Breaking Into Looping: Lessons from Terri Douglas & Tara Strong

Voicelings had the chance to learn from Terri Douglas — one of Hollywood’s top casting directors behind Disney and Marvel Studios projects, with credits including Wicked, The Mandalorian, Frozen, Lilo & Stitch, and countless others. Hosted by Tara Strong, the session gave voice actors an inside look at Terri’s company, Loop Troop, and the loop groups that bring entire worlds to life. 

Looping, or Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR), is one of the hidden engines of Hollywood — from crowd scenes to background chatter and video games, it’s the craft that makes stories feel real. For students, looping offers both a career path and a gateway into larger opportunities, and Terri and Tara shared insider tips on what it takes to succeed.

Here are some of our biggest takeaways from Voicelings’ Legends Live with Terri Douglas.

What Looping Actually Is

Looping is more than “background noise.” Terri Douglas described it as building a soundscape that makes a world believable. Actors re-voice extras whose lines weren’t recorded cleanly, fill in environmental chatter, or create specific dialogue the director needs. It’s meticulous, creative, and often highly collaborative.

As Terri put it: “Looping isn’t background noise. It’s world-building. Our job is to make the soundscape so that you forget we were ever in the booth.”

For voice acting students, the first lesson is simple: Each performance supports the story without distracting from it. Knowing how to blend in while still delivering authentic character work is the foundation.

The Skills Casting Directors Look For

Casting directors want actors who can shift between accents, ages, and tones. Unlike traditional animation, looping sessions may require you to be a teenager in one scene and a tourist from another country in the next.

“The best loopers can switch from a teenager to a tourist to a cop in the same session — and make each one believable,” Terri explained.

Other valuable skills:

• Improvability: Looping often requires creating dialogue that feels real but doesn’t pull away the audience’s attention. Oftentimes, there’s no script.
• Timing & rhythm: You need to sync with the actors or scene pacing on the fly.
• Strong mic technique: Loop groups move fast. Actors who know how to hit their mark without sticking out.

Know Your Strengths & Use Real-Life Experience

Terri stressed the importance of knowing what you’re naturally good at and using real-life experience as a tool. Former military members, police officers, firefighters, teachers, or nurses often make excellent loop group actors because they bring authentic instincts to the booth.

“Your life experience is part of your toolkit,” Terri said. “If you’ve been in the military, law enforcement, or medicine, you know how those people talk. That authenticity is gold in looping.”

This also means looping isn’t just for full-time actors. For everyday people who love film and performance, it can be a worthy side gig. 

And if you don’t have real-life experience? Do some research. 

Terri explained, “I’ll send out an email that says, for example, today we’re covering a hospital or police in Philadelphia. It’s kind of like being in college — you need to go online and research. Look up things like, ‘What are the 10 codes police use in that area of Philadelphia?’ Maybe it’s something like ‘10-84, we have a 96 in progress at 1433 6th Street.’ Sometimes you can even find a police scanner online, transcribe what you hear, and then adjust it to fit the scene you’re working on.”

Pro tip from Terri: “Wherever you go in life — especially at the airport — take out your phone and record the announcements. Make notes so you can bring that material with you when you get the call to record.”

How to Break In

For many Voicelings students, the biggest question is: how do you land a first looping job? Terri emphasized that agents are the number one entry point. Casting directors rely on referrals and agents to recommend new talent for what they’re looking for because it’s usually very specific.

It’s important to have a resume that highlights the projects you’ve worked on, along with both a commercial and an animation demo you can send to the agencies. 

Tara added that voice actors should go online to find SAG-represented agents who don’t ask for money up front. “If you want to be in Wicked and in Superman, you gotta push through and find your way to a real agent and then find your way into the union, if you want to do major productions.” 

Tara covers How to Find an Agent in more detail in her Voicelings course.

Professionalism in the Room

Looping sessions are often fast-paced with dozens of actors recording simultaneously. Terri noted that professionalism separates long-term hires from one-offs:

• Show up prepared. Do research and record your notes of sound bites from real-life situations.
• Stay adaptable. Directors may shift directions mid-take; roll with it.
• Be collaborative. Looping is an ensemble job. This isn’t one of those jobs where you want to stick out from the crowd.

Tara reinforced this point: “You can be the most talented person in the room, but if you’re not kind and collaborative, people won’t want to work with you again.”

Why Looping Matters for Your Career

Looping isn’t just a paycheck (though it can provide steady income). It’s also a training ground. Terri shared that loop group actors sharpen their improvisation skills, develop their range, and gain exposure to directors and producers who may later cast them in leading roles.

Tara reminded students of the opportunity: “Looping keeps you in the room where decisions happen. Sometimes a loop group job leads to a bigger role just because the director sees you can handle it.”

Myths to Let Go Of

A few misconceptions came up in the conversation:

• “Looping is easy background work.” False. It requires sharp instincts and the ability to create authentic, invisible performances.
• “Only seasoned actors get hired.” Not true. Terri says fresh talent with the right mix of skill and attitude can break in.
• “It won’t help my career long-term.” False. Looping sharpens your craft and builds industry relationships.

How to Start Preparing Now

If you’re a voice acting student considering looping, here are the next steps you can take:

• Practice walla. Record yourself improvising group conversations. Focus on sounding natural, not performative.
• Build a range library. Can you convincingly play a five-year-old, a hurried parent, and an elderly neighbor in one session? Test yourself.
• Take improv classes. They’ll boost confidence and quick thinking.
• Network. Seek workshops where casting directors like Terri Douglas teach. Connections often lead to referrals.

Why Looping is Worth It

Both Tara and Terri emphasized that looping is a rewarding career in voice acting. You may not always get lines you can brag about, but you will be part of the sound that makes stories real.

As Terri put it: “Looping is invisible acting, but it’s also essential. Without it, the world feels empty.”

And with many actors chasing the spotlight, those who master looping gain something rarer: consistent work, lasting relationships, and a skillset that elevates every other corner of their voice acting career.

Your Next Step in Looping and Voice Acting

Looping is where collaboration meets creativity. If you love character work, improv, and being part of a team that breathes life into worlds, this path may be for you. As Tara Strong said, “Every voice matters.” And in looping, your voice can shape the atmosphere of an entire scene.

Be a part of future exclusive live events like this and learn from Tara Strong's voice acting course and community.