We recently had the chance to chat with Alex Valdes about the fascinating world of voice acting. During our interview, we dove into his inspirations, goals, and the ins and outs of life as a voice actor. At All Ages of Geek, we’re passionate about shedding light on the stories of indie creators, and our conversation with Alex was a perfect fit for our mission.
What initially inspired you to become a creator, and how has that inspiration evolved throughout your creative journey?
As far as I can remember I’ve had an interest in the arts, whether it be on a stage or in a booth. I loved making funny voices and eventually it grew into wanting to portray fun characters to the best of my ability. It mostly started when some friends of mine pushed me into joining a casting call website and trying out for some calls. That was around 4 years ago and I’ve kept going ever since.
Can you share a specific moment or experience that fueled your passion for your current creative project?
Can’t really recall any specific moment that has really fueled me, when it comes to my career it’s the little things like getting to voice-act in my friends’ projects to help them or for fun, or even things like seeing I was casted as a really cool character. Things like that keep me going and wanting to pursue my dream.
What challenges have you encountered as an indie creator, and how have they shaped your approach to your work?
My biggest challenge as a VA is funnily enough fighting against my own self criticism. I know people say jokingly “you’re your own worst critic” and for me that couldn’t be more true. But I have a network of friends and family that support me and remind me that I don’t have to be perfect, that I just have to be myself. The way it’s shaped my work really just comes down to trying not to be a perfectionist in the booth, the “perfect” take sometimes might’ve just been the first.
Are there any particular creators who have significantly influenced your style or approach? How do you incorporate those influences into your own unique voice?
I’d say the creators with the biggest influence on me would be individuals such as Michael Kovach, Edward Bosco, Alex Rochon and Corey Wilder. I love the way they bring their characters to life and make scenes feel real. Their ability to play characters largely close to their own personalities only to then play an entirely different sort of character personality wise really inspired me.
How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to feedback from your audience or collaborators?
When it comes to portraying someone’s character I like to follow through with almost all of their feedback to the best of my ability, a creator knows their character more than I could. When it comes to my own sorts of projects however I do take feedback and notes in mind, it’s never good to dismiss ALL criticism or feedback.
Can you recall a memorable success story or milestone in your indie creator journey that stands out as a turning point for you?
The moment that really stuck out to me was when I was casted for a project called “VA Academy”. When I received the email telling me I was cast on a project with other highly talented VA’s (some well known ones too) I shed tears. I finally felt “seen” and that moment was when I told myself that being a voice actor wasn’t just a “dream” but that it could be a reality.
What role do setbacks or failures play in your creative process, and how do you overcome them to keep moving forward?
Setbacks or failures mostly come from myself, harsh criticism towards my own performances or work ethic. I never allow things like rejection emails or lack of work keep me down because that’s just the nature of the VA industry. Feelings like imposter syndrome are the hardest challenge for me but I overcome them by continuing to do what I love regardless, voice acting.
How do you manage your time and energy to sustain a consistent creative output while juggling other aspects of life?
Whilst I would love to do voice acting full time, it just isn’t feasible in my current situation. I work a full time job and I try to balance it and my passions by allocating time for each. My days off are when I get to really enjoy my creative pursuits.
Have you found any unexpected joys or rewards in the indie creator community, and how has it contributed to your overall experience?
The biggest joy I’ve had in the indie/creative community has been the people within the community. I’ve never felt more accepted and cheered on in other communities as I have with this one. The friends I’ve made have helped me in ways I could never have expected, many helped me network and taught me skills. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the amazing people I’ve met along the way.
If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring creators, what would it be based on your own lessons learned?
Don’t give up before you’ve even started, the journey starts with a single step. Help and cheer others on and do the best you can while chasing your dream.
What are your thoughts on All Ages of Geek? What are some things we should change/do? What are something you enjoy about our website?
My thoughts on All Ages of Geek are positive. I think that the website offers a deep insight into creative communities and has many fun little interactions such as quizzes/podcasts. More people should be involved in the community and I think the website helps accomplish that by getting more people interested and involved.
Goals for 2024?
Keep doing what I’ve been doing so far, auditioning for projects and chasing my dream of being a full time voice actor. I hope to get brought onto an agency and land more roles. This year already feels like a positive turning point.
