Interview with Thessaly Lerner

What made you decide to perform the voice of Lisa Garland?
I got the job - it paid - I like being paid to peform.

What "character" details were you given to help you do her voice?
They showed me pictures of the character and gave me a character description - nurse, etc... I don't have it anymore, as it was a few years ago I did the job.

What did you try to portray (sp?) through the voice of Lisa?
These are good questions and I'm afraid I can't answer them very well because the job was so long ago - let's see...I tried to portray desperation, confusion? I can't remember - sorry.

What was your general impression of Lisa Garland?
Actually, I felt I was slightly miscast and should have played the little kid, as I do a lot of kids voices. The character was interesting because she was dead but she didn't know it - fun, layered emotions to play.

What was it like doing voice acting for a popular video game?
I didn't realize Silent Hill was so popular. It's fabulous doing voiceovers for just about anything. Video games are fun because it's a story and I'm not just selling something. I like plots. It's very bizarre that there is this strange fascination with this one character I played a while back - strange for me.

Do you relate to Lisa in any way?
Sorry - can't remember enough about the character. I really better get myself a copy of this game and borrow someone's playstation.

Have you done any voice acting for any other games?
No more games, but a bunch of web cartoons - hear me on Roadshow 3000 at www.jinxstudios.com and a new cartoon called dormfood at www.sonomo.com

What tips would you give to the amateur/aspiring voice actor?
Take acting classes. If you really want to do it, remember it's 90percent rejection and 10 percent working. you have to do a lot of marketing, sending out demo tapes, etc..., which is time consuming, difficult, not artistic and fun, but a neccessary evil.

What made you decide to start voice acting?
It's a great way for actors to make money, I have an unusual voice. I finished college, where I got a degree in acting and was lost as how to make a living, as there is almost none in stage work.; voice acting is one way to do it and it's fun.

Did you ever play Silent Hill? If so, what was your impression of the game?
No - I'd like to at some point.


Many thanks to Thessaly for agreeing to do this!

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