Victoria G Interviews Sean-Ryan Petersen

Victoria G: What inspired you to become a voice actor?

Sean-Ryan Petersen: When I was a child me wanting to be a voice actor simply stemmed from me wanting to be a voice on TV. As time progressed and I developed further and further into the craft that I love I realized that I desired to be a voice on TV so that I can bring happiness to children like me and maybe inspire them to also pursue their dreams and goals whether they also wish to become a voice actor or go into any other field.

VG: What inspired you to become an actor?

SRP: Similar reasons to why I wanted to be a voice actor. I hope that one day I can also be on a live-action movie/TV show working alongside some of the industries best that I look up to, like Keanu Reeves.

VG: What is your favorite thing about voice acting?

SRP: To choose one single aspect that I love about voice acting would be very very difficult. To begin there are the voices. There is so much room for creativity and exploration when being a character. You, as the actor, bring life to the words on the page and the image so being able to find the voice of the character and watch everything come together is amazing. Another great aspect would be the people and the community. It is a really close-knit community, it did not take me long to learn that many voice actors know each other and have worked together on multiple projects. It is a very welcoming community and I've come to meet a lot of incredible people since I started working on my show, Victor and Valentino.

VG: What is your favorite thing about acting?

SRP: The people I work with and the exploration of a character.

VG: Who are your acting inspirations?

SRP: Every voice actor in every show I watched as a child. To name a few would be people like Tom Kenny who voices SpongeBob a show I watched a lot as a child. A current inspiration is Dee Bradley Baker who can do so many different creatures, monsters, and characters that I am constantly blown away whenever I find out he played a character in something I watch.

VG: What is your favorite project you have ever done?

SRP: I love all the projects I work on. Of course, Dive Olly Dive being my first project will forever hold a very special place in my heart but Victor and Valentino (Vic and Val) will be my 1st show on Cartoon Network, a place where cartoons live, and a place that I have always dreamed of being part of a show. The way we record Vic and Val is as a group or having the entire cast for that episode record together aka ensemble. Jobs in voice-over can vary as some jobs have the actors record alone while others record with each episode's involved cast. As I had stated earlier through this show I have gotten to meet many incredible people and having the chance to work side by side with the creator of the show, Diego Molano, is a special experience in it of itself and I am blessed to be apart of it all.

VG: In what ways are you and your Victor and Valentino character, Valentino alike?

SRP: I and Valentino are incredibly alike. From small details like having coin collections to both enjoying a hobby in pictures of landscapes and architecture. It is a joke amongst Diego as well as my family that with each episode we record Valentino and I become one. Our senses of humor merge, our shared interests are made more present, overall it is more like I am playing a younger version of myself a very inquisitive youth who was complimented as being "like a little adult"

VG: What do you love most about animation?

SRP: This is another one of those questions where I can't say just one thing that I love. Animation is an incredible form of art that leaves so much room for creativity and world creation. Some people, myself included, learned so many things and were shaped by the cartoons they watched as children. The universes that have come to exist or be further explored in animation have made some of the most enjoyable content I have ever watched. Animation even helps people learn and explore other cultures because within animation shows, like VnV, it can bring life to some of the myths and folklore that we base some of our episodes on.

VG: What has been the hardest voice for you to do?

SRP: Most of the hardest voices I have ever had to do were for auditions. Voice acting, in general, requires that you be able to perform and maintain many different types of voices and accents to fit a character image. For example a dragon with a Scottish accent. Does that sound outlandish? Of course, it does. That sort of creature can exist and we as voice actors have to capture the essence of a giant, arcane, fire breathing force that also happens to hail from Scotland.

VG: How would you describe yourself in three words?

SRP: Inquisitive, comedic, and organized-chaos :D

VG: Do you have any hidden talents?

SRP: I think of myself as an open book, most of my "hidden talents" come to the surface in random moments and to be honest they aren't things I consciously try to hide. For example, I can snap really loud and that often surprises people when they first hear it. Some people might be surprised that I am a drummer and a guitar player.

VG: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

SRP: In around ten years I see myself working on many diverse projects both on-camera and voice over. I want to be a face of Latin American representation in media and overall pushing for diversification in Hollywood. I believe we are moving in the right direction but there is always room for improvement and I want to be a part of that push.

VG: What are your social media handles?

SRP: Instagram: @seanryanpetersen Twitter: @seanryanmlp Facebook: Sean-Ryan Petersen Snapchat: Sean-Ryan Petersen - I recently joined snapchat so everyone out there add me

VG: What advice do you have for an aspiring voice actor?

SRP: Classes. Take as many classes as you can and try to maybe acquire a regular teacher/coach to help teach you voice techniques and proper voice care. Projects such as video games can put a strain on your voice so it is always good to know warmup and cooldown techniques when you work. Watch TV. Cartoons and video games can offer inspiration, help you learn the tone and timing of a series, lastly help you create characters and voices. You never know when an audition will come across your desk that asks you to voice match an actor or you audition for your favorite series.

VG: What's next for you?

SRP: I actually have a passion project that I am currently working on. It came to me in a dream funny enough, but I really hope to one day share it with everyone. I am also getting together with some friends to do a little Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) related project that will be streaming live later this year and that is all I can say about that for now. Last for definitely not least, I am recording more episodes of Victor and Valentino keep an eye out for Season 2 y'all!!! :)

VG: RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS What's your favorite pastime?

SRP: Watching anime or playing DnD both activities take hours to do

VG: What's your favorite movie?

SRP: The Three Musketeers (1993)

VG: What's your favorite candy?

SRP: Twix, Whoopers, Swedish Fish

VG: Who's your celebrity crush?

SRP: Tough Question, I'll get back to you ;)

VG: Can you play any instruments?

SRP: Drums and Guitar

VG: Do you play any sports?

SRP: I don't know if airsoft is a sport. I do play basketball recreationally with the Boi's

VG: Do you have any pets?

SRP: 2 dogs. Klee Kai (mini husky) named Ellie the Belly and a Siberian Husky named Aya, the Papaya

VG: What is something you can't live without?

SRP: My top 3 I can't live without are my Family, Ramen, Music