It’s okay to be jealous.

Britanni Johnson, the face behind the mysterious Guardian Angel in Borderlands, recently did us the honor of having dinner with us at Charleston’s in Fort Worth, Texas. Myself, Mr. Wirefly, and our newest member, PR-extraordinaire 2Kar Mac&Cheese, now bring you an exclusive (for now) interview. Read on to learn more about Gearbox, the mystery surrounding the character of Guardian Angel, brand-new DLC The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, what it’s like to act for a video game, and so much more!

Luke:  So first of all, how was your experience with Gearbox? Did you have a good time working with them?

Britanni: Gearbox was so amazing. Being there made me want to work at the company. I don’t care what they’d have me doing. I could be the mail person for all I care. It was so much fun! Everybody there was so laid back, and yet they were professional. It was such a fun experience, and something that I didn’t mind driving back and forth to do every day. I hope there’s future opportunity to work there again and be able to be at their office.

Luke: How did you get the part of Guardian Angel?

Britanni: There was an audition that a friend told me about at SMU Guildhall, so I went. There was a room full of girls, and each one was filmed doing a little bit of the reading for the script. The girl I met with was one of the people who worked at Gearbox. I ended up getting a call back during that next week. It was a long process. Every day you get called back, you go take pictures, you do a little bit more of the script, or do different facial expressions. They just weeded it down through the girls. Pretty much, Randy Pitchford is the one who really narrowed it down. They sent him the pictures, and then out of those girls, he picked which one he wanted to see. Probably about the fifth interview I finally got to meet him and the other staff. It was an interesting and really fun experience! They called me during school to tell me, and I screamed over the phone. It was so exciting!

Luke: (laughs)

Jordan: You were in class when you screamed right?

Britanni: I was in the hallway, so I’m sure they heard it, but I mean…(laughs) I was very excited, because it ended up between me and one other girl.

Luke: Wow. So once you got chosen, how long did it take to get everything done?

Britanni: We started after I came in, probably the next day, just to get some more information about it and then filming started. I’d go there to practice with somebody on the script, and kind of see where everything was going. The whole process took maybe about a month. I was done by mid-March, and I think I auditioned in early February.

Luke: Now, they only–correct me if I’m wrong–but they only used your face, right? Someone else did the voice acting.

Britanni: That is true. That is true.

Luke: That’s okay. So, are you happy with it? The way everything turned out in the game?

Britanni: The voice actor is really amazing. I love her.

Luke: Have you met her?

Britanni: No. A lot of the voices are in-house actors. I would think I would have met her at the release party, but I didn’t get to. I was really hoping to, because she has a beautiful voice. But they did localization, so I got to see my face with the voice of like the Chinese, and German, and Italian so it’s really funny. I knew it was going to happen after a point.

Luke:  What about the DLC? Are you involved in that at all? The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned?

Britanni: They have a lot of stock footage that I am in that they could very well use for that, but as far as I know right now, I’m not in it. I’m pretty sure. I know it’s doctor–it’s a lot of doctor Zed. Ned.

Jordan: Doctor Ned, I think.

Britanni: Yeah, yeah, it’s doctor Ned. And I mean, who knows? They might continue on with more DLC.

Luke:  Cool. Okay, this is kind of an interesting question. Very specific. Now in Borderlands, your character appears to the player as they are getting off the bus at the very beginning. But you don’t receive–the player–doesn’t receive the communication device that would allow for you to do that–your character–until after that happens. Had you noticed that?

Jordan: (laughs)

Britanni: Okay. My character is such a mystery. I hadn’t even thought about that. But, that’s just part of the game. From the beginning, you really don’t know if I’m good or evil, or where I’m leading you to, or what I’m trying to tell you to do–you don’t know where I’m coming from. Why am I on this random place somewhere else? You obviously can’t see me transmitting to you. So, really, the whole time it’s mystery. So you know what? Maybe I’m not transmitting to you through the device.

Luke: Right, all part of the mystery.

Britanni: Yes, it’s all part of the mystery.

Jordan: Maybe it’s astral projection. You never know.

Luke: Right. Hopefully we’ll find out, eventually. But, who knows? Okay, I’ve got one more here. Do you play Borderlands? Do you enjoy the game?

Britanni: Yes, actually, I love it! I got it the midnight it came out and I played it that night, and probably nonstop for a week after. It’s fun. I love playing online with my friends, my family and it’s just, it’s so much fun! You know, I like being a sniper, so the hunter’s my favorite. Everyone thinks the siren would be my favorite, but well, she’s cool. (laughs) But yeah, I love it. I like playing it more than some of the other games I have right now. I rank that up there with my other favorite game, Oblivion. It’s so much fun to think that I was a part of one of my favorite games, too.

Luke: Yeah! Congratulations on getting that opportunity! That’s all for me, thank you much! Jordan, would you like to take over?

Jordan: (laughs) Yes Luke, I’d love to!

Luke: Alright, go for it!

Jordan: Uh-huh.

Luke: (laughs)

Jordan: Okay, actually I don’t think it occurred to Luke now, and I’m not sure if you’d be able to answer it. But another thing that we noticed in the game is that there are several references to Mad Max.  Was that intentional? Or, was that just an unintentional inclusion?

Britanni: As you play the game, they like to have fun with it. There’s a part in the game where I say “Would you kindly help the robot?” and that’s a reference to Bioshock.

Luke: Right, yeah, we definitely picked up on that. (laughs)

Britanni: Yeah, so they do that a lot. Not purely about Mad Max but I know that that was one of the influences of the game that I remember them talking about.

Jordan: Like, we watched the first Mad Max a few days after and they called, you know, people skags and we were like (gaping jaw).

Britanni: (laughs) Yeah, that’s on Borderlands! (laughs)

Jordan: Mad Max. Wait, Mad Mel?

Britanni: (laughs)

Tucker: There’s also some Brad Paisley references. Blood on the Tires is a reference to Mud on the Tires. From Fifth Gear, or not from Fifth Gear but from the self-titled album.

Britanni: Oh, yeah. I didn’t even notice that. They ‘re real comedians. (laughs) No, but I can definitely see how they had fun making references in there and getting influences and all from other sources.

Jordan: Right. Tucker said you also like modeling and acting on the side? How did you get into that? What was your inspiration?

Britanni: Well, I’ve been modeling for so long that it’s just something I love to do and so whenever I have time I do whatever comes my way. Because I’ve been in school, it’s been a lot of local stuff. And then acting–I kind of got into that on accident in high school, on the set of LAX.

Jordan: Awesome!

Britanni: Since then it’s just kind of here and there I’ll go to auditions and everything. I’ll hear about new productions coming to Texas that I’ll go audition for. Borderlands was my first international project. Locally there will be more stuff coming, for sure.

Jordan: Correct me if I’m wrong. Did you just say you got into it by accident?

Britanni: Yes. (laughs) Yes. I was on the set of LAX as an extra. A friend had kind of talked me into doing that. And the director said “You! I need you to come over here and you’re going to play this role.” So I ended up staying there for the whole day. I had a featured extra role so I wasn’t saying any lines but I had a significant role in the show. That kind of turned into more things because it was something prominent to add to my resume.

Tucker: Do you remember what episode that was?

Britanni: It was the pilot.

Jordan: Well that’s the best episode to be in.

Britanni: (laughs)

Jordan: I’d say the pilot and the finale. Anything else to add to that?

Luke: Do you have any more projects coming up in the future?

Jordan: You said most everything right now is local, because of schoolwork.

Britanni: I can’t think of anything right now. Being close to finals I haven’t really scheduled any trips or anything. I’ve kind of been anticipating the Borderlands release. Kind of settling with that and then finishing school. Right after holidays there’s some movies I’m eyeing on auditioning.

Jordan: Like? (laughs)

Britanni: I would love to audition for Breaking Dawn.

Jordan: Okay.

Britanni: And there’s some other big things that…

(all laugh)

Britanni: Shut up. I’m a girl.

(more laughter)

Britanni: I’m allowed to say that. And then there’s some other big movies coming out. I would love to be in a J.J. Abrams film. Like, Star Trek 2?

Jordan: Good choice.

Britanni: That would be amazing. I’m just eyeing on the new productions coming up so that maybe during the Summer I could take some time off, go to LA. When I graduate, I plan on going to school out in an LA grad school or something so I can do everything even more.

Jordan: As far as modeling goes, what kind of projects have you done?

(waiter interrupts to ask about check splitting)

Britanni: Modeling? I’ve done some print work for local businesses. I did a video for J.C. Penny this past week.

Jordan: That’s cool.

Britanni: I’ve been doing runway shows as they come in, but not the big ones where you have to be enormously tall.

Jordan: The ones that have unreal expectations?

Britanni: Yeah, like, the ones you need to be in New York to put on because nobody in Texas is 5’12″. Which is six foot.  (laughs) Sorry. Wow. That was supposed to be a joke.

Jordan:  It’s alright. 5’12″ is a real measurement.

Britanni: Yeah it is. Not. (laughs) You know what? Modeling is something I’ve always done, but it’s not something that I want to pursue as a career. Acting is more towards where my heart is right now, so modeling is as it comes to me, I’ll take it, but acting is what I’m really looking out for.

Jordan: Cool.

Luke: Anything else?

Jordan: Nope. Anything from you?

Luke: I think I’m through. Thanks a lot. Again, it’s been lots of fun! Hopefully you’ll be making an appearance in the DLC or something.

Britanni: Yeah!

Jordan: Oh, wait, I do have one more question: are you enjoying your food right now?

Britanni: Yes! I am!

Jordan: Okay, sweet!

Britanni: It’s a lot of food!

(all laugh)

Luke: Alright, well, I guess recorder off!

Britanni: Thank you!­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

So there you have it. Our dinner with the Guardian Angel. Oh, and afterwards, just because we’re classy…

…ahem. Hopefully you’ve had a little light shed on some of your questions. Don’t forget to make a comment, especially if you’re a first time visitor! It’s quick, it’s easy, and it helps us determine what our audience likes and dislikes.