High Notes Directing Performance for Epic Games - with Tom Keegan
34 snips
Jul 28, 2025 
Tom Keegan, a performance director known for his work on AAA titles like Jedi: Fallen Order and Call of Duty, shares insights from his creative journey. He discusses the evolution of voice acting in video games, emphasizing the importance of emotional nuance and subtext. Keegan explores how improvisation and authenticity enhance character performance, along with the challenges actors face. He also previews his upcoming book, which offers practical guidance for aspiring directors and actors, as well as fostering passion and continuous learning in the industry.
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Use Place, Time, Action (PTA)
- Tom Keegan teaches PTA: state the Place, Time and Action to give actors context.
- Provide simple facts so actors avoid neutral or 'illustrated' reads and can make choices.
Bring A Basket Of Choices
- Tom Keegan warns actors not to lock into one practiced choice during auditions.
- He advises bringing a 'basket of choices' and staying open to direction and opposite options.
Play But Check Circumstances
- Tom Keegan urges actors to play and take risks while checking those choices against PTA.
- He says directors must channel play to serve the text and the wider game team.
