Meet Justin Cabanting | Stunt Performer & Financial Analyst

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Cabanting and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk helps one acquire an appetite to measure if something is worth pursuing or avoiding. And when you’re considering that, there is a number of variables that you have to think about – if you have the time or energy for it, are there and what short/long term effects will it have, or what can you contribute as a professional and a person. These thoughts always cross my mind when I am either auditioning or thinking of accepting a booking for a production. If it’s something more physically demanding, I have to evaluate if I have enough “spoons” for such an undertaking and plan accordingly to conserve my mental appetite for each activity.

I recall working with Netflix for the English dub of “Sanctuary”, where voicing the antagonistic sumo character Enga was a challenging role in terms of endurance, emotion, and synergy. Thanks to the amazing team Igloo Studios and Horseless Cowboy, there were emotional beats my voice director Xavier Burgin, the audio engineers, and myself had to hit – lots of shouting, grunting, and playback to ensure we match the visual with the audio we are creating. ADR work for television/streaming series, feature films, and even video games is an art in and of itself and it stands as an incredibly fun undertaking that requires you to be present mentally as much as you need to be physically.

It is definitely a balancing act that feels like you’re juggling between different types of people. So taking on risk in each of these roles helps keep my mind and body sharp, whether I need to memorize anything from an 8-25 beat fight choreography to 5-10 pages of dialogue on a script (off book and not).

The misconception with folx who do any type of performer work is that we thrive in taking risk. In actuality, we are more risk averse and devise solutions to minimize hazards and results that are less than optimal in our line of work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a performer, I incorporate disciplines used in my work as a voice actor, stunt performer, motion capture talent, and familiarity with accounting and finance to help coordinate sequences that maximize creativity while minimizing cost. Especially during an age where there is so much content to view and choose from on television, streaming, and different types of media platforms, I am always excited to create or tell stories that offer new perspectives on the real world and are willing to push the boundaries of society and technology.

I’ve been praised for my overly optimistic approach to things, always trying to find and build solutions that allows an entire team to shine. Starting out as a voice actor, I *never* thought it was possible for me to get into on-camera work in the entertainment industry. After 7 years of providing voice overs for video games, e-learning, radio, commercials, and animation, I decided to give work as a background actor a try during the pandemic. I earned my 3 Union vouchers working on various features and shows as a creature and action talent, networking with casting directors/stunt teams and their coordinators which eventually led to me joining SAG-AFTRA in July 2021.

As someone with an LGBTQIA+ and AAPI background, I aim to bring stories through my vocal and visual performances as a fighter that never got the spotlight. I am proud of my Asian-American/Pacific Islander heritage and representing it in the capacity as a non-binary/AMAB performer for the world to see is a great honor. Diversity and inclusivity is gaining traction, but the world and its industries have a long way to go in promoting creativity and art for the sake of its beauty rather than treating it purely as a lucrative business model.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In a place as diverse as Southern California, the farmer’s markets and food festivals like 626 Night Market and Smorgasburg LA are the perfect place to enjoy great food. There is always something going on, whether it is in the San Fernando Valley, downtown Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego. You can enjoy acai bowls from local businesses like Bearies Acai, burgers and fries from a local In-N-Out, experience the hype of a stirring sensation you saw on TikTok, and even indulge in vegan and vegetarian eateries of specialized cuisines like Tulsi Indian Eatery and Mr. Charlie’s.

And as someone who loves theme parks, seeing how it’s all made in the entertainment industry with a bit of movie magic is best done at either the Disneyland Resort & Universal Studios Hollywood. From the Waterworld stunt show to the world famous Studio Tour, audiences are taken on a journey with a stellar tour guide (with hilarious talk show host Jimmy Fallon) through set pieces of possibly their favorite sitcoms, films, and frightful nightmares.

Lastly, if it is convention season, going to 3-4 day long events like Los Angeles Comic Con/WonderCon/Star Wars Celebration are the epitome of fun. With attendees dressed in cosplays from their favorite childhood memories and fandoms, vendors selling exclusive merchandise, and activities for all ages, cons are the gateway to building new relationships, exchanging new ideas on how to get into the costuming world, all while sharing a common love for all things under the realm of pop culture.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my agent Julia Irzyk and the entire The Library Agency team for always helping me build connections with so many great creators and projects that I thought I would have only dreamed of being a part of! And my “Stardust”, Jackie Muir, for always supporting me and encouraging me to give things my all, even when adversity towers above me.

Website: https://www.jcabantingvoices.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcabantingva/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justincabanting776

Twitter: https://x.com/jcabantingva

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialJCabs

Yelp: https://yelp.to/I6fU4YZ71W

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustinCabantingVA

Other: https://linktr.ee/JCabantingVA
https://www.tiktok.com/@jcabantingva

Image Credits
Kyle Conemac Photography