Petr Glantz: An interview with the voice actor behind Deadpool and other video game characters

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Petr Glants is one of the most famous and sought-after voice actors in Russia. He has distinguished himself in a variety of roles in films and games. Petr's voice can be heard in such popular projects as Deadpool from the superhero films of the same name, Jack Krauser from the Resident Evil 4 remake, Arno Dorian from Assassin's Creed Unity, and Adam Smasher from Cyberpunk 2077. His work spans a wide range of genres, making his voice recognizable and beloved by many fans. Glanz's professionalism and talent allow him to effortlessly convey the personalities and emotions of characters, significantly enhancing the quality of his voice acting in games and films.

At Comic Con in Astana, we met with Petr Glanz to discuss his career in video game voice acting and other interesting aspects of his work. Petya shared his experience, revealing the intricacies of the profession and the specifics of working on projects in the gaming industry.

Voicing foreign projects today is a complex task. It is important to consider that many aspects of this process can be problematic. What is your opinion on the current challenges in the voice acting industry? Are there any specific difficulties faced by professionals in this field?

The question is very relevant. There are no problems with voice acting. As we know, a new player will always fill a void. Certainly, some large international companies left the market, and this affected both the film industry and gaming projects. However, as often happens, import substitution has replaced those who left. As a result, a vacant niche has formed, which is now being actively filled by new companies and projects.

News has recently appeared about the development of a Russian gaming console. This project has generated great interest and discussion in the gaming industry. The creation of a console in Russia could be an important step towards the development of the local gaming market and the support of domestic developers. The new console is expected to offer unique opportunities for users and become a competitor to existing products. Information about the project continues to trickle in, and many are eagerly awaiting details on technical specifications, games, and developer support.

These moments don't happen often, and they present a unique opportunity to successfully develop projects that might otherwise have had no chance of success or never even existed. In uncertain times, a seasoned entrepreneur is able to adapt and leverage the situation to reach new heights. These times open the door to creative ideas and bold decisions, allowing businesses not only to survive but also to thrive.

As an actor, I have many opportunities to work. I do official voiceovers and dubbing for Russian video games, and I also collaborate with several large American companies. I work with them through the Adobe Acrobat Sign electronic document management service, which significantly simplifies the process. They provide me with the voiceover materials, and I do all the work myself, receiving four times the salary. I am completely open to this format. Voiceovers are in demand, as the Russian language has international significance and is needed not only in Russia but also abroad.

In recent months, I have been working on several interesting projects. One of these was the creation of an e-commerce web platform, which included integration with various payment systems and user interface optimization. I also developed blog content aimed at improving SEO visibility and attracting the target audience. Each project requires a careful approach and an in-depth analysis of client needs, which allows us to create high-quality and effective solutions.

My upcoming projects include a film based on the Borderlands game, which will soon be released in Russia. It's a wonderful film, a summer blockbuster, in which I voice one of the characters, famous in the original thanks to Jack Black's voice acting. I was delighted to see the film's booth at Comic Con, which underscores the interest and anticipation surrounding this project.

We are actively working on the new Deadpool film. Disney's CIS division did an impressive job, creating a high-quality translation and dubbing. The translation turned out to be quite complex, much more rich in references and jokes than in previous films. I'm taking part in one of the dubbing versions, and I'm pleased to know that viewers will be able to evaluate different dubbings, compare them, and choose their favorite option.

The process of voice acting in video games has its own characteristics that distinguish it from film dubbing. In games, actors often voice characters who can have a variety of behaviors and lines depending on the player's choices. This requires actors to be more flexible and adaptable to different scenarios. Unlike film, where recording is usually linear, in games, voice acting can be broken down into many individual segments, making the process more complex.

Successful game voice acting requires a deep understanding of the character and their motivations. Actors must not only immerse themselves in the role but also consider how their performance will impact the gameplay. Unobvious aspects include the need to consider the player's emotional reactions and interactions with other characters, which requires a high degree of involvement and professionalism.

Therefore, voice acting in games requires actors not only acting skills but also the ability to work in conditions different from traditional filmmaking. This makes the process unique and engaging for everyone involved.

It doesn't really matter to me whether I'm voicing video games or films. I started my career voicing games, and it's become my go-to work ever since.

Venid actors with years of film voiceover experience often find it more difficult to adapt to new roles. I remember how professionals with deep, expressive voices, already in their mature years, recorded voiceovers for video games. The characters they voiced were often described only in dry terms, such as "soldier number 13, 40 years old." In such cases, the actors began to delve deeper into the character's personality, asking questions about their parents, spouse, and possible illnesses. This desire to understand and develop the details of the image makes the voice acting more profound and multi-layered, which undoubtedly enriches the gameplay.

Creating a unique character requires considering many details. In most games, with the exception of projects like Cyberpunk 2077, there's often insufficient information for this. Typically, the player is presented with only a basic character illustration, and the task is to make them memorable and distinct from other game characters. This requires developing unique traits and characteristics that are unique to this character. It's important to consider their style, behavior, and interactions with the world around them to make them truly original and stand out from the crowd.

I realize that you can add various traits to your basic character. You can make them slightly deaf, add a slight stutter, or a hoarse voice. While this can sometimes lead to overreaction, in the context of the game, it's perfectly acceptable. However, if you try to apply similar techniques in a movie, viewers may perceive it as unnatural.

In games with a large cast of similar characters, it's common to use the same voice acting for multiple characters. This allows developers to save time and resources on production, as well as maintain a consistent sound design style. This approach can be effective, especially in games with a large number of NPCs or crowd scenes. However, to create a deeper and more unique atmosphere, some developers still prefer individual voice acting for each character. This helps better reveal their personality and makes interactions with the player more memorable.

I don't recall any cases of outright copypasta, which has always surprised and sometimes irritated me. One aspect of video game voice acting that I don't like is the frequent need to produce loud screams and sounds. Depictions of cries of pain or various sound effects are often duplicated. I understand the need to record character lines, but why repeat all those sounds, like grunts? Each character is voiced by an actor with a suitable voice, and for a little girl, for example, a corresponding actress is chosen. The question is, why does she need to dub over sounds already recorded by the original actress?

The sound director was with the original actress and had more information about the scene. The script called for a "cry of pain," but the nature of this pain remains unclear. Perhaps the character was kicked, or perhaps a shiv was stuck in their eye. More detailed directions are needed to understand the true emotion and context of this moment.

Improvisation in game voice acting is an important aspect that can significantly enrich the gameplay. Although the script is the basis for voice acting, the ability to make changes and adapt to the situation can improve the quality of the performance. Sometimes unexpected decisions and emotional spontaneity make characters more alive and memorable. However, it is important to remember that improvisation must be appropriate and consistent with the overall concept of the game. A balance between following the script and improvisation helps create a unique atmosphere and increase player interest.

Improvisation in voice acting is rarely encouraged. The modern process is organized in a way that does not leave much room for creativity. In the past, when games were pirated in the country, it was possible to simply extract all the lines from the game and voice them in the order they were spoken. First, your line, then another character's response, and so on. This approach allowed for the dialogue to remain original and accurate, which is becoming increasingly difficult due to changes in the industry.

Official voiceovers often present only the character's lines, without the necessary context in which they are spoken. The translator adapting these lines has a complete understanding of what is happening, but when attempting to change the sentence structure or express the idea differently, a discrepancy with what another character is saying may arise. This leads to potential problems in understanding the plot and interactions between characters. It is important to keep in mind that even small changes in wording can significantly affect the overall meaning and atmosphere of the dialogue.

Acting is not always the primary factor in video games. For example, in Korean MMO games, the original voiceovers are often highly expressive and can sound unfamiliar to our ears. In such cases, dubbing provides an opportunity to adapt the sound so that it becomes more familiar and easier for players to perceive.