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The Magnus Protocol Cast AMA

Added 2024-04-04 15:00:11 +0000 UTC

A few weeks ago, we asked you to submit your burning questions for Anusia Battersby, Billie Hindle, Lowri Ann Davies and Shahan Hamza now that we are ten episodes into the first season of The Magnus Protocol. Here are their responses!

Billie Hindle

What do you think Alice likes to do in her spare time?

Does she have any hobbies or past-times? Oh, I think she deffo reads comics and spends copious amounts of time on Tumblr and Reddit. She also really strikes me as somebody who still religiously plays her PS2 and Nintendo 64 that she’s had for years. She has a PS5 that is gathering dust as a result. I think she also has started writing about 50 different screenplays that she never finished.

What’s your favourite scenes you’ve recorded as Alice so far?

First place definitely has to be the two scenes from episode 10. Alice and Sam go to a place and do a thing! But seriously, those scenes were so great to record because I just knew the sound design on them was going to be PEAK and working with Shahan to make it sound as realistic as possible with all the stumbling, fumbling and physical action was a really cool challenge that I feel we nailed with the help of Alex and April.

I also have really, really enjoyed the scenes where Alice and Gwen have little bouts of bitterness towards each-other. I feel Anusia and I have some of the best chemistry I have ever experienced with a co-star. I still think to this day my favourite line I’ve recorded is from episode two. “Gwen. GWEN. GWEEEEEENNNN.”

If you met the character you played in real life, would you get along with them?

Hmm… tough one. I think I could tolerate Alice but I’m not gonna lie, If I had to work with her as much as Gwen has had to… I think she’d get on my nerves. I wouldn’t dislike her, she is a decent little bean deep down, but I’d look at the rota, see her name and think “oh great…”

Do you have any advice for someone who is trying to get into voice acting but doesn’t have any formal experience?

Ok, buckle up! This’ll be a long one! But I shall try to help as best as I can. So, I am mainly a theatre and film actor by trade. That’s what I was trained in and what I have spent most of my career doing, but I always really wanted to do voice acting and there has been a distinct lack of emphasis on it around here where I’m based (North West England.) There’s a lot of advert/commercial voice over opportunities but very few things like cartoons and audio dramas. What I am really saying here is, before Magnus, I had basically no formal experience either! I will check myself and say I think I’ve been somewhat lucky being in the right place at the right time sometimes, however, even before Magnus I began making a name for myself in voice acting in online spaces.

How did I do this? Well, the power of the internet CANNOT be overstated these days for voice acting. I bought a microphone, stand, shock absorber and pop filter (I started out with a Behringer C-1 but moved up to an AudioTechnica AT2020+ USB, which is what I still use for Magnus!) and uploaded videos to YouTube of me doing impressions of famous characters. These garnered some interest and I was invited to voice in fan content that had some of those characters in. Before Magnus I was largely known for my work on Eddsworld fan animations. I understand impressions are not everybody’s forte, but what you can do is upload videos demonstrating your vocal range and performance skills. YouTube, X (Twitter) and Tiktok are great places to get noticed doing this and also great places to find auditions for jobs that don’t pay. Maybe even some that do pay! But at the start it’s easier to get unpaid roles.

I know doing jobs that don’t pay may sound counterproductive, but it really isn’t! This is how many of us start out! Much like acting in short student films, voicing in unpaid projects at first is a brilliant way to start making a name for yourself and grow a catalogue of content to put together into a voice acting reel.

Make yourself a reel with this content, or write some scenes and perform them for a reel, then you will find it easier to graduate to more work and, finally, work that pays. Upload your reel to websites like Mandy.com and various voice acting boards as well as YouTube, Tiktok and X (Twitter) and you’ll grow your fanbase and employability.

I’m living proof that starting out this way can lead to big things. Don’t look down on unpaid work or fan work, get a decent microphone and set up, upload your reel here, there and everywhere and find auditions on websites like voice acting boards, YouTue and X (Twitter). Once you’ve done some projects it gets easier to find work. Through doing Magnus I have been approached by various directors asking me to audition or offering a role flat out. It takes a long time, sometimes years, but it is so worth it!

Which is your favourite? Norris, Chester or Augustus?

Chester! Why? Because Jon is my favourite character in TMA and I absolutely love his voice to bits. So any case read out by him is music to my ears.

Who would win in a fight? Your character or an angry goose?

Pfft. Alice would befriend said goose and then team up with it to harass Gwen. “Didn’t you hear, Gwendolyn? It’s bring your goose to work day!”

Is cereal soup?

Definitely not.

What’s been your favourite case so far?

So, I am a history nerd and I am always a sucker for the ones set quite some time in the past. Even though Chester is my favourite voice, it has to be said that my favourite case is the one read by Augustus in Episode 4. The violin that demands blood! Absolutely chilling!

(Needles is in second because, well… Needles. Best boi.)

What does the OIAR staff eat on their “lunch” breaks?

Alice: Pot noodle. And she doesn’t even wait for the noodles to soften or for it to cool down.

Sam: Bland, neatly cut sandwiches that he prepared at home, an apple, a packet of ready salted crisps and a bottle of orange juice.

Gwen: Salad nicoise or some other bougie stuff. Alice mocks it whilst she chews her pot noodle.

Lena: She doesn’t.

Colin: Cold, left over, veggie feast pizza.

Celia: Tesco meal deal. Specifically falafel and hummus wrap, hula hoops and a Ribena.

Give us one word to describe the rest of the season.

Phenomenal

Shahan Hamza

Do you have anything that inspires how you voice/play as Sam?

Absolutely! It’s a bit of a weird mix, but the aspects of a few characters all come into my prep work and mind and before/during recording- Viktor (Aracne), Aang (The Last Airbender), Edward Elric (Full Metal Alchemist), Freddie McClair (Skins).

How is working on this project different from working on Trice Forgotten?

Nemo and Johnny’s character writing, and Alex and Rafaella’s directing styles are totally different, though for the latter it's hard to single out specifics.

I guess Trice Forgotten was both a slice of life and an adventure, I felt the themes of found family and Siva’s development from past worldview were aspects that we explored a lot throughout recording sessions. Rafaella did a great job of helping me root Siva in the situations unfolding around him. Siva’s starting point felt a lot more established, and so it was more about building up from there at a fast pace.

On the flipside, I’m still figuring Sam out myself, and I don’t think that’s a process that has an endpoint. Every session I’m left with more questions about him than answers (This is a positive). Alex is a wizard when it comes to articulating redirection into questions that help me process Sam’s thoughts in a way that I wouldn’t initially think of, and that makes a huge difference to the delivery and adding nuance to the character.

What's your favourite horror movie? If you don't have one, are there any movies that hold a special place in your heart? (If so, why?)

Perfect Blue. It's the only piece of media that I’ve loved that I haven't rewatched. I’ve just googled the run time and can’t believe it was only 1 Hour 20 minutes long. It felt endless, like I was trapped in it, not at all in a boring way (see ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’).

We see in the show that Alice has a lot of ways of describing Sam and his personality. What words would you use to describe Sam?

Intelligent, Inquisitive, Determined, Temperamental. Normal sized arms.

How many episodes of The Magnus Archives have you listened to now?

I’m only at episode 14, I’m absolutely loving it and can’t wait to have more time to binge it.

If you met the character you played in real life, would you get along with them?

For sure. At least to start with. He seems like a pretty straightforward, friendly guy on the surface.

Do you have any advice for someone who is trying to get into voice acting but doesn't have any formal experience?

Play around, practise and be patient. Getting coaching and recording voice reels is an investment, and the time and money required a lot of the time isn’t something easy to come by.

Pulling out your phone while watching a show and recording yourself doing a line or two in your own way, reading bedtime stories aloud, that sort of stuff is easy and convenient, and it’s a great way to train yourself over time to be observant and constructively critical of yourself.

Twitter is a great spot to find casting calls for Voice over work. Joining facebook groups for University courses/societies that have animation/film and tv departments is a great way to get involved with projects, network and learn.

Who would win in a fight your character or a large angry goose?

A small, slightly annoyed goose would demolish both me and Sam, I dread to think what a large angry one would do.

What does the OIAR staff eat on their “lunch” breaks?

Sam is a Hummus and breadstick kinda guy, yano the sort of thing where you can carry on with what you're doing while you munch. I imagine Alice to be a prawn cocktail sandwich and prawn cocktail crisps (inside the sandwich of course) type of gal. I don’t know if Gwen or Lena eat. They might see it as a sign of weakness. I’d like to think Gwen sneaks off and demolishes a 15 inch pizza, 4 wings and chips in secret, but who knows.

Give us one word to describe the rest of the season.

RuhRohRaggy

Anusia Battersby

Seeing as Gwen and Alice are very different, which would you rather have as a co-worker in real life?

I’d rather have Alice as a co-worker, because at least she would lighten the mood (which the OIAR desperately needs). I think I’d feel very awkward around Gwen – I’d be convinced that she hated me.

I also get on very well with Billie, who is a JOY to have as a co-worker, so I may be a little biased.

If you met the character you played in real life, would you get along with them?

In spite of my answer to the previous question seemingly already having answered this one, I’m not entirely sure. It’s very strange trying to determine whether I’d get on with Gwen when I know her so well, and am acutely aware of what makes her behave in the way she does. I’m far more sympathetic (and empathetic!) towards her as a character I’m playing than I would be if I met her in real life.

I think I would try to be as lovely to her as possible in an attempt to get her to open up, but I’m not sure whether I would ultimately succeed.

Do you have any advice for someone who is trying to get into voice acting but doesn’t have any formal experience?

In terms of auditions: e-mail people, keep an eye on social media, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

In terms of training: sites like Gravy for the Brain have been very useful for me personally. Look for any local voice actor meet-ups too, and PRACTISE! Get some extracts and get them on your Spotlight, if you have one. There’s nothing like trying out new things and being able to show your range (and your strengths) to those who are looking to cast projects.

Who would win in a fight, your character or a large angry goose?

I mean ... who won out of Gwen and Bonzo? I think the answer would be pretty much the same.

What do you think your character’s go-to tea/coffee would be?

Gwen makes tea in Episode 2, so she seems to be avoiding the OIAR coffee, but I reckon she’d enjoy a really nice mocha on occasion. I find good coffee very comforting, and I definitely feel like she could do with that. The odd herbal tea or two wouldn’t go amiss either, I reckon.

How did you “find” your character as you were acting?

I’ve never really envisioned Gwen as an entity (not a hint) outside of myself, which is lovely really (and quite rare, I think). It definitely helps when it comes to embodying her in recording sessions, as I don’t have to reach for her in the same way as I’ve had to with other characters I’ve played. She was a character that I felt I instantly knew the essence of the moment I auditioned, even if I didn’t know the details (and even if some of the details have ended up making her very different from myself).

Don’t get me wrong, I still used to annotate scripts half to death and ask poor Alex half a dozen questions per session, but I’ve found I don’t need to do that as much any more as I’ve got to know her better. It helps that he’s the kind of director who knows exactly what to tell you to get you to where he knows you need to be (in my case, the advice was “just be worse”), so that made it easier too.

If your character played TTRPGs, what kind of player do you think they would be?

Gwen would absolutely be a rules lawyer who knows every guide backwards. She’d play an edgy character with a dark past who would want nothing to do with the rest of the party, but the minute combat started she would be the ultimate strategist and just utterly eviscerate every single enemy in her path. She would hate RP, but adore showing off with maths.

What pets does/would your character have, and what would they name them?

I’d still like Gwen to have a tortoise. She’d probably name it something like Ozymandias in an attempt to be clever, but I also quite like the idea that she might just go for Shelley.

On a more practical level? A cat, but I’m not sure what she’d name them. Maybe something that would continue the convention of cats having ranks ...

What does the OIAR staff eat on their “lunch” breaks?

Gwen eats a very depressing sandwich. I reckon Sam eats nutritious food that he’s constantly trying to make more exciting, and Alice lives on Pot Noodles and microwavable pasta (not knocking it at all – they’ve been a lifesaver for me after late shifts). Colin eats wires and everyone pretends it’s normal, and Lena consumes any joy she happens to come across (and chocolate cake, of course). Celia has her little doughnuts (good for her).

Give us one word to describe the rest of the season.

Thrilling (yes, even more than a merry-go-round. Sorry Jonathan).

Lowri Ann Davies

If given the chance, would you personally go on a field trip to roam around in the ruins of the Magnus Institute?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I am a huge scaredy-cat and this sounds like a nightmare!

If you met the character you played in real life, would you get along with them?

I think I would!

Do you have any advice for someone who is trying to get into voice acting but doesn’t have any formal experience?

Hmm, there are so many different ways to go about it. I think a few solid things to do are practice, listen to the kinds of shows you’d like to be in, and make sure you know where to find casting calls.

PRACTICE - record and edit yourself, maybe using excerpts from shows you like. Audacity is free recording & editing software and a great place to experiment with that, or even use your phone to start. This is great for getting used to hearing your voice, discovering vocal habits you have, working out if there are areas you want to work on, and will mean you have experience recording yourself when auditions do come up.

LISTENING TO SHOWS – it’s a great way to get to know the lay of the land of the industry you want to get into! I’d say pay attention to who creates the shows as well, who produced them, who directed, who edited. These are all people who are currently working in the space you’d like to be in, and hopefully will be producing more work that you can audition for.

CASTING CALLS - As for finding auditions, in the UK there are sites like Spotlight and Mandy which are places people advertise castings. They are usually behind a pay wall, if this is right for you, great, but please only give money to reputable companies. PLEASE DON’T PAY ANYONE FOR THE PRIVALIGE OF AUDITIONING! Same goes for “agencies” or “casting directors” who ask you for money. This is not the norm and they are taking advantage of people!

Anyway, moving on from my safety announcement....

Mandy does have a free version, where you only have access to applying for unpaid work. Unpaid work can be great as a place to start out, a good place to build up a voice reel, and even meet people who are creating that you could maybe collaborate with. I found it can be hard to say no and end up overloading yourself, so I would say always ask yourself what this job is going to give you. For me it needed to, provide one of the following;

Voicereel material
Contacts
Joy!

Also, auditions are often posted on social media, so make sure to follow the creators of the shows you love there.

What has been the best moment for you in recording the series so far?

Mine is from a scene that hasn’t been released yet, so I can’t give specifics, but it involved Celia meeting a new person, and I got goosebumps from playing opposite the performer!

What’s your favourite episode/scene that we’ve seen so far?

Mine is the final moments of episode 10. I gasped out loud when I read the script!

Who would win in a fight, your character or a large angry goose?

Celia.

What do you think your character smells like?

I thought about this for waaaay too long. I’d say some kind of musk-based scent.

Favourite fruit combination for a smoothie?

Me or Celia? Mine would maybe involve mint and cucumber, Celia I’ll say a mango and passionfruit.

What does the OIAR staff eat on their “lunch” breaks?

Sam – Sandwich grabbed from the same shop, every day

Alice – Choco Leibnitz and maybe a few sneaky bites of Gwen’s lunch

Gwen – Something homemade, maybe involving leftovers from dinner