Hey there. Long time, no see. With everything happening in the outside world, this volunteer-driven project has been slowed to a crawl, almost an imperceptible pace where a few lines here and there are exchanged in a week's time. I apologize that auditions have not been processed and roles left uncast at this point. The reasons for the delays are many, but break down to these top ones. Money. As with all artistic endeavors, it is the lifeblood of our show for production, logistics, marketing, etc. We have no fund-raising infrastructure or sponsorship so everything is on Jay's dime for now, which leads to... COVIDapalooza. Work schedules, availabilities, furloughs, and other major, real-world issues are in play across the world which limits volunteer participation. The Script. Originally planned for 5 hours over 10 episodes, the project has been dialed back to three hours in three acts. This means SEVERE rewrites that are impeded by reasons 1 and, especially, 2. So what does that mean? At some point we will be reaching out to actors and offering right of first refusal on roles we WOULD have cast them in had things moved forward, allowing them a chance to play, but also to decline if circumstances or desires have changed. After that, we will figure out a fair plan to get the roles cast and production moving. When? Soon. Can I be more specific? Not without a running revenue stream and a completed script. I'll get right on those.

Hey, everybody! While we have received a number of auditions so far in our search for voice actors, there are still a few roles for the pilot and season that are still awaiting the right voice. With that in mind, we have extended the deadline for all auditions until the end of September. Also, we will be updating the initial audition requirements so that your audition MAY be submitted in MP3 format with the understanding that final casting is subject to an inspection of a WAV format submission. We recommend you record first in WAV and save a copy in MP3 for direct email to jaysmithaudio@gmail.com We are looking for representation in these roles and encourage actors of color and LGBTQ+ actors to audition. Thanks! Deadly Con Crew

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rr6HzmjHyr47zewc6DUt6vpH7RWpZVMgjJMOlyJa3g0/edit?usp=sharing This link takes you to the Google Doc with lines for each of the posted characters.

We will not be using the "three take" method of recording in the hope that characters end up sounding like they are in the same conversation. We will meet, rehearse, and then provide a recording of the session to guide actors during their own sessions. The Direction Unit will make every effort to schedule rehearsals that meet everyone's needs and time zones. How? Not sure, yet, but we'll see who we cast and their availability and spend some time slapping our heads together to make it work for everyone. We just need people to be show up, on time, and focus on the work. And remember that we're here to have fun and put on a show. The initial phase of rehearsal will have room for actor questions, feedback, and suggestions. Once we go "table read mode" we hope to put down each scene in order with minimal break. Each episode will have its own rehearsal. We recommend the leads and supporting characters workshop and discuss their characters and approaches offline as well as time permits. We recommend that actors record themselves locally but not treat that track as your line submission file. We expect actors and we respect actors. This is why we insist on a COLLABORATIVE environment between actors and the production.

A DEADLY CON is a "remote record" production, a full-cast audio with effects and music. Our hope is to include voice talent from around the world which was something that made other productions successful. However, the technical challenge of having so many different actors recording different ways, with different equipment, and rendering settings, means we have to compensate for this style with STRICT recording requirements. NOTE: FOR AUDITIONS, FILES MAY BE SUBMITTED TO JAYSMITHAUDIO@GMAIL.COM in MP3 FORMAT. Remember that auditions are judged on both performance AND sound quality, so you may be asked to submit a WAV file prior to casting. Given that line submissions will require a large shared space, you will need to have a service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox to submit episode lines. The company will rehearse as a group over Skype (or similar service). However, recordings will have to be made locally on your own equipment. In order to minimize corrections, editing, and sound problems, we are establishing the following standards for Audition and Production takes. WAV files ONLY FOR PRODUCTION SUBMISSIONS. Bit Depth: 24. 44,100 Hz. MONO. PLEASE read and comply with the following. We will support you in producing a show you'll be proud to share, but to keep production moving without delays, we must have a cast that can commit to the following: No compression, no processing, no EQ, no noise reduction should be used to enhance the recording quality. Any deviation from this MUST be approved by Mike Stokes or you'll be asked for the un-processed takes or complete re-takes. Record under best environmental conditions. What you audition with is what we will expect in production. Files will be edited down to remove artifacts, outtakes, anything but your actual takes, prior to your submission to file share. Record in MONO. Files that do not conform to this format will be returned. Repeat returns for non-compliance indicate you are not interested in supporting the production and will be interpreted as a resignation from the role. Please don't make extra work for Production and we will avoid asking extra from you. If you are in any way unsure about any of this, you should contact Mike Stokes for assistance. Lines for Minor, Bit, and Cameo characters may be submitted by PAGE with a second of silence between each line. Choose your best takes. If you want to submit a variation, save it as an ALTTAKE (see below). Lines for Supporting and Lead Character must be submitted by LINE. Variations should be saved as ALTTAKEs as well. ZIP your files prior to uploading to Drive or DropBox file-sharing service. Be sure that the file sharing service is connected to jaysmithaudio@gmail.com prior to uploading files. For uniformity, we need a file-sharing client and not an email submission. Trust us, this is important to keeping everyone sane. These standards are not here because we want to be controlling jerks, but because any problems we do not solve ahead of submission time add work to the Editor and Engineer. Consider the number of files and performances that have to be reviewed and corrected by the production team and respect our timetable by agreeing to these standards up front and working with us during production. Thank you. File Name Formats: AUDITION_[Character]_[Actor Last Name].wav All auditions should should be provided through Dropbox, Drive, or other large file-sharing service and contain a brief bio of your other credits, web page, and links to your productions. ADC_[EPISODE #]_[CHARACTER]_[PAGE#]_[LINE#].wav and ADC_[EPISODE #]_[CHARACTER]_[PAGE]_[LINE#]_REVISED.wav or ADC_[EPISODE #]_[CHARACTER]_[PAGE]_[LINE#]_ALTTAKE.wav

Lines and submission requirements posted elsewhere. PLEASE review the submission requirements carefully before submitting your audition. This is a volunteer, Creative Commons production, freely distributed. DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30th 11:59pm Eastern US Time. ECHO EVENSONG LEAD Late 20s Trans F Undeclared She lives for big conventions, parties, and costuming. She is a costume/cosplay judge, free spirit, and has a voracious appetite for the arts and learning. She is obsessed with replacing her troubled past with new experiences. Echo is confident, representative of the ideal woman of agency and self-determination. While she is a costumer, she insists that she never takes on another identity because she spent much of her life and sacrificed to become who she is. Very much someone who chases bliss, she find the joy in everything and good in everyone until they insist on blocking that with negativity at which time she moves on to brighter views and happier experiences. ACTIVELY SEEKING SUPPORTING ROLES ALAN HORUS SUPPORT 50s Male Faux-British A publishing and gaming giant, affects a British accent but is from Boston. Owner of a massive online gaming platform representing one of the largest independent economies in the world with revolutionary VR and in-world AI capabilities. Is also the author of a moderately successful series of fantasy novels upon which his game world is based. Presents a melodious, nasal Neil Gaiman style voice cut with a constant insinuating malevolence. He considers himself a just but merciless god inside his online world. He wants to be Morgan Stern but only maintains a rivalry based on the success of his gaming world. Horus is also head of a large underworld organization with many criminal enterprises and connections. ACTIVELY SEEKING GRANT PARKER SUPPORT 30s Male Undeclared-American straight-talking Army officer working for bad people. Brilliant detective skills. Dangerous and mysterious. Captain America undercover in HYDRA. ACTIVELY SEEKING KATHRYN "KAT" STERN SUPPORT 17 Female Nordic-Italian a popular star on YouTube and model who produces shows on ASMR, costuming, game playalongs, and beauty tips. She is a manic, flighty, flirty, and somewhat erratic young woman who has few boundaries and those are set by her manager and agent. has an on-camera persona as a hypnotic, sensual voice of reassurance and confidence. She takes medication to manage manic bouts, anxiety, and panic attacks but is not consistent with them. She is flirty and plays dumb/ditsy when she doesn't want to deal with responsbility. Her mental competency is challenged throughout the show. ACTIVELY SEEKING BORSTEEN SUPPORT/MINOR Undet Male Undet Kat's social media/appearance manager; he has many clients but none as lucrative or troublesome as Kat. He works out of Kat's studio in the Stern compound. He is Kat's sounding board, advisor, protector, and rescuer. To people who are of no use to his goals, he is a snide jerk. However, he affects a convincing sincerity among his betters and those who hold his interest and favor. This is a snake-like character listeners will hate just because he's a professional douche. He likes to clip the end of others' sentences or roll an audible, impatient hum over people talking to him. He brings a bitchy attitude to the proceedings. ACTIVELY SEEKING KENNY WILTON SUPPORT Late 20s Male Hispanic A seasoned science fiction author focusing mainly on “Space Frontier” tie-in books. Struggling with his career options and “bumps” in his relationship with Liz. One of Peter’s few close friends. "Wilton" is a pen name. An established and popular author within his genre, the market has dried up and he is finding it hard to branch out into original projects. He cultivates his cool persona but as the convention shuts more doors on him, his frustration manifests in more exasperated bursts of language. ACTIVELY SEEKING LYNATI/LIZ GRANGER SUPPORT Late 20s Female African-American An urban fantasy-romance author with a growing audience. She’s very smart about her career and protective of Kenny. Graduated high school with Kenny and is friends with Peter. is developing her "brand" identity as a romance writer for fantasy readers. With her sales climbing and opportunities growing, Liz is contemplating her need for security over opportunity/risk. She is a very reasonable, deliberate person which is a counterpoint to Kenny's more emotional, feeling personality. She also has great self-confidence and esteem. ACTIVELY SEEKING MINOR, POTENTIAL RECURRING VOICES SISTER TERRI MINOR, POTENTIAL RECURRING ~30s Female Undetermined A member of the anabaptist order of Setonites who lives in the seminary where Peter keeps an "official" residence. She graduated high school with Peter and converted to the faith, teaching music and art to the orphan children living and learning on campus. She is modeled after Bailey Quarters from WKRP in Cincinatti. She speaks plainly with a midwestern accent, is shy and often hums or sings into words as though reluctant to speak up. She is a sweet, sheltered and somewhat damaged person. ACTIVELY SEEKING BROTHER DAVID MINOR, POTENTIAL RECURRING ~30s Male Undetermined An "elder brother" of the anabaptist Setonite order who holds an administrative position in the school he once attended; he also coaches the rugby team. He is also a friend of Peter's who encourages him to find his own way and leave the shelter of the seminary. Setonite males are "men of work" and knowledge. They read scientific journals and abhor technology that relieves men of the burden of labor. David is a "manly man" with a deep, commanding voice, but this is something he has developed that comes out when he is performing his role as administrator, teacher, or cleric. As "Dave" among the brothers and old friends, he is more relaxed and less baritone. ACTIVELY SEEKING JACKSON PRATT/FURST/SCOUT MINOR ~50s Male Yinzer Jackson Pratt is enlisted to scout for a suitable investigator for a secret project. He spars with Peter at his hometown roadhouse. He is a career geek, owner of a failed comic book shop, seasonal operator of a Halloween Haunt in Monroeville, PA, and part owner of a regional pop culture convention in Pittsburgh. He is divorced, seeing a cosplayer half his age, and chasing his dreams. He's a typical guy who loves comics and pop culture, socially a bit awkward, but intelligent and loyal to his friends. He has a Pittsburgh inflection. ACTIVELY SEEKING JACK MINOR, POTENTIAL RECURRING, 60-80 Male Undetermined Jack is a retired P.I. who spends a lot of his time the Greensburg watering hole, Patches. He rides a strong beer buzz and generally keeps to himself. He drinks at Patches because that means he's not drinking alone. He is also very close to an intervention for his alcoholism and depression. He is a widower who is buried under the weight of all the bad shit he's seen. He's known Peter since he was a student (and a punk) and loves the man he's grown up to be. He knows his mind and body are shutting down but he refuses to die anywhere other than the place that makes him feel at home. He slurs, speaks haltingly, and from a deep but congested chest. Longer lines make him fight off a cough. ACTIVELY SEEKING ONLINE CHARACTER ROLES (COMING SOON) Online characters are avatars of (mainly) existing characters but filtered through an fantasy role play environment. Character voices sound natural but slightly exaggerated and dramatic, usually clearer and distinct because they are often voicing words typed into a keyboard, though sometimes they are a filter for an actual VOIP player. MONITOR ALT SUPPORT, NO GENDER/ACCENT SPEC. Serves as the Game "Narrator" and information source. Is a pleasing, neutral voice. Is billed as "The Herald of ADVENTURE!" ACTIVELY SEEKING MERO VINZ ALT MALE Fantasy Char Avatar of Peter Ellis in-world. These voices should represent the visual cues of the character. In this case, he is masculine and baritone, with a touch of sensitivity representing the source and his role as a retired soldier-turned-farmer. ACTIVELY SEEKING ORIAH VINZ ALT SUPPORT DNA FEMALE Fantasy Char The voice of an in-game avatar who is Mero's new wife but has a complex past. She changes appearances to suit her needs; this requires the actor to manifest these physical transformations vocally. Requires a broad vocal performance range. ACTIVELY SEEKING GROP ALT MINOR 20-30 MALE Fantasy Char Claims to be a former servant of an evil baron who now leads a team of reformed campaigners as they seek a place to settle and build a new home. In-Game, he sounds like the classic, barrel-chested heroes from cartoons; his deep man-voice is rich and confident. He returns in chat as a salty, bitter man-child. ACTIVELY SEEKING