Bill's life is a talking trains series, but rather than taking place on a fictional island off the coast of northern england, it takes place IN AMERICA!!🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅
Do you wish to play more secondary characters? Audition here!: https://www.castingcall.club/projects/bills-life-wave-2-auditions-a78e5ef7-6348-419c-839f-7d2c944c7f08
Bill's Life follows a large cast of locomotives in the 1960s. Despite most being steam locomotives or subpar diesel power, most of them are running revenue service trains on a Kansan shortline called the Blue Sky Grain Industries Railroad. The episodes are collections of stories told by the oldest engine on the line, Bill.
This series is one of many i have seen involving talking trains, it follows closely in the footsteps of TTTE inspired or fan-works such as Stories of Sodor, the Newton Abbot Saga, and the San Juan Branch Line Trainz series. It also tends to utilize a darker tone than the original Thomas The Tank Engine show. I plan for the project to be around PG-13 in terms of content. This means occasional swearing, dark themes, and a lot of railroad realism.
This series will be made primarily using Trainz and Microsoft Clipchamp, and a few episodes will be released on youtube before the end of the year. The deadline is just a week or two before i plan to release the first episode, so roles are in descending introduction from that point.
Payment is deferred because first of all this project is not monetized yet and second of all i am still working out a method of transaction.
I will have a lot of roles open, even when people i know have auditioned. These roles are open because schedules may not align for the friends who have auditioned, as compared to people on this site, and generally the margin for Voice Acting skill i have seen here is far greater and i want to give everyone a chance to shine! I'd love to hear your voices, your work, and your interpretations of these characters!
I'll be in portland during the time of the original deadline, and since i am now advertising this project on youtube, i want to give ample time for voice actors to trickle in.
if you haven't noticed i have also started dismissing and casting VAs in preparation for this new influx of people. Hoping for this project to achieve success and get off the ground by the end of the year!
The deadline has been extended to October 18th, allowing more time for voice actors to trickle in. Use this time wisely, for i may put out a video soon advertising this project on the channel where this series will be produced.
I made some tweaks to some of the characters, including far more voice claims, and some altered lines.
Audition lines Lines may change, i frequently forget which regional names to use for certain terms, some of the biggest offenders are using engine in place of locomotive or driver in place of engineer. i might also choose a better audition line for roles that are awaiting casting.
If you have auditioned before this point, do not have to resubmit for the modified lines, but these lines will instead be in the final scripts.
Also Claus and anyone speaking to Claus are the only ones who will intentionally use british terminology in place of american terminology.
Voice Actor
A very old locomotive who tells stories, overestimates his capabilities, and doesn't take kindly to newcomers. Bill is the single oldest engine on the railroad and one of if not the oldest in the series, he was built in 1901 for the BSGI and continues to work there well into present day.
NO LONGER CASTED OFFSITE. This role is now completely open.
So you're Alice, right? I've heard a lot of *great things* about you. Thinking you can just waltz in here and replace me while I'm out for overhaul. What, did this railroad forget what heritage means?
You *are* fast at switching. A lot faster than me, at least. Those big engines are just impatient know-nothings. I was treated the exact same way before you came along, so just focus on getting the job done and doing it right!
And what if you fail on the test run? What would the UP think of that?
Voice Actor
A very big prototypical locomotive. Young, arrogant, cocky, fast talking, and deep down very insecure and desperate to prove himself to the big leagues.
If you gonna audition for anyone, audition for this guy, he is one of the most needed roles in the series thus far!
VOICE CLAIM: This character has a voice claim, that being of Sokka from Avatar: The Last Airbender
Hey… I’m Danton. I was told to come all the way over here for the demonstration… So if you're the one switching my train, make it snappy (bored, impatient, contemptuous)
Is that supposed to scare me? Look at me, a massive modern diesel. 5000 horsepower in *one unit*, prototype for the latest and greatest GE locomotive. What can you possibly do to me? (trying and failing to hide fear)
UUUGH, at this rate I'll only have pulled *one train* for the *entire* test run. The UP doesn't have time for that, they need good results and fast. (Complaining and Impatient)
Voice Actor
An old former passenger locomotive. 1920s City Boi, enjoys watching the fireworks when people need to be humbler, gives no fucks.
CASTED OFFSITE. If you wish to audition for fun, i'd be happy to hear your interpretations of this character.
VOICE CLAIM: this character has a voice claim, that being of Alastor from Hazbin Hotel.
What's wrong, Danton, did your generator spin out? Who knows, a B unit could have helped you get that train to its destination... (mocking, teasing)
I'm saying that if you're going to entertain such a crazy idea, can you at least do it quietly? *yawns* Some of us like sleeping… (tired, sleepy)
Not to mention track crew. It was real donkeywork, let me tell you! You were there for some of that time, weren’t you? (dramatic, complaining)
Voice Actor
A versatile and ubiquitous locomotive. Grounded, Progressive, Personable, the antithesis to the sentiment that diesels are bad.
CASTED OFFSITE. If you wish to audition for fun, i'd be happy to hear your interpretations of this character.
Look, Bob, there's no hard feelings. This wasn't my decision, nor was downsizing the service, but it's what the railroad needed to do to win over the public after your wreck. (Exasperated, still trying to reassure)
DRIVER, STOP, THERE’S A TRACTOR UP AHEAD! (panicked, about to die)
No it isn't. You're not a faulty design, and Alice isn't replacing you. One day you’ll get the chance to prove Alice wrong, im sure of it! (reassuring, encouraging)
Voice Actor
Gentle Giant locomotive, not too bright but has a terrible dynamic with his "brother" Bob. He speaks with a fancier southern accent due to his general dynamic of being more spoiled at first. Butch still chooses to be kind despite this upbringing, and tries his best to help out whenever he can.
C-C-C-Could you H-H-hurry up, i-i-t-’s c–c-cold! (shivering, anxious)
What are you talking about? My drawbar’s fine (oblivious to the mockery)
Why do you want me to take your train? (he forgot that the engine right in front of him just derailed)
Voice Actor
Insecure, Cynical, Arrogant asshole of a locomotive. Tends to be an antagonist out of pure envy and spite, and starts out in the series with a massive head due to his job, which he quickly loses to Blake after a serious accident. From then on he has a prejudice against diesel locomotives that he doesn't ever amend.
NO LONGER CASTED OFFSITE. i deemed my audition unsuitable for the role. Please feel free to audition for this role with your own interpretations, especially with the new voice claim.
VOICE CLAIM: this character has a voice claim, that being of Foghorn Leghorn from Looney Toons
Hey, little brother. I’m sure you saw me on the news yesterday. I know, I'm the best, the one who will be pulling the mountaineer all the way to Utah! You’d do well to clean up your image, then maybe someday you'll get to ride your old rails! (dismissive, mocking)
I’m not talking with a *diesel*, you do it… (contemptuous, muttering)
Now hold on there a second, BLAKE!? They let a Diesel take my job? I thought this was a heritage railroad! (Envious, flabbergasted)
Voice Actor
Laid back and nonchalant locomotive. Doesn't have much care in the world and treats her new home as retirement due to her demanding career beforehand. She is generally a calm voice of reason when she speaks, even when she prefers to keep to herself.
You're not seriously considering this, are you? (bewilderment, concern)
Well if you want to switch faster, try poling. Just take that car near you on the other track, find a big stick, wedge it in between both of your frames, and push. (giving advice that proves outdated)
Sean Jackson? Butch’s old engineer? I thought that asshole was fired years ago... (mildly annoyed, observational)
Voice Actor
SP gal whos restless, witty, and tends to have a lot to prove.
CASTED OFFSITE. If you wish to audition for fun, i'd be happy to hear your interpretations of this character.
VOICE CLAIM: this character has a voice claim, that being of Kelly from Class of 09.
Heard it through the grapevine… in fact, I might just push it *further* through the grapevine! I'm sure your wife is *eager* to hear about your infidelity… (teasing, clever, turning the tables)
Well you *certainly* have a way of greeting newcomers… (dismissive, sarcastic)
Yeah, no, I don't want to do anything like that… I just wish I could… I dunno… pull local trains, some lighter freight. We just sit around in the sheds all day waiting for one of us to be picked to pull, like, 3 trains for the day. (bored out of her mind)
Voice Actor
Welsh tank engine with a big mouth and a big heart, while being tiny. He has an insane backstory as a USATC engine and worked half of his life in wales, hence a much different accent from most of the other characters.
I’m FINE! If I wanna be as efficient as Bill I’m gonna have to *voice crack* take risks (straining, clearly not fine)
Built for wartime, remember? You learn plenty in a short time when you're shunting the coal for the ships at normandy. Engines who think their designer makes them superior aren't new to me. (casual, friendly)
Could you twats shut up for one second? Your train is ready! (annoyed, impatient)
Voice Actor
Ghost train, main villain of the series. She's a sadistic psychopath who proves to be pretty capricious and manipulative. She weaponizes a facade of southern hospitality and innocence to make her seem like she can be reasoned with, as well as the mystery surrounding her and skepticism of many as to the existence of ghosts.
Though her capriciousness proves to make her voice far more airy, high pitched, and cooky. She doesn't so subtly hide her joy at her power in the afterlife and how she uses it to murder. This is one of the most demanding roles in the series, and may be casted offsite depending on how auditions go.
Oh, bless your heart… Go on, tell them *exactly* what happened tonight… (sarcastic, mocking)
Ben, I was always like this. A monster, as you put it? Death just gave me the power to do what i wanted, when i wanted. (warmer than usual, corrective)
Oh no, no no no, you have done nothing wrong, you're too sweet for me to hurt you… i only hurt those who deserve it... (lying, putting on a honeyed voice)
Voice Actor
Modern Diesel Locomotive. Timid, Naive, sensitive about his subpar performance due to his background on the Monon during times of great financial struggle.
Current image is a placeholder due to late introduction and lack of a current good C420 asset in Trainz
You didn't defend me back there, at all… I broke down and all you did was pick on me. I'm sorry but we’re done. I'll never see you again after this, and knowing you, i welcome that. (a rare moment where he stands up for himself)
Wait, you're not Brooklyn… Please don't be- A-are you… M-Mikala? (confusion, growing fear)
I-i'm not exactly... built to pull passenger trains. I don't know how! (anxious, hesitant)
