Vitas Varnas

Last updated

Vitas Varnas
Vitas Varnas 2016.jpg
2016 Promotional headshot
Born (1992-06-16) 16 June 1992 (age 27)
Australia
NationalityAustralian
Alma mater Australian Institute of Music - Dramatic Arts [1]
OccupationActor, writer, producer
Years active2010–present
Notable work
 Paradigm

Vitas Varnas (born 16 June 1992) is an Australian actor, voice actor, writer and producer. He's best known for his role in the 2017 video game Paradigm , The Checkout and producer on Pinstripe .

<i>Paradigm</i> (video game) video game

Paradigm is a point-and-click adventure video game developed by Jacob Janerka for Microsoft Windows.

<i>The Checkout</i> Australian consumer affairs television series

The Checkout is an Australian consumer affairs television series. The show's first series of 10 episodes premiered on 21 March 2013 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television station ABC TV. A second series consisting of 16 episodes commenced airing on 20 February 2014. On 9 April 2015, a third series consisting of 12 episodes began airing. The series was renewed for a fourth series, which began airing on 7 April 2016 consisting of 12 episodes. The series returned for a fifth series, airing twelve episodes between 6 April 2017 and 29 June 2017. The Checkout, with a new look, logo, opening theme and art, still retaining original cast and segments, returned for a sixth season on 30 January 2018.

<i>Pinstripe</i> (video game) 2017 video game

Pinstripe is a puzzle, adventure video game for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and Nintendo Switch. The game was developed by Atmos Games, the studio of Thomas Brush, who created and designed it over a five-year period. It was published by Armor Games.

Contents

Career

Vitas attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) completing the Young Actors Studio program and was educated in acting at the Australian Institute of Music - Dramatic Arts (AIMDA). [1] At AIMDA, he played the role of Dennis in a production of the play 13 by Mike Bartlett . [2]

National Institute of Dramatic Art Australian national education and training institute for students in the performing arts

The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is Australia’s leading centre for education and training in the performing arts. Founded in 1958, NIDA uses a conservatoire model, where students learn through practical experience, working on real productions. NIDA offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Vocational degrees in subjects including acting, writing, directing, scenic construction, technical theatre, voice, costume, props, production design and cultural leadership.

Australian Institute of Music - Dramatic Arts

The Australian Institute of Music – Dramatic Arts is a drama school in Sydney. It offers a degree in acting and theatre-making as a department of the Australian Institute of Music (AIM).

<i>13</i> (play) play

13 is a 2011 play by Mike Bartlett. It premiered at the National Theatre, London, in October 2011 and centres around John, a christ-like figure, who returns from absence to preach an anti-war movement.

In 2016, he played the role of Max in the Kit Brookman play Heaven which toured at the Canberra Theatre and Riverside Theatre Parramatta, [3] and later playing various roles in The Laramie Project at the Depot Theatre. [4]

Canberra Theatre theatre in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

The Canberra Theatre or officially the Canberra Theatre Centre, is the Australian Capital Territory’s central performing arts venue and Australia’s first performing arts centre, the first Australian Government initiated performing arts centre to be completed. It opened on 24 June 1965 with a gala performance by the Australian Ballet.

<i>The Laramie Project</i> play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project

The Laramie Project is a 2000 play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. The murder was denounced as a hate crime and brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various states, including Wyoming.

In 2017, he provided the voice for the Dimmer Switch Prodigy Child in the video game Paradigm , [5] and appeared as a car salesman in a commercial for Carsguide.com.au. [6]

Writer

Vitas had written content for the website Did You Know Gaming?', for its main video series, [7] and VG Facts Five Trivia. [8]

In 2019, he was a guest reviewer on the book SEGA® Master System: a visual compendium where he wrote about the game Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine . [9]

<i>Dr. Robotniks Mean Bean Machine</i> video game

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a falling block puzzle game developed by Compile and published by Sega. It was released for the Genesis/Mega Drive in North America and Europe in November 1993, and was ported to the Game Gear and Master System in December 1993 and June 1994, respectively. The plot revolves around Sonic the Hedgehog series antagonist Doctor Robotnik kidnapping residents from Beanville and turning them into robots, with the purpose of removing all joy from the planet Mobius.

Other work

His likeness was used for the character Starjakk in the Doctor Who spin-off book The Essential Book of K9 . [10]

Vitas was responsible for suggesting that the hosts of the show Game Grumps be involved in the upcoming game Hex Heroes . [11] He has also been thanked a number of times on the show Game Grumps. [12] [13] [14]

Public image

Vitas' name and image has appeared in numerous video games with characters named after him such as in the games Mutant Football League , [15] FTL: Faster Than Light , [16] Shovel Knight , [17] and Blasphemous . [18]

Credits

Stage

YearProductionRoleTheatreNotesRef(s)
2015 13 DennisPilgrim Theatre [2]
2016 Heaven Max Canberra Theatre and Riverside Theatre Parramatta [3]
The Laramie Project Various rolesThe Depot Theatre [4] [19]
Hiding JekyllInspector Newcomen King Street Theatre [20] [21]
2019 Pygmalion Eric the Bystander New Theatre [22]
Persuasion Mr William Elliott / Mr Harville Genesian Theatre [23]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010 Good Game [24] Alien
2013 The Checkout Additional cast

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017 Thimbleweed Park Phone Recording Message
Paradigm Dimmer Switch Prodigy Child [5] Also play tester. [25]

As producer

YearTitleRef(s)
2017 Pinstripe [26]

Bibliography

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References

  1. 1 2 "Graduating Company 2015". Australian Institute of Music - Dramatic Arts. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  2. 1 2 "AIM DRAMATIC ARTS 2015 Bachelor of Performance Graduating Company 13 by Mike Bartlett Teacher's Education Resource Kit". Australian Institute of Music - Dramatic Arts. 2015. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 Bannister, Cathy (2016). "Heaven". Stage Whispers. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 Coleman, Ken (10 July 2016). "BLACKOUT THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE LARAMIE PROJECT @ DEPOT THEATRE MARRICKVILLE". sydneyartsguide.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 Jacob Janerka. Paradigm . PC. Jacob Janerka. Scene: Credits.Level/area: Cast. Vitas Varnas – Dimmer Switch Prodigy Child
  6. ↑ "TV ad: CarsGuide.com.au: Subscribe to CarsGuide and go beyond the test drive". Best Ads ontv.com. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "F-Zero – Did You Know Gaming? Feat. Smooth McGroove". Did You Know Gaming? . 23 February 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2017– via YouTube.
  8. ↑ "5 Regional License Changes – VG Facts Five Trivia Feat. PortsCenter". Did You Know Gaming? . 7 March 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2017– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ Jarratt & Varnas 2019 , p. 389
  10. ↑ Paul M. Tams; Bob Baker (2015). The Essential Book of K9. Meteoric Books. pp. 36–37. ISBN   978-1782805328.
  11. ↑ Neuenschwander, Jeff (20 April 2014). "Enlightening Details Emerge from Grant Kirkhope, Hex Heroes AMA". Operation Rainfall . Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  12. ↑ "Castlevania Chronicles: Dogs Love Peanutbutter – PART 1 – Game Grumps". Game Grumps . 7 October 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2017– via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "Castlevania Dracula X: Cities on Flame – PART 1 – Game Grumps". Game Grumps . 25 October 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2017– via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Silent Hill: Play Novel – Game Grumps". Game Grumps . 1 November 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2017– via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "Mutant Football League". VGFacts . Retrieved 9 October 2019. The Insane Cults offense player Vitas Varnas is a reference to the real-life actor, producer and writer of the same name.
  16. ↑ "FTL: Faster Than Light". VGFacts . Retrieved 26 April 2017. The random default names for the crew were given by people who had pledged to the game's Kickstarter. Two notable default names are: Notch, creator of Minecraft, and Vitas Varnas, occasional Game Grumps contributor and writer for VGFacts and Did You Know Gaming?
  17. ↑ "Shovel Knight". VGFacts . Retrieved 26 April 2017. Vitas Varnas, occasional Game Grumps contributor and writer for VGFacts and Did You Know Gaming?, appears as a portrait in the Hall of Champions. People who had pledged $200 or more to the game's Kickstarter would have a portrait of them appear in-game.
  18. ↑ The Game Kitchen. Blasphemous . PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4. Scene: Convent of Our Lady of the Charred Visage.Level/area: Collectibles.
  19. ↑ Wimmer, Carol (2016). "The Laramie Project". Stage Whispers. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  20. ↑ Monsted 2016 , pp. 18–19
  21. ↑ Wrong, Suzy (7 December 2016). "Review: Hiding Jekyll (Mon Sans Productions)". suzygoessee.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  22. ↑ Kary, David (26 April 2019). "PYGMALION @ THE NEW THEATRE". sydneyartsguide.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  23. ↑ Kary, David (7 July 2019). "PERSUASION @ THE GENESIANS". sydneyartsguide.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  24. ↑ "Vitas Varnas – Actor, model, Film & Stage Crew". starnow.com.au. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  25. ↑ Jacob Janerka. Paradigm . PC. Jacob Janerka. Scene: Credits.Level/area: Play Testers. Huge shoutout to Vitas Varnas who found more than 90% of the bugs, he's the best. Go hire him for voice acting.
  26. ↑ Atmos Games. Pinstripe . PC, macOS, iOS. Armor Games. Scene: Credits. Producers:Vitas Varnas
Bibliography
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