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Daydream Believer – Interview with Dayeanne Hutton

For webseries and gaming fans Dayeanne Hutton‘s voice is no stranger to them. From starring in the Emmy award winning Emma Approved to voicing Kate in Life is Strange Dayeanne is a bright ray of sunshine in the web content world. We were lucky enough to chat with Dayeanne about voice acting, webseries and the wonder that is Harriet Smith.

1. What is your first memory of acting?

I’ve been surrounded by theatre for as long as I can remember due to both my parents’ involvement/enjoyment of it! My first memory of being in a show is from Kindergarten. I was about 5 and my school did Wizard of Oz. I played a Jitterbug as well as a member of the Lullaby League! My mom choreographed both pieces.

2. When did you know that acting was something that you wanted to pursue?

I’ve always enjoyed books and fantasies and the idea of playing around in a life that is different than mine. I began to take acting more seriously around age 12 or 13. I had to choose between acting classes and soccer (which I’d been doing poorly for years). I chose acting and began expanding from just theatre to also submitting for film projects! There was never a moment I even considered not having acting in my life somehow.

3. What was the experience of Emma Approved like for you? Were you familiar with the novel beforehand?

Emma Approved was an incredible and joyous experience! We all worked together for a whole year, and the cast and crew are all phenomenal people. I was also thrilled to be bringing a Jane Austen character to life. Pride and Prejudice has been a favorite book of mine since school. I read all of Emma before my audition so that I would have a good grasp of the original piece!

I continue to do my best to create a safe and positive space on the internet during my own Twitch streams.

4. Did you enjoy translating Harriet’s story into a fresh medium?

Absolutely!! I’m so honored to be among the handful of actresses that have brought Harriet Smith to life. And I really connected on a special level with her. There is definitely a piece of her in me all the time, and I brought real aspects of myself to my portrayal as well.

5. We assume you can’t tell us anything about the current hints of a revival, however can you tell us if you’re excited by the activity happening on Twitter and the moments App?

Ah yes, spoilers… I’m quite excited over the characters renewed social media activities!

6. Since Emma Approved you’ve moved into voice acting – how was the experience different from traditional acting? What are the aspects that you enjoy?

Voiceover is so much fun, but a very different experience. You’re not being filmed, so you don’t need to focus on how you look, or where the camera is. You just have to connect with the characters and feel what they’re feeling; so you can breath life into them. It’s so much fun providing different voices to animated characters. I’m a big nerd, so being in a video game is a dream, I can’t wait to do more!

7. What are the challenges you face when voice acting, particularly voice acting for a game?

Sometimes roles can be very vocally demanding, however my experience with Life is Strange didn’t involve much screaming or yelling.

8. What was the best part of voicing Kate Marsh in Life is Strange?

The best part is being a part of the beautiful Life is Strange community. The fans are amazing; supportive and kind, they really love this game and appreciate the actors involved. Kate’s storyline in particular has helped many people come to terms/deal with their own depression and struggles. I’m honored to be even a small part of that. I continue to do my best to create a safe and positive space on the internet during my own Twitch streams.

9. Can you tell us about any upcoming projects that you have?

I’m currently focused on the growth of my Twitch channel and some Approved secrets!

The lady behind the curtain – an interview with Ashley Clements

Ashley Clements has had a career that has travelled back and forth from past to present to future, Charlotte Brontë to a modern day Lizzie Bennet. Five years on from her award-winning performance as Lizzie in the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Cinders caught up with Ashley about her memories of the show, her advice to actors and what she has lined up next.

Charlotte (full)

1. Can you remember the first moment you realised you wanted to perform?

I was 6 years old the first time I did a play, and it was around then. My parents didn’t believe me because my career goals up until then had gone something like princess, lawyer, first female president of the United States, actor. I think they expected 10 or 20 more before I decided, but I stuck with the decision that 6 year old made. When I was 7 I wrote a very compelling story about horses and decided I would be a writer AND an actor. And that’s still pretty much the dream.

2. If you could play/ have played any role what would it be?

There’s still some great Shakespeare roles on my list that I need to grow into, like Lady Macbeth and Paulina in The Winter’s Tale. But I’ve got a lot of time for those.

3. Who are the actors who inspire you?

I’m super inspired by people who create their own work, like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling, and really transformative actors like Tatiana Maslany.

4. We’ve been having fun re-living The Lizzie Bennet Diaries through the 5 year re-watch – what are some of your best memories from the diaries?

Working with the cast, many of whom became dear friends, was definitely a highlight.

We went through so much together, including traveling to conventions and sleeping on each other’s shoulder on airplanes, that they’ll always be my LBD family in some ways.

At first when the videos started showing up in my Facebook feed I skipped over

them, thinking I’ve seen these all so many times. But then I started watching them, and enough time has passed that it feels like a sort of window into my life 5 years ago, because I remember so much of what was going on when we shot episodes.

So I’ve actually really started enjoying the rewatch myself.

“At first when the videos started showing up in my Facebook feed I skipped over them, thinking I’ve seen these all so many times. But then I started watching them, and enough time has passed that it feels like a sort of window into my life 5 years ago”

5. Lizzie Bennet was such an iconic role – what did you learn from playing her?

I learned a lot from Lizzie. She came along at just the right time in my life and forced me to face my own judgmental nature. I can genuinely say I’m a better person for having gone on Lizzie’s journey.

6. Where do you think Lizzie is now?

I have a lot of thoughts on where Lizzie is now, and I hope some day soon I get to share them with everyone.

7. You really got to exercise your comedy chops as Charlotte Bronte in Poe Party – what did you enjoy most about bringing her to life?

Playing Charlotte was such a dream. I got to wear a gorgeous gown, speak in a British accent, and run around a haunted house pretending to be mean to some of the people I enjoy the most. Every day was so much fun. I only spent 9 days on set, but I could have happily spent years making more Poe Party.

8. Having been involved in both The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and more recently, Non-Transferable – do you have a favourite romantic comedy?

I’m a huge sucker for a great rom com. Some of my favorites are When Harry Met Sally, Notting Hill, Four Weddings and Funeral, Clueless, and Bridget Jones’ Diary. (I don’t think it’s a coincidence that two of those are inspired by Jane Austen.)

9. Non-Transferable looked like it was so much fun to film – what was it like to shoot in such incredible locations?

The whole experience was sort of surreal. We were traveling so much and shooting so fast and incredibly jet lagged, but then we’d stop in the most incredible places. Our very first day we woke up and realized in daylight that we were just steps away from the Aegean Sea.

We saw small towns and big cities and incredible countryside. History like the ruins in Ephesus, and natural phenomena like the calcium travertines in Pamukkale, and a combination of both in the fairy chimneys and underground cities in Cappadocia. It was truly the trip of a lifetime.

10. Did you enjoy teaming up with some of the Poe Party and Pemberley alums?

Always! That’s the dream for content creators – to get to make things with your friends! It’s so much fun to keep working with beloved people and meeting new ones through all the connections we make.

11. Is there any advice you would give to aspiring actors?

You’ve got to learn how to live a fulfilling life that isn’t dependent on anyone else’s approval or permission. And you’ve got to work really, really hard.

12. What can fans look forward to seeing you in next?

Since it was successfully funded I’ll be shooting The Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye with my friends the Tin Can Brothers! You can check us out at wayward.guide.com

Clements

Shooting Star – An Interview with Mary Kate Wiles

What with her incredible resume, you’d be forgiven for thinking that actress, producer and web vlog host, Mary Kate Wiles, never sleeps. Since receiving acclaim as Lydia Bennet in the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Mary Kate has gone on to star in – and produce – content with the best of the best in web video. Méabh McDonnell chatted to Mary Kate about the development of web video, her advice to actors and which of her characters she would take for coffee.

1. How do you feel that webvideo and webseries have changed the landscape of media production? Are there more opportunities out there for actors?

Absolutely! There’s so much original work being made, and it’s wonderful. And it’s easier to get your own work out into the world and seen by people, which is really fantastic. I’ve done six full-length independent feature films, but the work I’ve done online has gotten me more acclaim than anything, and in a lot of ways has been more fulfilling because you have a direct connection to the people watching it. You can see the impact it’s making on people and get that instant gratification of knowing your work is being enjoyed. That’s really cool.

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