Pablo Francisco Interview on Voice Matching

On stage, Pablo Francisco seems anything but tired. Whether he’s acting out the trailer for the faux-Arnold Schwarzenegger action thriller Little Tortilla Boy, pretending to sing his heart out at a gay karaoke bar or letting the audience know what movie voice-over legend Don LaFontaine is like in bed (”Cumming to a theater near you!”), one thing always stays the same: his energy.

Moments after headlining the SEE comedy show Monday night, however, Francisco looks beat. Slouching in a chair, his hair soaking wet and his voice hoarse, the 34-year-old comedian is clearly worn out from giving his all for the university crowd. In an interview with The Diamondback, Francisco discussed everything from how losing his job at Domino’s launched his career in comedy to persevering through Monday’s show despite microphone problems and his less-than-perfect health.

THE DIAMONDBACK: When performing in front of a college audience like this one, how, if at all, do you adjust your performance?

Pablo Francisco: I couldn’t cuss as much because of that f—ing sound guy and the sound going out … But I would just say I don’t talk about politics too much with a college crowd.

DBK: Chris DeCaro opened for you after winning the student comedy competition. What did you think of his performance?

Francisco: I think Chris had a great performance. I think Chris got in a lot of campus jokes, which is good. If he wanted to, he just needs to move around a little more on stage … The crowd loved him, and I would say just work on a good 15 minutes.

DBK: When you’re feeling a bit sick like you are tonight, do you find that you have to work a little harder to reach that wide range of vocal work?

Francisco: The thing is, the mic went out on a few parts where I was focusing on that one thing, so I had to come up with more “the mic failed” jokes. But the hardest voice to do is my [own] voice. The rest like, [impersonating LaFontaine] “Are you ready?” - I could just do that.

DBK: When would you say you really started toward a career in comedy?

Francisco: I got fired from Domino’s pizza, and I owed about $400 on my car, and I had these neighbors who told me to go to a comedy club for amateur night … I saw friends of mine there doing some comedy and they said, “Hey, you should give it a shot.” And I go, “Well, yeah.” So I talked to folks there and they said, “Come in on Tuesday.” So I went in on a Tuesday, and it was already lined up and they had enough people in there, but I watched anyway … and when I did that the owner called out to me real quick and started giving me confidence.

DBK: You’re well-known for your impressions, so what sort of process do you go through to prepare those?

Francisco: Sometimes they come in five minutes, sometimes they come in 10 minutes. It starts off with a few words, like [as LaFontaine] “Coming this summer.” Of course I can always do this voice; I just have the vocal chords.

DBK: I remember seeing you perform alongside LaFontaine on Frank TV, so what was it like actually meeting him, and what did he think of your impression?

Francisco: He called my house after seeing me on [The Tonight Show with Jay Leno] and was like, “Pablo, I saw you on TV, and you know how good it feels when someone is doing you? We should meet up some time.” So about two years went by, and I didn’t talk to him. I went to Frank TV and he was there and … he goes, “Why don’t you come to my house?” So I went to his house for about three hours, and he showed me the whole studio. We went down there, and he did, “On the next 24 with Kiefer Sutherland.”

DBK: Is there anything in your career that you still hope to accomplish that you haven’t yet?

Francisco: I would say, since the Internet came out, I have everything I really need. I wanted a TV show at first, but right now I’m working on a cartoon with Disney - just voice-over work and stuff like that - so I’ll just do that for now. But writing a cartoon would be good. A cartoon would be nice.

For more information on comedian Pablo Francisco, visit www.pablofrancisco.com.

Source: DiamondBackOnline

Monsters VS. Aliens Voice Cast Announced

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS, which is slated for a domestic release date of March 27, 2009, reinvents the classic ’50s monster movie into an irreverent modern day action comedy.

The cast of MONSTERS VS. ALIENS includes:

*Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon (WALK THE LINE, RENDITION) as Susan Murphy, a.k.a. Ginormica;

*Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie (TV’s HOUSE, STUART LITTLE) as Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.;

*Will Arnett (TV’s ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, BLADES OF GLORY) as The Missing Link;

*Seth Rogen (KNOCKED UP, SUPERBAD) as B.O.B.;

*Rainn Wilson (JUNO, TV’s THE OFFICE) as Gallaxhar;

*Emmy winner Stephen Colbert (TV’s THE COLBERT REPORT, BEWITCHED) as The President of the United States;

*Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (TV’s 24, PHONE BOOTH) as General W.R. Monger; and

*Paul Rudd (KNOCKED UP, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM) as Susan’s boyfriend, Derek.

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS is directed by Rob Letterman (SHARK TALE) and Conrad Vernon (SHREK 2), produced by Lisa Stewart (I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE) and co-produced by Jill Hopper and Latifa Ouaou.

The film marks the theatrical debut of DreamWorks Animation’s Ultimate 3D, the studio’s proprietary production process of authoring its animated films in 3D from start to finish.

To read the full story, click on the source link below:

Source: AWN

LOST : Via Domus Videogame

Since 2004, the producers of ABC’s Lost have been playing games with their devoted viewers. A video game was inevitable — and now, Ubisoft’s Lost: Via Domus , was released Feb. 26.

 

 

Some of the people who made ABC’s Lost such a popular TV show helped to create the video game Lost: Via Domus.

“They know games,” Via Domus scriptwriter Kevin Shortt said of the TV show’s brain trust. “You could tell they were excited.”

Lost staff writer Dawn Kelly collaborated on the game’s script, and “we worked with (series co-creator) Damon Lindelof on a really cool ending,” Mr. Shortt said.

So, what’s really happening on the island?

“They didn’t give us the big answers,” Mr. Shortt acknowledged, although players will be able to explore parts of the island that were only glimpsed on TV. For example, fans can finally find out what was behind that magnetic wall in the hatch in Season 2.

The main character is a guy named Elliott whom Mr. Shortt describes as “one of those other castaways you see wandering around the beach.” Like everyone else on Lost , Elliott has a tortured past, and his experience on the island could lead to redemption. During his journey, Elliott deals with most of the TV show’s characters, as well as strange creatures such as the Black Smoke.

“It’s not the kind of game where you’re just shooting at people,” Mr. Shortt said. “You’re discovering stuff, unlocking mysteries. … We’re really happy with it.” And everything is consistent with the TV show’s elaborate mythology.”

Source: The Augusta Chronicle

Oscar Smiles on Ratatouille and Peter and the Wolf

Winning in the feature animated film category was Ratatouille (Brad Bird) and the best animated short nod went to Peter and the Wolf (Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman).

The beautiful stop-frame animation Peter and the Wolf  is a half hour work that re-interprets Prokoviev. The film has also been designed in such a way that it can be projected in a concert hall to go along with a live musical accompaniment.

Peter and the Wolf is also nominated for the British Animation Awards which are held on March 13th.

Source: ForbiddenPlanet.co.uk

George Lucas To Bring CGI Animated “Star Wars” Installment to Theatres

Another “Star Wars” tale is on its way to the bigscreen, but it won’t be distributed by Fox.

Lucasfilm has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting on “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” a CGI toon that will bow in theaters this August before moving to the smallscreen in the fall. The Aug. 15 feature will set the stage for the spinoff skein, which will bow on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT. International release dates for the feature and TV series are still being set.

Multiplatform project is an expansion of the earlier “Clone Wars” microseries that aired on Cartoon Network. However, Fox’s homevid arm released those episodes on DVD, just as it has distributed every “Star Wars” theatrical release since 1977.

Lucasfilm said Warner Bros.’ cable and theatrical resources made it an especially good fit for the project. “We’re trying to do something unprecedented — marrying TV series and theatrical release,” a rep said.

Under this deal, Warner will release the film and TV skein on DVD.

Warner execs eagerly tracked the project throughout the development process, and decided to give the property a theatrical launch after seeing footage.

“I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want it,” said Stuart Snyder, president and chief operating officer of Turner Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media, who said a theatrical launch “has always been contemplated as part of the process.”

The “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” movie is expected to run around 100 minutes and pick up between episode II and III. Anakin Skywalker is not yet Darth Vader. The story will then continue in 30-minute smallscreen installments.

George Lucas, who has revisited the property and time again over the decades, said he mounted this new spinoff because he “felt there were a lot more ‘Star Wars’ stories left to tell.” He said he wanted to tell them through animation, pushing the technology forward at the same time.

Lucas serves as exec producer on the project, which will primarily employ voice actors. The only original actors returning are Anthony Daniels as C3PO and Matthew Wood as General Grievous and the battledroids.

Lucasfilm Animation has already produced more than 30 episodes in the TV skein, with production continuing in Singapore and Taiwan. On Tuesday, Lucasfilm launched an online Web docu about the project at Starwars.com.

Source: Variety.com

Val Kilmer Replaces Will Arnett as KITT Voice Actor

A conflict between car sponsors has caused NBC to hire Val Kilmer to replace Will Arnett as the voice of KITT on its “Knight Rider” revival.

Variety reports that Arnett (”Arrested Development”) had already finished the voice-over for the movie, a back-door pilot which is slated to debut on NBC in less than two weeks.

Producers Doug Liman, Dave Bartis and Dave Andron — along with the network and studio — were thrilled with his performance.

Unfortunately Arnett had a contractual conflict of interest. Arnett is the voice of General Motors — voice overs for GMC Trucks.

NBC’s new “Knight” is a Ford Mustang.

Because Ford is also taking an active role in the marketing and branding of the pilot for a possible series. Ford’s logo are on the NBC promos too.

When GM got wind of this and about the Ford connection, Arnett was “asked” to pull out.

“I was very excited at the prospect of playing the part of KITT in the new ‘Knight Rider’ movie,” Arnett said. “However, because of a long relationship with General Motors as the voice of GMC Trucks, I had to respectfully withdraw from the project.”

With NBC and Universal Media Studios scrambling to replace Arnett’s dialogue with Kilmer’s, Val has plenty of experience and has done lots of voice-over work, including the voice of Moses in 1998’s “The Prince of Egypt.”

Source: Monsters & Critics

British Animation Awards Finalists Announced

Aardman Animations came out on top with four nominations as the U.K. Film Council today announced finalists for the 2008 British Animation Awards. Bringing together the industry’s most talented and celebrated figures, the annual event will be held on March 13 at the BFI on the South Bank (National Film Theatre). The ceremony will be hosted by veteran voice actor Joe Pasquale, who can be heard in 20th Century Fox Animation’s CG adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who!, starring Jim Carrey and Steve Carell.

“The mix of nominees for the 2008 Awards reflects the diversity of the work that makes the UK such a powerhouse in the international animation scene,” says awards director Jayne Pilling. “BAA strives to award those that have made a contribution to the animation scene whether they’re newcomers or veterans.”

Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep is up for Best Children’s Series, while The Pearce Sisters, directed by Aardman’s Luis Cook, is in the running for the Craft Award and Best Short Film. In addition, The Peculiar Adventures of Hector Directors, which Aardman created in collaboration with Texaco, is nominated for New Media: Best Commissioned Animation. In the hotly contested Craft Award, Aardman will find tough competition from Dreams & Desires: Family Ties by renowned animator Joanna Quinn, as well as Ian Mackinnon’s Adjustment. The other nominees for Best Short Film are Elizabeth Hobbs’ The Old, Old, Very Old Man, and Osbert Parker’s Yours Truly.

Nominated for Best TV Special, Tiger Aspect’s Charlie & Lola: How Many More Minutes Until Christmas and The Wrong Trainers are up against Suzie Templeton’s stop-motion film Peter & The Wolf, which has recently been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.

In the newly created Best Voice Character category, Jane Horrocks who, provides the voice for Illuminated Film Co.’s Little Princess, is up against Robert Lindsay in Jon Dunleavy’s short The Technical Hitch, and Peter Capaldi in Haunted Hogmanay from Scotland’s Ko Lik Films. Little Princess receives a second nomination in the Best Preschool Series category, taking on Charlie & Lola: Too Many Big Words and Zinkia’s Pocoyo.

The British Animation Awards’ Public Choice offers audiences across the U.K. a chance to vote for winners in the short film, music video and animated commercial categories. Voting forms are being issued at screenings taking place in a number of venues in 28 cities across the U.K. Kids can also get into the act with the Children’s Choice Award, sponsored by CBBC/CBeebies.

For a complete list of nominees and other details of the event, go to www.britishanimationawards.com.

Source: AnimationMagazine.net

Voice of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” Glistens on Broadway

Ariel, the heroine of Disney’s animated film “The Little Mermaid,” kept Jodi Benson occupied for only 14 days in the recording studio when the Illinois-born singer taped the part for the 1989 blockbuster. But ever since, she has been associated with the character and her song of hope, “Part of Your World.”

Benson, 46, wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Everything I’ve been part of has been because of my relationship to the film and my relationship to the company,” she said recently by cell phone. “It’s been a wonderful journey. And it’s still going strong, thank the Lord.”

The role and song that catapulted the ebullient Benson to fame will showed up again when she appeared as a soloist last Saturday in the Cleveland Pops Orchestra’s “Fantasies and Fairytales” program at Severance Hall.

But she has no troubling recalling the circumstances that led to her career boost. Benson was in “Smile,” a Broadway musical about beauty pageants by Howard Ashman and Marvin Hamlisch, when lyricist Ashman invited female cast members to audition for an animated film he and composer Alan Menken were writing based on a beloved Hans Christian Anderson story.

Like her colleagues, Benson submitted a tape. A year later, she won the role of Ariel, never thinking it would amount to much.

“It was just a wonderful experience flying back and forth from New York to Los Angeles,” she said. “I didn’t tell anybody about it. It was a voice-over job. It wasn’t considered a real job.”

The success of “The Little Mermaid” brought Benson mounds of work in animated Disney films. She won a starring role in the Broadway musical “Crazy for You,” for which she received a Tony nomination.

Until she returned to New York last month for the opening of the stage version of “The Little Mermaid” (at the same theater, the Lunt-Fontanne, where she’d done “Smile”), Benson hadn’t seen a Broadway show since the performance of “Crazy for You” the day after she left the cast.

The opening last month of “The Little Mermaid,” which Benson attended with her son and daughter (their first Broadway show), was a “very surreal” experience for the voice of Ariel.

“They’d been talking about this coming to Broadway for 10 years,” said Benson, who has recorded several albums of Christian music. “Everything about the evening was memorable. I’m very thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to be part of this and see it happen, and watch the longevity of that, and know another generation is going to be touched by the story.”

Source: Cleveland.com

Top Seiyuu of 2007

Anican, a Japanese magazine, has recently published a list of their readers’ top seiyuu (voice actors) for 2007.

Seiyuu, as the Japanese call their voice actors, are extremely popular with audiences and have followings all over the world.

The seiyuu pictured in this article happens to be Fukuyama Jun, the top-rated male seiyuu of 2007, according to Anican magazine.

As noted on The Otaku Times, here are the top Female and Male Seiyuu of 2007:

Top Female Seiyuu 2007

1. Horie Yui
2. Hirano Aya
3. Mizuki Nana
4. Tamura Yukari
5. Kugimiya Rie

Top Male Seiyuu 2007

1. Fukuyama Jun
2. Sugita Tomokazu
3. Houshi Souichirou
4. Miyano Mamoru
5. Sakurai Takahiro

Source: Otaku Times

Toy Story 1 & 2 Goes Back to Theaters in 3D

Today, it was announced that the first two films in Pixar’s sole and signature franchise, Toy Story and Toy Story 2, are headed back to movie screens October 2nd, 2009 and February 12th, 2010, respectively, with a complete digital 3D makeover, called Disney Digital 3D.

Toy Story Voice Cast

As you will recall, the cast of celebrity actors in the Toy Story franchise include Tom Hanks as Woody (voice), Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear (voice), Joan Cusack as Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl (voice), Kelsey Grammer as Stinky Pete the Prospector (voice) and John Ratzenberger as Hamm the Piggy Bank (voice) among other notable actors.

Disney Digital 3D

Disney Digital 3-D is a brand used by the The Walt Disney Company to describe digitally animated three-dimensional films shown exclusively using digital projection. It is essentially a Disney brand of Real D Cinema technology.

How It Works

Audiences viewing a film presented by Disney Digital 3D are given a pair of plastic 3D glasses. The glasses have circular polarized lenses, each polarized differently. Circular polarization allows much greater head movement than linear polarization without loss of 3-D effect or ghost images. This increases audience comfort and helps to mitigate the “3-D headache” caused by many 3-D systems, especially those relying on film projection.

Lead Up to Toy Story 3

The films will be an audience primer for Disney-Pixar’s digital 3D Toy Story 3, which hits screens on June 18th, 2010. John Lasseter, director of the first two Toy films and a Pixar poobah, is supervising the 3D process on both, while director Lee Unkrick continues his work on the second sequel.

Sources: SlashFilm and IMDB

« Previous Page — Next Page »