We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mischa Pfister. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mischa below.
Alright, Mischa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Prior to the pandemic, I wrote a television pilot script based on an idea that had been brewing in my mind for years; one that incorporated all of the elements that I felt defined me as an artist… my “dream” project.
It was eventually optioned and pitched to ten different networks. But even though we had an A-List celebrity attached to executive produce, being the no-name writer I was at the time, it proved to be a difficult sell.
As luck would have it, a handful of those networks came back to us and asked me to turn the project into another form of IP (intellectual property) and then bring it back to them. Such is the norm in this industry where so many shows are based on pre-existing material; movies, books, newspaper articles, foreign versions of the same show, etc.
This is especially true when it comes to science fiction, which my project happens to fall under. Sci-fi shows outside of the Marvel or DC catalogs are often based on graphic novels, however, since my project is very soundtrack-driven (not a musical, but taking place in a theater type venue), I realized it wouldn’t do us much good to simply illustrate the script.
Then the pandemic hit. I was at a loss both creatively and financially. After chatting with some friends over Zoom, it occurred to me that as a voice-over producer, director, writer and actor, I happened to have all of the necessary ingredients to reenvision my series as an audio drama! So, I buckled down and wrote a multi-episode prequel to my TV pilot in the form of a scripted podcast… complete with two albums worth of original songs.
Since then, I’ve worked with a cast of 38 actors, along with my composer, to bring this longtime dream project of mine to fruition… with a premiere set for later this year!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
With my parents divorced since I was two years old, I split my childhood between living in a whimsical trailer on ten acres of forest with my inspiringly free-spirited mother, and a strict, rather phlegmatic household in the city with my German-born father (with whom I never spoke English.) An only child, I had an active imagination; conjuring up fantastical scenarios for my G.I. Joe and He-Man action figures, always making sure to assign each character their own unique voice. This certainly led to my fascination with voice acting at an early age. From my favorite cartoons, to the famous “In a world…” trailer voice, to awards shows and audiobooks, I often wondered who the faces were behind the microphones. That said, I never imagined acting would become part of my own life’s calling.
After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (BFA: Film & TV Production) and UCLA’s Producers Program (MFA: Showrunner Track), I had hopes of becoming a showrunner (that still being a goal of mine). Ironically, when my bilingual skills proved to be lucrative, acting became my “day job”.
Nowadays, I not only continue to work as a voice actor, I also write and direct projects for other people as well. When not hired by another studio, I’m working in my own at home – often times producing demos for both aspiring and well established voice artists.
Every voice actor needs a demo: their calling card / resume / portfolio in 60-second digital audio form. That’s where my business comes in. Unlike many other producers, I’m able to work with clients remotely; directing their demo recordings – even their auditions later on as they progress – over the net via headphones rather than in person. This saves us time and allows actors to work from the comfort of their own home studios anywhere in the world. The voice is one of the first “tells” of stage fright or nervousness, so being in a relaxing space can make all the difference!
As a producer, what makes me most proud is when a client listens to their demo and says, “I sound awesome!” – because we all know, the sound of your own recorded voice can be really off-putting at first. I love making people feel proud of their natural gift and, of course, helping them to make an income from it!
As an actor, I’ve been lucky to have appeared in a number of productions that mean a lot to me personally… Two episodes of ARCHER, the behind-the-scenes documentary for THE FIFTH ELEMENT, voicing the Reavers in SERENITY, looping an Oscar-winning film (MILLION DOLLAR BABY), plus numerous video games, award shows, commercials, movies and TV shows… but I’m most “known” for my very first VO job ever – one that still plays on a never-ending loop at Disneyland’s Matterhorn ride*.
*Indeed, thanks to me, many a rider has kept both their hands and feet inside the bobsled at all times.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
As an artist, I love the idea of being able to properly credit and then track the chain of title for a digital work of art. That said, just because you own the title to a house does not mean the house is a mansion; it may still be a s#*! house, right? First you have to make good art… and then turn it into an NFT.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Professionalism aside – punctuality, politeness, and preparedness (you’d be amazed by how many voice actors show up to jobs without ever having read their scripts ahead of time!) – I pride myself on being FUN. After all, you can have the smoothest, sexiest, silkiest voice in the market, but if you’re difficult to work with, it will come back to haunt both you and your productions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.VOMischa.com
- Instagram: @VOMischa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vomischa
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mischapfister/
Image Credits
Henry James