Masah
05-20-2006, 10:14 PM
http://narutofever.com/naruto-characters/pictures/gai.gif
1.How did you get involved in Voice Acting/Voice Overs
It all started about 15 years ago when I was gazing at myself in the mirror and I said to myself, in my most manly voice, "Wow Skip, you have such a great face for Voice Over, get out there and give it a try." Well, just by coincidence, a friend of mine called me and asked if I had ever done any voice work, and I said no but I would love to try. He had a Director call me and asked if I could read something over the phone. I had no idea what to read, so he suggested I just read something out of a comic book. I read a portion of Speed Racer into his answering machine. He called me about a month later, asked me to audition for..I think Street Fighter, and I ended up getting the role of Ryu.
2. What was your first VA anime/cartoon?
I'm pretty sure it was Street Fighter.
3.How is it to do the voice of the funniest character on the show, do you have to restart sometime cause you go in laugh or do you just do it easily?
What are you saying? You think I'm funny? Like I'm a clown? What, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny? Funny, ha ha? I'm a serious actor! And what I do in the studio is serious work. The role of "Gai" is a serious role. I don't see why everyone thinks he's so funny. There's no time for laughing! Sorry. I just had to get that off my chest, my very manly chest at that! It's a hoot fest from the moment I walk in the door. We all laugh! Though I will tell you it never takes me more than one take.....AAAHHHHHH! Now that's funny!
4. Since you do the voice of Gai, you know him better then anybody else. What type of personality do you try to create when you voice Gai? What kind of person do you see Gai as?
I think his entrance says it all. "Hey everybody, how's it shakin?" Gai is just full of life! He love's life and what he does. What he does, he does well and expects those around him to do their best and probably a little more than there best. He knows that through hard work and discipline you can do anything. And he loves to mentor that. Other than that, he's a loud mouth goof ball.
5. How do you prepare for an episode?
Prepare? Oh right. I..I..uh..well..I pretty much just show up on time. Yep..that's pretty much it. Oh, I do make sure my hair looks good. And sometimes I bring cookies.
6.Is it fun doing Gai Sensei, since he is one of the funniest characters in the show?
OK, here we go again! What do you mean fun? You mean like, going to Disneyland fun? Like...oh sorry. Mary Elizabeth, the director of the show, together, we have a blast!
7.Are you encouraged to give your own input on the script or do you have to follow rigidly to the script?
Look, nobody knows Gai like I know Gai. OK. They live for my input. They just don't use any of it. Actually, the writers of the show do a great job. And remember, we are just translating a show that's already been written. I think we all just try and do are best to stick to what has already been done well. Here's how it works. The producers of the show give there input to Mary, Mary gives her input to me, and I pretty much do what she says in my own special way, and hope I don't suck.
8. Do you find it hard to get into the mood of Gai at times when your having a bad day?
I think most people that know me will tell you, I really don't have too many bad days. I tell you, I'm a big believer in laughter being the best medicine. So even when I might be a little off, voicing Gai is a quick fix.
9.What do you find is the hardest part of voice acting, such as portraying emotions?
The hardest part for me is when you want to express an emotion or a feeling but the translation doesn't allow you to take the time you would like. And there is really nothing you can do. It's just the difference between the languages. I hope that makes sense. When you're dubbing, you don't have the luxury of drawing the characters to match what you might do, while feeling a particular way. i.e. sad, regretful, sorry. It doesn't come into play as much when your happy or angry. But, with great writing and directing and me doing the best I can, not to suck, we try our best to make it work.
I also have a tough time with some of the Japanese names. Talk about your retakes!
10. What do you find is the EASIEST part of voice acting?
Working with the people I get to work with. For the most part, it's a pretty easy going group of people.
11. Do the English voice actors record at the same time or separately, and what is it like doing your recording that way?(And dislike)
Unless we are doing walla, which is all the background voices, we are all alone. We pass each other in the hall but that's about it. The life of a voice actor is very lonely. And, since I am not a people person, as I'm sure you can tell, I prefer being alone. Yea, right!
12.Who is your favorite character in Naruto?
I think it would be Lee or Naruto. Lee because he is kind of a soft spoken underdog and Naruto because I like the attitude.Kickingbutt and taking names!
13.What was your favorite fight and episode in Naruto?
I really don't have one. Not yet anyway. Ask me again at the end of season 1.
14.Did you try out for any other roles? If so, who?
Nope! It was Gai or nothing! I also only want green M&M's when I work!
15.Why did you decide Gai should have this voice to start with when you auditioned for him?
What voice would you use for a Guy coming out of a turtle? It kind of just happened. Mary told me what they were looking for and that's what I came up with. I got lucky and it seems to work.
16.What do you feel about Gai's relationship with Rock Lee?
The Son he never had. He probably sees a lot of himself in Lee when he was young.
17.How do you feel about the other voice actors? Have you worked with any of them in the past?
I think they're great! It's funny, sometimes you don't realize you have worked together on a project until you start talking and realize, "Hey I worked on that show." Kyle and I just met this year and he and Mary are the ones who got me involved with the Naruto site.
18.What exposure did you have to Naruto, and anime in general before you got this role?
I didn't know anything about Naruto, sad to say. Most of my Anime exposure I got through projects that I have worked on. Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain and so on. I love Cowboy Bebop.
19.What is your favorite jutsu in Naruto?
I'll have to get back to you on that one.
20. Typically; how many hours do you work per day?
It depends on the project and the size of the part. Typically, you're booked for a 2 - 4 hour session.
21. What are your feelings about Japanese animation?
I love it! I find it very intelligent and pretty sophisticated. The Anime coming out today is just amazing!
22. What are your feelings on censorship?
I think it just depend on what's being seen and heard, and where it is being seen and by who. I'm not one who agrees with "if you don't like it don't watch it." That's not a realistic choice for everyone. I think we need to let kid's be kid's. There are some things kid's don't need to see or hear until the appropriate age. I think we should all care enough about each other to handle a little censorship when needed. There is nothing wrong with a little common sense.
23. What's the most bizarre thing you had to do in the booth?
Group, walla, with 4 burly guys in a booth the size of a phone booth. Just a little to tight for me. I must admit if was pretty funny.
24. Do you have any advice for people who are interested in voice acting?
Don't! I don't need the competition. Just kidding of course. Hey man, follow your dreams. Take an acting class in school and learn how to act. More appropriate, learn how not to act. Good acting is not acting. It's simply reacting. Get yourself involved in your school drama program or community theater. Be prepared when the opportunity arrives. Don't be afraid to try.
25. Any extra comments?
What are you kidding me? My fingers hurt and my eyes are killing me. Three hours of Halo 2 and 25 question, I'm done for the night.
An acting teacher once told me, "what ever you do Skip, be honest." I hope you find my answers to be just that. Thanks so much for having me. If any of my answers lead to other question, please don't hesitate to ask. Let me just leave you with this one last thought.
What ever you want to do in life do it to the fullest. Run with your dreams, run into the sunset... but don't mess up your hair.
Warmest regards.
Skip
V/A "Gai"
http://mail.google.com/mail/?view=att&disp=emb&attid=0.0.1&th=10b531177b94eeb6
1.How did you get involved in Voice Acting/Voice Overs
It all started about 15 years ago when I was gazing at myself in the mirror and I said to myself, in my most manly voice, "Wow Skip, you have such a great face for Voice Over, get out there and give it a try." Well, just by coincidence, a friend of mine called me and asked if I had ever done any voice work, and I said no but I would love to try. He had a Director call me and asked if I could read something over the phone. I had no idea what to read, so he suggested I just read something out of a comic book. I read a portion of Speed Racer into his answering machine. He called me about a month later, asked me to audition for..I think Street Fighter, and I ended up getting the role of Ryu.
2. What was your first VA anime/cartoon?
I'm pretty sure it was Street Fighter.
3.How is it to do the voice of the funniest character on the show, do you have to restart sometime cause you go in laugh or do you just do it easily?
What are you saying? You think I'm funny? Like I'm a clown? What, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny? Funny, ha ha? I'm a serious actor! And what I do in the studio is serious work. The role of "Gai" is a serious role. I don't see why everyone thinks he's so funny. There's no time for laughing! Sorry. I just had to get that off my chest, my very manly chest at that! It's a hoot fest from the moment I walk in the door. We all laugh! Though I will tell you it never takes me more than one take.....AAAHHHHHH! Now that's funny!
4. Since you do the voice of Gai, you know him better then anybody else. What type of personality do you try to create when you voice Gai? What kind of person do you see Gai as?
I think his entrance says it all. "Hey everybody, how's it shakin?" Gai is just full of life! He love's life and what he does. What he does, he does well and expects those around him to do their best and probably a little more than there best. He knows that through hard work and discipline you can do anything. And he loves to mentor that. Other than that, he's a loud mouth goof ball.
5. How do you prepare for an episode?
Prepare? Oh right. I..I..uh..well..I pretty much just show up on time. Yep..that's pretty much it. Oh, I do make sure my hair looks good. And sometimes I bring cookies.
6.Is it fun doing Gai Sensei, since he is one of the funniest characters in the show?
OK, here we go again! What do you mean fun? You mean like, going to Disneyland fun? Like...oh sorry. Mary Elizabeth, the director of the show, together, we have a blast!
7.Are you encouraged to give your own input on the script or do you have to follow rigidly to the script?
Look, nobody knows Gai like I know Gai. OK. They live for my input. They just don't use any of it. Actually, the writers of the show do a great job. And remember, we are just translating a show that's already been written. I think we all just try and do are best to stick to what has already been done well. Here's how it works. The producers of the show give there input to Mary, Mary gives her input to me, and I pretty much do what she says in my own special way, and hope I don't suck.
8. Do you find it hard to get into the mood of Gai at times when your having a bad day?
I think most people that know me will tell you, I really don't have too many bad days. I tell you, I'm a big believer in laughter being the best medicine. So even when I might be a little off, voicing Gai is a quick fix.
9.What do you find is the hardest part of voice acting, such as portraying emotions?
The hardest part for me is when you want to express an emotion or a feeling but the translation doesn't allow you to take the time you would like. And there is really nothing you can do. It's just the difference between the languages. I hope that makes sense. When you're dubbing, you don't have the luxury of drawing the characters to match what you might do, while feeling a particular way. i.e. sad, regretful, sorry. It doesn't come into play as much when your happy or angry. But, with great writing and directing and me doing the best I can, not to suck, we try our best to make it work.
I also have a tough time with some of the Japanese names. Talk about your retakes!
10. What do you find is the EASIEST part of voice acting?
Working with the people I get to work with. For the most part, it's a pretty easy going group of people.
11. Do the English voice actors record at the same time or separately, and what is it like doing your recording that way?(And dislike)
Unless we are doing walla, which is all the background voices, we are all alone. We pass each other in the hall but that's about it. The life of a voice actor is very lonely. And, since I am not a people person, as I'm sure you can tell, I prefer being alone. Yea, right!
12.Who is your favorite character in Naruto?
I think it would be Lee or Naruto. Lee because he is kind of a soft spoken underdog and Naruto because I like the attitude.Kickingbutt and taking names!
13.What was your favorite fight and episode in Naruto?
I really don't have one. Not yet anyway. Ask me again at the end of season 1.
14.Did you try out for any other roles? If so, who?
Nope! It was Gai or nothing! I also only want green M&M's when I work!
15.Why did you decide Gai should have this voice to start with when you auditioned for him?
What voice would you use for a Guy coming out of a turtle? It kind of just happened. Mary told me what they were looking for and that's what I came up with. I got lucky and it seems to work.
16.What do you feel about Gai's relationship with Rock Lee?
The Son he never had. He probably sees a lot of himself in Lee when he was young.
17.How do you feel about the other voice actors? Have you worked with any of them in the past?
I think they're great! It's funny, sometimes you don't realize you have worked together on a project until you start talking and realize, "Hey I worked on that show." Kyle and I just met this year and he and Mary are the ones who got me involved with the Naruto site.
18.What exposure did you have to Naruto, and anime in general before you got this role?
I didn't know anything about Naruto, sad to say. Most of my Anime exposure I got through projects that I have worked on. Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain and so on. I love Cowboy Bebop.
19.What is your favorite jutsu in Naruto?
I'll have to get back to you on that one.
20. Typically; how many hours do you work per day?
It depends on the project and the size of the part. Typically, you're booked for a 2 - 4 hour session.
21. What are your feelings about Japanese animation?
I love it! I find it very intelligent and pretty sophisticated. The Anime coming out today is just amazing!
22. What are your feelings on censorship?
I think it just depend on what's being seen and heard, and where it is being seen and by who. I'm not one who agrees with "if you don't like it don't watch it." That's not a realistic choice for everyone. I think we need to let kid's be kid's. There are some things kid's don't need to see or hear until the appropriate age. I think we should all care enough about each other to handle a little censorship when needed. There is nothing wrong with a little common sense.
23. What's the most bizarre thing you had to do in the booth?
Group, walla, with 4 burly guys in a booth the size of a phone booth. Just a little to tight for me. I must admit if was pretty funny.
24. Do you have any advice for people who are interested in voice acting?
Don't! I don't need the competition. Just kidding of course. Hey man, follow your dreams. Take an acting class in school and learn how to act. More appropriate, learn how not to act. Good acting is not acting. It's simply reacting. Get yourself involved in your school drama program or community theater. Be prepared when the opportunity arrives. Don't be afraid to try.
25. Any extra comments?
What are you kidding me? My fingers hurt and my eyes are killing me. Three hours of Halo 2 and 25 question, I'm done for the night.
An acting teacher once told me, "what ever you do Skip, be honest." I hope you find my answers to be just that. Thanks so much for having me. If any of my answers lead to other question, please don't hesitate to ask. Let me just leave you with this one last thought.
What ever you want to do in life do it to the fullest. Run with your dreams, run into the sunset... but don't mess up your hair.
Warmest regards.
Skip
V/A "Gai"
http://mail.google.com/mail/?view=att&disp=emb&attid=0.0.1&th=10b531177b94eeb6