We’re back with FrankYaegerBot who covered the premiere of Superman/Batman Apocalypse for us. He got to talk to all the greats and review the film. He even got to talk to Bruce Timm about the recent news about Wildstorm, and which Wildstorm property he’d like to make a movie.
Take it away FrankY:
Ever since I can remember, I have dreamed of the getting the chance to speak with the creative minds behind such acclaimed shows as Batman the animated series, Superman the animated series, Batman Beyond and Justice League. To quote Morpheus in Matrix Revolutions,” I have dreamed a dream, but now that dream is gone from me.” Gone because that dream became reality.
Once again the powers that be at Big Shiny Robot gave me the task, nay, the opportunity of a lifetime to meet some of the people who have been and continue to be my heroes and inspirations, as I am sure they are yours. On Tuesday, September 21 2010, I was invited to the world premiere screening for Superman/Batman: Apocalypse presented by Warner Brothers Home Video and UGO.com, at the Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles.
Knowing full well what possibilities lay before me, I showed up an hour and a half early to make sure that I was the first of the press to speak with these gods among men. When I arrived I made a call to my contact at Warner Home Video. The call was in regards to confirming who exactly would be there at the screening for the interviews. My contact confirmed the list of actors, writer, directors and producer. As well as the amount of questions I would be able to ask in the allotted hour. So I began reducing my list of questions to the fundamentals and some choice questions that I had been yearning to ask the creators of my chosen childhood favorite shows. Slowly my press brethren and sisters started showing up and before too long the doors were opened to us for our hour of coverage prior to the screening.
As the rest of the press and myself stood in the in wait. The influential guests began to arrive and my heart began to thump faster and quicker. I thought I was going to pass out from the excitement. Bruce Timm, the originator of everything I hold precious, nonchalantly entered the room and the cameras began to flash. It was he that I most wanted to speak with. But those in charge at the Paley Center sent him over to the video interviewer’s first. So it seemed my dream would be derailed momentarily and I would have to wait my turn. It mattered not, that I was the first to arrive. I clenched my fist and fought to maintain my professional composure. After many a deep breath, I looked up. That is when I noticed Andrea Romano, legendary voice and dialogue director, had appeared and made her way into the room. With each step she took I grew more and more anxious. Not knowing to whom they would send her first, I awaited whilst praying. For this Q&A predetermined since ancient times, was finally coming to fruition. The people in charge at the Paley Center sent her my way. With tape recorder and notepad in hand, I stood upright poised for what was to come and thus my coverage beings.
FYB: What inspired your casting choices for this project?
AR: I’m always happy whenever I can bring back someone who’s played the characters before and so whenever that is okayed by dc comics and Warner Home Video and Warner Premiere, that its okay for me to use Kevin Conroy as Batman and Tim Daly as Superman, makes me really happy. There’s a lot about those characters that these gentlemen know from having portrayed them so many times that doesn’t require me to tell them and that simply makes my job easier and that’s a lovely thing. Then there’s always that wonderful spontaneity of new actors coming roles like Darkseid or Supergirl and we have those two characters that show up in here. And you know you can be tempted to go for the deep voice, James Earl Jones type Darkseids and instead and instead we went to Andre Braugher, who really doesn’t have that massively deep a voice but is such a wonderful actor that you just tell him what’s going on and then you let him go and let him do what he has to do and you deal with the specifics of animation. I have admired Andre Braugher for a long time and I’ve been looking for something for him. So it was a pleasure to get him on this. When he came to work for us he was just going in to work a three episode arc on House.
FYB: When Kevin and Tim aren’t available for a project, how hard is it to find a replacement?
AR: It’s not always because they are not available, because we’ll try to work as hard as we can around their availability. The question is what do my bosses want. Sometimes the directive is, you need to cast a new Superman and a new Batman, we want a new celebrity in there. With the thought that might bring in different audiences. It’s always difficult. Someone told me that I’ve cast Batman ten or eleven times. In doing that you go out to fifty different people and you get on because of schedule or the money or whatever. So I’ve gone to 250 or 300 at least actors to play Batman, equally as many to play Superman. After awhile you actually start to run out of actors who can do it. We also have that issue of who can do it with just their voice, because you have great on camera actors who are great at the physical and the facial, but if they can’t translate into their voice then they are no good to me.
FYB: When would you say you have the most fun in your work?
AR: When I’m actually in the recording session. The prep for it , the casting part of it, all the preparation that goes into getting ready for the recording session is grunt work, it’s really hard, its time consuming, it’s pressured. When I get into the recording session, when I’m playing with the actors and I say playing because for me it is playing even though it is work, it’s playing. That’s the joy of my job.
FYB: What is the most difficult part of directing?
AR: Focusing everybody. Part of my job is supplying an environment that feels like a place to play. So I’ve got this sort of playground for everybody and just like the kids, when recess is over and they have to actually line up to do the work and go back inside, I have to get them all focused and say okay we’ve got to get this thing recorded before I lose you at 4:30 so lets focus and get this stuff done. So that’s hard having to be the disciplinarian. I prefer to just be the playful one.
I was so entirely thunderstruck at the occurrence that had just taken place. I looked back to see how far down the line of video interviewers Bruce Timm had progressed. He was still talking to the same reporter. But worry had yet to enter my heart because there was still plenty of time left in the hour. I turned back to see who was next and before I had a chance to blink, the next of the special guest had already made her way to me. It was the alluring voice of Wonder Woman, Susan Eisenberg.
I began by asking;
FYB: What is it like returning for the first time since Justice League?
SE: It’s thrilling. I got the job in 2000, so then in 2009 to get a phone call saying that we’d like you to do this film, it’s thrilling. Because after Justice League was over, I thought okay time for a different chapter and you have other people playing incarnation of Wonder Woman you have other women actually playing her, so I was shocked and surprised and ultimately thrilled to get that call and I was saying it’s a privilege to play her. I think anyone would say that. Since I had been playing her since 2000 and now in 2010 with the movie being out it’s extraordinary. I’m very lucky.
FYB: Was it easy getting back into character?
SE: It was. But you have Andrea; she’s there to point you in the right direction. And that Wonder Woman from Justice League was kind of my Wonder Woman, so I think that’s what they wanted. It wasn’t like I had to do something else it’s not some zany character, they basically said you know this character, just do what you do. So with Andrea and Bruce there it’s not like I have to conjure up some character. I know Wonder Woman. She’s a part of me at this point.
FYB: And its fun to get back in the studio with Kevin and Tim?
SE: Actually I didn’t get to record with Kevin and Tim. Kevin I’ve known forever because we did Justice League together. Tim, I’ve actually never met but I believe he will be here tonight so it will be exciting to meet him. I was recording with certain cast members but then others aren’t available.
FYB: Really? When you record ensemble, you record in the same room, right?
SE: Yes, but usually two are attending that session, not everyone is attending each session.
FYB: Were the demands of the character different this time around?
SE: No. A lot of action, which I am used to at this point, a few quiet moments but mostly action. So a lot of physical grunting which having done Justice League, there’s no way you don’t get good at that. It’s like Acting 104 or whatever (Laughs)
FYB: How big of a Wonder Woman fan would you say you are?
SE: I grew up with her. I grew up with Linda Carter on television. I don’t know many people who don’t adore her as a character. There aren’t too many people who’ve come to play her like I’ve been able to play her. Like I said it’s a privilege.
FYB: What do you hope people take away from your portrayal of Wonder Woman?
SE: Well I hope they love seeing her in this even though it is Superman/Batman. I hope they love her presence in the film and I hope the fans are happy I’m playing her again. I enjoy it. It’s a fun ride. It’s a fun fun high energy kickass ride. So I hope the fans love it.
I could have listened to the voice of Wonder Woman addressing me in real life forever but as the case was, she had her rounds to make and I would have to move on to the next guest. This is when the lovely Rachael Quaintance came and stood before me.
Rachael is the voice of three characters in film so I was eager to ask;
FYB: Was it challenging voicing so many characters?
RQ: The thing of it is Andrea is such a good director and you’ve got all these awesome actors sitting there. This is my first acting gig as far as voice goes for a movie and DC Comics, beyond that I’ve just done commercial voice over. So I was just like I’d better watch and learn and see what these people are doing. So it was definitely interesting. The character of Lyla is certainly very introspective and she sees the future and so she is kind of torn. Then Artemis is just, you know, a badass Amazon. And then I played one of Granny Goodness’s furies which was even more fun but we had to reign her back in a little bit because Andrea was like, “Ooo, too much animal.” (Laughs) Okay, who knew I had it in me. So it was definitely different and a little tricky but not really because it’s well written and its there and all I have to do is execute it.
FYB: So which of the three characters are you most like?
RQ: Well Lyla certainly is the very prettiest; she’s a very pretty blond. (Laughs) But it’s tough to say because they are so different. It was so much fun for me as an actor. They were all really fun, I probably have a little of all of them inside of me.
FYB: What’s the biggest thing you learned working with Andrea Romano?
RQ: She was great and allowed you to make your choices and there was the, “Uh, a little bit more of this.” And then you would have to be quick on your feet. No one has time for you to sit and do twenty takes of anything. But she allows you that freedom of, “Okay, let’s hear what you are going to do.” So I had an amazing time and I learned a lot from Susan Eisenberg. Just watching her, just technical, how she worked the microphone. Little things like she would say your popping your P’s and I would be like, “Oh no, do I have big P’s? So I really just tried to sit back and learn from these actors.
FYB: How does it feel to join the DC Animation family?
RQ: It’s awesome to have such a rabid fan base. That’s great. For them to care about something so much and to be so deeply interested in it. I think it’s awesome. I am delighted to be a part of it.
Things were now moving a long quickly and when I looked back to see where Bruce Timm was currently. He had made his way to the end of the video interviewer’s line. It was only moments now before I would finally meet the legend in the flesh. I noticed that the films director, Lauren Montgomery, had just finished speaking with the reporter next to me, so I got her attention. She walked over and I must say she looked completely different than I expected. She is young, fit and very very cute. The consummate dream girl for any comic book fan.
I hurriedly reeled my tongue back off the floor and calmly asked;
FYB: How did you become involved in the project?
LM: At Warner Brothers they have a list of projects they want to do and a few of us directors there. We don’t always get to choose the ones we do. (Laughs) It’s kind of like, “Oh, your next and here’s your project.” We get a script and we have to do it. I guess they were thinking of who was going to do this Superman/Batman and they thought there are a lot of females in the cast and Lauren always wants to work on girl movie so let’s give it to Lauren. And that’s kind of how I got the movie.
FYB: What do you think the fans will enjoy the most?
LM: I think they’ll enjoy the fight choreography really. (Laughs) That’s usually what we get. Its like, “Oh, the fights were amazing.” And there’s a lot of girl fights and I think the animation studio likes to animate girl fights because they animated them really well. So those look amazing and then on top of it there’s also a really heartwarming story to it that I appreciate. There are good character moments and good character relationships which make it stronger for me. So I think that’s a high point for the fans.
FYB: Was there anything you set out to do specifically with this project?
LB: Not really. As in all of these projects we set out to make them good. We want the fans to like them. We are trying not to mess up and make the fans say, “DC lost it!” Everything has its own challenges and this film wasn’t devoid of its challenges but we worked hard and really wanted to give the fans a great film and I think we did that with this.
FYB: You are one of the three directors on the upcoming Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, what can you tell us about the film?
LM: It’s another DVD that will hopefully be released around the same time as the movie. It’s kind of laid out in the way Batman: Gotham Knights was in that its smaller vignettes that focus on some of the Green Lantern Corps members.
FYB: I’ve read that you are adapting Batman Year One to animation in 2012, what can we expect?
LM: You can hopefully expect that if you liked the graphic novel, you’ll like the movie because it’s very similar. The comic was so well done and so beautifully drawn that we really tried to emulate that art style and even down to the specific compositions and shots which we took straight out of the book. I really tried to make it true to the comic because the story and the artwork are so iconic.
The news that Batman Year One is going to be brought to animated life under the guidance of the great Lauren Montgomery and Bruce Timm was enough to make any fan boy cry tears of joy. This is exactly what I did. And now there were only two people between myself and Bruce Timm. The first of them being the man himself, the definitive voice of Superman, Tim Daly. The episode of Superman the animated series entitled “The Late Mr. Kent” comes to mind. It is the episode that I watch at least once a month and it is a prime showcase of Tim Daly’s talent as a voice actor.
This is why when he came over to me I couldn’t help but look him in the eyes and tell him;
FYB: I consider you the quintessential voice of Superman.
TD: Thank you.
FYB: Who did you draw from to create your portrayal?
TD: I really just wanted to tell the truth. I got the job because they liked my voice not because they liked a character I was playing. So when I auditioned way back when to do the voice of Superman, I remember back actually that I started to do something and Andrea said, “No no no. Just be you, just talk. Just try to be truthful in the moments of the script.” And I did that, so I was hired to use my voice. And when I need to be tough I’m tough. And when I need to be light, I’m light. And when I need to be innocent and Clark Kentish, I’m innocent and Clark Kentish. So I think I’ve drawn myself. Not that I’m Superman, please don’t get me wrong (Laughs)
FYB: Your portrayal of Clark Kent to me IS the most honest. It’s a very strong character you’ve presented with your voice.
TD: Thank you, I really appreciate that.
FYB: What do you think fans enjoy the most about the character?
TD: I‘ve been thinking a little about this. I think that everyone will take their own specific thing away from these movies but basically Superman has captured the imagination of Americans for seventy, eighty years now and I think that a big part of it is the idea that you have these powers and to me the most crucial and vital and primal of those powers is the ability to fly. Because little kids, human kids start to dream about flying and we don’t really know why. Freud may have his theories about it but this idea that you can hover over the earth and look down on everything and get from place to place without a means of transportation, seems to be in us as human beings and I think it will continue to capture people’s imaginations. So that’s sort of the general reason I think people love this character.
FYB: What were some of your favorite aspects of this film?
TD: Superman is sort of mentoring his cousin who has similar powers and I don’t remember how much family, if any, were seen in the movies. So him dealing with family. The other thing is the ongoing development of his relationship with Batman, which I like. Superman rather than being frustrated with Batman’s negativity and cynicism has begun to accept it as part off Batman’s personality and actually get a kick out it in a certain way. That his partner and his friend is able to find the cloud in every silver lining.
FYB: If the role of Superman in the movies was offered to you, would you jump at the opportunity?
TD: Oh yeah! Except I’d have to be the old Superman or his dad Jor El. (Laughs) I think being a superhero is a young mans game. Being the voice of a superhero is probably anyone’s game. (Laughs) but yeah, I would love to. I mean, my god it would be a gas.
FYB: I’ll start the rumor mill. What do you love most about playing Superman?
TD: Well, I think that my appreciation for it has grown. And I’m a little embarrassed that when I started I didn’t realize how devoted people were to Superman, to the character and to the comic books. And I took it for granted a little bit and then when I stopped doing it and someone else did my part for awhile, I realized that people really like this and there people out there that are so turbo about it, that I really owed it the respect it was due. So I think being able to do this all is an honor. It’s really fun and being a part of the continuum of Superman, which I’m sure will go on for another 150 years until people can actually fly themselves, is an honor.
Within an hour I had met so many of the people I look to for artistic inspiration. Talking with Tim Daly is a trip because his regular speaking voice is the voice Superman. So it was like I was actually speaking to Clark Kent. And the best part the hour wasn’t over. Now one man stood between me and meeting the great creator. It was the talented Tab Murphy, the writer of the film. For those of you who don’t know his work. He wrote “Gorillas In the Mist” and for those who have no idea what that movie is he also wrote Disney’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and Disney’s “Atlantis: The Lost Empire.”
FYB: What drew you to the project?
TM: I had adapted Green Arrow for DC and they sent me this as a follow up. So it wasn’t that I was drawn to the project, it was that I opened up a packet and I went, “Oh my god! Oh yes!” Michael Turner, Jeph Loeb, Superman/Batman! It was awesome. It was a great feeling.
FYB: In adapting a story like this where would you say you had the most creative freedom?
TM: I don’t think this is an adaptation about creative freedom so much as it is about being very respectful to the material. My challenge in this was to be invisible. It wasn’t my job to bring a bunch of stuff to this because the story was already great. Jeph had written a solid story. My contributions were really grace notes to a lot of what was already there. So I tried to bring a little bit of humanity and humor to the relationship between Batman and Superman. I tried to solidify some of Supergirl’s dilemmas of being a young woman in search of herself and who she is. I have a thirteen year old daughter going through the same thing (Laughs) so I related to that aspect of it. Really my job was to stay out of the material and I was very respectful to it. It was a great gig.
FYB: What character stood out while you were writing?
TM: Batman and Superman are iconic and its fun to write them but I felt like I had the most freedom with Supergirl in terms of what I could bring to her and her point of view in being a young woman, lost and trying to find herself. I’ve always been attracted to writing strong female characters and that goes all the way back to writing “Gorillas In the Mist.” So I really responded to writing her character, it was a lot of fun and it played to my strengths
The hour was nearly its inevitable end. My personal God, also known by his earth name Bruce Timm, was making his way over to little ole’ me. The time had finally come.
Everything in my life had led me to this very moment and when he stood before me I couldn’t fight back the words that I had held in heart, I could barely maintain eye contact when I blurted;
FYB: You are a god among men.
BT: So I’ve heard. (Smiles)
FYB: What would you say sets this film apart from Warner Premieres previous entries?
BT: There’s nothing that really sets it apart. I mean its Superman and Batman. The cool thing about it is it’s got a bunch of chicks in it, which is great. I like to get outside of the male spandex whenever we can. It’s got Wonder Woman in it in a really strong supporting part. Of course the main story engine is the origin of Supergirl. So that’s all great. It pretty closely follows the comic as written by Jeph Loeb and definitely follows the art style of Michael Turner. Just as a technical challenge, I found it challenging but also pretty gratifying. I think we did a pretty good job of bringing Michael turners art to life.
FYB: What do you think Fans will enjoy the most?
BT: For one thing they’ll be so thrilled that it Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly playing Batman and Superman. I mean that alone is a homerun. (Laughs) Whether they like Michael Turners art or whether they didn’t like Michael Turners art, I think we did a great job at translating it into an appealing animation style. I think visually the movie looks spectacular from beginning to end. I think the story is great. The cat is really good. Besides Tim and Kevin, we’ve got Summer Glau and of course Susan Eisenberg back as Wonder Woman, that’s always a pleasure. Andre Braugher is great as Darkseid. Ed Asner is always fun. It’s kind of like the best of both worlds. It’s kind of like a combination of stuff we’ve done before in the TV series and the stuff we’re doing now in the DVDs.
FYB: With Wildstorm folding under the DC Banner, are you excited to get a hold of those characters?
BT: I wish. Well some of them. They always ask me, “What’s your dream project?” One of them would be to do “The Authority.” I would love to do maybe the first or that second story arc that Warren Ellis did. I love those stories. They would make great movies. But I think it’s a real long shot. (Laughs) But we talk about Wildstorm characters occasionally. It comes up occasionally we start thinking how to weave outside of Superman and Batman and other characters. So it could happen someday, maybe not “The Authority” but maybe Wildcats or Gen13 or something someday. It could happen but not in the immediate future.
FYB: What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
BT: When we finish a project. (Laughs) Literally that’s what it comes down to.
Before I could ask my next question Mr. Timm was whisked away for the beginning of the premiere. The hour was over and it was time to view the movie that we were all there to talk about. The feeling of accomplishment and further completion of life filled me to overflowing. I had met, shook hands with and talked to the great makers of animation gold. I was even more excited to sit in the same theater and enjoy the film with all these wonderful people as well. I packed up my tape recorder, camera and notepad and headed into the theater. The lights began to dim and the Warner Premiere logo shone on the screen. What comes next can be read about in the films review. So I am signing off. Be sure to look for Tim Daly as Superman in the Jonah Nolan written reboot of the Superman franchise. Good night and Good Luck.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for FrankYaegerBot’s review of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse!