Jennifer Hale and David Hayter are two of the most prolific voice actors in the industry today.
Their careers span decades, with TV, film and video game credits to their names.
Last week, I sat down to chat with them both about their upcoming PSVR2 game, Synapse.
Synapse’s action plays out in a twisted mindscape that combines firepower and telekinesis with a striking art style.
Can you give me a bit more background on your characters in Synapse?
Jennifer Hale:Clara is extremely goal oriented.
She is determined to be successful at all costs.
She’s a dedicated operative and the Colonel is her number one goal in life - taking him down.
David Hayter [not missing a beat]:The Colonel is unjustly, unjustly persecuted by this person!
Maybe that’s just my opinion.
He’s become disillusioned with his commanders, particularly Clara.
They’ve turned against him, and they call him an enemy of the state.
I love that it’s all taking place in a mindscape.
Hayter:It’s super cool.
It was a very cool experience and the gameplay looks awesome.
I really love that perspective.
What kind of guidance were you given for your performance?
Hale:Just draw on your extensive history…
Hayter:Of insanity?
Hale:Both of them!
They’re both a little crazy.
You know, the fact he’s been through all these missions, he has a long military history.
He’s caused a lot of pain, he’s endured a lot of pain.
All of that comes together to encircle the player and create the world that he lives in.
It was pretty straight forward because the script was so clear.
That is really fun, really exciting.
Hayter:Jennifer taught me to act physically while on the mic.
You use your movements, you use your body, you use everything.
So in terms of applying physical action to the lines, we’re usually doing that.
Not being in the same room physically is a bit of a bummer.
But that’s the world we live in now - and we all record from all over the world.
You don’t have the luxury of physical movement, but you still have to convey physical movement.
Hayter:There are a lot of specifics to it.
But, it’s so fun, especially when the project’s good, you just disappear into it.
It’s the best job in the world, as far as I’m concerned.
These roles in Synapse were written with you both in mind.
Is that flattering, given that you’re playing such a psychotic character, David?
How do you feel about having this role made for you?
And the only parts I ever got were heroes.
I was Captain America, I was Solid Snake, I was the guy who does all these things.
I auditioned for all sorts of things.
But if it was a hero, or some sort of superhero, I typically got it.
And I was so flattered by that.
Then, after I turned 40, it was all villains.
Something happens, I guess, you just turn evil.
And you know, it’s good to be bad.
But, with [Colonel Conrad], you just have no idea what he’s gonna do.
And I got to do a hell of a lot of that in this game.
In some ways, it’s desperately insulting.
And in other ways, it’s the greatest opportunity ever.
Dave’s range is wide and fantastic.
I don’t know if people realise how funny he is on top of everything else.
Hayter:Thank you, Jennifer Hale.
High praise indeed from the greatest of all time.
It’s really lovely to hear.
Hale:I live to make him uncomfortable.
Hayter:This is an exclusive, I haven’t told anybody this.
Let’s get nuts!'.
That sort of guy.
So that was my great inspiration.
Nobody plays fun and crazy like Michael Keaton.
Synapse has this roguelite structure to gameplay - do you have to approach this differently as a performer?
Hale:I don’t alter, for myself, characters and performances based on that.
Are you a Dory, David?
Hayter:There were some bits of dialogue indicating my character knew he was going through something again.
Like, ‘you think you’re gonna make it?
And you’re a constant companion/heckler along the way to the people trying to get at your secrets.
But as Jennifer says, it doesn’t really change too much.
I wasn’t even allowed to watch cartoons as a kid and I’d never played a game.
When I got my first audition, it was for a cartoon series.
I was certain I was going to be fired every week.
Hayter:I started with the same three!
Hale [in a Valley Girl voice]:Wait, Valley Girl, seriously?
Hayter [also in a Valley Girl voice]:Like, oh my God!
You know, really, I did just want to pay my bills.
Hayter:It comes back to the word soul.
My initial voices were me, younger me/excited me.
And then, I could also do Russian for some reason.
So these are how I start.
In the industry, I played two Russians.
This was my big break [all said in Russian accent].
I could do accents and stuff like that.
But, it’s like, ‘no, it’s Meryl’.
He feels, he feels the pain of it, and he feels responsible for it.
Like, he’s such a softy, you know, beyond all the gruffness.
And that’s what makes people attached to something like that.
Ideally, it’s the same thing with Colonel Conrad.
Are there any of your previous characters you’d like to return to specifically?
Hayter:All of them!
People ask me all the time ‘what was the most fun project to record?’
and I’m like, I loved all of them.
I played Lupin in a dub of Castle of Cagliostro, which is Hayao Miyazaki’s debut feature.
I’d love to play Lupin again.
There’s just no bad day in the voiceover booth.
It’s better than doing anything else, frankly.
Is this something that you would consider returning to do in Mass Effect’s future?
Hale:I would show up anywhere, anytime, to do anything involving Shepherd.
Is there anything from Shepherd or Snake’s stories that you particularly loved?
Or is there anything that you wish you could develop further?
Hale:I love saving the galaxy.
Who doesn’t want to do that?!
I mean, God, that was just, that whole thing, that was such an extraordinary experience.
Are there any standout moments from Snake’s history that you particularly look back on with fondness?
I think it was her fault he was ageing.
I don’t know, I blame everything on Dr Naomi.
‘, you know, just because I was just so offended.
I’m like, you know, I still look pretty good.
And [Hale] jumps in and she goes [in the same pitying voice] ‘so shrivelled’.
And we realised they don’t know when we’re joking.
And so Shrivelled Snake almost became a thing.
That’s the next iteration!
Hayter:It’s so funny when you’re doing these things.
But, if you’re Snake you are like: ‘Hey!
Come on man, it’s not that bad, I’m still a human being’.
Synapse is due out on 4th July, exclusive to PlayStation VR2.
