Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal LaPorte.
Krystal, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Growing up in a small Chicago suburb, I was always drawn to anything and everything creative; theater, music, drawing, writing poetry, etc. I think I was most attracted to art’s ability to transport you to a completely different life while you were engaging in it. I could pick up a book, a piece of paper, a CD or a script and lose myself for hours.
I never had much of an interest in team sports, but I absolutely loved martial arts. I was in Kyuki-do, a South Korean Martial Arts style that incorporates TaeKwon-Do, Juijitsu, Hapkido, and Kobudo, for almost a decade. I was also in my town’s community theater, and tried to audition for as many productions as possible. I believe I enjoyed martial arts and theater so much because my success was based completely off of my own work-ethic and self-discipline. To me, martial arts and theater gave me the best of both worlds; I loved the camaraderie that came with attending classes and rehearsals, but I also loved being able to control my ability to do better. I’ve never liked depending on others, and I’ve always seen myself as a “fixer;” if I wanted to improve, I could practice and practice on my own until I performed at a level that met my expectations. I never felt comfortable making others responsible for whether I “win” or not, but I’ve always wanted to deliver my best to the people around me.
Originally, I was absolutely positive that I would go into college as a theater major, and come out an opera singer. The thought of using my voice to tell rich, beautiful stories and bring joy to others made me happier than I could possibly describe. Unfortunately, any career in the arts comes with a side of financial insecurity, and I wasn’t the one footing the bill for the first three years of my undergraduate tuition. Faced with the choice between doing what I loved or receiving an education at all, I chose the education and began the long path towards becoming an attorney.
Of course, it’s a little harder than that to give up what you love cold turkey. Between class and working as a sales associate at a kitchen goods store and barista, I no longer had a schedule I could dedicate to rehearsals and productions on stage. Instead, I poured through books on acting theory and improv, hoping that I could one day utilize them with the same wistful skepticism as someone who hopes to win the lottery.
Still, I did not pursue my pre-law education with regret or resignation. The more people I met, the more I wanted to help them. The more I became aware of current events, the more I realized that there was so much good needed to be done. And luckily, the more law-related classes I took, the more I realized that I was actually very well-attuned to law. The conversational skills, work-ethic, and meticulousness to perfecting form that I developed through theater and martial arts translated very well to the skills required to practice law (legal writing, on the other hand, was still a struggle.) Despite my initial hesitation, I was able to complete my coursework with conviction and purpose.
After receiving a B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Political Science, Psychology and Philosophy, I received a scholarship to attend the University of Houston Law Center. I knew that if I wanted to see another state in my lifetime, it was probably best to do so while I still had student loans to fall back on. So, I said “giddy up” and traded my cornfields and Portillos for Buc-ees and Whataburger.
The University of Houston was a wonderful law school. I found myself surrounded by a network of supportive peers, faculty and staff, each individual inspiring in their own, wonderful way. Through the legal clinics offered by the university, I was given the honor of representing real clients. It served as a constant reminder of the need for good attorneys. I focused primarily on classes that prepared me for a career in litigation; I hoped it would allow me to best utilize my strengths to serve clients in need. A very wise professor told me that being a litigator is acting, but with consequences. I also hoped that through being a litigator, I could at least scrape the surface of the joy I felt while acting. However, there is no proper substitution for true happiness. Thankfully, Texas offered me more than a fantastic law school and beaver nuggets; it is also a hub for voiceover work in Japanese animation. For three years, I juggled law school, internships, and passing the bar while also pursuing a career as a voice actress, primarily in re-dubbing Japanese animation. It was an extremely difficult balancing act that I do not regret for a second.
Today, I am a criminal defense attorney and a voice actress living in Dallas, Texas. I work primarily with Funimation Entertainment and for individual directors across the country. While it’s not the most conventional combination of pursuits, I would not give either up for all the money in the world. People often ask which job I like better, or which one I would choose if I was forced to do only one. The truth is, asking me to pick one is like asking me to choose between water and oxygen. While each are necessary for me to live, neither alone is sufficient. I’ve come to find that law satisfies my need to bring others happiness, while acting satisfies my need to be happy. My biggest goal is to use both of my crafts to leave this world with at least a little more compassion and goodness than I take from it.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a voice actress for Japanese animation and video games. While there are many people whom I consider inspirations and mentors, my greatest inspiration is my love of the craft itself. I love being able to step into a booth and use my voice as tool to help tell a story. I love that I am not limited to roles that match my physical characteristics. I wish I had a better word to use for the sake of an interesting article, but there really is no better way to describe my feelings than “love.” I love it with all my heart and soul.
I have been involved in many projects over the years, and each one carries a different message. Some of them are funny, some are tragic, but all of them are a culmination of the tireless efforts of the creators, directors, animators, engineers, and cast. While I absolutely bring my own interpretation and flavor to every one of my roles, my primary job is to be only but one vehicle used by my director to tell the story that they want delivered to the audience. There really is no room for ego; whether I have a main role or am one of many background voices, I am still only a single thread in the entire tapestry of the show.
I guess if I had to choose a single thing, I would want people to take away from any of my performances, it would be my gratitude. I am so honored for the opportunity and privilege to be a part of the story, I am even more honored that you purchased the right to view it, and I did my absolute best to make you happy.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Life is too short and too long to not do what you love. A lot of people often take it upon themselves to convince you to give up, no matter what your dream is. Most people are well-intentioned, and just don’t want to watch someone they care about become disheartened. Others do so for more insidious reasons, like trying to weed out competition or to make sure they feel more successful than you. Regardless of their reasoning, if you find the thing that gives you purpose and makes your heart full, pursue it with all you’ve got.
There will always be a million things you can say to try and convince yourself to move on and settle for something different, but you will never be convinced, trust me. A life spent being held back from doing what you love isn’t really a life, it’s a life sentence. If you haven’t done something atrocious enough to deserve that penalty, don’t treat yourself like you do.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
This is an extensive (but not complete!) list of shows I’ve appeared in:
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=123384
As for where they can see it, most titles are available on DVD, Blu-ray, or from one of several legal streaming sites. The best way to support me is to support the industry I love. Whether you prefer anime or video games, please view it legally. There are so many legal and affordable options available to you. My number one recommendation is FunimationNow. Funimation is wonderful, ethical company that deserves a ton of love, and has a fantastic collection of past and current shows available for streaming!
Your financial support of the industry keeps me working, and keeps my cat’s bowl full. Well, it keeps it full for like five minutes. The boy can eat.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.krystallaporte.com
- Email: KrystalLaPorteVA@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystallaporteva
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystalLaPorteVA
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wowsuchkrystal
Image Credit:
Emi Lo
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
