The Paiva Institute was founded by veteran casting and voice director Kristin Paiva to reimagine how talent is trained, mentored, and empowered in the voiceover and animation industry.
This is more than education—it’s a launchpad. Through intimate, high-impact programs, The Institute cultivates creativity, professionalism, and purpose in the next generation of artists, casting professionals, and directors.
Voice Forge is offered completely free to underrepresented talent.
Casting Collective and Directors Lab are paid, professional-level training programs with limited enrollment.
Our mission is to uplift underrepresented voices and empower the next generation of casting and voice directors to lead with skill, integrity, and empathy—building a more inclusive industry, one story, one student, one session at a time.
THE THREE PILLARS
A deep dive into the art and strategy of casting for animation. This paid professional training program offers hands-on experience through character breakdowns, scene reads, and mock casting sessions. Designed for creatives ready to step into the casting seat. Coming soon!
An immersive, advanced training space for aspiring voice directors to develop their creative instincts and leadership style. This professional program includes paid enrollment and offers guided workshops, real-world scenarios, and opportunities for shadowing and collaborative direction. Coming soon!
A 3-month mentorship for underrepresented voice actors ready to grow. This free program offers personalized coaching, hands-on training, and expert-led sessions—designed to foster growth, skill, and confidence in a space where access has too often been limited. This mentorship is specifically for individuals from communities that have been historically underrepresented or excluded in the voiceover and animation industry. This includes, but is not limited to:
✨ BIPOC
✨ Indigenous
✨ AAPI
✨ LGBTQIA+
✨ People with disabilities
✨ Women
✨ Neurodivergent individuals
✨ And anyone who’s historically faced systemic barriers in this industry
JOIN OUR INSTITUTE INTEREST LIST
Join our interest list to receive updates about upcoming programs at The Paiva Institute, including the Casting Collectiveand Directors Lab (both professional, paid training programs).
Please select the branches of the Institute you’re most interested in—we’d love to keep you in the loop on what matters most to you.
You’ll also receive occasional news and creative updates from Paiva Productions—no spam, just the good stuff.
If you’re curious or want to connect sooner, feel free to reach out. We’d love to hear from you.