We were lucky to catch up with Samantha A. Morrison recently and have shared our conversation below.

Samantha A., appreciate you joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in a creative career or as an entrepreneur is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

When the current SAG video game strike regarding AI protections first started, everyone was in a tizzy! Actors, clients, financiers, you name it… and it suddenly became my job to assure them that not only would things still be able to continue on time & on budget, but also ethically with the actors, as a collaborative team. Traversing the varying social circles and intricacies (particularly during an industry strike) takes not only a certain finesse, but also will challenge your moral center a business owner. Remaining steadfast in your choices is vital during these times. You can never take back what has been done, you can only keep working towards that new & better tomorrow.

Samantha A., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started in the voiceover industry back in 2013 as an intern for a well-known recording studio that specialized in anime localization & video games. From there, I had a small stint at a VFX studio while also freelancing in experiential marketing (with a focus in tech & gaming) working for such clients as Oculus, Nintendo, Sony Playstation, Google, Samsung, HTC, and more. From there I was lucky enough to meet my mentor, Terry Berland, and got my first hands-on experience casting everything from live-action commercials, short films, and feature films, as well as dipping my toes into voiceover… getting to assist in the casting of my first video game. A couple years later, I was graciously brought on to Marc Graue Recording Studios, the oldest voiceover studio in Burbank, as Casting Director & Project Manager, where I helped to grow the company & increase project bandwidth to some of the highest capacity it had seen at the time. Voiceover was exactly where I wanted to be, and getting to work with all types of clients for all different types of voice work trained me in so many ways throughout my years there.

In late 2024 I established my own company, Sought-After Casting, getting to focus on not just voice casting & directing, but something I’ve always loved to do… teach. Getting to work with actors (as well as would-be Casting Directors) at every stage of their career is so exciting. I love the enthusiasm and dedication to the craft of voiceover, and it has some of the kindest people in my humble opinion. Getting to share the same space as those I admire, as well as those aspiring to grow their careers is such a treat!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’ve always done my best to be on the “right side of history” when it comes to ethical, authentic voice casting & production. I don’t believe in strict rigidity, and always try to find a solution that satisfies both client & talent in my creative endeavors. I’ve always been passionate about what I do, and constantly immerse myself within my industry & community. I believe my conscious efforts in this regard resonate strongly with people; strengthening my reputation & showcasing how every part of voiceover & production can be done simply and transparently.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Satoru Iwata is probably one of my biggest entrepreneurial inspirations. Iwata’s impeccable balance of creativity, professional empathy, desire to share the fun of games with the masses, and overall impact on the gaming community as a whole cannot be understated. He understood not only what it took to get a certain task done, but also the nuances and pragmatic know-how on what to do to get there, which often involved him taking things into his own hands; unprecedented for the president of any company, let alone a video game developer. I have a quote from him that lives in my office to remind me every day why I do what I do…

“Talent isn’t about achieving results so much as deriving pleasure from the results you’ve achieved.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/soughtaftercast
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/soughtaftercast
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthadmorrison
• Twitter: https://x.com/soughtaftercast
• Other: BlueSky – https://bsky.app/profile/soughtaftercast.bsky.social

Image Credits
Robert Kazandjian (additional photos ONLY)