Welcome to episode 222 of the Voice Acting Mastery podcast with yours truly, Crispin Freeman!

As always, you can listen to the podcast using the player above, or download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of this blog post. The podcast is also available via the iTunes Store online. Just follow this link to view the podcast in iTunes:

http://www.voiceactingmastery.com/podcast

I’d like to take this episode to have an honest discussion with you about the state of the entertainment industry. As of the release of this episode in July of 2025, numerous American media companies, including game companies, are experiencing a downturn. Not only are their newly released projects not as financially successful as ones they’ve made in the past, but I would argue that these newer projects are of lower artistic quality as well.

While it can be depressing to observe the current state of affairs, especially for those of us who care deeply about art, storytelling, and the quality of games, these kinds of downturns are to be expected. The entertainment industry is not static, it regularly goes through periods of expansion and contraction. The causes of these boom and bust cycles may differ, as does the length of each cycle. However, if you look back in time, you can observe that these cycles do occur over and over again.

We currently find ourselves in the midst of one of those downturns, with no clear indication of when the pendulum of the American entertainment industry will swing back towards higher quality and more box office success. Multiple franchises such as Star Wars, Disney Animation, Marvel, DC, and even Pixar seem to be struggling to recapture the magic and popularity they once previously enjoyed. If you look around and feel disappointed or discouraged, you’re not alone. A quick survey online will show that both fans and creators are dissatisfied with the current situation. I too am disappointed and I wish things were different. As an actor, many of the forces contributing to the current downturn are beyond my control. However, it’s at times like these when I have to remind myself to work on the things that I can control.

There are two strategies I follow in order to survive an industry downturn without losing my enthusiasm or inspiration. The first is to nurture my own artistry by getting back to basics and revisiting the classics. This means checking in on and shoring up my acting fundamentals to make sure I’m not getting complacent and cutting corners artistically. This also includes studying inspiring stories and performances from the past, to help remind me what I’m aspiring to be as an artist.

My second strategy is to either seek out or create projects that I find artistically fulfilling. An industry downturn usually means that the biggest studios are struggling. When those larger companies falter, it often creates an opportunity for smaller, more independent creators to produce quality projects that can capture the public’s imagination. I do my best to go searching for these more inventive, independent creators to see if I can help them bring their projects to fruition. If I can’t seem to find any projects that I’d like to contribute to, then it’s usually time for me to create my own project and see if others would like to collaborate with me. By seeking out projects, or creating your own, not only will you be working on something that gives you artistic satisfaction, but you’ll also be developing and nurturing personal and artistic relationships that can be very beneficial in the future!

So allow me to spend this episode sharing with you the tools and techniques that I use to maintain my own artistic inspiration during an industry downturn!

Download Voice Acting Mastery Episode #222 Here (MP3)