PROBE
George Manley
(continued)
Interview by Chuck Shandry
I noticed on your web
page, you’ve done theater and commercials. How different from
voice acting are they? How do you approach the different acting jobs?
Theatre allows you to use your whole body to express yourself. From there,
it's a law of dimishing returns as your medium gets smaller. In film and
television, you have to restrict your body movement and hit marks to make
sure that your face (or the parts that the director wants) is seen. Moreover,
you have to express your emotions more with your eyes as the screen gets
smaller. Rapid and jerky movements that are allowable on the stage or
outdoors will invariably distract a film or television audience. When
you get into the booth, you can still use your body, but your performance
has to ultimately be delivered using your voice.
Then, there are subtle differences in the many different types of voiceover, as well. As a character in a cartoon, you are usually permitted to come with a higher energy and larger emotional range than the other forms. In commercials, you are following whatever trend is fashionable in selling a certain kind of product, but it's nearly always, "telling your best friend about something that amazes you."
In industrial voiceover, you have to play a subject matter expert, regardless
of whether you really know how many furlongs of polyvinylchloride
go into making your favorite toothpaste or not. Of course, there are several
subgenres of the business which all have their own deliveries, and people
make great livings in them because they've learned what sells their voices
in those subgenres the best.
So far, what has been your favorite role, dubbing or otherwise? Why?
Oh, without a doubt, Impact from Legend of the Mystical Ninja
is my personal favorite. He's been my only series principal character
so far, and when you get a chance to do a hero like that, with all the
bluster, foley hits and cheese that he has, it's all worth it and great
fun, too!
What shows are you currently involved in?
I just picked up another character, the "Boss Pig" in Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat, and I will be recording my ninth volume (no, that wasn't a typo) of Aura Battler Dunbine very soon.
A lot of series just finished at once, so a lot of newer series are just getting started. Also, there's going to be a couple of recording breaks that coincide with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Keep in mind, though, that they are mighty small.
What is your favorite recording story/gag/tall tale?
One of the most beautiful moments you can ever have in this business
is to have a laugh courtesy of one of your peers. When I went in to record
my last volume of Legend of the Mystical Ninja, I got to hear Monica
Rial, as her egg critter character, humming "Die Valkyrie" by
Wagner as the bad guys were getting ready to attack me. It was five times
as hilarious, because they hadn't laid tracks for any of the other egg
critters or villains yet, so it was just Monica. I just about fell on
the floor laughing, because it was ridiculous to hear only one egg critter
trying to psych herself up for the battle.
What got you interested in anime? For me it was Speed Racer;
you?
Oh yes, I was one of the first American youths exposed to Speed Racer (Mach Go Go!) and Kimba the White Lion (Jungle Taitei). My interest was held in the early 80's by Battle of the Planets (Gatchaman) and Star Blazers (Uuchu Senkan Yamato).
However, I really didn't start getting what I would call my "white hot passion" for anime until I started seeing things on the shelves that kept their original titles in the mid-90's. It was New Cutey Honey that finally brought me back, and, of course, it was an ADV title.
What are your favorite anime series/movies, regardless of your professional
involvement?
Oh, gosh. Battle Angel (Gunnm), Plastic Little, Read or Die, Evangelion,
Rahxephon, Slayers (Lisa and Cynthia RAWK!), Full Metal Panic,
Najica, the Burn Up series, NOIR, anything that says
Dirty Pair on it and of course, Cutey Honey.
And now, the obligitory question on advising those wanting to do voice
acting: What advice do you give those wanting a career in dubbing?
First of all, concentrate on your career in acting. If you don't build your base as an actor first, then you're not going to dub squat. Treat this like a profession, and you'll work. Treat it like a hobby, and you'll find other hobbyists who jock themselves as being professional.
There, I'm off my soapbox.
For the potential dubber, once you've become strong as an actor, your next step is improv. Without a doubt, your ability to be flexible and change up your delivery or give a director a different read of the same material will be the cornerstone of your career in the booth. Nothing kills a voice actor faster after getting a direction and countering that direction with, "I thought I already did that." On the plus side, the actor who jumps right in and gives a different read, even if it is only a slightly different read, proves that the actor can take direction and create on the fly. It is the essence of improv, and it is the stuff that great voice actors (character and otherwise) are made of.
Any hobbies or interests you'd care to tell us about?
Anime. Seriously, this is my first year in a new career, and so much of my time is being spent boosting my career as an actor and a writer. One day, if this ever becomes a situation where I know I have money coming in (as some very lucky actors do on occasion), I might consider looking at some of my old hobbies — or, heaven help me, just sit and relax for a change.
One last question: What do you have on your desk at work?
I have my computer and all its associated gear, stacks of self-promotion materials (acting resumes, demo reels, envelopes and what-not), and a copy of Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of The Craft.
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. I hope to hear
more from you in the future, and best of luck.
