Tom’s Mother, Supporting Role

Tom’s mother is a supporting character in The Hollow Tells, an episodic psychological-horror game developed in Unreal Engine 5.

She is heard during a painful childhood memory involving seven-year-old Tom and his father. She is loving, protective and emotionally exhausted. Although she is intimidated by her husband’s anger, her concern for Tom eventually forces her to confront him.

The performance should feel natural and emotionally grounded. We are not looking for exaggerated crying, shouting or theatrical horror acting. Much of the emotion should be communicated through restraint, hesitation and the feeling that this is not the first argument they have had.

The actor must be capable of moving between quiet concern, suppressed fear, frustration and firm maternal protection. Her final lines should show that she is frightened but no longer willing to remain silent.

This is a supporting voice role with deferred compensation. Final responsibilities, compensation, usage rights and credit will be established in a written agreement before recording begins.

Recording requirements:

• Clean audio recorded in a quiet environment
• Consistent microphone quality
• Ability to provide unprocessed WAV files
• Reliable communication through Discord
• Willingness to follow performance direction and provide reasonable revisions

Please do not include music, sound effects or heavy processing in the audition. Directions inside brackets should not be spoken.

Scene context:

Seven-year-old Tom has locked himself inside a room after becoming frightened. His mother wants to comfort him, but his father insists that they leave him alone. The argument begins quietly because she does not want Tom to hear them. Her fear and frustration gradually rise until she finally stands her ground.

[Quietly call toward the closed door. Gentle and worried.]

“Tom?”

[Speaking to the father. Controlled and careful, as though trying not to provoke him.]

“He’s been in there long enough.”

[More urgent now, but still keeping her voice down.]

“He’s seven years old. He’s terrified of you.”

[The accusation slips out before she can stop it. Hurt and anger are breaking through.]

“Because of what you’re doing to him.”

[Immediate and firm. She refuses to let him compare Tom with his brothers.]

“Don’t compare them.”

[Brief pause. She is frightened, but this is the moment she finally stands up to him. Do not shout unless it develops naturally.]

“You love him. That’s what you do.”

Please perform the complete scene in order as one audio file.

One carefully directed take is enough. You may also include a second take with slightly stronger emotion, but the performance should remain believable and restrained.