Wednesday January 8, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Island FanCon is excited to introduce Speak-Up! a captivating voice-acting challenge.
That will be part of the main stage lineup on Friday March 28, 2025 on the first of three days of Island FanCon at City Centre Park in Langford.
Fans will have the chance to showcase their vocal talents alongside a celebrity panel of professional voice actors, creating an unforgettable experience.
“We’re thrilled to offer Speak-Up! at Island FanCon,” said Lonnie Eckardt, founder of Island FanCon. And there will be a grand prize!
How it works:
Participants will step up to the mic and collaborate with the panel, engaging in a series of fun table reads. Whether you’re crafting a quirky cartoon voice or embodying a bold video game character, Speak-Up! is designed to celebrate creativity and talent.
“This is all about having fun with your voice and learning from some of the best in the business. It’s an incredible opportunity for fans to explore voice-acting in an exciting, hands-on way,” he said.
Speak-Up! will take place at 7 pm on Island FanCon’s main stage.
Career-boosting prize:
As an extra incentive, one lucky participant will walk away with a career-boosting prize.
“We’re offering something truly special,” said Michael Coleman, a member of the celebrity voice-acting panel. “The winner will receive a professionally designed demo reel and a signed contract with a talent agent, giving them a real chance to break into the voice-acting industry.”
Info on participating in Speakup! is online. All ticket holders are welcome to pre-register on the Island FanCon website under the Attractions page.
“Whether you’re a seasoned performer or new to voice acting, Speak-Up! is the perfect platform to share your talent and passion,” says Eckardt.
Three-day cosplay event:
Island FanCon 2025 runs from March 28 to 30, featuring a diverse lineup of celebrity guests, interactive panels, cosplay contests, and much more.
So far the 2025 celebrity guests include Jon Heder, Lee Majooub, Chelsey Reist, Tasya Teles, Ashleigh Ball, Aleks Paunovic, David Anders, Leanne Lapp, Lee Arenberg, Michael Coleman, and Tawny Newsome.
For more details about Speak-Up! and other event highlights, visit the Island FanCon website.
This is the second year for Island FanCon in Langford; Island FanCon 2024 was held for two days in April 2024.
Tickets online & through school district:
Tickets can be purchased online on the TICKETS page. Get single-day or three-day weekend passes.
Some free tickets are available to students through the Sooke School District.
Grand prize:
The Grand Prize is a complete, professionally designed and recorded voice acting portfolio. This includes demo reels and a signed contract with a voice acting agent, giving the winner a significant boost in their voice acting career.
Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a newcomer, “Speak Up” is your chance to shine!
The Grand Prize for Speak-up! is being sponsored by the Story Institute.
The Story Institute:
Story Institute is an accredited post-secondary school based in Vancouver, with additional programs for youth and part-time adult classes.
The school is owned and operated by a group of some of the busiest working professionals in the film industry, who all share the belief that actors and filmmakers should have more control over the consistency and frequency of their paid, professional work.
Story Institute teaches voice-acting theory but focuses on what has been consistently working for their instructors and alumni for decades.
===== RELATED:
- Island FanCon partners with SD62 for a unique student pop culture experience (December 8, 2024)
- Island Fancon returns to Langford for second year (November 9, 2024)
- Inaugural Island FanCon contributes $750K to local economy (May 17, 2024)
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