My Sister's Friends Next Door:
Skye Mcintyre moves to her stepsister's apartment to spend time with her sister and at the same time be comfortable with being near the university she's enrolled in. On her time there, she meets her sisters group of friends and eventually spends time with them as they guide her go through college life.
About My Sister's Friends Next Door
Is the debut web series of Jessi Tayylor. It started out as a college draft and now it has come to life. The pilot episode was a bit messy but there are always improvements in every new episode release.
Let us get to know the woman behind Emily's voice!
Tori plays the role of Emily James and has been present since Episode 1 of the series. Emily is the big sister of the lead main character, Skye, and one of the main characters of the show. While she and Skye has a different mother, she is very protective of Skye and she will do anything to make Skye's college experience the best one.
Jessi: Tell us more about yourself.
Tori: My name is Tori Wiegers. I grew up in Kansas City, so no, it wasn’t at some place in the middle of nowhere. I grew up on anime. Video games taught me how to read. My nana used to sit and guide me through games like Custom Robo.
Jessi: Have you always thought about being a voice artist, like a childhood dream, discovered along the way or just recently?
Tori: I have not always wanted to be a voice over artist. After a while, I began to realize there are actors in a booth behind every animated scene. Whether it’s in a studio or their home set up. I wonder how the actors gave specific deliveries, what steps it took for them to get there, how the director got them to that point. After appreciating that art form, I wanted to learn more about it.
Jessi: Have you had a first project before? Can you tell us more about your experience and the project?
Tori: My most recent project was an indie game that has not yet released. It was a live directed part, and didn’t take too long. I played a girl who was fed up with the antics of her classmates and basically exploded from anger.
Jessi: How does it feel to hear your voice after watching the final product of the project?
Tori: If you don’t like your voice and find it cringe, you probably shouldn’t be in voice over. The end result of a project always makes me ecstatic. It’s fun to see the end game and everyone’s hard work come together. Any project that’s approved by the producer will always make me proud.
Jessi: Were you inspired by someone?
Tori: I’m inspired by a lot of anime voice actors. Namely, Elizabeth Maxwell. She actually told me to check out this program called EdgeSudio. With EdgeStudio, I’ve studied voice acting under Kara Edwards (voice of Goten) and Jennifer Sims (commercial world). Also with Elizabeth’s suggestion, I’ve also taken classes with Kalmenson & Kalmenson in Burbank, California.
Jessi: Do you review, analyze or judge voice acting work when you watch animated/cartoon movies?
Tori: I absolutely analyze every animated work I watch. After learning voice acting, it’s hard not to get out of that mindset. I always wonder what it was like in the booth to deliver certain lines. What kind of headspace the actor was in, how they prepared for that one big moment. And sometimes, it’s the tiny moments in a show that are the hardest to convey.
Jessi: Do you get the role you applied for or do you receive a different character from the one you applied to?
Tori: I get offered different characters from my auditions a lot. It’s something along the lines of “I like your voice, but I think it will fit this character instead. I look forward to your interpretation of this character.” Or, I won’t get a part at all, and hear back months later about a new project, and they remembered my previous audition, so they will seek me out.
Jessi: How do you prepare for an audition? Background, props, practice?
Tori: I imagine a ‘who, what, when, where, why’ scenario. Who is my character talking to? What did that person just say that would make my character reply in such a way? When was this said, morning or evening? Are they outside in a park or in a car? Why is this scene taking place? A lot of auditions don’t give this much detail, but you have to be creative to make a character real. Also, Kara Edwards told me this so take it to heart she knows what she’s talking about: don’t send your first, second, third, or fourth auditions. Send your fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth. You will get more parts the more you think about a script.
Jessi: How do you practice the script? Do you practice before recording?
Tori: I typically say the lines out loud several times, pause, and really think about it. I throw the characters in that who, what, when, where, who, why scenario. If the script doesn’t give emotion direction, I try out different emotions, and pick the one that fits the script best.
Jessi: Any favorite projects you've had before? Can you tell us more about it?
Tori: There is this one project I’m particularly proud of, but it hasn’t been announced yet. All I can say is that it’s a continuation of a cartoon series. Being live directed has been a ton of fun and I’m excited to see our hard work hopefully hit Netflix within the next few years.
Jessi: What accents, dialects can you do?
Tori: I tend to stay away from accents since I’m not confident in them. But I am okay at a southern accent thanks to my very southern mother. I will no typically try out for those auditions, but should the need arise, I do my best.
Jessi: What characters do you usually apply for and why?
Tori: From all my voice over mentors so far, they describe my voice as a ‘gal pal.’ So I will typically try out for a bubbly schoolgirl. My voice can also go low, which fits the stereotypical badass type. Think of a soldier who wants revenge. This also allows me to voice little boys. I used to not like how low my voice can go, but it’s definitely an advantage now.
What about you? Do you have any questions for Nat? Drop them in the comments below!
Follow TORI through her social media!
Twitter: @toriwiegers
Voices: Tori Wiegers
Make sure you support the web series by visiting our official YouTube channel and watching all 3 episodes. Don't forget to like, comment, share and subscribe!
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