No comic this week, instead I took some time with Voice Actor, Christopher Ayres. A guest at most anime conventions in Texas, he is a very outspoken person when it comes to the shrinking anime industry and what it will take to survive. He had a role in a video game not so long ago, I thought it would be nice to talk to him about it.
CH: Do you feel that anime producers will have to use global releases (such as Gundam Unicorn) to reduce the negative affects that fansubs are having on the industry?CA:It would be nice if they could, but the practicalities of production for Televison as opposed to the Japanse DVD release and the American DVD release, very often keeps that from being a possibility... I see companies trying to get release closer and closer to the T.V. air dates in Japan. That is something you can do with Video Games and occaionsally with OVA's but not usually with series.. from my understanding.. but again I'm not an expert.
CH: You have had your hand in many aspects of stage performance (director, mock combat coordinator, etc) Can you describe how your stage experience carries over to your voice performances (be they for anime work or not)
CA:Well I think it's in terms of the cross over froms stage to voice acting is that the operative word is "Acting" you have to go in with some sort of skill set as an actor. It's not enough to just have a unique voice. You very often only get one shot to make an impression with producers or directors in this industry and if you're not prepared and your acting is substandard once you get that shot, then you've blown it before you've begun. Most of the working Voice actors that I know.. did not set out to be voice actors. They set out to be ACTORS, be that for stage, film, television and voice acting for Anime and Video games is somethign we all just kind of fell into it. In terms of ADR directing and the cross over from directing for stage, I think directing is all about communicating, collaboration and story telling, so it's kind of the same for both mediums.. just the practical applications of the two are a little different as are the tools.
CH: How do you approach voice acting in video games? Does it differ from anime dubbing or do you find it similar?CA:Well I've had limited experince doing video game work.. but in some ways the expereince is quite different and in some ways it is the same. For one you're in a booth, doing lines for a character, both the same. In anime you get to see the character and in video game voicing you may only get to see a sketch of the character design for that characters. With an anime you very often know what show you're working on, and sometimes the story arch. That is not the case with a video game. I think actors always need to rely on their director, but even more so in video game work, as you very often are having to deliver lines out of context, and not knowing how the line you're responding to will even sound because those lines aren't played for you, and you don't see the other persons lines in the script becuase of the way video game scripts are laid out. So in method of recording they are similar in actual application and technique they are quite different beasts.
CH: Searching IMBD, I have noticed "The Last Remnant" is one of the few, if only video games roles you have been credited in. Are you interested in taking a more active role in video game voice work or is it "just another paycheck?"CA:I would love to do more video game work, but unfortunately most of that work is in California. You have to understand when we travel to do work to another city, be that L.A. or Dallas, we have to provide our own transportation, our own lodging and our meals.. None of that is provided by the studios we work for. So you never make much money at all traveling out of town to do work. So it can't just be "Another paycheck" which is an attitude that I hate. I think one should never lose the sense of the artist in themselves. Once it starts to become just another pay check is the time you need to move on and find something else to do that you can be passionate about. But the answer is yes I'd love to do more, it's just a matter of location and money, not having any that is.. ha ha ha!
CH: Back to the many jobs you have performed in the anime industry. (actor, director) Do you enjoy being a part of that industry? Does "wearing many hats" come naturally to you or is just "job security" that you make yourself as valuable as possible in an uncertain economy?CA:Ha ha ha.. well if I wanted "Job Security" I would not have gotten into the arts. No I love acting and have been acting most of my life. I started professionally when I was 6 years old and love it.... But I found later in life that as much as I loved acting I was even more passionate about Directing. People who know me know that I tend to be more than a little bit of a "workaholic" and that's easy to be when you love what you do. As I said there's not alot of job security or money in this industry... but I'd rather be happy than rich any day.
CH: Have you played "The Last Remnant?" Does it feel odd interacting with a character that you have performed? Are you any good at it? What's your GAMERSCORE/Achievements?CA:Yes I have, I am a little bit of a vidiot, not a good one mind you, but I love my video games. I have place Last Remnant, and love it. I'm on the second disc... never thought I'd get through the next to last level boss (hellsmouth? or hellsgate) on disc one, but I am well in to disc two, just kind of stuck wandering around waiting for the next thing to happen... ha ha ha. As for if it's weird to hear myself, it's kind of fun, but I've gotten to the point that I dread seeing myself, becuase I know when Wagram shows up, usually it's because he's sending another level boss after Rush and the others. I'm really excited becuase I did the sounds for one of the level bosses that I've not gotten to yet.. so I can't wait to hear that. As for GamerScore/Achievements.. I have no idea.. I don't really do all of those.. That's more my Brothers thing.
(Greg Ayres, his brother, is also a voice actor and DJ.)CH: Do you enjoy gaming of any kind, recreationally? For some reason, I picture you as a tabletop advanced dungeons and dragons type of guy with you huge soda jug next to your 20 sided die and character sheets.CA:I do as I said I love video games... I can't do FPS, as I get similator sickness, but I love RPGS and LOVE the MORTAL KOMBAT series, not that I"m very good at it.. but I do enjoy them. I used to be a big table top gamer.. mainly AD&D and I really loved playing RIFTS, but I've not had time to do any gaming like that in a long time.
CH: Thanks for your time.CA: Love and Laughter always
-Chris-
*Minor question tweeking from Ed Soliz (Ramdonizer9)
Logged
