Hey, this interview was with Tiffany Grant, she was the voice actor of Auska from the show "Neon Genesis", we call them interviews questions because we do not ask them in person. Again we thank Tiffany Grant for her time. Now on with the questions!
(Jessica) 1. Why did you start up voice acting?
(Tiffany Grant)I have been an actor most of my life (mainly theatre), so when a friend heard about ADV's first auditions in Jan. '94, he thought I'd be interested. I figured : "why not?" - so I went. I was the first VA they hired & the project was "Guy - Double Target". It seemed like it might be fun (it was), and since I'd always wanted to do something with my voice, it also seemed like a natural thing to do.
(Jessica)2.Did, or do You have a hero or someone to look up to?
(Tiffany Grant)Ah! Great question! Also, one I don't usually get. As a little girl in the early seventies, I was an avid fan of Speed Racer and last year had the opportunity to meet the man behind it all. Peter Fernandez (now seventy-something) wrote, directed and produced all the American episodes of the original Speed Racer series as well as voicing both Speed and Racer X. It was a true pleasure and honor to meet him, and I would say he is one of my biggest heroes - even more so now that I have actually met him.
(Jessica) 3.What do you think of when people are looking up at you, thinking "wow shes great! I want to learn how to be a voice actor now!"
(Tiffany Grant)It is really awe inspiring to me. I mean, I am just regular person living my life and I happen to be a voice actor. Then, once in a while, particularly when I am at a convention, I think: "I have the opportunity to do something that hundreds - if not thousands - of people would LOVE to do!" That really blows my mind. I guess most people tend to take their own situation for granted and not question it too much, bu ti think I am very luckly to have the opportunity to do something I really love.
(Jessica)4.Have you ever tryed to act for a t.v show or a film?
(Tiffany Grant)In Texas, there is VERY little TV produced. We have "Walker, Texas Ranger" and "Barney" - both out of Dallas. Okay, they are both awful, but I'd love to work on either one. There are several films - both features and made for TV - shot here every year. My credits include "Rocket Man" (they cut my scene, but I was WAY in the background anyway), "Arlington Road" (I am prominently featured as a grad student in Jeff Bridges' class), "Laughing Boy" (a low budget independent film not yet released - I have a prinicipal role) and "Four Deep" (another independent now available on a limited video release - a really bad movie in which I play a reporter near the end of the film).
(Tiffany Grant)Basically, I would love to do more on-camera work (I have also done a few industrial training videos and commercials), but one of the problems is my size. At five feet tall, I don't usually meet up to the expectations of casting directors & directors for most projects. But that's why voice over work is so great - it doesn't matter WHAT you look like!
(Jessica)5.How did you get picked to play Auska in the Anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion"? Was there a lot of people trying out for her?
(Tiffany Grant)Well, I had been working for ADV for three years before voicing the role that would gain me so much attention. Since the director at ADV was already quite familiar with my work, he cast me in the part. It didn't hurt that I already spoke German! As far as I know, no one else was ever considered for the part, and there were no auditions.
(Jessica)6.Did you ever walk into the studio when you were going to get some recording done, did you ever get scared?
(Tiffany Grant)Not really, Jessica. I guess I don't see what I would have to be afraid of. Actually, I find the familiarity of the booth very comforting usually.