BENEATH THE WOODS ARG / Multimedia Novel Project
Project Overview
BENEATH THE WOODS is a supernatural horror multimedia novel project consisting of an illustrated novel and an ARG. You can find more info here: https://beneaththewoods.neocities.org
You can also join the Discord server here: https://discord.gg/HtN4qjG4wM
SYNOPSIS:
Since he was little, Max has always seen ghosts – and has always been afraid of them. Sick of letting anxiety consume him, he fights to face his fears head-on. But in doing so, he discovers his medium ability is a magical power; something he, a human, shouldn’t have.
Why does he have these powers? Where did they come from? He goes searching for answers but, in doing so, finds eldritch horrors, demons, and post-apocalyptic dimensions left behind by a desperate god who just wants to go home. The deeper into this mystery he goes, the more he realizes the universe has something awful in store for him.
PROJECT OVERVIEW: While this project is primarily a novel, I am creating additional assets for it, such as videos for social media, animatics, and recordings, that will be found either by the audience (specifically the ARG elements) or will be used to help tell the story in the illustrated novel version. Right now, I am creating content prior to the launch of the novel series sometime later this year and all voice work will go towards those projects.
My goal with these auditions is to have actors I can contact for additional work in the future, but for now, this is the current scope of the project:
2 - 3 short videos for social media (up to 30 seconds each)
"Found footage" style voice recordings for the ARG element (up to 2 minutes each)
Potential 1 - 2 minute animatic
In the future, I hope to also include additional versions of these videos and potentially voice overs of comics I make. This part is all tentative!
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One of the antagonists of the novel. An eldritch horror from another dimension who became a puppet of the gods who created them. They will stop at NOTHING to achieve their goals and complete the mission that their dear gods have given them. They firmly believe that fate cannot be changed, that every action will lead to a person's greater destiny, but a certain stubborn kid forces them to question that belief... and their world starts to crumble in the process.
PERSONALITY: Laid back and cool, very lonely, takes things a little bit too seriously but is also a trickster at times. Will not waiver on things related to their mission but will absolutely mess around with the cast if given the opportunity to do so. Manipulative and controlling at times, especially when the world is falling down around them. Is VERY protective and caring towards the people they love. Calls everybody "kid," "kiddo" or nicknames like "Stardust". Character inspired by Bill Cipher (Gravity Falls), Hunter (The Owl House) and Loop (In Stars and Time).
VOICE: Medium-pitched voice. Masculine voice. (They're non-binary but masc presenting!) Laid back, cool kid kind of vibe unless things go wrong :' ) They remind me of a protective big sibling who is always there for everyone (but will also mess with their family and friends if given the opportunity), but when things go wrong, they immediately jump to being stressed out and trying to protect everyone.
Has a slight rasp in their voice (which hints to how they came to be); if this is too much to add on, don't worry about including it! Also has a hint of exhaustion in their voice, like someone who hates their job but feels like they have to do it. I imagine that they sound like a chill college-aged kid. (For a bonus idea of how they sound, their headcanon voice is Delsin from Infamous: Second Son and Jax from The Amazing Digital Circus at the end of episode 6.)
Voice WILL have some effects on it! (I will need to hear what your voice sounds like without effects for a future aspect to the character, but the role will primarily have effects on it at first!)
- english
- masculine
- english (american)
- tired
- Annoyed big sibling
- male young adult
- nonbinary
- laid back
- Cool
[somber, wistful] I am… much older than this world. I’ve been around for a long time, honestly. Too long for me to count… [shifts to determined] I was given a task long ago. A mission by the beings that created me. That is all I exist to do. That is all I exist to BE.
[insulted, flabbergasted] EXCUSE ME? [laughs] You wanna run that by me again?
[quiet, warm and kind; saying this to trick someone] You’ve been hurt a lot, haven’t you? Is that why you’re so desperate to fix this?
Archimedes (Archie) is an eldritch spirit from another dimension but, unlike Polaris, is a sweet, childlike and gentle soul who only wants to make a friend. But, if they are hurt or reminded of their past traumas, they can break down into violent fits of despair and anguish.
In certain scenes, they have a lot of gentle and childish energy, going back and forth between being sweet and quiet and explosively struggling with their agony. They also struggle to speak, primarily talking in fragmented, strained sentences, almost as if some part of their form doesn't want them to speak. But, in other scenes, when they're allowed to speak fully, they're a deeply hurt kid who is incredibly vulnerable and open about their experiences and feelings, all while still sounding youthful and innocent. In all aspects of their character, they're always warm, kind, compassionate, and gentle.
VOICE: Medium to medium-high pitched voice. Sounds younger than they actually are, so I imagine they'd have a pre-teen or teenager voice. Voice is sweet, childlike and gentle. Most dialogue will have strained and fragmented speech and some dialogue will have Archie in fits of anguish. Can sound very anxious in some dialogue and bratty at other times.
Archimedes is a non-binary character and I want them to either sound more gender neutral OR slightly more masculine leaning. I'm not picky on this, though, so feel free to go whatever route you'd like to go!
REFERENCES: The main reference for this character's voice is The Collector from The Owl House. While it's not 100% exactly like what I have in mind, they match the same naive, childlike attitude and curiosity that Archimedes has. Other references include Oliver (as a teen) from Invincible and Hunter from The Owl House.
- The Collector (TOH)
- Hunter (TOH)
- Oliver (Invincible) (potential S4 spoilers!)
Archimedes will currently appear in one voice recording for the ARG I'm creating. They are a major character in the story, so they will absolutely be appearing more than that and I will keep you updated! Their voice will also have effects added to it during the editing process, but please do not add effects to your auditions! I need to hear your idea of the voice on its own.
- english
- Non-binary teen
- Gentle
- Innocent
- childlike
- warm
- Naive
- nonbinary
- english (american)
[strained, fragmented speaking; angry, bratty, more childish] Hate you... more!!
[relieved, bittersweet, smiling. gives a small, relieved laugh] I missed you, too, Maxwell.
[in tears. upset, scared, defensive and trying to push their friend away out of fear] No! You hate me, too, don't you? Y-You must think I'm some HORRIBLE monster! [beat] [grows quiet, defensive and hurt; still trying to push their friend away] Why won't you?
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