David Hayter: The Original 1999 MGN Interview

Thank you David for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this small interview. We and all of our readers are just dying to get to know the man behind the Snake.

MGNLet’s get to know you for those of our readers who don’t know about your personal life.

MGNHow old are you?

DAVID HAYTERI am 30 years old. (29 when I did the game.)

MGNWhere are you from?

DAVID HAYTERI was born in Santa Monica, California, but my parents and I moved around a lot. I have lived all over the U.S. (Colorado, Arizona, California, etc…) and Canada (My parents are Canadian, and I am a dual citizen.)

MGNWhat are your interests?

DAVID HAYTERI have been acting for ten years professionally. I am writing now, and I am also involved in the production of feature films.

MGNHow did you get started in the business, and when?

DAVID HAYTERI went to theatre school in Toronto (for acting) and I quit after my first year and moved to L.A. to begin acting in films and television.

MGNWhat are some of your past projects, video game or other?

DAVID HAYTERI starred in a movie called “Guyver 2, Dark Hero”, I produced and starred in a film called “Burn” which was executive produced by Bryan Singer (Who directed “The Usual Suspects”) and Adam Duritz (Lead singer for the group “Counting Crows”) which won the Slamdance film festival in Utah in ’98. When I was 24, I guest starred as a Russian kid on a show called “Major Dad.” I had a Russian accent and Helen Hunt’s dad, Gordon, saw it. He was directing a cartoon called “Captain Planet” He hired me to play the Russian girl’s brother. After that, I started doing voice-overs.

MGNHow did you get to be the voice behind the Snake?

DAVID HAYTERFive years after Captain Planet, the casting director of that show was directing the voice acting for “Metal Gear Solid”. She remembered me and called me in to audition. I immediately got how cool this was going to be and really wanted the part. Snake was the ultimate bad-ass. He would kill without a second thought and doesn’t let anyone stand in his way. But, unlike most video games, he was actually a pretty well-rounded character, with real dimension. He doesn’t want to be in this world anymore, but he does it because he knows how important it is.

MGNHow was your experience playing Solid Snake’s role?

DAVID HAYTERWe had a great time recording this. It took about two weeks last May (One year ago exactly.) Konami and the producers really let me and Kris Zimmerman, the director, try to make it dramatic and emotionally satisfying for the audience. It was all there in the game to begin with, but many times, these things got lost in the translation. This time, if there was something that didn’t sound like regular English, they would let us improvise something better (for the most part.) I think that is what separates MGS from other games, acting wise.

“But, unlike most video games, he was actually a pretty well-rounded character, with real dimension.”

Image source: Eklecty-City

MGNHave you played Metal Gear Solid?

DAVID HAYTEROf course. I already had the PlayStation, so I was very excited that that was the platform. I have played it through about one and a half times. (I made sure that Meryl survived, because I think the Otacon ending is kind of strange (two men riding off into the sunset on a snowmobile, y’know?)

Hahahahahaha

MGNIf so, what did you think of it?

DAVID HAYTERI love the game, but I think it’s a little short. It is also kind of cool playing it. When Snake gets shot, it’s my voice that cries out. It really adds to the illusion of that world, but I guess that’s just for me.

MGNHas Konami contacted you to do perhaps a sequel to Metal Gear Solid? If not a sequel, have they contacted you to do any other projects with them?

DAVID HAYTERI have not heard from Konami about a sequel or any other games. (I did audition for the lead voice in “Kain, Soul Reaver”, but I didn’t get it.)

MGNKeeping on the subject, what are, if you have any at the moment, any future projects for you right now?

DAVID HAYTERI am currently very proud to be working on the live-action “X-Men” movie for Twentieth Century Fox, which is being directed by my friend Bryan Singer (“The Usual Suspects.”) I can’t say what I’m doing on it though, sorry.

MGNNow for our readers that are interested in doing voices for video games or other. How would you suggest for someone to break into the business?

DAVID HAYTERThe voice-over world is kind of hard to break into. Like I said, I just sort of lucked into it. But, if someone wants to do it, first, I would see if there was a class near me. Many times, Voice-over casting directors will give classes to make money on the side. Sometimes when you take their classes, they will use you in whatever they are working on, whether it be commercials, animation, or video games. Also, you need to find someone who works in that world to help you put together a really good demo tape (recordings of you doing voices.) In fact, the girl who played the voice of Dr. Naomi in MGS was instrumental in helping me get into the business. Once you have a tape, you have to send it to as many agents as possible until someone signs you. Then you start auditioning. The important thing is to remember that there are a lot of people trying to get work, so try not to get discouraged, and if you really want it, DO NOT GIVE UP. But I think that applies to anything that is important to you.

MGNNow for our last question that goes along with a previous one. Has Konami told you anything about a future release of a “Metal Gear” game?

DAVID HAYTERAs I said, I have not spoken with Konami. But I have seen some clips from the “MGS Integral” game, which is coming out in October. Making a game of this size takes time, and I am sure that they will do another full game sequel. I hope that they will ask me to play Snake again, but they will not contact me until they need me, which will probably be a ways off. Even if they are developing a sequel right now, the voice translation is the last aspect of it. The actors are always the last to know.

MGNWell thank you very much David for taking the time to share with us, and we wish you the best in the future.

DAVID HAYTER(I am saying this in my gravelly Snake voice, so please imagine it accordingly.) Thanks, you guys. Next time I go after Metal Gear, I want you all there by my side.

Your friend, David Hayter “Solid Snake”