My go-to narrator, Soraya Butler, has left the field of audiobooks ;_; I really appreciated her work but now it means I have a new opening. It is for my upcoming YA dark fantasy/horror novel of 43,000 words, The Harlequin. It is ballparked to be about 4-5 complete audio hours. You’re free to read a snippet of it here (that’s not the audition sheet, by the way. Details about that below). And yes, the work is paid union standard audiobook rates of $250-300 Per Finished Hour (PFH), but pay is genuinely negotiable. Also, I take union and non-union actors because you can’t become union unless you have credits of some sort under your belt – and money, these unions cost a lot to join. Some may not be a fan of these choices but, frankly, I’m not a fan of those current systems.
I recognize not everyone is on the African American Voice Actor Database (AAVADB) or on Voices of Color (VoC, previously “People of the Global Majority Voice Over List” or “PGM VO” for short), which is where I usually go to find my narrators. If you are a Black narrator, I super recommend being on both sites. If you are a narrator of color, I super recommend being on PGM. Especially if you are a queer narrator of color. And fill out your profile fully!!!! Including website/soundcloud/etc. No one can hire you if they can’t hear what you sound like. Demo reels are essential.
Yes, there is the site Backstage but A) not everyone is on that, either B) I hate that site with a bloody passion, it’s so frustrating to use C) I get a deluge of White actors who basically showcase that they can’t. Follow. Directions. This is not a role for White actors, try Marvel or DC. I only hire narrators of color because I need someone who can do the job, not flounder about with skills they don’t have, have an entitled attitude I don’t need, and expect a check after. I try to be easygoing about the work but it is still work. And I rather give opportunity to those who are commonly iced out and overlooked systemically, not folks who main issue keeping them out of a role is because Chris Evans, Scarlet Johansson and Leonardo DiCaprio are still breathing. I have already written about this ad nauseam so long story very short – I want narrators of color only.
I recognize that not all actors of color get the same amount of nice union-certified roles that White actors do. Plus, some actors of color are one-person-productions on TikTok or Youtube. They are still actors. And I still want them to apply. Everyone starts somewhere and I nor the world have any idea if you’re the next Idris Elba or Laverne Cox if you don’t have a role to showcase your talent in.
The accents I am especially looking for:
- Heavy New York City (Bronx, to be exact)
- Detroit, regular accent
- Chicago, regular accent
- Not location accent based but I also need regal & lofty.
The story follows a teen girl but I do need both male and female voice ability, from young to old. My style of audiobook narration for my works is “emotive”. I want character voices and emotion. How I see it is that people pay money for audiobooks and audiobooks usually are pretty long so at the very minimum, they ought to get a show. Emoting is important to me.
Black female narrators only. That includes transwomen and non-binary, I want them to apply also. Same for darker skinned narrators, please apply because colorism is a problem in acting also. I’m not the Disney channel, I would love to have darker skinned actors because I don’t see them as much as I would like. It means I have an actor to return to again and again (the more range and versatility you have for diverse roles, the more I am likely to hire you) and I really love that. You get more jobs, I get less work, life is beautiful.
How to apply? Use the Contact Me form below and mention “Harlequin auditions” so you can get your audition sheet and don’t forget to show me a site that has your demos. It can be a dedicated site, it can be a youtube channel, it can be a soundcloud page, I don’t care as long as I can hear your voice. If you lack one, you will still get an audition packet but I super stress that you have some little corner on the internet where you can showcase your talents.
If you are a Non-Black Narrator of Color who applies, I will let you know that this wasn’t the role to apply for (paying attention to directions is a MUST for me) but if it is actually a half decent audition, I may shelve your audition for a later, suitable work. May. I also may not. Depends on my mood and your skill – and if your skill can top the fact my mood is soured from someone not following directions. Don’t risk it. If you just want to be on my radar, simply say so (Example: “I know I can’t apply for this role but I’d love for you to see work I have done”) and leave me your site. I assure you I do bookmark and check those throughout the year regularly. And will be checking social medias thoroughly (as I do for everyone who works for me) because I’m not interested in picking up an Awkwafina or Lily Singh type either.
If you are a White narrator who applies, just like last time, you’re permanently blacklisted from MMP, for all audio and audio-visual productions related to my works and me. That means even if any of my works become film or a game, stay home on casting day because if a White actor somehow is needed, it won’t be you. Again, I am not a fan of people who can’t follow directions (do you know many directors and producers who are?) and you are actively taking roles from people who get less opportunities than you on a systemic level. Unless you can out-act Sir Ian McKellen or outdo Tom Hank’s monologue in Philadelphia, go be an entitled jerk elsewhere, Hollywood is already full of them. I cannot stress it enough. Yes, the amount of overall roles are declining but most of them are still getting filled by White actors, so you still have a better shot systemically and statistically, than your actor of color counterparts. Plus, the acting I need is one that require realistic ability, not Imagined Black English or verbal blackface. I want an audition of acting skill, not of how you’re going to be difficult to work with. Read and find a different role elsewhere to audition for.
Thank you all. Auditions will be open until Winter Solstice (Dec 21). Again, please use the Contact Me form below to request an audition packet. Do not forget to include your demo reel site if you have one.
MultiMind Publishing 
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