Julie Nathanson – Far Cry 5

By starrymag | June 7, 2018

By: Jay Smith

 

 

Q) With “Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay” and Far Cry 5 did you do your work alone or in a room with other members?

 

A) I worked alone in the initial recording, kept company by the masterful direction of Wes Gleason. During ADR (recording efforts, alternate lines and reads “to picture”); however, I was paired with Cissy Jones, who plays Knockout, so I got to watch her kick ass at the mic. I’m actually a little surprised Wes didn’t need to separate us and put us in detention.

 

All of my recording for Far Cry 5 was solo and that was probably advantageous from an acting perspective. Jess Black has a painful, traumatic history and to get into her mindset I had to go to some pretty dark places. Amanda Wyatt (who directed me as Jess) and I have worked together quite a bit over the years and she did an amazing job guiding me from across the glass to dive deep for this character.

 

Q) How was Far Cry 5 presented to you?

 

A) With a code name and very little identifying information, like most games! Confidentiality is so important to the development process that we often don’t know what game we’ve booked until our first recording session. Of course, I was thrilled when I learned the gig was Far Cry 5. This was my maiden voyage with Ubisoft, and the experience was fantastic. Initially, I did some other voice work for Far Cry 5, but as the character of Jess Black began to take shape the team decided to have me take her on. I was already honored by the offer, but when I read her character description and rich backstory I was even more honored.

 

Q) What’s in your survival kit?

 

A) Dictionary, lemons, Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life,” book on How to Survive Anything At All Ever, empathy, humor, curiosity, hope and gratitude. And probably some water, canned food, and a first-aid kit.

 

Q) Do you play the games you work for?

 

A) I honestly don’t have time!

 

Q) How did you get into voice acting?

 

A) I started out as an on-camera actress and one of my first gigs was on a soap opera. This was long before “don’t read the comments” became sound advice, so I read the comments. One person wrote something that changed my life: “Julie’s real pretty and all, but I have to turn off the volume on my TV because it’s like ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ have invaded my living room!” My immediate reaction – because I am a human being – was to be insulted, but a millisecond later I thought, “Huh. I’m gonna go make money on that.” I was already represented by CESD Talent Agency (where I still have the good fortune to be repped today) for on-camera commercials and I asked to meet with the voiceover department. I explained that in addition to all of my acting studies, I was a classically-trained singer with a good deal of vocal versatility and I had a feeling voiceover would be a good match. They sent me on my first audition – doing promos for Lifetime Television – and I booked the gig. It was an ongoing, weekly job, and it paid my rent for a year. And it was so much fun. I fell in love with VO and never looked back.

 

Q) Who has given you the best advice with voice acting and could you share that with us?

 

A) The first thing that jumps to mind is the exchange I had with June Foray when I met her, mere weeks before her passing. A friend took me to her home so that I could thank her for all she had done to pave the way for female voice actors like myself. Her fearless humor, drive, grace and versatility remain hugely inspiring to me. She began her voice acting career in radio and cartoons in the late 1930s/early 1940s. So, I asked her, “How did you know it was okay for a woman to be funny?” And she replied, “It was born in me. A woman can do anything. It was never a question.”

 

Q) Dream voiceover job/goal? 

 

A) Forgive my sparkly, rainbow, wide-eyed response here, but my dream is to continue exactly what I’m doing. I love playing a wide variety of characters across so many platforms and, for the most part, I treat every audition as an exciting new goal. More specifically, I’d love to do more singing in cartoons and carry a really badass player character in a game. Oooo and more MoCap. That’s really fun.

 

Q) Dream voiceover costars?

 

A) Kermit and Miss Piggy.

 

Q) Do you prefer video game or movie/television voice over work?

 

A) Yes. I prefer all of it, all of the time.

 

Q) Any hints about your next project? 

 

A) Actually, in the coming weeks, I’m releasing a cover of Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up,” which is one of my favorite songs! And later this year, I’ll release an original song, a lullaby. I’ll post updates on my Twitter (@julie_nathanson), Instagram (@julie_nathanson), and website (julienathanson.com).

 

In general, I’m both respectful and terrified of NDAs, so I’ll just say that I’m extremely psyched to be a part of some extremely cool projects I am not at liberty to discuss. Ugh, that sounds like such a cop-out! But it’s true.

 

I recently recorded one of the funniest characters I’ve ever voiced for “The Bravest Knight,” which is an upcoming Hulu series and you can catch me as the Computer voice on the hilarious “Dallas and Robo” on YouTube Red.

 

Q) Would you take Silver Banshee’s or Jewelee’s powers?

 

A) I mean, look, in real life I’d want powers that help and heal and make people happy. But if you’re asking whether I’d rather have my power reside in my voice or in a gemstone…I’m a voice actor. I’ll take Silver Banshee’s powerful voice any day!

 

Q) How did the roles for Jewelee and Silver Banshee come about? Did you go for both parts or just one?

 

A) I was actually lucky enough to be offered both roles.

 

Q) How long was the process for your scenes?

 

A) I believe we did the initial recording for both roles in a single, four-hour session.

 

Q) What have been some of your favorite projects to be a part of?

 

A) I have trouble with questions like these because I want to list all of them! Okay, I’ll pick two lesser-known projects. I did a wonderful movie called Throne of Elves and the art is extraordinarily beautiful. My fingers remain crossed that it will come out in the United States sometime soon. And years ago, after voicing many MySims games, I was asked to come up to EA and help develop a specific new sound for the Simlish we would be using for The Sims Medieval. Another Sims actor and I played with various accents and Simlish variants for many hours in the booth, until the team had what they needed. It was so much fun, and frankly, a huge honor to be invited into that part of the creative process.

 

Q) Do you prefer adult or children voice over content?

 

A) Yes, all of it! I love being part of a cartoon for younger audiences, like “Sofia the First” or “Elena of Avalor” or “Shimmer and Shine.” I love being a badass villain like Crimson Widow on Marvel’s “Avengers Assemble.” I love playing Jess Black, with all of her dark history and painful present. And I love being a part of the adult humor of “Dallas and Robo.” I absolutely love the variety.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the work you do? 

 

A) Thank you – from the bottom of my heart – for your kindness, laughter, connection, and support. Your light matters. Thanks for sharing it with me!

 

 

Additional Photo Info:

Stylist: Simona Sacchitella

Hair + Makeup: Muamera Pulic