Beyond the Dark Production - ‘The Strata’ - Chapter 5 | Original audio drama
Project Overview
The Strata is a gritty sci-fi / horror series and requires serious, grounded performances.
Format: The podcast consists of a series of interwoven stories in a persistent universe and there is an opportunity for voice actors to take on recurring roles if interested. There are over 50 episodes currently planned, broken up into chapters of around 5 episodes each. Please take a listen to previous seasons of The Strata for an idea of the overall tone at http://thestratapodcast.com/
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***Payment Structure for Returning Characters - Per Chapter (4-6 Episodes) - in USD***
Narrator (over 5000 words) : $250
Major Character (over 1000 words) : $50
Minor Character (less than 1000 words) : $25
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Setting: In a sprawling future metropolis called The Strata, society has continued to segregate between the classes. The wealthy live in Highgate City, a place full of dazzling skyscrapers and creature comforts. Organic body augmentations that allow citizens to extend their life for hundreds of years have become commonplace. At the other end of the spectrum lies Dockerton, a slum area filled with crime, drugs and poverty. Disease is rampant and basic facilities are almost non-existent. There are many checkpoints maintained by police that help to keep the city segregated, and most citizens don’t bother straying from their own neighbourhood.
Disclaimer / Content Warning: This project contains mild profanity and some portrayals of violence (gunplay, drug use).
Rules for auditioning
1. A quality recording. I can't use poor audio no matter how great your performance might be.
2. Commitment to deadlines.
3. Willingness to take direction and provide pickups if necessary.
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Greezy runs a garage in Midtown where he carries out repairs on vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Most of his clientele are mid to lower class citizens with few creds to spare, so Greezy has to run his business on small margins. He is always on the lookout for a hustle and often tries to convince patrons to upgrade so that he can score a few extra creds. He uses a great deal of irony and sarcasm in his speech, but during his sales pitches, Greezy adopts a more upbeat and charismatic tone.
Voice is medium pitch.
(Assessing repairs on a vehicle that’s in very poor condition) “No kidding. This thing’s got more rattles than my grandpa’s glitch-box. What’d you do? Drop it out of a starliner without a parachute?”
(Barking orders to an underling. Using his dry sense of humour to make a point that the vehicle is in a bad state) “Susie! Get this piece of junk on the winch, will ya? Take a look and see what’s going on.” (dryly) “Be careful it doesn’t explode in your face.”
(Trying to give his best sales pitch on a vehicle he’s trying to sell - attempting to reassure the prospective buyer) “Oh no, no. This is a battle-ready ‘denizen of the roads’. A fully secure conveyance for the discerning buyer. You can drive it away right now.”
Vakameau is a cruel and ruthless thug who works for the ganglord Skerridge. Having risen the ranks of the organisation, he now occupies a prestigious role as a lieutenant. He is clever and manipulative and very self-assured, and rarely allows anyone to get the better of him. He is loyal to Skerridge and is prepared to use whatever it takes to get the job done, including killing, torture or anything in between.
Voice is slow, measured and confident.
Pronunciations:
Skerridge - scare-ridge
(Adopting a threatening tone as he intimidates a witness) “You want to know who I am? I’m the man who can take out his gun and shoot you dead right here on the steps of this stationhouse. With impunity. No one would even lift a finger while I walked away. That’s who I am.”
(Taunting as he brags about a murder) “Usually I make it quick, but... the way you disrespected me that morning, I decided to take my frustrations out on your friend. And my oh my... did she squeal...”
(Calmly conveying a message) “I can assure you that what my associate Mr. Carver has told you is the truth. This... wasn’t what Mr. Skerridge had in store for you, but... it seems you have some friends in high places. They’ve managed to clear your name.”
Shibley is a sergeant in the Midtown police department. As a well established member of the force, Shibley has given many years of service to law enforcement. However, in more recent times, he has grown cynical and succumbed to the forces of corruption in The Strata. This has led him to accepting bribes from gangs in Midtown in exchange for favours, and Shibley is now a shadow of the man who once wore the badge with pride. There is almost nothing he will not do for creds, but just the same, Shibley is careful when accepting bribes as he still fears being caught. Shibley sees the people of Midtown as sheep who are there to be exploited, and anyone labelled as a criminal is considered expendable. As far as Shibley is concerned they are less than human.
Voice is medium pitch.
Pronunciation:
Talen - TAL-en
(Responding with derision to a criminal who is pleading innocence) “Oh really? Sure doesn’t look that way to me. In fact, it looks to me like we just caught you red-handed.”
(Unloading a prisoner from the police truck) “Okay, get down out of the truck you big lump of shit. And no sudden moves. We’ve got scopes on this whole place. You so much as sniff in the wrong direction and we’ll put a bullet through your skull faster than you can blink.”
(Responding to a prisoner who claims there is no evidence against him) “We’ve got more than enough, asshole. Now shut your mouth for five seconds, huh?” (Raises his voice as he addresses his fellow officers) “Hey, guys... move it will you? Got one here for processing and I don’t wanna wait all night. Talen, get over here.”
Allegretti is an inmate at Blackhall prison. Violent and cruel, he harbours a strong desire for retribution for his brother, who was previously murdered during a prison riot in Blackhall years before. Allegretti has singled out Detective Somers for special treatment, since she was the one who arrested his brother and started the chain of events that led to his death. Although he talks big, at heart Allegretti is a coward who prefers attacking opponents from behind, rather than toe-to-toe in a straight up fight.
Voice is medium pitch.
Pronunciations:
Talen - TAL-en
(Aggressively confronting a friend of Detective Somers) “Yeah, that’s right. This bitch arrested my brother a few years back. He ended up right here in Blackhall, and a few months later someone put a blade between his ribs. As far as I’m concerned, she’s the reason he’s dead.”
(Breathless, gritty as he prepares to attack another inmate) “Get out the way, Talen. I’m gonna get some payback.”
(Taunting, cruel as he leaves the scene) “Hey, Somers... catch you again tomorrow.”
Marley is a cop in the Dockerton Police Department. She is somewhat cynical and sarcastic and doesn’t enjoy dealing with time wasters. She has a good relationship with other cops in the precinct but doesn’t put much trust in citizens who come looking for help.
Voice is medium pitch.
(Dismissive and weary as she is approached by a civilian with a question) “What’s the problem, miss?”
(Cynically responding to a question about the whereabouts of a loved one) “You sure he was arrested? Maybe he got drunk and fell in the harbour.”
(Becoming impatient) “Well, there’s not much I can tell you, lady.”
Halford is a lieutenant in the powerful Fortunato gang. He is cruel, violent and uncompromising, and doesn’t tend to bargain, as he believes he can simply take what he wants. Halford has no qualms in sending his underlings into certain death - the end result is all that matters. He is loyal to the Fortunato gang and is willing to put his life in jeopardy if it means getting the job done.
Voice is mid to low pitch.
(Responding to a threat with a threat of his own) “And you’re looking at eight plasma-jacked members of the Fortunato crew. I kinda like those odds, myself.”
(Taunting after his crew have killed one of Talen’s friends who tried to negotiate a better price) “Now it’s eight on one, Talen. Would you like to continue negotiations?”
(Menacing, hard-edged) “Do yourself a favour. Don’t argue with me.”
Robbo is an inmate at Blackhall prison who works for the ganglord Carver. She is not especially smart and prefers to let violence do the talking. She is loyal to Carver and somewhat fearful of him. She is sarcastic and condescending towards other inmates.
(Forcing a prisoner to comply) “Back up, old man. Against the wall. Go on! That’s the way.”
(Responding with sarcasm when asked how he got hold of a weapon inside the prison) “This thing? Oh, you can find ‘em lying around if you know where to look.”
(Sarcastic as she offers to return a guard’s weapon) “Would you like your zap-stick back, Talen?”
Saul is an inmate at Blackhall prison who works for the ganglord Carver. He is cruel and manipulative and likes to see others suffer. He is very keen to make a good impression with Carver who wields great power amongst the inmates. This in turn provides Saul with a great deal of status - at least in his own mind.
(Warning a prisoner to stay out of a fight) “Stay out of it, gramps, or you’ll get some too.”
(Taunting a prisoner who doesn’t bother to call for help when attacked) “Check it out... this guy’s too stupid to even call for the guards.”
(Encouraging an inmate to keep attacking a target) “Hit him again!”
Williams is a cop in the Midtown Police Department who has been assigned to help make an arrest at a murder scene. She is a conscientious officer who takes her job seriously.
(Barking orders as they close in on the killer) “Block that exit! You two, over there!”
(Calling out to a suspect) “Down on the ground, now! Or we’ll put you down.”
(Responding to a query from a superior officer - sharp and businesslike) “We’re talking to security right now, Sergeant.”
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