LCVO

Luis hasn't just added more work to his Tagalog demo, he's trimmed it to exactly 60 seconds as well. Please take a minute to listen, and tell us what you think. And while you're there, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thanks! youtu.be/5dHgngwTDwQ

Wanna know the difference between ABCABC and AABBCC takes in auditions? This graphic might help.

[1/9] This one goes out to the people casting for their projects... please put a little more effort into them. Please normalize being upfront about details of the project, as well as you and your company. Be specific and transparent in your casting calls.

[1/24] A colleague recently shared a story wherein he was undercut by a fellow voice actor who charged a tiny fraction of the standard rates locally. So while I was planning to tweak this (series of) post(s) and save it for 2026, I'm putting it out now. Yeah, I got triggered.

The White Vault: Goshawk is back, and so is Kidlat Tolentino (voiced by @luiscruz). Will he make it past the first episode?

Hey! I'm a remote capable voice actor doing work in both 🇺🇸 English and 🇵🇭 Tagalog. I'd love to help you tell your story, whether it's a commercial, video game, audio drama, or anything else. Details below: 🔗 linktr.ee/luis.cruz 🌐 lcvoiceover.com

Hey! Need a voice for your video game, audio drama, film, or anything else? I'd love to help you out. Take a few moments to check out my reel, and lemme know if I can help you tell your story. Links, site, and reel below: 🔗 linktr.ee/luis.cruz 🌐 lcvoiceover.com

TLDR: While everyone is waiting for big AI companies to get sued, the real concern is how much of your business, brand, and future livelihood is built on the unstable foundation companies created while quietly passing all the risk onto you. One detail that is often overlooked in discussions about AI can be found in the terms of use for each tool. Generative AI service providers often delegate responsibility to the USER to not violate copyright law, presumably because they believe it frees themselves from any moral obligations or responsibility. Here's an example from OpenAI: "You may provide input to the Services (“Input”), and receive output from the Services based on the Input (“Output”). Input and Output are collectively “Content.” You are responsible for Content, including ensuring that it does not violate any applicable law or these Terms. You represent and warrant that you have all rights, licenses, and permissions needed to provide Input to our Services." At some point, USERS need to become more concerned about how they adopt these tools because they are the ones who can (and will) get sued. The companies already laid that out clearly, and acceptance is implied by your use of a tool. Generative AI tools can and do create derivative copies (which is protected by copyright law) of whatever data was used to train their models. This acknowledgement also appears in the terms of use: "Due to the nature of our Services and artificial intelligence generally, output may not be unique and other users may receive similar output from our Services." The "uniqueness" is not random coincidence. It occurs quite often when a model reproduces fragments of its underlying training dataset (which often includes copyright-protected works). What USERS need to start recognizing is that THEY are liable for what inputs are provided and how outputs are used within existing law. If you use AI-generated content that turns out to be an obvious derivative work (or an exact clone) then you are just opening yourself up to a lawsuit. It likely won't be big companies either, but they absolutely can. If you want to know more then you should read up on how arbitration works where you live (because you agreed to that too). The excuse I have heard a lot: "but everybody is doing it." I'm not a lawyer, but I'm willing to believe that this defense does not hold up well in any court system. Personally, I cannot blame a single person who would consider generative AI use as radioactive because of the inherent risks that have been placed on its USERS who unknowingly build things on such unstable ground. All other aspects aside, it's just extra risk that is 100% avoidable.

VO Tip: As you read scripts, underline or encircle important phrases, write down pronunciations and instructions, and basically, map out directions for how to read your copy. These marks help you bring your script to life. Do you do this already? How do you annotate your scripts?

@JamesHartVA Ack! MATTRESS fort! Not mistress fort.

@JamesHartVA Housekeeping might get pretty annoyed with you, but a mistress fort can do wonders. A pillow fort could work as well, and will probably be easier to build. instagram.com/p/CQGxlNxhs58/

Hey!! Would still love to know if anyone has any recommendations for makeshift travel recording spaces 😄🎤🛠️

I spend most of my time locked alone in a padded (and thankfully air-conditioned) room, where I have conversations with imaginary people. It's fun being a #voiceactor

@MiaPaigeVA Hi, Mia! I (@luiscruz) would love to be considered for this if I fit any of the roles

✨Casting Call✨ I’m casting for a paid, non-union video game! $100 flat-rate per character✨ 18 roles availsble✨ No AI, POC and disabled folks are encouraged to submit! Please drop your demo reels below, and I’ll reach out for auditions💕

Learn more here: Indie rates guide - voiceactingclub.com/rates/ Industry standard guide - globalvoiceacademy.com/gvaa-rate-guid…

Remember: Industry standard for Voice Acting for games is $250/hour (2 hours minimum) Otherwise, for INDIE GAMES, your starting rate is up to you, but typically $3/line with $100 minimum Mine is personally for INDIE only is $4/line with $150 minimum or $200/hour directed

A new player enters the game.❄️Please welcome Luis Cruz (@luiscruz) as the voice of The White Vault's newest addition, survivalist and guide Kidlat Tolentino. We're excited to work with Luis and to hear the talent he brings to Kidlat's character. Stay warm out there!

Since I've been seeing the TTS discussion again for Voice Actors, here's some stuff about AI that I put together for NAVA last year. Definitely recommend visiting their site for more AI content & safety.

I've posted it elsewhere, but I forgot to post it here. So here it is: my new character demo, masterfully crafted by the @DemoReelForge

I (@luiscruz) had a ton of fun recording my character demo with @DaveSoltura over at the @DemoReelForge, and think it's obvious in this clip. This take was far from perfect, but it's still one of my favorites 'coz it was the first one in which the character felt fully-formed.

When your next door neighbors are starting construction on their house, recording at home gets a bit difficult. instagram.com/reel/C4ezt_iPX…

@vanillevela Wonderful! This is just the first of many, right?

I just recorded in my new home studio and I really felt my passion for acting reinvigorating 🥺 I don’t have any furniture yet so I sat on the carpet and it feels comfy and familiar cause that’s how I recorded from my bedroom floor to my mom’s walk-in closet, and now to this. 🥺