Voices Rising: August 2026 Samurais of Sound Newsletter

Welcome to the August 2026 edition of Voices Rising. This month, Samurais of Sound is shining a spotlight on the people helping our community turn creativity into real-world skills.

Through our state-funded vocational training program, neurodivergent creatives are getting hands-on experience in voice acting, music production, and creative media, guided by professional instructors who understand both the craft and the journey.

Whether a participant is stepping behind the mic, creating music, or building confidence in a creative career path, our team is here to help them discover what they can do.

Community Spotlight: Edwin Angell

We are excited to spotlight Edwin Angell, one of our Samurais of Sound vocational rehabilitation clients, on his exciting career update.

Edwin currently serves as Livestream Manager, Senator, and Division Lead for the Chaosdivers and Rogue Republic, a growing community that began as a fan faction within the universe of Helldivers 2 and is now working toward becoming Rogue Republic LLC.

As part of the CD Media Team, Edwin helps create videos for upcoming faction events, including Project: Exodus, while also connecting with the community through livestreams on Twitch and TikTok. The group also has several animated projects in development and is working toward expanding its creative presence.

Beyond entertainment and community-building, Edwin and the Rogue Republic are committed to giving back. Their initiatives have included a 24-hour livestream supporting Save the Children, demonstrating how creative communities can come together to make an impact.

We are proud to see Edwin putting his skills into action, taking on leadership responsibilities, and building real-world experience through creative media and community engagement. Congratulations, Edwin. We are excited to see where you take it next.

From Studio to Screen: Something Pointless

We are thrilled to share that Something Pointless, a short film directed by David Cormican that Strawberry Hill Studio had the opportunity to work on the sound for, is making its way to audiences.

The film explores the bonds between generations and the search for meaning in everyday life, telling the story of an elderly man who transforms his wall into a mosaic of stories. It also features an accomplished team and cast, including principal actor Owen Teale, known for his work on Game of Thrones.

Following its momentum in the festival circuit, the film has been selected for the Roxie Theater's First Looks Oscar-Qualifying Shorts programme in San Francisco from August 28 through September 3. It will also return to Wales at Chapter Arts Center in Cardiff and the Lyric Cinema in Carmarthen on September 7.

We are overjoyed to see the film reaching new audiences and congratulate David and the team on this new chapter.

New Lessons in Music Production for Anime and Games

We have added three new lessons to our Music Production for Anime and Games course. These lessons offer practical insights for navigating the media industry, developing a professional portfolio, and building partnerships in a creative network.

• Overall Industry Profitability helps composers understand the composing-for-media industry, including suppliers, buyers, competition, new entrants, substitutes, and government policy.
• Creating a Demo demonstrates the power of video demos to showcase a composer's ability to write to picture, while balancing viewers' attention between visuals and music. It also explores cold-calling as a way to establish connections with potential clients.
• Finding Clients provides guidance on reaching out to and communicating with clients through conference networking, film festivals, production listings, and company listings.

New Vocational Track: Creative Media

Samurais of Sound is overjoyed to introduce Creative Media, our third vocational training track alongside Voice Acting and Music Production.

Designed for neurodivergent teens and adults interested in digital creative careers, the new track develops practical skills in graphic design, web design, and video editing through structured training, guided projects, portfolio development, industry mentorship, and community collaboration.

Participants can build original graphics, websites, videos, and other portfolio-ready work while exploring employment, freelance, and creative career pathways. For participants receiving support through self-determination, regional centers, vocational rehabilitation, or other support funding, our team works closely with Independent Facilitators, service coordinators, and support teams to provide program documentation and align services with each participant's vocational and IPP goals.

Enrollment in the Creative Media vocational program is now open.

Upcoming Workshops

Creatures and Monsters Voice Over with Karen Strassman

Coming up: Saturday, October 31, 2026

Bring imaginative characters to life. Explore the techniques professional voice actors use to create creatures, monsters, and unique character voices. Learn how performance choices, vocal techniques, and creativity combine to build unforgettable characters.

Video Game Battle Chest with Andrea Toyias

Coming up: Saturday, November 14, 2026

Level up your voice acting skills. Dive into the world of video game performance and discover what it takes to create memorable characters for interactive storytelling.

Ukulele Workshop with Feng E

Explore your musical creativity in a fun and welcoming workshop where participants can learn new skills, express themselves, and connect through music.

Scoring for Visual Media with Austin David Coffee

Bring your stories to life through music. Participants can explore how music shapes film, television, animation, and games while learning practical techniques for reading a scene, choosing sounds, creating themes, and syncing music to picture.

Make Your First Beat with Xander von Esmarch

Build your beat from the ground up. This hands-on workshop introduces the basics of beat making, including sound selection, rhythm, song structure, and simple production techniques.

Thank You

Thank you for being part of the Strawberry Hill Studio community. We are excited to continue creating opportunities for participants to explore their talents, build confidence, and discover what is possible.