Masah
05-13-2006, 12:52 AM
Okay, the questions are in and have been answered. I'd like to thank Kyle for taking time out of his day to answer these!
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1299/kylehebert0tt.jpg
1. How did you get into the voice acting business?
Its always been a dream of mine to do animation voice
work, ever since childhood. In terms of anime, I was
working in radio and some station coworkers had taken
a tour of Funimation at the time and had heard there
were auditions taking place. I tried out for some minor
characters and teen Gohan.
A few weeks later I was
called in to my first session....and it was literally a
dream come true. I started out voicing minor bit parts,
and a few months later after I proved I could do the job
(matching mouth flaps, maintaining character voice, taking
direction, and of course, acting), I got cast as Gohan.
2.What other projects were you apart of?
I played Karasu in Yu Yu Hakusho, Seno Miyagi in Blue Gender,
Takei in Fruits Basket, Falman in Fullmetal Alchemist, Detective
Masa-yan in Burst Angel, Hanayama in Baki the Grappler, and tons
of background characters in Case Closed and the Lupin specials.
3. How were you chosen to do the voice for Kiba? What set you
apart from all the other Kiba wannabes?
I knew eventually I would have to get to Los Angeles to pursue
animation voice work, since that is where it all happens. I moved
from Dallas to LA in September 2005. I had met Steve Blum (Zabuza
and Orochimaru in Naruto) at a con and he said he'd help me out.
He put in a good word for me and I got to try out. The dub
director,Mary McGlynn, said his vocal qualities make a nice
contrast to the other characters. I think he's pretty much a
cocky version of Gohan, voice wise.
4. What is the typical day in the life of a voice actor?
Most voice actors have to have other jobs to pay the bills
because finding work is sporadic. Its a very competitive field.
You may audition for tons of commercials, cartoons, games, etc,
but you might only get cast for 1 or 2 things. You hope your
phone rings to book sessions or get a nice call saying that you
landed a role, but meanwhile the bills pile up. It can be quite
stressful. Once you're able to establish clients and get called
in by casting directors on projects and the income starts flowing...
THEN a typical day would be auditions and/or sessions. Driving
from one studio, then racing across town to another. Its always
good to network and make industry contacts, so hand out business
cards and demo CDs.
5. Typically, how many hours is an average work day?
Unless you're really established, you might book a session or two in a week. A session length depends on how big the script is.
For anime, I can bang out episodes with Kiba, who doesn't say
that much, in about an hour. More dialog intensive shows may
take 2 or more hours. Actors are recorded individually, and one
line at a time. Since you have to match the mouth flaps, its a
matter of timing on the delivery of the line.
6. Who is your favorite Naruto character, and why?
I have only seen what has aired on Cartoon Network so far. Kakashi
was instantly a fave. Gai cracks me up! Gaara and Orochimaru are
creepy cool, and of course, Kiba, heheh.
7. What are your personal feelings about Japanese animation compared to American animation?
In general, artistically, I think anime is superior. Better
character design, more detail, more fluid motion.
8. What do you think's the big difference between the two?
Culturally, the Japanese people view anime as a true art form.
There are shows for any age group. In America, there is a stigma
that if its animated, it has to be for kids. Obviously, people
who think that way haven't seen hentai. The stories in anime
tend to be more complex than in domestic U.S. shows.
9. How do you feel on the censorship issue in anime? Or rather,
in general?
Well, I think editing is a necessary evil. Of course, nobody
wants to see stuff get cut out. But the trade off is getting
maximum mainstream exposure for the shows to an audience who'd
otherwise never see it. I view censored programs on TV as a big
advertisement to go out and get the uncut DVDs. Kind of a try-it
before-you-buy-it thing.
10. What's the most unqiue/strange thing you've had to do in the
voice acting booth?
Making an authentic sounding swallowing effect is tougher than one
might think. Having your character cry is certainly awkward. Acting
like you're eating is....interesting, to say the least.
11. Do you think your voice as Kiba has matured as more and more
episodes have been developed?
The more an actor portrays a character, the more relaxed he/she
becomes so the performances do improve steadily over time.
12. Do you see yourself acting for future anime roles?
While I did move to LA to pursue cartoon voiceover, I've definitely
loved getting to work on anime. I hope to continue with it for many
more years to come. Its always an extremely fun challenge.
13. Have you ever had a live-action role?
I haven't, but I am interested in trying on camera stuff. I am
about to start auditioning for TV commercials through my agent
soon. Hoping that'll lead somewhere.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2461/inuzukakiba1cm.jpg
14. What do you do to prepare yourself before acting?
Honestly, I don't do any prep. I'm always very relaxed. Maybe
it's because I've done it for so long, or I work with such laid back
and genuinely nice professionals. I'm a big kid at heart, but I
can definitely switch to serious mode and give the best I can.
b]15. What's your favorite moment in Naruto?[/b]
So far, since I've only seen through the Chuunin exam stuff, its
watching Gaara manipulate sand on a guy and squeeze the life out of
him. That was pretty wild.
16. Why does Kiba always hang around with Akamaru?
Maybe he's lonely. Heheh. Gotta love Akamaru, though. Cute little guy.
17. Do you have any advice for future voice actor/actresses?
Get acting experience when and where you can. If you want to really
make money in voiceover, you need to be prepared to spend a lot of it to
get the proper training, networking and making industry contacts,
moving where the work is, and marketing yourself. You need a thick
skin and be prepared to accept far more failures than successes.
This is not an overnight thing by any means. It requires a longstanding
committment and a deep down burning desire to make it happen.
18. Any extra comments on Naruto or yourself in General?
I have been intrigued about the show ever since I saw cosplayers all
over the con scene in 2002. I started watching the show on Cartoon
Network and got hooked before I got called in to audition. I think its
gets better every week. Great characters, great story, and I feel very
grateful to be part of another big show. Its very creatively satisfying
to be attached to Dragonball Z, Fullmetal Alchemist, and now Naruto.
I am also very thankful to all the fans who have been supporting my
work since I began. I'd like to invite everyone to check out my podcast,
called The Big Bald Broadcast. Its a show you can download off my website
and it deals with news on all things "geeky".
19. What is your favorite jutsu of Kibas?
All fours jutsu. Though it does sound kinda perverted, hahah.
20. What's your favorite jutsu altogether?
So far, Naruto's Shadow Clone. I'm sure there are many more impressive
ones I've yet to see.
21. Did you audition for any other characters of NARUTO? If so who?
I read for Orochimaru, Kiba, Gai Sensei, Kabuto, and Shino. I felt strongest
about my auditions for Oro and Gai. But the producers obviously
liked my take on Kiba best. I only have ONE teen voice, which I
have used on Dragonball Z, but luckily Kiba is a very different type of
character, so that definitely helps set him apart.
THANK YOU!!
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1299/kylehebert0tt.jpg
1. How did you get into the voice acting business?
Its always been a dream of mine to do animation voice
work, ever since childhood. In terms of anime, I was
working in radio and some station coworkers had taken
a tour of Funimation at the time and had heard there
were auditions taking place. I tried out for some minor
characters and teen Gohan.
A few weeks later I was
called in to my first session....and it was literally a
dream come true. I started out voicing minor bit parts,
and a few months later after I proved I could do the job
(matching mouth flaps, maintaining character voice, taking
direction, and of course, acting), I got cast as Gohan.
2.What other projects were you apart of?
I played Karasu in Yu Yu Hakusho, Seno Miyagi in Blue Gender,
Takei in Fruits Basket, Falman in Fullmetal Alchemist, Detective
Masa-yan in Burst Angel, Hanayama in Baki the Grappler, and tons
of background characters in Case Closed and the Lupin specials.
3. How were you chosen to do the voice for Kiba? What set you
apart from all the other Kiba wannabes?
I knew eventually I would have to get to Los Angeles to pursue
animation voice work, since that is where it all happens. I moved
from Dallas to LA in September 2005. I had met Steve Blum (Zabuza
and Orochimaru in Naruto) at a con and he said he'd help me out.
He put in a good word for me and I got to try out. The dub
director,Mary McGlynn, said his vocal qualities make a nice
contrast to the other characters. I think he's pretty much a
cocky version of Gohan, voice wise.
4. What is the typical day in the life of a voice actor?
Most voice actors have to have other jobs to pay the bills
because finding work is sporadic. Its a very competitive field.
You may audition for tons of commercials, cartoons, games, etc,
but you might only get cast for 1 or 2 things. You hope your
phone rings to book sessions or get a nice call saying that you
landed a role, but meanwhile the bills pile up. It can be quite
stressful. Once you're able to establish clients and get called
in by casting directors on projects and the income starts flowing...
THEN a typical day would be auditions and/or sessions. Driving
from one studio, then racing across town to another. Its always
good to network and make industry contacts, so hand out business
cards and demo CDs.
5. Typically, how many hours is an average work day?
Unless you're really established, you might book a session or two in a week. A session length depends on how big the script is.
For anime, I can bang out episodes with Kiba, who doesn't say
that much, in about an hour. More dialog intensive shows may
take 2 or more hours. Actors are recorded individually, and one
line at a time. Since you have to match the mouth flaps, its a
matter of timing on the delivery of the line.
6. Who is your favorite Naruto character, and why?
I have only seen what has aired on Cartoon Network so far. Kakashi
was instantly a fave. Gai cracks me up! Gaara and Orochimaru are
creepy cool, and of course, Kiba, heheh.
7. What are your personal feelings about Japanese animation compared to American animation?
In general, artistically, I think anime is superior. Better
character design, more detail, more fluid motion.
8. What do you think's the big difference between the two?
Culturally, the Japanese people view anime as a true art form.
There are shows for any age group. In America, there is a stigma
that if its animated, it has to be for kids. Obviously, people
who think that way haven't seen hentai. The stories in anime
tend to be more complex than in domestic U.S. shows.
9. How do you feel on the censorship issue in anime? Or rather,
in general?
Well, I think editing is a necessary evil. Of course, nobody
wants to see stuff get cut out. But the trade off is getting
maximum mainstream exposure for the shows to an audience who'd
otherwise never see it. I view censored programs on TV as a big
advertisement to go out and get the uncut DVDs. Kind of a try-it
before-you-buy-it thing.
10. What's the most unqiue/strange thing you've had to do in the
voice acting booth?
Making an authentic sounding swallowing effect is tougher than one
might think. Having your character cry is certainly awkward. Acting
like you're eating is....interesting, to say the least.
11. Do you think your voice as Kiba has matured as more and more
episodes have been developed?
The more an actor portrays a character, the more relaxed he/she
becomes so the performances do improve steadily over time.
12. Do you see yourself acting for future anime roles?
While I did move to LA to pursue cartoon voiceover, I've definitely
loved getting to work on anime. I hope to continue with it for many
more years to come. Its always an extremely fun challenge.
13. Have you ever had a live-action role?
I haven't, but I am interested in trying on camera stuff. I am
about to start auditioning for TV commercials through my agent
soon. Hoping that'll lead somewhere.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2461/inuzukakiba1cm.jpg
14. What do you do to prepare yourself before acting?
Honestly, I don't do any prep. I'm always very relaxed. Maybe
it's because I've done it for so long, or I work with such laid back
and genuinely nice professionals. I'm a big kid at heart, but I
can definitely switch to serious mode and give the best I can.
b]15. What's your favorite moment in Naruto?[/b]
So far, since I've only seen through the Chuunin exam stuff, its
watching Gaara manipulate sand on a guy and squeeze the life out of
him. That was pretty wild.
16. Why does Kiba always hang around with Akamaru?
Maybe he's lonely. Heheh. Gotta love Akamaru, though. Cute little guy.
17. Do you have any advice for future voice actor/actresses?
Get acting experience when and where you can. If you want to really
make money in voiceover, you need to be prepared to spend a lot of it to
get the proper training, networking and making industry contacts,
moving where the work is, and marketing yourself. You need a thick
skin and be prepared to accept far more failures than successes.
This is not an overnight thing by any means. It requires a longstanding
committment and a deep down burning desire to make it happen.
18. Any extra comments on Naruto or yourself in General?
I have been intrigued about the show ever since I saw cosplayers all
over the con scene in 2002. I started watching the show on Cartoon
Network and got hooked before I got called in to audition. I think its
gets better every week. Great characters, great story, and I feel very
grateful to be part of another big show. Its very creatively satisfying
to be attached to Dragonball Z, Fullmetal Alchemist, and now Naruto.
I am also very thankful to all the fans who have been supporting my
work since I began. I'd like to invite everyone to check out my podcast,
called The Big Bald Broadcast. Its a show you can download off my website
and it deals with news on all things "geeky".
19. What is your favorite jutsu of Kibas?
All fours jutsu. Though it does sound kinda perverted, hahah.
20. What's your favorite jutsu altogether?
So far, Naruto's Shadow Clone. I'm sure there are many more impressive
ones I've yet to see.
21. Did you audition for any other characters of NARUTO? If so who?
I read for Orochimaru, Kiba, Gai Sensei, Kabuto, and Shino. I felt strongest
about my auditions for Oro and Gai. But the producers obviously
liked my take on Kiba best. I only have ONE teen voice, which I
have used on Dragonball Z, but luckily Kiba is a very different type of
character, so that definitely helps set him apart.
THANK YOU!!