You know, one of my favourite things about Ryland Grace is how sociable he is. How easy it is for people to fall into his orbit. They show it time and time again. How much his students obviously love him, how he manages to hype up the dour suits whilst he's testing the astrophage, Carl playing with him in the Home Depot, the other government people eating his Skittles, Eva Stratt dragging him around everywhere and allowing herself to be just that little bit more vulnerable around him, Rocky and the Eridians embracing him as not just as a savior but family.
I know it's not explicit that Grace is aroace but so often, aroace people are portrayed as distant and independent and happily isolated. Sometimes even to the point of misanthropy. It's so nice to see a character like this who loves connecting with people. He's a rambler, he's excitable. So what if he doesn't have a family or a dog. He doesn't need them because he has everyone he meets and that's enough.
Hi everyone,
Here's Munroe's updated model! I think his hair is a lot nicer looking now. I really like how this turned out. Next week I'll post Warwick's updated model. As always, more on patreon. Thank you!
AMA - Ersatz Cast Edition (Danny Spiller & Luke Alphonso)
Very special thank you to @jimrinkitay who organised, ran, and transcribed the AMA.
Here were the questions answered! There will be more in tomorrow's session, Sunday, 3/15/26 starting at 7pm Eastern Time. Since we have so many questions, for the tomorrow one, we can go until we run out/when the VAs feel like it.
(Note: It was Danny & Luke's session, but Patrick Langner graced us with his presence and answered a few questions addressed to everyone!)
To Danny: what's the most "Mophead" thing you've done in your life?
Same to Luke: what's the most "Carrie" thing you've done in your life?
To everyone: do you relate to some traits in your own characters in any way? How was the role described to you that made you interested?
Danny (Mophead): Probably take things out on people who probably didn't deserve it, not my best. I'm also a bit more timid like mophead, I tend to be unsure of myself at times. The role was described to me like what a lot of you guys know, an amnesiac who doesn't remember how he ended up in an endless war. The call also was looking for genderqueer voice actors, which I happen to be. I love being able to voice characters that are like me, plus getting to voice in something gritty like this was something I hadn't done before
Luke (Carrie): Okay, so the actual most Carrie thing I've ever done is I've eaten a hotdog that I found on a park bench one time in New York. It was perfectly intact, and I don't regret anything still to this day. As for the follow up question, I honestly didn't see a lot of myself in Carrie, but I saw a lot of my father in him. Obviously the role, from what I remember, was pretty much character based, rather than being narrative based, so I really liked Carrie because it was the role that gave me the chance to just…be very unhinged, what I imagine a lot of soldiers have to conduct themselves as just to live with themselves and what they're doing
Patrick (Munroe): I think Munroe's uncertainty towards the whole situation with Mop is something I can relate to a lot. I have a habit of second-guessing myself and maybe dancing around sensitive situations because I sometimes struggle to find the right words to communicate how I want to (something I'm working on 😅) For the second part, I was drawn to each character in their own way. They all have such unique personalities but still share plenty of camaraderie which I love.
To Luke: I loved your portrayal of Carrie, I'm really liking the character so far! Do you prefer fried or grilled chicken?
Luke (Carrie): Well, I'm from Louisiana, so obviously I was practically raised on Fried Chmicken
To: Danny & Luke
Was there anything difficult or new you've experienced that was out of your comfort zone while on the project?
Danny (Mophead): Oh definitely! I had never been a lead in an animation like this before, and the roles I typically play tend to be on the more comedic side as well, so being more grounded was a new thing for me. I also had tried to play the character as not quite British, not quite Australian, so the voice I had come up for them was certainly something 😅
Luke (Carrie): [Transcript] Yeah, so for me, it was obviously… I'm an American guy doing a British voice. So I had to do that for like a longer stretch of time rather than just for a scene. So yeah. I think it's pretty clear that's not how I actually talk. And there's still more I had to work on. But comfort zone wise, no, not really. A lot of stuff that I've done is either been in commercial work or in podcast stuff. There was nothing that was nothing really too dark even for Carrie within the pilot. It's a lot of just like aura farming, I guess, for him, which… That was kind of interesting. Kind of like Danny, I've never really been as prominent of a character in an animation like this before, especially not one as beautifully animated as this one. So that's where I kind of came from with that. [Carrie voice] You know, this voice right 'ere, this one took a real long time to get right. And even then… I don't know if I like it as much. I don't know if I can really stomach this, but… I'm gettin' there, I think, at the very least.
To Danny: Thoughts on canonically enby Mophead? Did you know from the start? :0
To Luke: Would you like carrie more as an irl person (maybe friend) or as a written character?
Danny (Mophead): [Transcript] I knew that they were genderqueer from the beginning. That was something that was always known to me. I didn't know exactly what ways they identified or anything like that. I was just like, "Oh, cool! Queer character. Yeah, let's do it." And then, I think it was slightly before the pilot came out that I was like, "Oh, Saint's using they/them pronouns for them a lot, so let me start doing that too." I personally use he/they interchangeably for Mophead, just 'cause that's what they call him in the pilot, but I always knew there was something I liked about them.
Luke (Carrie): I would NOT like Carrie as a real person, I imagine he smells like ripe fucking trash and I feel like there's a lot of people like him that exist. But, as a written character, I feel there's a lot with him that helps us understand how people like get to that point. I think he's interesting, but like…at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how someone gets to that point, an asshole is an asshole lol
To Danny:
Would you be voicing Eriche if we ever got to hear a snippet of him?
To Luke: who would burn the kitchen first between you and Carrie 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Danny (Mophead): Well, that's probably gonna be something that'd be up to the Saint that Greaves, but if that were to happen, I have a few ideas in mind
Luke (Carrie): [Transcript] Alright. I know how to cook, alright? I'm from Louisiana. I know all my ways around it. You kind of have to if you're going to live down there. Likewise, I think Carrie knows how to cook. I don't think he's making gourmet-like stuff, but… I think he knows his way around kitchen tools and everything. So it's really just a matter of which of us is going to mess up first and I'm choosing to think of this as we're both in the kitchen and we're both… Trying to put stuff together. So I'm imagining I'm busy because he keeps running me around going, [Carrie voice] "Would you get me some of that stuff on the pantry or whatever?" And I'm looking and suddenly, there's flames going off, and then- [Carrie voice] "OY! DUMBASS! Ya just let the frickin-" Whatever. I think I would, but only because I'm getting nervous because he's pushing me around.
To Luke, do you think Carrie would be willing to commit arson?
Luke (Carrie): If he feels it's the right thing to do in the situation, I think it'd be hard pressed to convince him not to. Whether he's doing it in the war, whether he's doing it cause the pub's pushed him out, who can say
To Luke and Danny:
Are there any voice actors that you look up to? Anyone that you'd like to work with someday?
Luke (Carrie): Oh god
Dan (Mophead): welp let me get out the list
Luke (Carrie): Billy West and Charlie Adler were big icons for me when I was really young, I'd say they're probably the reasons I'm pursuing voice acting to begin with. In terms of who I'd want to work with, I mean, Laura Bailey and Jennifer Hale I feel like are actors who always bring out the best and the most in a script, I'd kill to be in the booth with them. OH and John Dimaggio.
Dan (Mophead): One of the first things that got me into voice acting was anime, and J Michael Tatum was one of my favorite dub actors, still is. The first voice actor I met in person was Steve Blum and I was so shy around him. Cieran Strange, Zeno Robinson, and Billy Kametz (RIP) are also in there, among plenty others
To Danny:
Be honest, how elated were you to get not only a main character role, but also a canonically nonbinary one? Because I was over the moon finding out a character I liked (Mophead) had a transmasc voice actor. Saint mentioned queerness in a setting like Ersatz is underrepresented, but honestly? Trans identities are barely represented anywhere. There are so few media I can name that give their trans characters as much attention, love and depth as their cis ones. And a lot of trans characters in media are just… side or supporting. If it means so much to me that a work of art like Ersatz would be seen mainly through the eyes of a queer character (who would probably figure out their identity along the way), it must mean so much more to you. Congratulations on getting this role! You're amazing, and I'm so hyped to hear more of you in upcoming episodes.
Danny (Mophead): [Transcript] So anytime I get a chance to play a trans character, whether it's a side character or main character, doesn't happen a lot, I'm always ecstatic because it means that we're one step closer to being where I want to be with trans representation. And what I liked about being able to be Mophead is the fact that.. their story is one that doesn't revolve around sexuality or gender, because you do find a lot of queer characters get stuck in that where like, that's all that is to them. Like, yes, Mophead goes by they/them. But they're in a horrific war and everything is fucked. And that is something that I appreciate getting to be a part of. And honestly, when the pilot first came out, I was a little scared of what the reaction would be because… A lot of people when they are like, "Shoot, this voice actor for this character that I was enjoying is trans. All of a sudden, I really hate them." And luckily, I haven't gotten any such response to that. But it is still a sad thing that happens, especially for transfeminine voice actors. So I'm glad that this community is so welcoming and supportive and that we do have such a queer audience that is able to rally around this character.
Luke (Carrie): [Transcript] I'm really happy that you like him. There's been such a weird thing of seeing so many people like these characters. I've never really been in a position where I have a character that I voice that people seem to like. It's something that I'm still kind of getting used to. I've been voice acting for about four years now, professionally. I've been doing this a lot longer than that, but… four years. And the best advice I can really think to give without going into a huge monologue is… two things: It's not a race, it's a marathon. I have to remind myself of that constantly, but everything that you do, if you're breaking into it, if you're wanting to give it a shot, everything you do is important. The smallest roles, the bigger ones, the different genres, it all builds you as a person and it builds your abilities as an actor. Because the next thing after that is… you have to be willing to invest in yourself. And I don't mean like spending so much money on like the trainings and the building stuff and like soundproofing. Like that's all important, but… if you want to do this and if you really want to look into it, you have to be okay with who you are as a person and you have to be okay with your ability to look inside of yourself to make choices and be yourself. You can't be another person. You can't be another actor. There's so many times I've compared myself to so many people around me and it's held me back. I think I'd be a lot farther if I had learned that lesson a lot sooner. So when I say invest in yourself, the biggest thing I can really think of that is really just like… be okay with your choices and who you are and building yourself as an actor over time. No one is going to do that more than you. So you have to be willing to be okay with yourself and your abilities.
To Danny:
Any particular emotions you really invested in for Mophead with their character kinda going from questioning to more assured towards the end?
To both:
any dialogue coaching with these characters? Accents or slang for the time period?
Luke (Carrie): No coaching, if uh…if you couldn't tell lol I have a friend from Manchester who sort of schooled me on the accent that would be best for this character, that's about it
Danny (Mophead): I read the script multiple times before actually recording to try to get a true sense of what mophead was going through. I wanted to show that absolute terror they were feeling, I'd be pretty horrified too if I woke up and bam I've been drafted and also can't die. Especially for THAT scene between mophead and munroe, I wanted mop's desperation to truly come out, that they are a cornered animal that, while terrified, will still do what needs to get done. [Transcript] As for your second question, I've self-taught myself received pronunciation British and have done a few voice roles like that, and then I took a singular class on the Australian dialect, and tried to combine them. So, instead of it being like, [British accent] purely British or anything like that, [Australian accent] or instead of it being fully Australian, I ended up with something that was like, [combined] "Oh, hello there, yeah, I don't really know where I'm from." So it makes the character a bit more mysterious.
To Danny & Luke: did you face any pressure or judgement from your peers—or even yourself—for choosing voice acting?
Luke (Carrie): [Transcript] I judge myself every goddamn day for choosing voice acting. I think you're always going to be your biggest critic, but I mean, in terms of like peers, like I've gotten nothing but support from everyone around me. And every time I get something, someone's always like, "What is it? What is it? What is it?" Or like, "Can I see it? Where can I hear it?" We had a lot of people that wanted to come into this and I was like, it's a Patreon AMA. I can't, but I can tell you about it later. But, yeah, you're always going to be your biggest pressure or judger. That's what I've come to realize. I've always been this way even before voice acting. So even I knew plunging in, I was like, this is going to be hell, but this is like, fun hell, you know? Anytime I get a role or anytime I get rejected or just the opportunity to try to hone my craft a little bit more, there's something interesting about it, and there's something just exhilarating about it. I mean, I'll let y'all know, I did the audition for Carrie, I sent it in, and I forgot about it. I really wanted Carrie. I auditioned for everybody on the casting call sheet, but Carrie was the one I was like, I really fucking want Carrie so bad. But I got to forget. I got to forget. Because if I hung on it, if I got rejected or I didn't get it, I was going to be like a wreck. So I just had to push it aside. So me. Me! I'm my worst critic.
Danny (Mophead): Growing up, it was pretty much expected of me to get into college, have some sort of "professional" job, and that'd be that. But even though I did do good in high school, I hated every bit of it. The thought of going to college would send me into a panic, it wasn't what I wanted. When I told people I wanted to voice act, you could definitely tell they weren't impressed, even if they didn't even say any actual words. It took a while for my dad (she/they) to warm up to it and they support now, but it definitely took some convincing and some of seeing what I do for her to come around. I judged myself a lot for it too, but deep down I know this is what I want, and that there's going to be people who disagree regardless of what you do, so why let them control you?
To everyone: If you didn't choose voice acting, where would you be today?
Luke (Carrie): Well, I'm a teacher now, so I guess that but…without the light at the end of the tunnel that I get to act at the end of the day instead lol
Danny (Mophead): Haven't really thought about it, but I guess some sort of computer thing or maybe a speaker/advocate
Patrick (Munroe): Acting is my sidejob/hobby so same in that I would more than likely still be doing my day job (which I like). But I knew ever since I was a kid that I wanted to be a voice actor, so I'd definitely be longing for the experience of what it would be like to be even just a small (like seriously small) time actor like I am now. I took the plunge years ago and I don't regret it one bit. I think I've made my current and childhood-self proud 😁
To everyone: Is there any song that you yourself associate with your character just solely based on their vibes or anything like that?
Luke (Carrie): War Pigs by Black Sabbath, or conversely, Killing in the Name Of by Rage Against the Machine
Danny (Mophead): Rule #4 by Fish in a Birdcage, as a sidenote I've also just been listening to the soundtrack of the pilot and love it, completely matched the feeling I thought it'd have
Patrick (Munroe): Oof great question. I wish I had a whimsical or compelling answer but I can't think of anything 🥲
Luke (Carrie): I just thought of another song, Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
To everyone:
Are you all on board to come back for another episode?
PS. Your accents really impressed me like holy shit
Danny (Mophead): Hells to the yeah!
Luke (Carrie): Okay, okay, because of you, explicitly you, if another episode happens I will come back (Also I guess this is my cue to stop shitting on my accent lol thank you)
Danny (Mophead): same Luke same 😂
Patrick (Munroe): Oh absolutely without a single thought of hesitation! I adored this project and will always cherish it, and would love to be in more Ersatz! Also ty ty, I love using accents and I was really worried I butchered the heck out of it but glad it wasn't too grating
To Luke: What's your favorite John Dimmagio role?
Luke (Carrie): Bender Bending Rodriguez himself. (Futurama is also literally one of the reasons I wanted to be a voice actor lol)
to whoever still wants to answer: do you like ice cream and what's your favorite flavor
Luke (Carrie): I don't have as much of it anymore, BUT, I love cookie dough or moose tracks
Danny (Mophead): Love ice cream, peanut butter chocolate is my go-to (anything with peanut butter is my guilty pleasure)
Patrick (Munroe): Totally and probably strawberry or maybe something caramel coffee
To everyone: do any of yall sing or play an instrument
Patrick (Munroe): Not much of a singer at the moment, maybe one of these days 😙 Played a few instruments growing up, but been a while since I've really sat down and played one. Another thing I want to get back into later
Danny (Mophead): I used to be in choir as a kid, but stopped sometime before starting hrt, and I haven't had the proper voice training to get used to all the notes I can and can't reach now. And sadly I never learned to play an instrument, want to learn the ukelele one day though
Luke (Carrie): I played bass a lot as a kid, fell out of it though, I still think about going back to it
AMA - Ersatz Cast Edition (Ian Russell & Patrick Langner)
Part 2! Here were the questions answered. More events like this to come :)
Special thank you to @jimrinkitay for running both AMAs, sorting the questions, transcribing the answers and writing this post!!
(Note: It was Ian & Patrick's session, but Danny & Luke made an appearance and chose to stay on with Patrick to answer the rest of the questions!)
To Ian: is there a kind of "Warwick" thing you've done in your life?
Also to Patrick: what's the most "Munroe" thing you've done in your life?
To both: do you relate to some traits your own characters in any way? How was the role described to you that made you interested?
Patrick (Munroe): Hard to say. I probably have had some "Munroe" moments in my life, but probably something really mundane tbh. I'll have to think about this one a bit more…
Other question is technically a repeat but here's my answer from yesterday: For the last question, I think Munroe's uncertainty towards the whole situation with Mop is something I can relate to a lot. I have a habit of second-guessing myself and maybe dancing around sensitive situations because I sometimes struggle to find the right words to communicate how I want to (something I'm working on 😅 )
For the second part, I was drawn to each character in their own way. They all have such unique personalities but still share plenty of camaraderie which I love.
Ian (Warwick): A Warwick thing in my life…… This is a very sort of trench warfare environment we find ourselves in and many moons ago I played a soldier called Joe in a play set in WWI about the war poet Wilfred Owen. It did not shy away from the horrors of war in a similar way that Ersatz confronts it … so perhaps that.
Patrick (Munroe): I just remembered a really specific "Munroe" moment. One time, I had to pour some chemicals in a lab and was supposed to use a face shield. But it was a used one and whomever used it before was apparently really sweaty. I was didnt want to put it on but still wanted something, so I just threw a towel over my face and hoped for the best 🫠
To Ian
Warwick is a very understated character but also the most authoritative, how do you find that balance in his performance?
To Patrick
Munroe is without a doubt my FAVORITE character, and that has a lot to do with the varied emotion he experiences. Were you allowed to know ahead of time anything about “Eriche” to inform certain deliveries like you were keeping a secret?
Patrick (Munroe): We got to see the full script before starting the recording, so I was able to think ahead a little bit on how I wanted Munroe's dialogue to come out. Looking back, I think I mainly focused on the whole "melancholy friend" vibe and tried not to think about the reveal much otherwise it would have made him too suspicious. And thank you for enjoying the character! 😁
Ian (Warwick): Understated but authoritative. I think much of his power comes from the fact that he seems to have come to a place where he is accepting of his reality and that feeds his understated performance. His authority oddly comes from that same place. most of those around him are at odds with their surrounding but Warwick is more accepting of them. As Kipling wrote… If you keep your head when those around you are losing theirs.. then you will be a man
To: Ian!! <3
So I did my research, and I think you're the one who has the most experience but please correct me if I'm wrong!! What stands out so much about voice acting that you've been doing it for long? Asking because it's something I've been into for some time, but lately it's just been harder to stay passionate about it. Of course, this is not an original experience for anyone in any creative field, but other than finding success in something that you're passionate about, what else is there in voice acting?
To Patrick:
Saw that you said your performance could have used the most improvement a couple of weeks ago, but what did you mean by that exactly? I loved the way you portrayed munroe and I highly doubt there's someone else out there who would've done as good of a job as you. You're a star in my book man ⭐
Ian (Warwick): I've been at VA full time for almost 12 years and for me everyday is a joy. It's a second career for me. The first…finance… became very stressful and I was unhappy for a couple of years before I quit (after 25+) but until now VA is a gift I never expected, never really planned for. I had attempted to be a professional actor when I was much younger and I think I didn't understand the need to sometimes put the needs of the business before the art. We are after all running a small business and the marketing, networking and such has to happen before the art has a chance to shine
Patrick (Munroe): We're often our own biggest critics. Practically every role I'm in I always wonder if I'm really doing as good a job as the director or whomever says I am. I loved Munroe as a character and this story, and leading up to the Pilot I was so worried that my performance would drag down the experience. But afterwards I was pretty pleased with myself. I saw some good constructive criticisms and I welcome those. There are plenty of things I wish I could do over again like redoing certain lines/scenes, or maybe "cleaning up" the accent a bit. Overall though, I'm satisfied with how things turned out and eternally grateful that I got to be a part of this! And thank you! ☺️
To Ian:
What kind of character did you think Warwick was initially compared to when you learned more about him in production? And were there any lines you had to redo?
To Patrick: Which scene from the pilot is your favourite? Why this one?
PS Munroe is my favourite character and I love, how you played him. 💜 Especially all his emotions. 💜
Patrick (Munroe): Overall favorite scene is probably when Mophead awakens in the Rezzer. The slow reveal to the slideshow where we find out everyone is immortal was 🔥, fantastic cinematography. A close second is Carrie's monologue to Mop in the Mess Hall about not sharing food and "stranger danger" 😂 . I've mentioned a few times that Carrie is my favorite character, largely in part due to Luke's performance. His delivery was stellar! Also thank you for the compliments!
Ian (Warwick): Oh My… I saw the audition notice and felt that I could create a character that was called for, I'll generally read through the side several times playing with different intentions and then settle on something I like. I feel if I 'like' the character in the context of what I know of the production (which is often very little) then there is a chance the person casting will like it too. I had some artwork and I was drawn more to the context of the trench setting and the gas mask rather than his wolf/doglike appearance. As I said earlier, I had played a WWI soldier in a play and I think I leaned into that experience. The soldier (Joe) was from the north of England so to remove myself from him I played Warwick as a working class Londoner. I honestly don't remember about redo's I usually will provide 2 or 3 options for each line.
To everyone:
If you could go back in time, what would you change about your voice line delivery?
(^ Patrick, since you've already answered this, here's another for you:)
To Patrick:
How do you think Munroe feels about Mophead in the pilot and how did you incorporate that into your performance?
Ian (Warwick): Actually, I'm really comfortable with Warwick, Once I saw the finished animation I was really pleased (I'm not always believe me!!!) So I'm not sure I'd change anything
Danny (Mophead): there's definitely some lines that I would've carried with a slightly different tone or pacing of words if given the chance. Especially after getting to see the character dynamics play out in the pilot, some lines would've been done differently. Also would've tried to make the accent a little more consistent 😅
Patrick (Munroe): Just from how the Pilot plays out, I view them as brotherly; two best friends (no really 😂). When/where/how they met doesn't matter too much. When you're stuck in an endless cycle of resurrection fighting in war, just having someone who you recognize, get along with, and someone to come back to is probably pretty good for your sanity
Ian (Warwick): Further to the quiet authority, I feel Warwick is also trying to keep everyone 'safe' almost in a fatherly way which also leans into his quieter tones. If he panics then everyone will panic.
Patrick (Munroe): As for how I put that in the performance; more or less what was said earlier. I was aiming for the feeling of someone who's unsure. The feeling that you haven't quite "lost" something, but it's just not there anymore. Munroe obviously still sees Eriche in Mop, and views him as a friend. Just not "that" friend.
To everyone:
What are some things you'd like your character to potentially explore in the story? It can be ✨situations✨, struggles, maybe something you noticed in their character you want to unbox more (like Mop's secret crazy side I think, Warwick's gentleness and how far that actually goes, Carrie's boredom if it even is boredom, and maybe whatever implied secrets Munroe was keeping)?
I think you guys each did an amazing job bringing these characters to life 💛 I can't wait to hear more of you in future episodes!!!
Ian (Warwick): Yes how far will Warwick go to 'protect' would he sacrifice himself (knowing he would be resurrected) is he so sanguine about that as maybe we think he is. A tough moral dilemma that maybe he has not faced. People do odd things under extreme pressure and sometimes the opposite of what we think they would do. If he were resurrected, would he still be the same, does he worry about that in the still of the night.
Danny (Mophead): ooooh this is a good question. I'd definitely like to explore the complexities between Mophead and Munroe's past, seeing how Munroe is able to cope with seeing his friend reanimated, reinvented into someone completely differerent. I'd love to see more of how mop's past will matter in the present story, and I think it'd be cool to see them start to become their own person, distinct from eriche but still retaining some of his quirks.
And yes I'd love to voice some more craycray mophead.
Ian (Warwick): And how much does Warwick know that maybe he is not sharing and if he knows more does that make him worry about his own future?
Patrick (Munroe): I think I'd like to see more of everyone's backstory. How they got they drafted, did they choose this life, how long they've been here, etc. The really interesting part to me is the coping mechanisms everyone employs because the whole platoon is (mostly) still sane.
Munroe had Eriche keeping him going; but now that there's Mop, who knows how else that'll change him.
Warwick seems to be a battle-hardened leader. He's clearly been at it for a while, so he's used to things and knows he needs to keep it together for this squad.
Carrie embraces the chaos and it fuels him. He hasn't quite compeltely succumbed to insanity, but he does embrace it and in a way that helps him to keep from going (completely) mad.
Mophead wants to understand their origins, what's happening, and the dynamic with Munroe. They probably have the most clearcut goal out of everyone.
And thanks as always for the compliments!
Luke (Carrie): I think I'd really be interested if at some point I got to play around with Carrie's…friendships? Or rather, if he actually feels close to anybody. Obviously he respects Warwick, but in my head I'm curious if there's more to that dynamic or if Carrie is, despite being one of the more louder characters, the most isolated as well.
To everyone:
What made you all interested in voicing the four main characters in Ersatz (as in, why did this work in particular pique your interests?)
P.S. I absolutely love Ersatz. I love its grittiness, and I also love how all of you voiced the characters. It just fit them so well.
Danny (Mophead): I found the casting call through a trans voice acting discord I'm on, and how the call was looking for a genderqueer person to voice mophead, but that they wanted either a british or austrailian accent, and I was like, well hey I can kinda do both so why not? I also love any opportunity I get to be part of indie animation, to bring voice to someone's unique creation. Animation is probably my favorite medium to voice act for. Ersatz was also so different from other things I would typically get cast for, so while I really wanted a go at it, I had no actual faith I would get the role. I remember how shocked I was when I got the email back from Saint, and I'm so glad to be a part of this.
Ian (Warwick): Well, there is a business answer and an artistic answer. The business answer is simple. As freelance folk food gets put on the table when we book work. I do think it's important to focus on potential work you are a good fit for but booking is the lifeblood of the business. The artistic side, I've probably already touched on, that from the audition sides I felt that as an actor I could create a believable character. The role also popped up during a period where I was more focussed on developing my animation portfolio (If you've stalked me at all you'll know I'm best known as a videogame actor) so the fact that it was a really interesting and challenging story/setting and provided an opportunity in a genre I'm developing into made it an irresistible one to submit to.
Patrick (Munroe): I haven't done much animation work before Ersatz (I mostly work in video games), so it was definitely an opportunity I was looking for. I love using accents for characters so that's also a plus. At the time of the audition, there wasn't any character artwork which is fine but I'm used to seeing a brief sketch or sprite or something. In a way, I guess it maybe made the audition a little easier since I didn't second-myself on trying to craft the voice to a specific appearance. I auditioned for every character except Mophead, and I was pleasantly surprised that I got Munroe, let alone any of these characters. When auditioning, the expectation should be that you won't book anything, but again was surprised since I thought my auditions were a bit lackluster actually. Once again, I'm so so so grateful that Saint entrusted this character to me
To everyone:
What was it like to prepare for your voice role to embody your character? Did you have to study certain archetypes, characters, or even other voice actors from other media? If so, which characters or people in particular did you reference or take inspiration from?
Your performances in the pilot were amazing. I'm really looking forward to more 💕💕
Danny (Mophead): Honestly for mop I didn't really take inspiration from anyone, I wanted them to be their own thing. The only real "inspiration" I had was to put a bit of myself in them, the parts of me that have or are confused, scared, yet persistent.
Patrick (Munroe): For Munroe, I was aiming for an Australian accent, or at least something akin to it. It's something that I'd practiced before, but hadn't really had any training on. Ahead of recording, I listened to clips of Australian celebrities and accent coaches giving basic rundowns of what to look for. After a bit of molding, I just went ahead and started recording. After a few lines I thought "Okay it's not perfect but it ain't bad". Could still use some work but happy with how it turned out and I hope I can use it again, whether it be as Munroe or another character. I think maybe subconsciously I might have tried emulating another character, but no one specific comes to mind.
Ian (Warwick): Warwick is a collage created from the story. the words written and the setting created. He comes first from the author. As an actor I overlaid my experiences and thoughts based on those words. I can't really say there was intense research on my part. Warwick came from inside of me as a reaction to the story and character created. In that sense its a visceral performative reaction to what someone else has already created. For me that happens for most of the character work I've booked. I am cast in a videogame that I cant talk about yet where we have had three sessions to date collaborating on character development. That's really exciting because I'm in front of the script writing (or along side it perhaps) so some of what I am doing in the test sessions will help to formulate how this character develops in the game. I think as actors we have to do that. without a little of ourselves there is a real danger the characters we create will just be caricatures and less real as a result and in a setting like the one in Erstaz that would kill it.
To Everyone (this one is just for fun :D):
Any guesses on how many times your character will die in total throughout the series?
…And maybe who will be the first to have a "true" death? (Like Eriche)
Ian (Warwick): How many episodes are planned!!!
Danny (Mophead): hm probably 67 times
Patrick (Munroe): Munroe will go as many times as Mop. The two are a pair after all 😆 . As for the second part, hard to say… hopefully no one. It's already a tough gig, it would suck even more if the "immortality" wasn't actually immortality
Ian (Warwick): I'd like Warwick to have to deal with everyone else resurrecting and having to parent them back. He becomes the one consistency holding it all together …..but…tragically…. dies a single but real death in the last scene of the last episode and everone else realises they now have to cope on their own…..fade to black
To Ian and (if Luke is still here somewhere): At the end of the episode, where Munroe is showing Mop the photo of Eriche, what exactly was Carrie and Warwick talking about in the background? I'm just dying to know.
Also, p.s, VERY amazing job from all of you !!!!
Ian (Warwick): Who's taking the last Jammy Dodger
to everyone: dumb little hypothetical, would you trust your character unsupervised in a store? say you gave them a sum of money and told them you needed this and that ect
Ian (Warwick): Warwick would buy food and take it back to the squad
Patrick (Munroe): Munroe might slip something extra for Mophead but otherwise yes 😁
Danny (Mophead): I feel like mophead would be responsible and get everything but in the most awkward way possible. they'd look like they're robbing the store but nope, they just look like that
To everyone:
Now that the pilot has released and you’ve spent so much time on it, in what ways do you connect to the characters you voice? Will that drive how you portray them in the future?
Thanks!
- Harpy
(^ Ian, if this would take a bit too long to answer due to time, here's a short one:)
To Ian:
Favorite bar drink? :3
Patrick (Munroe): I can relate to Munroe's vulnerabiltiy and uncertainty. He isn't quite sure how to think or doesn't know the right words to express himself so he just keeps idly by. With the reveal at the end, I'm hoping it'll evolve to a more stable relationship with Mophead.
Ian (Warwick): There has to be consistency and for actors that can be a challenge if there is a long time between performances. I often have to go back and watch/listen to previous episodes to get the character back into my head. And reflecting on my previous comments, the new scripts are written before they get to us so this is a challenge for the author too.
Danny (Mophead): mophead in the pilot is very similar to me way back when I was struggling with my identity, who I was and not just involving gender. Everyone else seems to have their shit together meanwhile you're frustrated and completely lost
Ian (Warwick): And yes that has to be me done now. Thank you so much for organising, great questions. Lets do it again soon.
[Extras from VAs wanting to stay on past the scheduled session]
To everyone: what was your favorite line in the script :3
Patrick (Munroe): Hard to say. Maybe "You're an animal. Your brain will betray you…" from Carrie.
Danny (Mophead): "okay"
To everyone: what's a random fun fact u wanna share ab urself
Patrick (Munroe): My name is not actually "Munroe"
In all seriousness though, not sure. Every time I get asked this I feel like I give a boring answer. It's been 7 years since I started pursuring Voice Acting so that's something I suppose
Danny (Mophead): I am currently trying to learn haitian kreyol as my wife is haitian (sak pase anyone?) and my wife and I share the exact same birthday, day month year
To everyone:
Personally, who would you kiss, marry, kill (in the Ersatz cast)?
Patrick (Munroe): Kinda rolling the dice here, but maybe: kiss Mophead and marry Warwick? Everyone's already kinda dead so not sure what the last one will accomplish 😅
Danny (Mophead): kiss mop, marry Warwick, kill Carrie (we have beef now)
To everyone:
I have a fun one I think :] imagine if ersatz had a crossover episode from a diff media. who would you like your characters to meet?
Danny (Mophead): "holy frigging crap Lois its Warwick from ersatz"
Patrick (Munroe): Ohh so many choices. Probably something that shares the resurrection theme. I've always thought reincarnation & immortality were really interesting tropes in media, but they can be hard to pull off without breaking the story. So maybe something like the show "Altered Carbon" or the Frieren anime
To Danny: Hello, this might be a silly question, but, if you and Mophead were roommates, what would be the cons and pros of it?
Danny (Mophead): the pros would be we could talk existensially and I feel like they clean up after themselves.
the con is i feel like they could kill me at any second if they wanted
To everyone:
this is SO basic and cringe but what's your favorite song and movie? (๑•﹏•)
Patrick (Munroe): Nothing wrong with that! I'm terrible about picking favorites, but the Chainsaw Man Movie recently was peak. Not sure about song tho
Danny (Mophead): favorite song is nobody by hozier, and as for movie is it strange to say im not really a movie guy? can't think of one off the top of my head
Luke (Carrie): This is NOT Basic. OR Cringe.
Favorite Song: I Am A Rock by Simon and Garfunkel
Favorite Movie: The Shawshank Redemption/The Thing
To everyone yes everyone:
What color would you dye Mophead's hair?
Danny (Mophead): either a strawberry blonde or like a blue (blue hair n pronouns joke not intentional)
Patrick (Munroe): Maybe turn them into a brunette and bleach Munroe's hair and they could throw everyone for a loop
Saint: Youd have to kill Mop to dye their hair
Danny (Mophead): let's make mop bald and give Carrie the mophead
To everyone:
what's your dream vacation spot in the world? 👀
Patrick (Munroe): Probably Japan tbh. I've always wanted to go so it's definitely high on the list of countries I'd like to see
Danny (Mophead): gotta agree with Patrick, Japan's been on my list for years
To Patrick:
quick what color is maths, english, science (your answer will determine whether or not I'll still be your fan /joke)
…yeah I couldn't think of a better question I just wanted an excuse to say HELLO! your performance was SO POWERFUL TO ME I wouldn't stfu about it to all my friends for a week straight how even the most subtle lines of yours hit the HARDESTTTT. And it got better on every rewatch I swear "you don't remember me?" made me start sniffling /pos I got so emotional 💖 how is your voice so perfect for Munroe sksksjskskskssjska!
To Danny:
What is the dumbest thing you’ve said for a role
Patrick (Munroe): Thanks so much for the kind words! 💗 Maths I think screams blue, English is grey, and Science is yellow or green?
Danny (Mophead): dont think I got cast for it but i remember having to yell about a toilet attacking me or something for an audition
To everyone:
what's something in the modern world you'd introduce to your own character and why
Danny (Mophead): a therapist
Patrick (Munroe): [in response to Danny] Gonna have to go with this one, as well. Although the Nurse was nice
Danny (Mophead): and also boba
To everyone:
Is Ersatz the first dark/bleak project you've starred in? What did you think about the overall atmosphere of the pilot?
(And I'd love to hear if it's ever reminded you of something else out there like a song or game)
Danny (Mophead): I believe so, I mean ive voiced characters who've died grusomely but it was always with a comedic undertone (got shrunk and eaten by a cat for example). And ive had roles that'd have their grounded moments but the overall tone was nowhere near as dark
Patrick (Munroe): I don't think it's the first project I've been in with this kind of atmosphere, but it's a contender for one of the darkest. I think the story is brilliant thematically and the visuals speak for themselves. Again I love the whole resurrection trope. I've read in the comments it's apparently pretty similar to Emesis Blue, which is a fan film based on TF2 (haven't seen it though).
To everyone:
so sorry if this is too personal (if it is pls ignore >.<"") but is there anything in ersatz you might have disliked? if not, how come?
Patrick (Munroe): That there's only 1 episode
Danny (Mophead): that the episode ended
To all VAs, did you want to voice act a different character from your official one originally? :P
Danny (Mophead): originally I had auditioned for mop, carrie, and the nurse (casting call for nurse said any gender)
Patrick (Munroe): I auditioned for every character except Mophead. I remember thinking that Warwick seemed pretty interesting and similar to the type of characters that I'm typecast as. Ian of course was perfect though. I'm super glad to have been a part of this in any capacity!
to everyone: what's something you'd like to see your character do or go through that you think would be fun or challenging to voice act? (this is me asking if you're prepared to scream your lungs out in the studio if that ever happens)
Danny (Mophead): they weren't used in the final product but I did provide saint with lots of screaming in pain and crying noise juuuuuust in case.
Patrick (Munroe): I'm not sure in what circumstances, but I think Munroe should have a chance to be very verbose and give some dramatic and ground-breaking monologue. Maybe something to the whole platoon during a desperate situation or something like that?
Fun fact that's kind of related: I had to ADR part of the gas scene where Mophead interrogates Munroe. When I first recorded the dialogue, I had some choking sounds and breathing efforts mixed in, but they were scattered in-between rather than through the whole scene. Saint showed me an early render, so I watched it a few times and tried my best to match the timing for when he's struggling with the gas. It ended up turning out pretty well. Huge thanks to Saint & the audio wizards on the team for making that happen.
To any/all: toughest pill to swallow in voice acting?
Patrick (Munroe): There's a whole bottle of those 😬 . To name a few: the industry is not fair, you will audition WAY more than you book roles, and sometimes you just have to be very lucky. I love it all the same though!
Danny (Mophead): so so many. the job itself is the auditioning and I think people forget that sometimes. Also that your work is going to be criticized no matter how well you actually did, and its hard to not let that get to you. Also that it is so hard to make voice acting your main source of income, still won't be mine for quite a while
To: everyone!
Personally, what's your favorite takeout spot? P.S. LOVE how you made all of the characters feel real and not awkward at all. You guys are real pros and saint has taste in casting choices
Patrick (Munroe): Probably something with burgers and/or sushi. And thank you! 😊
Danny (Mophead): why thank you! I'm a sucker for boba if its just takeout, if its to actually eat eat then I like a place that has good steak
Luke (Carrie): There's a restaurant called Rally's/Checkers that I will always stop for a big buford if I see it. Also, Louisiana gas stations had the best cracklins and boudin, so that as well
To any:
(I think) someone yesterday asked what your fav food was, so what's your least fav?
Patrick (Munroe): Obnoxiously spicy stuff. Partially because I can't handle it 🥵
Danny (Mophead): mushrooms, can't stand them. also pineapple
To everyone: what's the hardest role you've ever had?
Danny (Mophead): one i ended up backing out of. Back before I started doing more paid stuff I got cast for a project to add voices to stardew valley, one of my favorite games. Thing is, being unpaid to do probably around 1000 lines was just too much. Know your worth!!
Luke (Carrie): My hardest role…was actually in an anime. It was really hard having to time things to the flaps and…I'm going to be completely honest, anime is the one field I just don't feel like I'm the greatest at because I just like playing around with lines so much.
Patrick (Munroe): Oof another tough one. Hard to say which is the toughest. Like Luke & Danny said, there's roles that are hard because of circumstances with compensation (or lack thereof) or the technical aspect of performing, and some which are just hard for whatever reason. Another one I'll have to think about…
To everyone: have you ever gotten a role and found out you were underqualified for it due to some skills needed you didn't really have, which forced you to get better at it so you don't look like an imposter. If not, then if that ever happened to you, what would you do in that situation?
Luke (Carrie): THIS ONE
I had to practice for hours to feel like the accent was halfway decent
I think I even reached out to saint to ask her "uh…what accent did you want for the character again" lol
Danny (Mophead): I had a role where it was recorded in a studio instead of remotely. I was lucky I had taken some classes in a studio before but this was a first for me, PLUS there was someone documenting the whole thing so I was super nervous. I think I did pretty well considering, and I think I just had to remember that I was there to do a job and try to just shut off everything else
Patrick (Munroe): Practically every role I get. Imposter Syndrome is huge for me and there's very few projects I've been in where I felt 100% confident. Sometimes, you just have to do the best you can and hope it will be received well. Additionally, you have to trust whomever's directing or managing things. If they say it's good and that they're satisfied, you can't ask for much else.
to anyone honestly: would you narrate an entire audiobook or is that something completely different from what you do as voice actors?
Danny (Mophead): I personally haven't gotten into audiobooks yet and its not on the top of my voice acting priority list, but I have auditioned for a couple before, so maybe one day! Audiobooking is hard work, I was stressed just doing the auditions for them
Patrick (Munroe): That's generally not a line of work I've done too much of, but I'm open to the idea! I've done some narration and some short stories, but nothing too lengthy. I usually prefer mediums that have a visual element of some kind, but there's nothing wrong with audiobooks. They're quite an investment in effort and a time sink, so the performers who do do them have my undying respect.
Luke (Carrie): I did audiobooks for a bit…but they were all batshit insane. Still, I wouldn't mind getting back into them, I just need to find them lol
To Everyone: What are your biggest NO's in voice acting script-wise? Have you ever said no to something in a script?
Patrick (Munroe): I don't think I've said no to anything specifically in a script, or at least not that I can remember. As long as the content is communicated appropriately, ahead-of-time, and isn't downright distasteful then I can work with it. Basically if it's something that's genuinely contributing to the story it would be "fine", but if it's just someone trying to get me to say something blatantly offensive or foul then I'd be out.
Danny (Mophead): I dont have a lot outside of some more obvious ones, like things that romanticize certain triggering topics. I'm fine voicing characters that are downright evil and say/do terrible things, as long as its clear that that character is in the wrong and that their actions are not being glorified.
Luke (Carrie): It depends on the script, there have been a few times I talked to a producer to tell them I wasn't comfortable with saying a line, or I'd just ask for further context and such. Thankfully I haven't been a part of any project that really made me uncomfortable like this, and it's mostly because I learned from my coach a while ago the same thing Danny mentioned: I know my worth.
To everyone:
You're about to host a small dinner party. What are you serving the guests?
Patrick (Munroe): Steaks and maybe a potato dish of some kind
Danny (Mophead): Ooh maybe pate, its this haitian dish that's either meat or fish in a little pastry that i love making. If not that then I also make a pretty good steak
Luke (Carrie): Hot dogs
(Internal note: not from a bench in new york I hope)
To everyone:
what is one of your favorite things about Ersatz, or the process of working on ersatz?
p.s. you all are phenomenal! I noticed within the first few minutes how good all the voice acting is :)
Patrick (Munroe): Saint is incredibly talented; the passion and skill that the whole team put in was fantastic! I live and breathe for indie projects. It's hard being a small creator, but I really admire the ingenuity and enthusiasm that can come out of a project like this.
Danny (Mophead): For the process I enjoyed finding out who my fellow castmates were and getting excited to see the final product because of it
In general, I'd say my favorite is the community. I've seen so much amazing fanart, edits, theories, and fanfiction; hell I even got a Tumblr just to see more of it. Being part of a community that is so passionate and welcoming is an amazing thing.
Luke (Carrie): For this one, I fell in love with the project the moment I got the casting call, but getting to see Saint's work, hearing my fellow castmates, realizing how much of a world there is here, and just getting to be part of a community. I honestly haven't been watching too much indie animation, maybe I should, but I'm proud to say I'm part of a project like this just for how creatively driven it and its community really is
To Danny:
What’s your favorite thing about voicing Mophead or Mophead’s character in general?
P.S. I love your voice!!! :D
Danny (Mophead): I love being able to do accents when I can, and being able to show the range of emotions that mophead feels and portrays just gets the voice acting nerd in me all giddy
To Luke: Carrie's voice must be so hard on your throat, how'd that factor into recording your lines like were you taking a lot more breaks between takes or something similar?
Luke (Carrie): Surprisingly, he's not that hard on it! I took a class with Michael Schwalbe (great teacher by the way) who gave a rundown on how to SAFELY do monster voices. I applied a lot of that with Carrie, because I really figured he would have a very smokey, raspy nature to his voice. I just had to watch my intensity, because I didn't want to slip into unsafe practices, but for the most part, Carrie's not that damaging (at least, not to me.)
Danny (Mophead): I took that same class! he's great
to Patrick — do you think you can pull off a cutesy role if needed lol (人 •͈ᴗ•͈)
Patrick (Munroe): Depends on the definition of "cutesy". In a few games, I've played romanceable characters. Some of which are supposed to be cute or charming if that counts 😅
Luke (Carrie): (time to go imdb surfing…)
To Danny: Because of how unique an existence Mophead is in-universe, were there any fun or intriguing directions on how to do their voice?
Danny (Mophead): Saint basically told me to go for it, just that we were going for british or Australian. I slightly talked about this before, but mop's voice is a slight combination of British and Australian, where it has a bit more of the more nasal and open mouth talking that aussies do but lacks the way they pronounce "o's" in speech, and has a bit more of the cadence of a brit.
As for tone direction, I was told that they are distrusting of the soldiers around and to keep that in mind, as well as their horror in this situation
To Luke:
Would you say Carrie is the craziest character you've voiced so far?
Luke (Carrie): Believe it or not, no, Carrie is not the craziest. He is one of the most fun though! I've played eldritch monsters, cybernetic detectives, a cat in an avocado costume. Nothing's too crazy at this point, but I do count Carrie as being one of the few roles where I really feel like I got to play a lot with him. Saint and the Ersatz collaborators are obviously the curators of who he is, but I can't help but feel like I've managed to inject part of me into him. It's honestly why I'm still so…blown away when I keep seeing art and praise for him and the project as a whole. Carrie's the first role in a while where I've thought "huh, maybe I am good at this" lol
To Patrick:
For aspiring voice actors wanting to get into indie projects, what's one thing you'd advise to them?
Patrick (Munroe): Two best pieces of advice I can give are: just go and try it, and to make some friends!
I started my journey with a cheap mic and dream. The barrier to entry to voiceover is pretty low these days and that's good thing. I had virtually zero acting experience and even less of a clue what I was doing, but never would have gotten to where I am now if I hadn't tried!
One of my biggest regrets when starting was keeping to myself a lot. Like I said, it's extraordinarily easy to get started these days. At first, I didn't interact much with others in the community or even my fellow castmates in projects. Partially because I was shy and also because I didn't want people to think I was just someone trying to shove my way in. But after a while I realized way too late that despite having some decent success, I didn't really know anyone else in the space that well. The community is vast and while it's not perfect, there's plenty of people willing to help each other out and just get together to make something. Things are a lot easier when you have people who understand you and/or who share your experiences. Whether it's online or in-person, definitely at least attempt to make some genuine connections in the community.
Also, would love to be in anime some day! That was one of my original goals when starting. Had a few audition oppurtunities but that's it for now. One of these days haha. I'd love for it to be soon but I'm in no rush
Luke (Carrie): I would also say that like, these are still things actors that are more established are still learning regardless. Community and friendships are important, there's only so much you can do by yourself.
To Danny, how do you sound anguished? It’s very remarkable. Sincerely, anonymous
Danny (Mophead): why thank you anonymous! I'm glad my anguish was believable. I tried to channel what some of what my anguish/panic is, though I typically dont find the words for it like mophead does, so trying to finally put words to my emotions ive experienced and applying it to the character. I often have an easier time expressing myself as a character rather than myself 😅
To Luke:
You mentioned John DiMaggio (yesterday) … Do you like batman under the red hood? 👀
Luke (Carrie): Okay…guys you're not gonna believe this…but I'm a huge fucking comic book dork. I LOVE Batman Under the Red Hood. And DiMaggio's Joker is incredible, I think about a lot of his deliveries in that a lot
To Patrick: what was the thing that came most naturally to you in voicing Munroe?
Patrick (Munroe): Probably his meek demeanor. I'm still fairly shy sometimes and, similar to Munroe, I'm generally not the kind of person to grab the attention of the whole room.
To everyone! If you were to voice one of the other characters, who would it be?
Luke (Carrie): Oh fuck
Okay
You know who the other character that I really wanted to voice was?
The Ascetic. I FUCKING love that character. But while I would love to voice the others…everyone did such an incredible job, it'd be a disservice lol I think everyone has their perfect voice
Danny (Mophead): well I think i showed which character I would voice yesterday 😂 being carrie would be fun
Patrick (Munroe): I say this a lot, but Luke did an amazing job as Carrie and I've always been thinking of what my take would be on that one. I can't really imagine anything else but Luke's performance though.
And also yeah the Ascetic, too. They stole the show. Honestly might be the face of the fandom 🤣
Luke (Carrie): Drop the Ascetic Cinema picture, NOW
Danny (Mophead): True true, people be loving carrie luke
Luke (Carrie): People also love Mophead, Danny. And Munroe. Warwick, hell the background doctor in that one scene explaining shit to mophead has fans, every character is great
Patrick (Munroe): True dat 💯
Danny (Mophead): and those soldiers that hang around the Ascetic, seen so much about those guys
[Closing remarks]
Patrick (Munroe): Thanks so much for having us! Would love to do something like this again!
Luke (Carrie): It was so much fun doing this! Thank y'all for your questions, and to my castmates, I'm now your unofficial cheerleader, so PLEASE let us know when you're in stuff
Danny (Mophead): thanks to everyone for all the questions, its been great!
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