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How did you go about getting the role of
Ramirez? How was the audition process, did you have
to submit a demo real and were aware of any competition
for the role?
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I work with an agent and I get
all my commercial and video game auditions through
them. Unless I see some one I know at the audition
I am not aware of the competition. I do know that
the people who audition in my type range most likely
auditioned too; you get to know who these people are
over time. The audition process is simple: you walk
in to facility the accommodates these type of auditions
and you wait in the lounge until your name is called.
Then you go to the studio and you read the script
you studied while waiting in the lounge. In sessions
like these the producer of the script will be there
to hear you and give you directions. In the video
game world the scripts are for each character are
produced separately by different producers. As a result
of this quirk I got another part in the game.
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- How
was your experience working with Rockstar on Manhunt?
Would you be interested in working with them again?
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I would love to work with Rockstar
again. It was a great experience and it's the kind
of voice over work that allows me to really stretch
my voice and do some acting. No PR problems. |
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- What
was the process like? How did you get yourself into
the correct mind frame?
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I have the script which is formatted
to be read one paragraph at a time. All of the characters
lines are recorded in one day. So, I will read off
a list of all of Ramirez' lines and then I will read
a list of sounds and responses; like... uh! ow! It's
alot to record and we work quickly. If your not trained
well and you strain to much you can hurt yourself.
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- Where
did you record the dialogue for the game, was it at
Rockstar in New York? |
No. It was recorded at a studio
rented by Rockstar here in New York. |
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- As
I understand it the audio for the cut scenes was done
by another studio, did you have to go to different
locations of was this all done after the fact? |
I don't know. I just showed up
and recorded without any visuals. My job was done. |
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How long did you work on the game for?
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2 days one for each character;
an hour for each session. |
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- The
game was made in Scotland but I assume it was an American
casting agent and voice director that was on hand?
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Correct. No casting agent just
the producer/writer of the recording. |
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- Did
you ever get around to playing Manhunt? If so what
are your thoughts on it? |
I have not. My nephew is a big
fan. I don't own a system. |
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- Were
you aware of what Ramirez's role in the game was going
to be at the point of recording his dialogue?
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I don't remember having any photos
or anything like that; it's not unusual. Most of the
times the actors don't have any input on the look
of the character; unless the character hasn't been
drawn yet. Then maybe the voice of the actor might
affect how the artist draws the character. |
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You also voiced a member of the Wardogs, who are under
Ramirez command, so in a way you gave yourself orders,
did that ever spring to mind when recording the dialogue?
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No because I recorded Ramirez
first with one producer and then the war dogs with
another. By time I recorded war dogs I had already
put Ramirez behind me. |
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- Is
there a particular line that you are most fond of?
Where you able to ad-lib at all?
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'Bleed motha fuckah Bleed'. Not
much ad-libbing. |
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- Is
there any additional information on the history of
your character(s)? For instance do you know how Ramirez
lost his eye? Ramirez racial background is also subject
of curiosity, African American, Hispanic/Latino, and
biracial have all been brought up. Was Ramirez given
any specific racial/ethnic profile, or was it meant
to be ambiguous?
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I don't know how Ramirez lost
his eye. I suggest that he lost his eye in a fight
while in training with the french foriegn legion.
Incapable of meeting their requirements, he was discharged
and this is how he became a mercinary.
Whats in a name? I have the last name McKinney; does
that make me Scottish. I'm biracial; so perhaps that
makes Ramirez biracial. For the most part a lot of
people in the Americas are mixtures of the same heritage
as I am: European, African and Native American. So
weather they are from Panama, Brasil or Cuba, et al...
if your brown most likey you share some combination
of this mixture. So any of the above mentioned in
the question will do; but one thing he is for sure
is an American. No where else in the world will you
find an as ethnically rich and culturally diverse
group of nations. |
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- Have
you ever looked on the internet for fan reaction to
your work? |
No but I would like to. |
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- Do
you have an opinion of violence in entertainment?
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You are what you eat; so don't
eat too much. |
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- What
influenced you to become an actor in the first place?
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I didn't want to be stuck in
an office. I was also raised in an artisic enviroment
so... after I tried the other arts this one was where
I had the most natural talent. So, I took a risk and
auditioned for Juilliard and was accepted. |
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- What
is your advice to others that wish to become an actor?
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Study, read, travel, enrich your
life with shared exploration and get into a classroom. |
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- You
seem to do a lot of dramatic work, are those parts
more fun to play?
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I'd like to do more comedy but
I gett called for a lot of the dramatic stuff so...
I take what I can get. No hate mail. |
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- You
have appeared in TV, theatre, video games and on the
big screen, on reflection what seems the most wild?
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Theater is real rush in performing.;
it is also the most difficult but what I wish to do
is more film. |
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- A
lot of actors move on to directing movies, have you
ever thought of directing?
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Most definatley. When you are
an actor you're the paint on the pallete; I want to
be the painter. |
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- Away
from acting how do you like to spend your time unwinding?
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I write my own music and I play
civ 4. |
