Deborah Sale Butler: Voice Actor from SD Gundam Force

September 26, 2003

<@DaleandTanya> yay!
<Zero_the_Winged_Knight> yes!!!
<Kojakumaru> ???
<@ChrisG> ok guys
<@ChrisG> here we go
<Zero_the_Winged_Knight> go
<Tomteverkstan> what?
<RX-78-2_GUNDAM> bye
<@N-Bomb> +m time
<Kojakumaru> bye bye to voice
<Strike_Valkyrie> Now can anyone read this???
<Pharsti> deborah
<Tomteverkstan> bai
<Pharsti> as in...?
<Zero_the_Winged_Knight> +m us, chris
<Gundiver01> Hi Deb!
<@Lord_Satorious> Yes we can hear you
<@Mark064> not anymore >:D
<@ChrisG> ok guys...this is Deborah
<@ChrisG> on behalf of everyone at MAHQ, thanks for coming :)
<@ChrisG> now before we start, let me paste the rules again as a reminder
<+Deborah> Thank you.
<@ChrisG> 1. The chat will be moderated, so the average user will be unable to speak in the main channel.
<@ChrisG> 2. To ask a question, send a private message to one of the ops. Ops are people with the @ symbol in front of their names. The ops will filter out the questions for repeats and post them in the channel for Deborah to answer. Do not send your questions to more than one op. If you don't see your question appear, it was either inappropriate or already asked.
<@ChrisG> 3. Do not send private messages to Deborah during the chat. Doing so will result in an instant ban.
<@ChrisG> ok people
<@ChrisG> start sending out your questions
<@DaleandTanya> to the ops of course ;)
<@DaleandTanya> not to Deborah
<@ChrisG> remember ops...alphabetical order for posting by your name
<+Deborah> I'd like to thank everyone for their patience. This is my first irc chat and I had some Mac difficulties. I'm very happy to be here.
<@ChrisG> here's the first question:
<@ChrisG> <ArtArmy> First question: Deborah, how long have you known you wanted to work in the field of acting, possibly animation work?
<+Deborah> I knew I wanted to be an actor from the age of 14.
<+Corben> Tomteverkstan wants to know if you recieved any schooling to become a voice actress of if you just fell into it.
<@Neo-Era> One question at a time. =)
<+Deborah> At sixteen I studied in a pre-college program at Carnegi Mellon University in Pittsburgh and learned more about my voice. I knew I wanted to do something with it. Besides I like to make funny noises.
<+Deborah> I went to college and studied acting for 4 years in a conservatory program. I've taken and taught workshops off and on for the past 20 years.
<+Corben> Whats it like working on cartoons as opposed to other projects?
<+Deborah> I've always been good at character voices and dialects.
<+Deborah> On cartoons I get to really play with my voice - the characters and emotions are much bigger than in, say, a voice-over for a bank commercial! I love jumping into the film and being the character.
<+Deborah> So that's the difference.
<@DaleandTanya> <Zero_the_Winged_Knight> what was your favorite thing about voice acting for SD Gundam Force?
<+Deborah> Any questions about the show?
<@Lord_Satorious> I'm sure we'll get plenty =)
<@DaleandTanya> yup right up there ;)
<@Lord_Satorious> k-sanzo would like to know: What advice do you have for people who would like to get into voice acting?
<+Deborah> Being a ten year old boy. Voice acting is very physical, and with Shute I did a lot of jumping and playing. I'm usually physically doing pretty much what the cartoon is doing, but I can't let my feet leave the ground or the mic will pick it up.
<@ChrisG> ok a quick note
<+Deborah> Oh boy. Well, you need to find a good class in voice-over. Working on a microphone takes some skill. You also need to be a good actor. I HIGHLY recommend taking improvisation workshops. You never know what situation you'll be in and improv is the best training I know of for a voice actor.
<@ChrisG> if you sent any messages to MrBrown, send them elsewhere because he's idle
<@Mark064> <KnuxFive> So, just WHAT came first? The Japanese script or the English script?
<+Deborah> And be patient. It can take years to develop a productive voice over career (10 is average)
<+Deborah> The developed both scripts at the same time, but we recorded first, as far as I know.
<@N-Bomb> <lalahsghost> did you pick SDG because you were drawn in by: 1. the character 2. the show 3. the series?
<@ChrisG> ok people right now no more questions please
<@ChrisG> we each have enough to run through for awhile
<@ChrisG> also, please dont send questions only to me :)
<+Deborah> I wish actors had that kind of choice! We are usually called by agents, casting directors or studios to audition for projects. For any 10 audtions, we may get 1 job. There are hundreds of great actors for each project. I was called by the director and was lucky enough to beat out all of the other actors. <end>
<@Neo-Era> <ArionHunter> I'll annoy you with a question: What is your pervious voice work in other forms entertainment?
<+Deborah> I've done over 20 CD Rom games, hundreds of television and radio commercials and, my favorite, live puppetry.
<+Deborah> You can see my resume on your site <end>
<@ChrisG> if i may jump in....http://www.mahq.net/resume.txt
<@super_deformed> <Bakunetsumaru> When did recording for the show begin?
<+Deborah> At the end of April. We finished in August. <end>
<@ChrisG> <tomduo> heh, I'd like to ask if she enjoyed voicing on a Gundam Series, and if she has been asked to do more, or either SD Gundam or another series?
<+Deborah> I loved doing SD Gundam. We're doing another 26 episodes starting in November. I'm also working on anothe series right now, "Gunparade March," but I don't have specifics on the release of that. I play Mai. <end>
<@DaleandTanya> Tanya would like to know if you have seen any other anime besides SD Gundam
<@Corben> <Mirai_Yashima> Have you ever done any "legitimate theatre"? If so, what?
<+Deborah> As soon as I knew I had the series, I watched a couple of episodes of the Gundam they were running over the Summer. I also went to the video store and rented "Akira" and everything Miyasaki did that I can get my hands on! <end>
<@ChrisG> ok people please send questions to ALL the ops...not just me
<@ChrisG> send away
<@ChrisG> <@Corben> <Mirai_Yashima> Have you ever done any "legitimate theatre"? If so, what?
<+Deborah> I've done over 20 years of "legitimate theatre." That's a whole other resume! My favorite roles were Rosalind in "As You Like It" and The White Witch in "the Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe." <end>
<@ChrisG> pasting this again in case it was missed...ahh forget it :)
<@Lord_Satorious> As a side note on Gunparade March, I'm looking forward to that.
<@Lord_Satorious> Outlaw_A asks: "Can you ask Deborah when the Wing0 will show up or if he ever does?"
<+Deborah> I'm not familiar with a character by that name in the show - at least not in this 26 episodes <end>
<@ChrisG> if i may jump in with this one
<+Deborah> Please do.
<@ChrisG> Wing Zero is a Gundam that in the 'real world' is similar to Zero the Winged Knight
<@ChrisG> do you know of any characters that look similar to Zero?
<Deborah> No. I think Zero is representative of that type of Gundam. From reading your forums (not having seen all of the previous shows), I can tell that they combined a lot of types into each SD Gundam for this show. <end>
<@Mark064> <MircMailMan> How do you feel about Shute's character?
<@ChrisG> Ok people...if you have any questions, i'm open as is everyone else
<+Deborah> I know many people have voice the opinion that "Shute must die," but I like him. He's good hearted and smart. I wish they would feature his inventions more and make him less of a cheerleader, but I think the intention was to have him be the "heart" of the group. He holds them together. <end>
<@N-Bomb> Mylene is wondering if you've ever attended any conventions as a special guest?
<+Deborah> No. I'm hoping to this year, now that Gundam has aired. <end>
<@Neo-Era> <Mai_no_Ken> what do you think are the most challenging things in dubbing sd gundam?
<+Deborah> This show was very easy to work on since the translator/writers were very good. Occasionally, we had to re-write a line to make it flow better, but it was pretty easy. I never see the script or the film before I walk into the studio, so I guess the biggest challenge is just jumping in and making it work the first or second take!
<@RGZ-91> <CassRX> ask her what she thinks of the premise of 1)SD Gundam Force, and 2)her opinion of what she's seen so far of other Gundam series
<+Deborah> I like that the show tries to show the value of friendship and teamwork in solving problems (this is aimed at younger kids). I only saw two episodes of the Gundam series that aired just prior to SD on the Cartoon Network. I do sessions at odd hours and don't have much time to watch in the evenings. <end>
<@super_deformed> While you were recording SD Gundam Force, did you ever wish that you had had the chance to do the voice of one of the other characters?
<+Deborah> Yes, I wish I'd have done Fenn! But Doug did such a cute job, I got over it. I'd love to play some sort of evil character. I'll have to lobby for that on the next round of recordings! <end>
<@WhiteWolfOfSolomon> From myself. When you learned that you had gotten the role of Shute, did you do any background research on Gundam to prepare for it?
<+Deborah> I did a little, but as you all know, its a bit overwhelming! I hadn't found the forums yet and didn't have a good guide. But we started recording so fast after the audition, I just did what I always do, look at the way the character is drawn, how he moves and then just do the best job I can with that. <end>
<@ChrisG> ok i have to backlogged questions from ArtArmy
<@ChrisG> first: <ArtArmy> Deborah, what would you say is the industry outlook for acting/voiceacting? How about animation?
<+Deborah> For anime, it seems to be getting better and better. More Americans are getting into it, so more is coming over and the quality is improving. Animation has had a boom in the past few years as well. As far as voiceacting goes, Anime is still a great place to work. The television work hasn't been coopted by "stars" yet. In regular Animation, they can get stars for scale so they do and we can't work. They also use stars to sell t
<+Deborah> A wierd choice for the monk in "Princess Mononoke." <end>
<@Corben> <Muu_Fraga> Did you enjoy the said Gundam series you watched?
<+Deborah> Yeah, but it was like coming into a soap opera mid-week after 17 years. I had no connection to the characters, but I liked the "camera work" and the way they joined with the suits. <end>
<@ChrisG> i'm going to jump in for a second
<@ChrisG> for an SD announcement
<+Deborah> go for it.
<@ChrisG> Jerry Chu has just informed me that the first SD DVD will be released early in 1st quarter 2004
<@Corben> ahh I take it you watched G Gundam then.. thats quite a bit different then other series
<+Deborah> Great. I can have copies of the show without commercials!
<@N-Bomb> heh
<@ChrisG> it will be English only because the Japanese cast hasnt even finished recording it yet
<@ChrisG> end of announcement
<@DaleandTanya> <ArtArmy> Deborah, what time frame are you allowed to study your scripts? Can it get to the point where you are studying more than one script at a time?
<@ChrisG> let's have a special hand for Enigma
<@ChrisG> this chat was made possible by him :)
<14@DaleandTanya> yay Enigma!
* Lord_Satorious cheers
<@WhiteWolfOfSolomon> My hat is off to you, Enigma.
<+Deborah> As I said, I never see the scripts before I walk into the studio to record. Remember that thing I said about improvisation. . . .? We read the synopsis then jump right into recording. I don't preview the tape either. I'm reacting to what Shute is reacting to, right in the moment.
<+Deborah> Hello Enigma.
<@Lord_Satorious> Gundam_S asks: "What series would she like to VA in the future?"
<+Gundam_Enigma> well, thanks guys.
<@ChrisG> ok Enigma will be taking questions too
<+Deborah> As actors, we don't find out what parts are available until the director calls us. So I don't know what's out there to want yet! <end>
<@Mark064> <Drift_King_Raanei> Question for Deborah:Out of all the Miyazaki movies you've seen, what is your favorite?
<+Deborah> My Neighbor Totoro. I have a Totoro plush hanging from my purse. He just makes me smile. I got into a long talk about Miyazaki with Crispin from Digimon last night. I'm looking forward to seeing some things that haven't made it to America yet. <end>
<@N-Bomb> <Kojakumaru> Did they loop it when recording the voices or animate it after the voices were done?
<+Deborah> With anime, the animation is always created first, then it is looped in all languages. <end>
<@N-Bomb> Excellent.
<@Neo-Era> <Muu_Fraga> What was it like working with the other actors? Were they friendly, did you enjoy it?
<+Deborah> We all recorded by ourselves except for one or two "walla" sessions were we would do the voices of the masses of Zakos or the title slates. If there weren't enough actors available, two or three of us would do a bunch of different voices and lay them on top of each other. Everyone was wonderful to work with at those times.
<+Deborah> Doug (Captain Gundam) is a wild man!
<@RGZ-91> <ArtArmy> Deborah, are there any specific rules or regulations which you must, abide by which pertain specifically to voice-acting?For example, perhaps "No eating or drinking two hours prior to recording" Or "don't eat this certain food"?
<+Deborah> Well, you actually should eat prior to a session or your stomach will grumble. But no orange juice, milk, chocolate or coffee (oj, milk and some wheat products encourage phlegm and coffee sucks moistrue out of your body, so does tea). I usually have a cup of tea nearby though, because it gets cold in the studio. I go through about 4 bottles of water a session.
<@super_deformed> <Gundiver01> Hmm... Of the SDG characters, which is your favorite (other than Shute)?
<+Deborah> We have fun during recording. We work very quickly and efficently, but there's room for fun. We play a song game where there is a word of the day and between takes we try to sing as many songs as we can using that word, like "car" for instance <end of sidebar>
<+Deborah> I like the zakos (especially the hosts of the Zako Zako Hour) and I have a soft spot for Fenn. I also dig Zapper Zaku because he's sooooo over the top! <end>
<@WhiteWolfOfSolomon> <Bakunetsumaru> Cast lists and the end credits show a red version of the Zako soldier. Could you shed any light on what role this character has?
<+Deborah> He'll show up later as a kind of Dark Axis spy. Not as heavy a hitter as the big three, but a littler more together than the regular zako troops. <end>
<@N-Bomb> Oooh
<@N-Bomb> Sounds cool :D
<@WhiteWolfOfSolomon> Definitely.
<@ChrisG> <ArtArmy> What type of technology is used in the studio? What type of tech is used in development of production from start to finish?
<+Deborah> Well, if you Google SD Gundam, you can read an article on the computer animation software used to create the look of this show. I only come in at the end. We record in a large studio as high as a movie theater, with a full movie theater size screen.
<+Deborah> I stand at a mic and I can see the screen and a telivision monotor. The engineers are in a sound-proof booth above me and Rick (the director) is on the floor with me at a console. We use tube mics and the record to Protools.
<+Deborah> And they bring us fresh cookies at three o'clock <end>
<@Lord_Satorious> And what technology is used in the baking of those cookies? *kidding*
<+Deborah> Microwave. Heh.
<@DaleandTanya> <ArtArmy> Deborah, what do you look for as inspirational material in your line of work?
<Deborah> I like to do something where the character develops over time, undergoes a transformation. Also I like characters with a lot of lines. I get paid more :-) <end>
<@Lord_Satorious> ArtArmy asks: "Deborah, since you do voice-over for animation, do they require you to draw the characters?"
<+Deborah> No. The character design is complete before I come into the picture. <end>
<@Gundam_Enigma> Mai_No_Ken asks: How long you have to work each week? How busy is your work? (say compare to other type of jobs)
<+Deborah> When I was recording Gundam, I would record from 2-4 hours a day. So often I did more than one gig a day. I could record a book across town later. <end>
<@Mark064> <ArtArmy> Deborah, when, in the process of selecting a tone, pitch rate, volume, and level for a character's voice, how deeply involved with the character(s) do you become? What do you look for as clues for voice possibillities?
<+Deborah> It's mostly about the attitude. For a 10 year old boy, I have to think like a boy. It also helps to physicallize the body and face of the character. Shute is very wide - eyed and his arms are always down at his sides, like he's ready to jump up at any moment. I stand like that and it helps the voice.
<@N-Bomb> Tanpopo1 asks: what inspired you to make that type of voice for Shute?
<+Deborah> The voice for Shute is similar to a voice I developed for a defunct game company called Morgan Interactive. He was originally an 11 year old ape named Morgan. He also morphed into the voice of Bailey on Broderbunds, Write, Camera, Action and eventually became Shute.
<+Deborah> Very Darwin <end>
<@Neo-Era> <Gundiver01> Not really a question, but a suggestion, since you mentioned Miyazaki films... If you get the chance and you haven't seen it yet, check out Lupin III - Castle of Cagliostro! It's one of his earlier movies, and it's really quite good. :)
<@RGZ-91> <MircMailMan> Question for Deborah: Have you been interveiwed like this before?
<+Deborah> Crispin mentioned it last night. He may have a copy, so I'm going to hit him up for it. Thanks!
<+Deborah> Nope. You are asking some interesting questions!
<@ChrisG> by Crispin, do you mean Crispin Freeman?
<+Deborah> Yes.
<@ChrisG> ahh...he's great
<@WhiteWolfOfSolomon> <ArtArmy> Deborah, are there other departments of development that you help out on in the production process of an animated show?
<@ChrisG> for those you who may not know, Crispin has played a whole host of characters from Zelgadis to Captain Tylor to Arucard
<+Deborah> No. Animation is specialized. There are whole teams of people involved. I'm just a voice. <end>
<@ChrisG> <Muu_Fraga> How do you feel about the suit designs in SD Gundam? Do you like them, or do they seem strange to you?
<+Deborah> No. Animation is specialized. There are whole teams of people involved. I'm just a voice. <end>
<@DaleR> I have a question, I see that you worked on one of my favorite games, Star Trek TNG: A Final Unity, were you able to meet any of the Trek cast?
<+Deborah> I'm a girl, so I'd have to say they're really cute. But as a "geek", I'd have to say I like the movement of the 3-D computer animation. I bought a model and put it together. Very cool design. <end>
<@ChrisG> ok people time for an announcement
<@ChrisG> Deborah has to leave in 30 minutes
<@ChrisG> so if you have an important question to get out by then, just send it to one of us
<@ChrisG> BRB
<+Deborah> Just saw the Star Trek Question. Let me answer.
<+Deborah> No. We, the lowly actors, were not permitted to meet the "real" actors. but I did hear some cool Brent Spiner outtakes. <end>
<@Gundam_Enigma> That stinks. We'll send SD Fans to overcome the Trekkies!
<@DaleR> please share any that stick out if you remember ;)
<@ChrisG> heh i sense another question coming out of this...
<+Deborah> I don't remember what he said, but he was ruthlessly screwing around with the lines. I think he had trouble pronouncing something and it got more and more twisted. He's really a funny guy. <end>
<@Gundam_Enigma> <Kojakumaru> oh! another question.... might get asked anyway but still... 'Whats your all time favourite anime out of what you have seen so far?'
<+Deborah> On television. Hack. In films, Tottoro. <end>
<@Lord_Satorious> Ajax- asks: "Does shute ever fight or anything, besides being on the side lines and cheering them on??"
<+Deborah> Well, he fought Cobramaru in the helicopter ball. Like I said, I wish he'd do more, but I think that Bandai is reluctant to put a gun in his hands. The Gundams have "special permission to fight" and kids are supposed to be, well, um, I don't know. . .
<+Deborah> Maybe they'll let him use more of his inventions (like the voice changer or the magna rollers) and get more into the action. I hope so. I like being an action hero. <end>
<@Mark064> <Tanpopo1> question: what made you decide to become a voice actress?
<+Deborah> I've always been an actor, but I felt so at home the first time I got into a recording booth that I've given special attention to this side of the industry. Actors are usually trying to get any kind of work. There are thousands of us and very, very few jobs. I'm super fortunate to be doing the work I love and making a living at it. <end>
<@N-Bomb> N-Bomb asks: If you could be doing anything besides acting for a living, what would it be? And as a side question, do you do this now as a hobby?
<+Deborah> I make my living doing voice-over and teaching voice and speech at for The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. I wanted to be a Veterinarian once, but once I started acting, there was nothing I'd rather do. You have to feel like that to continue at it - it's such a hard business. You really can't do it as a hobby. To many people do it seriously and want the few jobs out ther.
<+Deborah> Animation is a business and they only want to work with professionals. <end>
<@Neo-Era> <Kuroi_Kishi> Question for Ms Butler: Have you gotten any word about how well the show is pulling in ratings?
<+Deborah> I've heard it's doing well, especially in the target audience of 11 and under (sorry guys, I know most of you are a lot older than that). <end>
<@WhiteWolfOfSolomon> <ArtArmy> Deborah, are there other departments of development that you help out on in the production process of an animated show?
<@WhiteWolfOfSolomon> Apologies. Wrong question.
<@WhiteWolfOfSolomon> <ArtArmy> When searching for voice-over work, Deborah, is there a specific style you prefer, and why?
<+Deborah> I think in terms of "fields" not styles. I love animation because I can really act and play. Actors rarely get to choose gigs and have to look for what will pay the bills. I'm hoping to start doing television promos. My "real" voice is very much a promo voice. <end>
<@ChrisG> <Muu_Fraga> How come Captain Gundam keeps mentioning he has permission to use his rifle?
<+Deborah> It's supposed to be amusing. He's such a straight arrow. He wasn't supposed to have emotions in the beginning and he takes everything literally. He gets a bit more wordly and human as time goes on. <end>
<+Deborah> That was supposed to be worldly.
<@ChrisG> ok everyone no more questions please
<@DaleR> <Tanpopo1> question: when does she expect the release of the 26 episodes she mentioned earlier to be?
<@ChrisG> we're going to be wrapping up within the next 10 mins
<+Deborah> Based on the last production schedule, it'd probably be in Feb at the earliest but probably March. <end>
<@Gundam_Enigma> <Bakunetsumaru> Do we get to see the true appearance of Deathscythe (the green cloud hanging around Lord Tallgeese) before the end of the season?
<@Gundam_Enigma> I'm curious myself.
<+Deborah> I'm curious too. I don't recall seing him. Remember, we don't see the entire episode, assembled, until you do! But from what I saw of the script I don't think you catch a glimpse in this set. <end>
<@Lord_Satorious> ArionHunter asks: "What would you consider your most controversial role? And if you were offered a role that were considered to be controversial, would you take it?"
<+Deborah> I played a necropheliac once on stage. Nothing too testy in animation yet. Controversy usually gets attention, so it's kind of fun. <end>
<@ChrisG> ok everyone this is the last question
<@Gundam_Enigma> Alright. Chief Haro. Is he a robot.. or is someone under that ball?
<+Deborah> All will be revealed in the next 26 episodes. It's a bit surprising. That's all I can say ;-) <end>
<@ChrisG> Ok well that's it
<@ChrisG> I'd like to thank all the ops for their hard work in taking questions
<@ChrisG> And of course special thanks to Deborah for coming out and talking to us tonight
<+Deborah> Thank you so much for having me. I've enjoyed our talk.
<@ChrisG> Well this has been the first MAHQ chat with a guest...there will be more in the future :)
<@ChrisG> Thanks for coming out, everyone

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