissa This isn't a question, I just want to thank you for humoring us crazy fans.
Drew Nelson No, thank you. <3
Drew Nelson No, thank you. <3
