Interview with voice actor Philip Proctor

Here is an interview I did with actor Philip Proctor many many years ago. So you may find some of the material a little dated for the time. I have always been such a fan of Phil.

Riley: I’m here with the great Philip Proctor. Hello, how are you today?

Philip Proctor: Alive and thinking……

Riley: How did you decide to become a voice actor?

Philip Proctor: I evolved into it through and early fascination with the radio-comedy format. Grew up listening to Fred Allen, Jack Benny, etc. coming from the Midwest-Goshen, Indiana to be specific- I was immersed in an oral tradition of humorous stories which my family loved to “perform”. I was also born with a talent for mimicry and music, which led me to sing and play violin semi-professionally at Allen- Stevenson school in New York and later appear in Broadway and off-B; way musicals, one of which (“The Amorous Flea”, for which I won a Theatre World Award) brought me to L.A. and involvement with the Firesign Theatre on a local radio show called “Radio Free Oz” on listenet-supported KPFK. From doing various characters with my partners live we became a well-known audio comedy producing unit. That led to voicework in films and cartoons (“The Smurfs”, etc) which continues to this day with “Rugrats”, Pixar, Disney, and other similar outlets.

Riley: We all know that you have done so many great performances over the years. What is/was your favorite character(s) to perform?

Philip Proctor: All the wacky and sustain characters in the many records, radio shows, TV and live shows- especially gay newsman, Ray Hamburger (pronounced: Ham-Bur-Jere). And I can’t forget dear Howard! He pays the bills!

Riley: What one person has given you the most inspiration in life?

Philip Proctor: Ernie Kovacs on TV and “Bob & Ray” on radio. I used to record their material and often perform in myself on my home tape machine.

Riley: Who are your personal heroes?

Philip Proctor: all the great comics from Robert Benchley on to George Carlin….Astronauts, living and dead, and Bill Clinton.

Riley: Do you have a favorite celebrity?

Philip Proctor: I don’t believe much in the cult of celebrity; but if I did, I’d have to say Robin Williams and John Goodman.

Riley: If there was one person (living or dead) that you could meet, who would it be and why?

Philip Proctor: I wish I had gone down the street in NY and sat in on Bob and Ray when they were doing a live show every morning in the 50’s. I wrote notes to them and they read some of my material on the air.

Riley: What do you think of the hobby of autograph collecting?

Philip Proctor: I think it is a worthy pursuit and an opportunity to learn something about the character of the people you admire.

Riley: Do you sign autographs through the mail?

Philip Proctor: Yes, I find the easiest way (lacking a SASE) is to reply by postcards that I have printed up and pay for myself. I consider it an investment in my career and I know it can create good will, both here and abroad.

Riley: Do you sign autographs when asked in person?

Philip Proctor: Sure, although that seldom happens since my face is not really my fortune these days. I carry some postcards with me when I travel and can sign one of them when asked.

Riley: Are there any upcoming events/conventions where a fan could meet you?

Philip Proctor: I’ll be at the opening of Pixar’s next animated feature, “Finding Nemo” and their studios up north, end of May; The Rugrats/Thornberrys Movie in Hollywood in June and possibly Dreamworks “Sinbad”, also in June.

Riley: Do you have an address where a fan could write to you and possibly ask you for your autograph?

Philip Proctor:  Sure. C/O CED Talent Agency, 10635 Santa Monica Suite 130, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Riley: When asked in person, do you limit the number of items to be signed?

Philip Proctor: Depends on the circumstances. I signed lots of “Howard” stuff in Ireland, for example, while on vacation and at a live radio show I did in Dublin with my wife, actress Melinda Peterson (watch for her upcoming Century 21 and Ace Hardware (Cookoo Clock) spots.

Riley: Well Mr. Proctor, thank you so much for your time. From a fans standpoint, it truly was an honor and I hope to speak with you again in the future.

Philip Proctor: I wish I had more time to respond to folks like you and do my best to do so. Stay in touch- Philip

Riley: Don't forget to check out all of Phil's filmography on his (click here ->) IMDB page

Interview with Tiffany Grant (2004)

                Back around 2004 (wow, I can’t believe it’s been 14ish years since I did this), I was able to do a 10 question interview with actress Tiffany Grant. Tiffany is a voice actress from Houston, TX. To make it a little more accessible for Tiffany’s fans, I have put it here on my blog. It’s also easier to update should links to websites or email addresses change. 

               Riley: Hello, how are you?

Tiffany Grant: Thanks so much for asking :-) I’ve been working quite a lot lately.

               Riley: I’m sure you get asked this a lot. How did you get started in voice acting?

Tiffany Grant: Well, I had been a theatre actor for most of my life. One day, in February 1994, I got a call from a 
friend of mine who knew about my acting background. Who’d also heard about AD Vision’s very vision’s very first 
audition to find voice actors for a project called “Guy: Double Target.” I auditioned on February 12, 1994, and I 
was hired immediately as their very voice actor. I’ve been in the business ever since!

    

               Riley: Let’s say I wanted to be a voice over, how would I get started?

Tiffany Grant: Well, I get that question a LOT, and you obviously cannot do it the same way I did! First, you must 
have a solid acting background or some incredible God-given talent; because ACTING is the most important thing.
Next, understand that there are very few places in the country where this type of work is available: Los Angeles, 
NYC, and Houston, and D/FW here in Texas. You MUST live in one of those areas to work in anime voice acting.
If you want to get work with a particular company, you’d need to find out how they go about auditioning and hiring 
their performers. At ADVF, open auditions are held about every two months. An aspiring actor only needs to call 
and get their name on the waiting list. When your number comes up, so to speak, you get a call. Anyone can get 
on the list, so it’s really open to anyone. People are waiting about six months right now to get their appointments. 
Patience is a virtue. There are voice-over opportunities everywhere though, so there’s always something if you 
LOOK for it.

               Riley: Beside what you’re doing now, what would be your dream job?

Tiffany Grant: I guess I’m a truly lucky girl. I already have my dream job! I am thankful everyday that all those years 
of doing funny voices and imitating people has actually paid off.
               Riley: What do you think of the hobby of autograph collecting?Tiffany Grant: I have to admit that I do it myself!!! Therefore, I would say that it’s a fine hobby to have :-) I’ve been 
collecting autographs since I was a pretty young kid, but I am sure I don’t have as many as a lot of folks. My guess 
would be around fifty or so.
               Riley: What do you enjoy in your downtime?Tiffany Grant: I love to read science fiction and biographies. I also do crosswords, and I enjoy going to the movies 
and watching DVDs.
               Riley: Do you sign autographs through the mail?Tiffany Grant: Yep! People can email me at Asukatoo@aol.com. I can either send a photo, or some people send 
items they want signed (w/ an SASE) which I am happy to do.
               Riley: Do you limit the number of autographs you give one person?Tiffany Grant: That depends. At conventions, I try to be as accommodating as possible, and most people only 
have a few items. I have had rare situations where someone had dozens of items, which is a bit much to take. Also, 
conventions will often limit the number of items in the sessions so more people can be taken care of.
I haven’t had a problem with this through the mail, so I’ll have to address that if it ever comes up. I do pay for my 
own pictures and the envelopes and postage out of my own pocket, so I can’t really mail anything heavy.
              Riley: Do you have an address where a fan can write to you to request your autograph or just say hi?Tiffany Grant:
(Tiffany Grant Fan Club)
Or  Asukatoo@aol.com
              Riley: Do you have any words of wisdom or any other additional comments you would like to pass onto your fans?Tiffany Grant: Gee, I don’t know how wise I am, but to anyone wanting to pursue an anime or acting career, I’d say 
stick with it and stay resolved. It won’t happen overnight. It’s something very few people are able to make a living 
at. It took nine years for me!
Also, thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years, I really appreciate it, and I couldn’t have made it 
for so long without you!
              Riley: Thank you so much for taking the time Ms. Grant. I really appreciate it. Be sure to look for Tiffany at the next anime convention coming to your town. And be sure to check her website out for all the current news and convention schedule.

Interview with Petrea Burchard (2003)

                      This is actress Petrea Burchard. Petrea has been in such shows as “How I met your Mother” and the movie “Four Friends”. But my favorite performance of hers is that of Ryoko in the Japanese anime Tenchi Muyo. I was able to do a small interview with Petrea on February 14, 2003. I hope you enjoy. I can’t believe it’s been almost fifteen years since then. 

Riley: Hello Petrea, how are you?

Petrea: Doing great, thanks.

Riley: How did you decide to be a voice actress?

Petrea: I didn’t “decide”. It happened. I’ve been a stage and screen actor all my life, and I also do commercial voice-over. When the “Tenchi” auditions came along, Matt Miller told me about them and I made a tape and sent it in.

Riley: What is/was your favorite character to perform?

Petrea: So far, I had the most fun playing Shakespeare’s Cleopatra- although I’ve got to say I enjoyed being Julius Caesar, too. Not many women can say they’ve played that role.

Riley: What one person has given you the most inspiration in life?

Petrea: So many great people inspire me! But I get the most inspiration from my husband. He inspires me every day.

Riley: Who are your heroes?

Petrea: My heroes are the actors who create and produce their own work: Bonnie Hunt and Emma Thompson are tops on my list. I admire people like Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Goldie Hawn—people who create the work, rather than waiting for acting jobs to happen.

Riley: Do you have a favorite celebrity?

Petrea: Nope, I like lots of them.

Riley: If there is one person living or dead that you could meet, who would it be and why?

Petrea: William Shakespeare. I just want to understand what his life was like, and what made his brilliance possible.

Riley: What do you think about the hobby of autograph collecting?

Petrea: I’m honored when someone wants my autograph.

Riley: Do you sign autographs when asked in person?

Petrea: I’ve only been asked at the one anime convention I’ve attended, and I was happy to do it.

Riley: Are there any upcoming events/conventions where a fan could meet you?

Petrea: So far I haven’t been invited to any new anime events.

Riley: Do you have an address where a fan could write to you and possibly ask for your autograph?

Petrea: I love to hear from fans via my website petreaburchard.com or you can find me on Facebook

Riley: When asked in person, do you limit the number of items to be signed?

Petrea: It depends. If there are a lot of people waiting, I try to be as fair as possible and make sure I get a chance to meet and sign things for everyone.

Riley: After completing this interview, what is the first thing that popped into your head?

Petrea: I’ve been to only one anime convention, and I signed a lot of autographs. One girl I met there sent me an email, and I lost her email address! I never got to write back to her and I still feel bad about it.

Riley: Thank you so much Mrs. Burchard for your time. I hope to speak with you again in the future.

Petrea: My pleasure

Thoughts from the voiceless actor.....

 Thoughts from the voiceless actor.....

              I remember sitting on the living room floor as a kid, watching Saturday morning cartoons. I was not only amazed by the visual wonder of the moving, speaking art coming to life on my screen, but also totally enthralled that actual people were speaking for them. The fact that someone was acting with only their voice to bring these characters to life fascinated me, and I quickly fell in love with all forms of voice-over.

Two gentlemen in the field quickly became heroes of mine: Mel “The Man of a Thousand Voices” Blanc and Daws Butler. Although there were other voice actors at the time, no one was as talented as these two industry pioneers. These greats were responsible for voicing most of the most notable cartoon characters of all time. A few of Blanc's many characters included Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Yosemite Sam. A few of the many Butler was known for included Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, and Huckleberry Hound.

Throughout my childhood, I loved cartoons so much that I watched them every chance I got. It did not matter which ones I watched. Of course, I had my favorites: the classic Warner Bros. cartoons, Tex Avery, Terrytoons, and Hanna-Barbera. I could go on forever. I did my best to mimic all of my favorite characters, and I had a couple of good impressions, if I must say so myself.

My fascination with the artists behind the characters only grew. I went to the library to look for books about voice actors, trying to find as much information as possible. Information like that was much harder to come by before the internet. Even when I could not find anything about them, I still watched in awe, secretly hoping that one day my own voice would be heard on television or radio.

               Unfortunately, around the age of fifteen, I came to the conclusion that being a regular guy from a small suburb of Dallas, Texas, wouldn’t get me where I wanted to be. That realization, combined with a lack of self-confidence—which is an entirely different story—led me to keep those crazy dreams of becoming a voice-over artist to myself. I went on with my life, though I still watched cartoons and listened to commercials with a critic’s ear. The dream of standing behind a microphone in a dark recording booth was kept on the proverbial back burner for so long that it was soon forgotten.

One thing I have always done, and still do to this day, is try to get a laugh out of someone every chance I get. I truly believe that if you can make someone smile and laugh, especially in this day and age, you have accomplished something truly special. Over the years, people would tell me, “You’re silly,” or “You’re funny—you should be an actor or something.” I usually just brushed it off, responding with a casual, “Yeah, okay,” while secretly thinking to myself, I wish.

Then, one day, I searched the internet for local schools that offered voice-over classes and found a highly credible one. After discussing it with my incredibly supportive wife, I signed up. The classes were, for lack of a better word, awesome. I learned excellent techniques and received highly positive feedback from the instructor. The course description promised that students would walk away with a professionally recorded and directed demo, improved vocal techniques, and knowledge of how to break into the field. Ultimately, however, I walked away with a demo but no real direction on what to do next.

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                  After searching endlessly for voice-over jobs, I came to a frustrating conclusion: if you don’t have representation, you aren’t going to get very far. To make matters worse, you generally can’t get work without representation unless you are already established. I sent my demo to what must have been two hundred different people, and the one or two responses I actually received were rejections.

Deciding I just needed to get my foot in the door, I found out about a production company in town shooting a film. They were looking for background actors. It wasn't a speaking role, but it was a start. I submitted my information and was chosen. While I was in line for wardrobe, casting pulled me out for a different role. I had a lot of fun and learned a great deal during my few days on set.

Fast forward a bit, and I got a call for another production. It was still background work, but it started a chain reaction. While on that set, I found out they were shooting a sequel simultaneously, and they wanted me for that as well. During that shoot, I received a call from a casting agent for a television series who wanted to use me in a recurring background role, which also led to a couple of credited roles and lasted into the next season. Unfortunately, my credited footage with the series ended up getting cut. Finally, however, this journey led to my very first official on-screen credit: a reenactment for a medical documentary.

Although none of my on-screen work had anything to do with voice-over, I hoped it would be the foot in the door I needed. Alas, it wasn't. While it was incredibly fun and a great experience, my heart remained in voice-over. Every chance I got, I practiced reading out loud. Whether it was the newspaper, a random thought, or the television screen in the office elevator, I practiced so that when the time finally came, I would be ready.

I know it will not be an easy task. I have met and read about many people who want the same thing. Some possess the same drive I do, but most think it is an easy job that requires no real effort. I beg to differ. Even though I haven't worked professionally yet, I have taken classes, watched documentaries, and spoken with industry professionals about the "business." I believe my knowledge goes a bit deeper than the average person who just wakes up one day and decides they want to do voice-over. It requires dedication, confidence, and passion.

One obstacle I must overcome is a growing industry trend. When a new animated movie or television show is released, producers often cast big-name celebrities for the lead characters, blatantly pushing actual voice-over artists down a level. Don't get me wrong; I understand why studios want a major star. They want to sell tickets. The story doesn't even have to be good, as long as a celebrity gets top billing. However, this makes it much harder for dedicated voice talent to be considered for lead roles in big-budget productions.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking one-on-one with some of my current voice-over inspirations. They have given me excellent guidance and professional feedback. I also asked for their opinions on "Hollywood" voice actors. I could tell by the expressions on their faces that they feel the same way I do about screen actors invading the voice-over booth. The way I see it, they are taking money out of the pockets of people whose true passion is voice-over—artists who do this as a full-time career, not just as a side gig between on-screen roles. This trend doubles the competition for aspiring enthusiasts like me. Personally, I would rather see an animated movie starring proven talents like Tom Kane, James Arnold Taylor, or Michael Bell, rather than a subpar movie with a weak storyline starring Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, or John Travolta. That is just my take, though. What do you think?

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