Co/Create Winner Profile: Voice Actor Kurt Shipley
Kurt Shipley grew up in Southern California but moved to Utah for college, where he has lived ever since. Becoming a voice actor was a dream of his ever since his days as a kid playing games and watching behind the scenes content on the voices behind some of his favorite games (like Baldur's Gate II Red Dead Redemption), inspiring him to pursue voice acting seriously.
It is in Utah where he pursues his lifelong passion for voice acting, a journey that has led him to land roles in iconic games like Elder Scrolls, accomplishment’s a young Kurt could have never dreamed of.
Kurt's Creative Process
Kurt finds inspiration in scenes from movies or games, repeatedly acting out a character’s perspective to perfect his portrayal of emotions. This practice, whether in his booth or his car, enhances his skills and broadens his vocal capabilities. Kurt’s fascination with impressions extends to mastering unique voices, siting the gravely tones in comedian Pablo Francisco’s Don LaFontaine impression as an inspiration to this practice.
Maintaining his voice’s health through regular hydration, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques is crucial to his process during recording sessions. Kurt recalls the challenges of early roles, like an older Scandinavian character for a Skyrim mod, which taught him the importance of establishing a consistent routine and finding tricks and habits to stay fresh throughout long and arduous recording sessions.
Kurt's Co-Creation
Creator Jemma young selected Kurt for the voice of Koe for his ability to capture the sincerity and gentle nature of Koe's character in a very realistic and believable way. After contacting him and having him send in his initial lines, she simply fell in love with his voice for Koe.
Below is a link to Kurt's line read for the role of Koe, the shy and contemplative lead character in Children of Eldair:
Looking Ahead
Check out the prologue and first two chapters of Children of Eldair live on StoryCo right now, in which Kurt is the voice of the lead actor ‘Koe.’ Stay tuned for more updates and chapter releases from the world of Children of Eldair in the next few weeks as well.
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