“There’s a whole side of AI that is less about doing anything creative or exciting and more about greed and saving money.”
JP Karliak
Voice actor, activist, and amazing human, JP Karliak (he/him), won the hearts of many mutant-loving millennials with his portrayal of Morph on X-Men ’97. He recently sat with Multiverse of Color to discuss the challenges faced by Queer and Non-binary voice actors, the threat of AI, his nonprofit organizations Queer Vox Academy and Nerds Vote, and the importance of authenticity, diversity, and fair compensation.
After earning a degree in theatre from the University of Southern California, Karliak sought on-screen acting work as he was under the perception voice-over work was something not everyone gets to do. “I was a big animation fan, but I was under the misconception that it seemed so fun that it couldn’t be a real job,” Karliak said. He was later connected with voiceover teachers and began pursuing voice acting. In onscreen work he was typecast as the (snaps) “hey girl” character. That was not the case with voice acting. Karliak found the freedom to play a variety of characters via voice acting and eventually dropped the pursuit of onscreen work altogether.
QUEER VOX ACADEMY & NAVA
At the end of 2020, Karliak founded Queer Vox Academy based on conversations with casting friends. They celebrated the rise of Queer characters in animation and video games while simultaneously lamenting the inauthenticity of the casting. Instead of accepting the “we don’t know where to find Queer voice actors” excuse, Karliak clocked in and created a voice acting class to train LGBTQ+ identifying actors. Queer Vox Academy grew from there. He recalls being pleasantly surprised to find plenty of well-trained Queer, Trans, and Non-binary voice actors. “They either haven’t been given showcase opportunities to pursue mainstream work, like AAA Games or in mainstream animation, or they’ve been existing in anime or less mainstream mediums to make their coins,” Karliak said. The organization focuses on education, showcasing and networking the students, and consulting the industry on why authentic and diverse casting is important, where the studio’s responsibilities lie, and how to properly and inclusively word a casting breakdown.
Queer Vox Academy, in partnership with Voice of Global Majority (represents People of Color) and the Disabled Voice Actors Database, works closely with the National Association of Voice Actors, NAVA, to develop best practices to serve marginalized groups. One of those best practices surrounds terminology. Those in casting need to understand the misconceptions surrounding terminologies used for any underserved community. Karliak references Non-binary individuals as an example. He said one major misnomer is there is an androgynous sound that comes from a Non-binary human, which is not always true. And, just because a Trans-femme actor sounds one way doesn’t mean all Trans-femme actors will sound the same.
“We’re trying to disabuse people of that notion.” Karliak continues, “It’s more about the authenticity that their identity brings to the table, not about this specific voiceprint.” This is an issue many Black actors face with onscreen work and in voice acting. Imagine being told your experience isn’t authentic because your voice or movements do not fit the stereotype listed for a role. If you are Black, your voice and experiences are Black. If you are Non-binary, your voice and experiences are Non-binary. Queer Vox Academy helps studios get to the emotional and psychological backgrounds of specific characters to determine authenticity instead of checking a diversity box.
STRIKE AGAINST AI
During San Diego Comic-Con weekend, Karliak sat on a NAVA panel to stress the importance of the need for new industry standards to be created for artists, performers, and producers to collaborate while still protecting individual rights to intellectual property, performance, and publicity. This is why SAG-AFTRA authorized video-game voice actors and performance capture actors to strike on July 26, 2024.
“There’s a whole side of AI,” Karliak articulates as he leans towards the camera, “that is less about doing anything creative or anything exciting and more about greed and saving money.” AI can replicate the voices of voice actors and the movies of performance capture actors over and over again. Companies can use the voices and movements of actors in a manner in which the actors do not agree in perpetuity. And, to add insult to injury, the companies can do this without additional compensation or protections for these actors. Karliak provided a few tips on how you can support strikers:
- Follow SAG-AFTRA and share content
- Follow Game Performance Matters and share content
- Visit the SAG-AFTRA Strike website for additional info on what AI could do to the industry
- Share your story as to why authentic performance matters
Another way to support strikers is by researching bills co-written by SAG-AFTRA or endorsed by the union. These bills, like the No Fakes Act, would give you rights over your likeness and voice. Know which politicians support those bills and vote accordingly.
Karliak’s second nonprofit organization, Nerds Vote, is the brainchild of his friend and organization co-founder Courtney Taylor, a video game voice actress best known for Fallout, Mass Effect, and Blood of Zeus (2024). Courtney frequently attends conventions doing signings. In 2017, she turned her time on the convention circuit to a Get Out The Vote effort. When COVID struck, the organization transitioned to digital events and online voter registration. “It just hinges on the idea of if your favorite superhero, or the person who plays your favorite superhero, told you voting was important and encouraged you to register to vote, maybe you would,” Karliak said.
WHAT X-MEN ’97’S MORPH MEANS TO YOU
Karliak sees Morph as a “collaborative” character because they transform, and other actors get to voice him on X-Men ’97. “I especially love when Morph changes into Jean Grey in the first episode.” Karliak giggled, “Hearing Jen Hale do my sassy, yas!”
Karliak knew Morph was a Non-binary character when he read the script for the X-Men ’97 audition, and Morph is a product of the Queer people on the creative team. When people like Beau DeMayo and Charley Feldman infuse their feelings and experiences into the page, characters are given a level of authenticity that is affirming to Queer audiences. So, Morph was never going to be another check in the diversity column. Karliak feels playing Morph has been an opportunity for him to explore his gender and learn more about himself. This elevates the authenticity of the character by having them played by a Gender-queer actor. While Karliak identifies as Gender-queer, he continues to use he/him pronouns. “I think of my he/him pronouns as sort of that old college sweatshirt you have. It’s a little frumpy, and it doesn’t quite fit the way that it used to, but it’s the comfiest thing you own. And, until you find a better sweatshirt, you’ll keep wearing it.”
When asked, “Why does Morph have the gray face in this series?” Karliak offers his headcanon. “If you are somewhere in the gender universe exploring your gender identity and have the power to change your face, wouldn’t you? I think of Morph as having his Annie Lennox Why music video moment of sitting in the mirror changing parts of their face and seeing what feels good, what sparks joy, and what feels wrong. I feel that gray canvas is Morph saying, ‘I’m thinking about it. Hold that thought.’”
Q&A WITH KARLIAK
Keeks: You have one song that plays every time you enter a room. What is it and why?
JP Karliak: There’s like seven that just popped into my head; it’s such a mood-based thing. I don’t know if every day I want it to be Doja Cat’s Boss Bitch. I’m not always in that mood. I went to see Deadpool and Wolverine this morning; it was my first chance to watch it this weekend. In the opening, much like in the first Deadpool movie, they play Angel of the Morning, and for some reason, that’s just in my head. So yeah, Angel of the Morning. I will tell you; I’m a capricious person. I could never get a tattoo because the minute I decided on one and got it, I would hate it and want something different.
Keeks: What was the last gift you gave someone?
JP Karliak: My husband and I just celebrated our second wedding anniversary. This year, we went for practical. He needed a new computer bag, so I gave him a new computer bag for travel. I got a doorbell because our doorbell had been broken for almost eight months, and I needed a new doorbell installed.
Keeks: If you had a time machine, would you go backward or forward? Why?
JP Karliak: I think I would go back – from an observational standpoint. I’ve seen too many movies where you start to futz with one little thing and everything goes to heck, you know? I think I would go back, especially if I’m at death’s door, this is the end, and I just want to catch one little glimpse of something before I go. I think I would go back just to see my grandparents.
Keeks: Your grandparents as you experienced them as a kid or your grandparents younger?
JP Karliak: Oh, that’s a good question – maybe younger. That would be fun. I mean, because the other answer is that I would go back in time, and I would start my life all over again just to reinvent myself as a super contender for Drag Race, with all the knowledge with all the tricks. I dropped out of my gymnastics class at three or four years old; I would stay in it just to make sure I had all of the splits, dips, and everything at my disposal.
Keeks: Who would play you in the movie of your life?
JP Karliak: Oh, I would pity them. This is maybe an odd choice, but maybe not. Their name just went out of my head. Who is that marvelous actor, writer, and director who was in The Problemista and did Los Espookys on HBO Max? Julio Torres. I think he would be great. He has a sensibility of weirdness that makes me think, ‘Yeah, you get it. You get it.’
Keeks: If you were given a blank check to make your dream project, what would it be?
JP Karliak: I’m a big believer in playing the lottery, like the Mega Millions or the Powerball, especially when they go over a billion. That is world-changing money, and you don’t want it to be in the wrong hands. So, it’s socially responsible to win that money. It’s like the Infinity Stones; they shouldn’t be in the wrong hands. If, after taxes, I had a billion, $750 million would go into an endowment that is specifically for queer and underserved community growth. I’d give out grants left and right to organizations or even people who need the money. Let’s just do community giving. And then I would survive on a meager 250 million.
Watch the full interview below.
X-Men ’97 season 1 is now streaming on Disney+.