How Deep We Follow (Indie Underwater Sci-Fi Visual Novel)
Project Overview
About This Casting Call
This casting call is for How Deep We Follow, an underwater sci-fi visual novel inspired by games like Subnautica and In Other Waters. I'm looking to cast a narrator and four VAs — all members on the same expedition.
Project Description
When a routine expedition goes wrong, you plunge into a frigid alien sea in search of your missing crewmate. Explore a sunken spaceship, save or kill its lone survivor, and outwit the monster lurking at your door before your time runs out.
An underwater sci-fi visual novel about monsters, friendship, and the lengths we’ll go to bring those we love home.
Here's a (very) WIP clip from the beginning of the game, in case that's helpful: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ETYYaj7R5gicz5keM74QyYtL_bDZshYJ/view?usp=sharing
About Me
I'm an award-winning artist and game developer interested in interactive storytelling. You can view the games I’ve created at https://www.romanhyacinths.com/games. I previously worked with VAs on two short visual novels, which you can play here and here.
Timeline and Contract
Audition deadline: 10/7/2026 at 8 p.m. EST
I’ll select VAs by or before: 10/14/2026 at 8 p.m. EST (a full script will be made available before each VA signs to check their interest in the full project)
VAs submit first full audio take by: 10/21/2026 at 8 p.m. EST
VAs submit final re-takes on individual lines by: 10/28/2026 at 8 p.m. EST
I’ll pay VAs: Within 5 business days of final re-takes
If you’re curious, I’ve made the legal contract for a past VA hiring public. The contracts for this game will be similar, but customized to each role. It’s pretty standard — covers the flat payment and additional payment for re-takes, required deadlines, and general VA protections (e.g., no AI training on voice lines).
Outreach
Any outreach regarding this project will come through CCC or on Discord (from the user “Jaylus”). Please don’t use my contact info to message me with unsolicited requests, auditions, or questions (I'll keep an eye on the comment section here for questions!).
Voice Actor
A deliberate and calm voice, with varied pacing.
Name: N/A
Role Type: Lead
Payment: 300 USD for ~170 dialogue lines
Voice Type: Masculine or feminine adult, medium or deep pitch
Accent: British or American
For audition files, choose 2 or 3 of the following lines and submit 1-2 takes of each selected line. Looking for realistic voices with nuanced/subdued acting.
- english
- androgynous
- female adult
- male adult
- british
- american
From orbit, Pegis-04 looks like a smooth, dark stone. No lush land mass greenery, no tall granite mountain ranges, no cutting white ice caps — just a calm ocean, so dark it’s nearly black.
You look down at the gun in your hands — cold, sleek metal solid against your frantic pulse. You clip it to your harness, and then turn to attach your harness to the lowering mechanism. It only takes one step to slip out of the open shaft, down, down towards the ocean below.
Below you, the ocean swaddles a wreck and a mother’s corpse, her nest slowly going dark. Beyond you is a dangerous and glittering galaxy. There’s no place you’d rather be right now than here, with your friends.
Voice Actor
A young woman who's one of the Wayward's planetside operatives. She's intelligent, humorous, and quick on her feet.
Name: Mara
Role Type: Lead
Payment: 200 USD for ~80 dialogue lines
Voice Type: Feminine adult, medium pitch
Accent: I have American in mind, but open to others!
For audition files, choose 2 or 3 of the following lines and submit 1-2 takes of each selected line. Looking for realistic voices with nuanced/subdued acting.
- english
- female adult
- female young adult
(wryly) "Well, it is if your goal was to find out whether I can hear you, smartass."
(pleading) "Imani, we can’t just leave him down there — you know if there’s any chance he’ll make it back up, someone needs to connect to his signal and guide him back here. He’s basically blind down there without it."
(focused) "Yeah, Imani, I’m sending a snapshot of the panel drawing he did — do we have any of that alien translation software still?"
Voice Actor
A young man who's one of the Wayward's planetside operatives. He's goofy, thoughtful, and smart.
Name: Eli
Role Type: Supporting
Payment: 100 USD for ~30 dialogue lines
Voice Type: Masculine adult, medium pitch
Accent: I have British or American in mind, but open to others!
For audition files, choose 2 or 3 of the following lines and submit 1-2 takes of each selected line. Looking for realistic voices with nuanced/subdued acting.
- english
- male young adult
- male adult
(softly / earnest) "You sure you don’t want this dive? I know I kind of took it from you."
(playfully) "Sounds good, Imani. If I find any suspicious looking plants, I’ll make sure to bring them back just for you."
(serious / focused) "Depth six-fifty. There’s a ribbon-like organism, maybe three feet long. It’s flashing — almost a signal? Imani, do you want it?"
Voice Actor
A woman who's the Wayward's lead scientist. She's intelligent, empathetic, and a great problem-solver.
Name: Imani
Role Type: Supporting
Payment: 100 USD for ~30 dialogue lines
Voice Type: Feminine adult, medium or deep pitch
Accent: I have British in mind, but open to others!
For audition files, choose 2 or 3 of the following lines and submit 1-2 takes of each selected line. Looking for realistic voices with nuanced/subdued acting.
- english
- female adult
(focused) "The alien structure is eleven hundred meters down. Preliminary scans indicate a fractured hull and several open compartments."
(relieved) "Oh, thank God. Is Buddy with you?"
(testily) "Technically, but Mara, 'technically' is doing a lot of work here. It’s not safe. And if it wasn’t safe for Eli with his gear, it definitely wouldn’t be safe for you."
Voice Actor
A man who's the Wayward's captain. He's prone to worry, but takes charge and stays calm in a crisis.
Name: Jun
Role Type: Supporting
Payment: 100 USD for ~30 dialogue lines
Voice Type: Masculine adult, medium pitch
Accent: I have American in mind, but open to others!
For audition files, choose 2 or 3 of the following lines and submit 1-2 takes of each selected line. Looking for realistic voices with nuanced/subdued acting.
- english
- male adult
(annoyed / scowling) "Eli! This is a dangerous mission. Can you pay attention?"
(firmly / coaxing) "Keep your knees soft, I know you’re likely tensing up. Focus on your breathing. Can you stay focused on your breathing once you feel the water? It’s important to try to keep it steady."
(laughing weakly) "That’s a hell of a plan, Mara. Kind of sounds like something Eli would suggest."
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