North American VA Update - Spring 2011 (Part 2)

Emilie Barlow can be heard in the series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic as Cheerilee. Her character appears in the episode "Show Stoppers" which debuted on March 4th.

As for her singing career, we have quite a few things to report!

To start off, here is Emilie performing "Sunshine Superman" with her band on on Télé-Québec's Belle et Bum:

Emilie spoke to l'Étoile about her singing career, saying:

«Après avoir terminé chacun de mes albums, je me sens drainée de toute mon inspiration, ce qui est bien en un sens, car j'ai tout donné à mon projet ... Chaque fois, je me dis que je vais prendre une pause, prendre du temps pour moi. Mais finalement, je me remets peu à peu à avoir des idées et à vouloir commencer un nouveau projet.»

Translation:
After having finished each of my albums, I feel myself drained completely of inspiration, which is good in a sense, because I have given all to my project ... Each time, I tell myself that I will take a break, take time for me. But finally, I remember little by little having ideas and wanting to start a new project.

About her song choice for The Beat Goes On:

«J'ai adoré écouter ces chansons. J'ai choisi une longue liste et ensuite je me suis assise au piano avec une feuille de partition et un crayon - un peu une vieille méthode! - et je me suis mise à créer des arrangements pour les pièces qui me parlaient le plus. J'ai trouvé intéressant de constater que mon choix s'est porté sur des pièces de styles très différents. J'ai quand même voulu faire quelque chose qui avait une certaine cohésion et qui me ressemblait»

Translation:
I've loved hearing these songs. I chose a long list and then I sat at my piano with a score sheet and pencil - a bit of an old method! - and I put myself to creating arrangements for the pieces which spoke to me the most. I found it interesting seeing that my choice was focused on pieces of very different genres. I still wanted when making each choice to have a certain cohesion and that resembled me.

The article says that being a francophile and very popular in Québec, Emilie also wanted to include a couple French songs on this album. She chose songs that were popular with Québeckers because they are always enthusiastic about her and she has performed multiple times at the Montréal Jazz Festival. One of the songs she chose to include was "T'es pas un autre" which her mother adored and wanted to hear on an album. Emilie said that although she couldn't include it before, for this album it was perfect.

Emilie also said that she loved the "job" of making an album. She credits her husband with keeping her grounded and offering his perspective during the creative process.

For fans who are interested, here is Emilie performing "T'es pas un autre" on Télé-Québec's Belle et Bum:

Regarding the Junos, she indicated that she'd love to win an award but having recognition from her peers is great in itself. Still touring The Beat Goes On, Emilie hasn't indicated when she'll work on her next album, but she's sure the desire to make another will find her before long.

As reported in an article for Here New Brunswick, Emilie says her "voice work has helped her discover the different parts of her voice, which in turn has complemented her singing, [Becoming] intimately aware of what your voice is capable of doing is extremely helpful in both cases. I'm always using my voice." The article also mentions that for her new album, Emilie "stripped down '60s pop songs ... and rebuilt them using sparks from her imagination inspired by the originals."

From an article in Times & Transcript, Emilie described creating her latest album as being "about taking pop songs from the '60s, completely stripping them down and then trying to rebuild them in my own style with a jazz flair." This article also reported that she considers herself an interpreter of song rather than a song writer and Emilie is quoted as saying "I do not feel inspired to write songs at this point. My creative satisfaction comes from arranging and trying to reinvent songs and doing my part to keep those songs alive. In the absolute best case scenario, I have the opportunity to introduce these songs to a whole new set of ears." She also said that having a Juno nomination is a win in itself because "it gives the record another burst of life and another wave of publicity."

An article in Saint City News also reported on the success of Emilie's recent album. She is quoted as saying "Strictly from a business standpoint, sales-wise, it has surpassed my other albums, and it has been in the top 10 jazz albums in the country since it came out, so that part of it is very gratifying. But I've also been thrilled with the actual feedback I've gotten from listeners. I read all the emails I get, and the feedback has been pretty positive." She also said that arranging is "its own kind of writing, and I'm really inspired to write arrangements and try to reimagine existing songs."

She didn't rule out songwriting as a future possibility, but did note that she doesn't feel that it's her strength. Regarding voice acting, the article reports that being a voice actress started as something of an extension of her work as a session singer and being in the recording studio. Emilie also said there are some parallels between singing and voice acting: “I have a lot of vocal stamina because my voice is being constantly stretched; it keeps my voice warm, you could say. In order to really give a great performance, you have to be able to leap off the edge. You have to be able to put yourself out there, which is very similar to being on stage in front of an audience.”

An article in the Edmonton Journal reported on Emilie's recent album as well. It mentions that Emilie feels it was an advantage to have not experienced most of the songs she re-interpreted when the first hit radio airwaves. She said "I think there's something to be said for not having such strong attachments to the originals. I was able to look at them more as an observer with some distance. I don't want it to sound as if I don't respect the songs. In fact, there were some other '60s songs I tried to do but couldn't because I love them and I couldn't hear them any other way." The article also mentions that, in addition to the album maintaining a spot in the jazz Top 10, it has sold 11,000 units in Canada since it was released.

In an article from North Shore News, Emilie discussed what it was like to record songs by artists and composers who are still active today. She said that she hoped they would like her renditions and that she received an email from Neil Sedaka that said her version of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" was "one of his favourite covers and that he considered himself a fan." In response, she said she "couldn't believe it. That's just the best thing that could possibly happen. The fact that he liked it, which I was just thrilled about, and the fact that he took the time to send me a note and let me know. To say it made my day is a huge understatement."

Awards:
Emilie did not win Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at the Juno Awards, but we wish her luck in winning a Juno in the future.

For some good news though, Emilie won in the category of favourite jazz artist/group of the year in the Indie Awards. We mentioned where fans could vote a while back on our Facebook page, since we received notice shortly before voting would end. Congrats, Emilie!

Emilie's upcoming Tour dates are:

• May 14th – Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto, Ontario at 8 p.m.
• June 15th – Montage in Rochester, New York at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• June 18th – Brockville Arts Centre in Brockville, Ontario at 8 p.m.

North American VA Update - Spring 2011 (Part 1)

Hi there, readers! Here are some updates about the English language voice actors before I head off to Sakura Con later this week.

Liza Balkan will be directing "Dustings" (which she also created) at the Canadian Stage Festival of Ideas & Creation. The festival runs from May 9-21 with most events being free and open to the public. Fans can catch "Dustings" on Saturday, May 21st at 6:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Street Theatre in Toronto. It is described as "The dust we collect. The dust we let go of. The dust we hold on to. These are excerpts of a larger project in development by creator/director Liza Balkan and Composer Glenn James. The entry point for this particular excerpt is familial flotsam and jetsam and the rest is… history." (from CanadianStage.com)

Spyburbia is a new TV series about a team of spies posing as an ordinary family. The animated series is currently in pre-production. It features Susan Roman (Sailor Jupiter) as the voice of Mom and Vince Corazza (Alan/ Tuxedo Mask #3) as the voice of Jay-R.

Tony Daniels (Jedite/Wiseman) plays Fred in the animated series Stella and Sam, which premiered in January. The series is about "Stella, the irrepressible redhead, and her slightly apprehensive little brother [who] take on the wonders of the world and explore the endearing, intimate scenes of young childhood."(description from IMDb)

Stephanie Beard (Rini #2) has been busy! She appeared in an episode of Darla, a satirical web show, as a "Stacey" (the type of woman that Darla considers unusually cruel and self-centred). The series is about a nerd named Darla who is a serial killer that takes out annoying females in her neighbourhood (description from IMDb). Fans can catch the episode featuring Stephanie here.

50/50 now has a release date of September 30th, 2011. Stephanie plays a character named Susan in this film that we previously reported was titled Live With It. 50/50 is "a comedic account of a 27-year-old guy's cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease." (description from IMDb)

Stag, a film is set to release on September 25th, 2011 is about a man named Ken Andrews who has been responsible for elaborate hazing pranks at all of his buddies' stags. Now the time has come for Ken's stag and he nervously awaits the payback. Stephanie Beard (Rini #2) will be appearing as Mary and Tracey Hoyt (Rini #1) will be appearing as Biker Chris.

Sabrina Grdevich (Anne/Lizzy/Sailor Pluto #1) appeared in an episode of The Listener as Sarah Mirtschin. The season premiere episode, titled "Lady in the Lake" aired on February 8th. She also appeared in two episodes of the new teen series Skins as Renée: "Tony," the premiere episode, and "Eura/Everyone," which was episode 10. The series is about a group of teenagers in Baltimore.

Julie Lemieux (Sammy) joins some of her former castmates in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That. She appeared in recent episodes as Ziggy, Clarabelle, Grayson's Mom, and other characters.

Dennis Akiyama (Malachite) appears in She's the Mayor as Mr. Lee, a Korean former spy who guards the mayor, Iris, with his life. The series is about Iris, a 64 year old former principal, who runs for office and surprisingly wins. More details about the show are on the official website.

You can also see a short clip of Dennis as Mr. Lee below:

We now have more details for a couple of David Huband's (Serena's Dad) upcoming films. We previously reported that he will be appearing in Running Mates, as Father McDonough and in Dream House, as officer Nelson. Running Mates is set to release this year (no confirmed date yet) and is about two best friends who run against each other for mayor of their home town. Dream House is about "a family who learns of a brutal crime committed against former residents of their new, seemingly idyllic home" (description from IMDb) and is set to premiere on September 30th. David has also made some recent television appearances. He played The Ghost/Joshua Crane in episode 10 of InSecurity, a Canadian comedy about a group of spies. He also played a judge in an episode of Republic of Doyle, called "Don't Gamble with City Hall," which was episode 11 of season 2. The Canadian series is about Jake Doyle and his father, who run a P. I. agency in St. John's, Newfoundland.

David Fraser (Grandpa Hino) appears in the comedic series Papillion as Cal, who seems to be a primary character. No description or premiere date available for this series yet, but we will provide more details when possible.

Emilie Barlow Nominated for a Juno

photo source:
Emilie Barlow's Flickr Album

Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailor Venus #2) has been nominated for a Juno Award, for her latest album The Beat Goes On, in the category of Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. Her competition includes the late Jeff Healey (Last Call), Nikki Yanofsky (Nikki), Kellylee Evans (Nina), and Laila Biali (Tracing Light). According to Emilie's official newsletter, despite just being released this past October, her album was one of the top 10 best selling jazz albums of 2010 and the album continues to top the charts in early 2011.

This is Emilie's fourth Juno nomination, which she described as "icing on the cake. It's just that extra bonus that you get, that kind of recognition. I'm going to continue making records, regardless if I win [...] but it certainly gives you a boost." She also said that "It's great to be in a category that represents a lot of real musicians. People [who] are true consummate musicians."

Since Emilie will be performing a show on tour on the night of the Juno Awards, she'll be watching the television broadcast of the 40th annual awards show, along with other Canadians. The awards show will be airing from Toronto on Sunday, March 27th on CTV.
source: CBC.ca

And from Emilie's newsletter, here is a list of her upcoming tour dates:

• February 25, 2011 – 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM at L'Astral in Montréal, Québec
• February 26, 2011 – 8:00 PM at Centennial Theatre in Sherbrooke, Québec
  
• March 17, 2011 – 8:00 PM at Capitol Theatre in Moncton, New Brunswick
  
• March 22, 2011 – 8:00 PM at Park Theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba
  
• March 24, 2011 – 8:00 PM at Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon
  
• March 25, 2011 – 7:30 PM at The Arden Theatre in St. Albert, Alberta
  
• March 27, 2011 – 8:00 PM at Capilano Performing Arts Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia
  
• May 14, 2011 – 8:00 PM at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto, Ontario
  

Sailor Neptune To Be Intervied on The Fan

91.8 The Fan’s radio talk-show, Kana's Korner, will be interviewing Barbara Radecki, the voice of Sailor Neptune on Jan 20 at 2:00pm (Pacific). They will ask her what it's like to be part of such an outstanding series as well as see how she's kept busy after Sailor Moon.

91.8 The Fan is a contemporary radio station for anime and manga fans that can be accessed internationally. The 24/7 live radio station features DJs, interviews, and contests. It promotes legal ways to consume the media via free releases, online releases, and more. Within the radio’s first six months of existence they have interviewed over a hundred and twenty industry icons.


Update: Here's the link to the podcast episode in iTunes.

(photo from IMDb)

North American Voice Actor Update for January 2011

Here's our first update on the North American voice actors for the new year. They've been busy, so there is lots to report!

The Kevin Spacey film Casino Jack is said to include songs in the soundtrack sung by Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailor Venus #2) and Cadence, an a capella group who even imitates musical instruments. Cadence was introduced to the film's composer, Jonathan Goldsmith, by Emilie. Together they were hired to work on 25 minutes of the score for Casino Jack. They spent two long days in the studio together, learning the music on the spot, with direction from the composer and music director. Readers may recall that we have reported that David Fraser (Grandpa Hino) plays Karl Rove in the film (pictured, left; photo from IMDb). This film is now playing in select cities, check your local showtimes to see if it's in your area.

Upcoming tour dates for Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailor Venus #2) include: February 25th in Montréal at l'Astral at 8 pm; February 26th in Sherbrooke, Québec at Centennial Theatre at 8pm; March 17th in Moncton, New Brunswick at Capitol Theatre at 8pm; March 22nd in Winnipeg, Manitoba at Park Theatre at 8pm; March 24th in Whitehorse, Yukon at the Yukon Arts Centre at 8pm; March 25 in St. Albert, Alberta at the Arden Theatre at 8pm; and March 27 in Vancouver, British Columbia at the Capilano Performing Arts Centre at 8pm. Please visit the theatre websites for ticket information. (Photo from Emilie-Claire's Flickr album)

Canadian fans may be interested in catching Sidekick on YTV, an animated series about Eric Needles, the young sidekick of a superhero called Maxum Man. Although Maxum Man is mysteriously missing, Eric "lives in the superstar superhero's fabulous mansion with Maxum Brain, the super computer, and has access to the most amazing jets, cars, lasers, gadgets and teleportation devices ever invented." Familiar voices in the series include Tony Daniels (Jedite/Wiseman) as Maxum Brain and Ron Rubin as the villain Master XOX (pictured, left; photo from YTV). To find out more about the show, fans can check out the official Facebook page or the show information on YTV's website, which includes pictures and videos.

Also on YTV is the recently launched Almost Naked Animals, a comedic cartoon featuring animals wearing underwear. We've previously mentioned that Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailor Venus #2) plays Bunny in the series. We've also recently discovered that Robert Tinkler (Rubeus) plays Howie in the series. Additional voices include Tony Daniels (Jedite/Wiseman) and Julie Lemieux (Sammy). (images from official website)

We've previously mentioned Vince Corazza (Allan/Tuxedo Mask #3) as being a part of Rock and Roll: The Movie. Interested fans can now watch a trailer for the film on IMDb here. We recommend that younger readers be cautious if following through to watch the trailer, as the movie includes mature themes and is described as "an off the wall, T&A, rock and roll comedy." Vince plays Bill, a friend of the alcoholic, has-been Steve Taylor whom a young man named David is attempting to assist gain a record deal, in order to win a bet. You can first catch Vince in the trailer at about 37 seconds in, and he has another line at about 1:18. It's unclear if this film has been released in theatres as yet, but we will let you know if we find any more details.

Tony Daniels (Jedite/Wiseman) can also be heard in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! in three different episodes. Other familiar voices on the show include the previously reported Robert Tinkler (Rubeus) as Fish and other voices, Tracey Hoyt (Rini #1) as Sally's Mom, and Jeff Lumby (Professor Tomoe) as Aiya and other characters. Additional cast we have noticed are Julie Lemieux (Sammy) as Bart in four episodes and Linda Ballantyne (Sailor Moon #3) as Katie and other characters (in a total of three episodes). Tony Daniels was also in an episode of Arthur in the fall, as Johnny/male announcer.

Tracey Hoyt (Rini #1) appears in Servitude as a lousy mom. The comedic Canadian film is about "A group of frustrated waiters at a kitschy steakhouse [who] take over their restaurant for one final, glorious, revenge-filled night when they discover they are all about to be fired." (description from IMDb). This film is currently in post-production.

Robert Tinkler (Rubeus) is part of a new television series called Mudpit. He plays Slime. "This CGI animated/live-action series follows four real-world teens and their rock band, MUDPIT, as they follow their dreams of fame and fortune. The series takes place in a gaming café and a fantastic, virtual world known as MUZIKA. Their online avatar rock band personas battle for a coveted record deal, while their real life selves engage in the daily comedy and drama of teenage life." (description from TV, eh?)

We previously reported that Tracey Moore (Sailor Moon #1) is in the cast of the Care Bears to the Rescue Movie. The movie is now available for pre-order on DVD and will be released on February 8th.

Dennis Akayama (Malachite) appeared in an episode of Being Erica entitled "Gettin' Wiggy Wit' It" in November, as Dr. Kotara. He will also be appearing in the upcoming Canadian film Hello October, as Oliver. this romantic comedy is currently in post-production.

Fans can now see Barney's Version in select theatres. Harvey Atkin (Bumboo/Pox) appears in the film as the second Mrs. Panofsky's father. A trailer is available for viewing on IMDb here. Currently the film is airing in the Toronto and Montréal areas, with an extended release to begin January 14th, across Canada. More details about the movie can be found on the official website.

Rino Romano's (Tuxedo Mask #1) voice was heard in an episode of CSI as Sqweegel (which was also the episode title), an episode first aired last October. The character was a serial killer who punished local heroes with hidden secrets.

Here is a promo for the episode:

Kirsten Bishop (Zoicite/Kaori Knight/Emerald) appeared in an episode of the new Nikita TV series, as Mrs. Harcourt/Irena. The episode was called "Phoenix" and a description is available on IMDb here.

As previously reported, Naz Edwards (Queen Beryl) played a tipsy ("drowsy") grand theatre dame in Drowsy Chaperone. Her character was assigned to keep a young star away from her fiancé, so that the star doesn't abandon her career in favour of getting married. It is described as a comedic and wacky musical, set in the 1920's. The play ran from November 11, 2010 through January 2, 2011 at the Performance Network Theatre in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo from The Detroit News, who gave the play a "grade A" review.)

Breaking News: A True Story Screening at the Los Angeles Comedy Festival

We've previously reported on Stephanie Beard appearing in A True Story... Based on things that never actually happened...And some that did. On November 7th, fans can catch a screening at the Los Angeles Comedy Festival. Everyone is welcome, this festival is open to the public. The film will be screening at 8:30pm at the Famous ACME Comedy Theater in Hollywood, which is located at 135 N. La Brea avenue in Los Angeles.

Here is the Facebook event page put together by Team Awesome Films & 1st Team Entertainment for the screening. On the event page you can find the trailer, the website for the movie, and how to purchase tickets to the screening. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Fans can also post any questions about the event to the wall on the event page.

Please keep in mind that there are some mature themes in this movie, so we only recommend it for our older readers.

If you can attend the screening, we'd love to hear about it!

NA Voice Actor Update: Emilie-Claire Barlow and Stephanie Beard

We recently received a tip about Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailor Venus #2) appearing in a series of video interviews with Chris Potenza, her co-star in Total Drama Island and 6teen. In the various video clips, Emilie talks about her voice acting career and singing career. She mentions working on Sailor Moon quite a few times too, fans can see the videos on Youtube here: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5 (or watch the embedded videos below!). As mentioned in the video interviews, Emilie plays Bunny in the upcoming series Almost Naked Animals, which viewers can expect to see on YTV in the fall.

Here are the video interviews!

part 1


part 2


part 3


part 4


part 5

And now, on to Emilie's musical career. Her latest album, "The Beat Goes On," is inspired by the 1960's. It will be in stores on October 12th. Canadian fans can also catch her performing live on Canada AM on CTV on October 12th. Tune in at 8:50am to catch her performance, she will be on during the last ten minutes of the program. The CTV schedule is here, for Canadian fans who want to check when the show airs in their region.

On October 21st, she and her band will be performing live on JAZZ FM 91.1, at 7pm EST. the hour long show takes place in front of a live studio audience and will feature songs from her new album. Her official newsletter also notes that she will be interviewed by JAZZ.FM91's Ross Porter. Toronto area fans can catch the radio show on 91.1 FM. The station will also be broadcasting online via www.jazz.fm.

On November 26th at 8pm, she will be performing at Aeolian Hall, in London, Ontario. And, in December, at 8pm on the 15th, she will be performing at the Grand Théâtre de Québec in Québec City, Québec. Additional tour dates are available on her official website.


Stephanie Beard's (Rini #2) previously untitled project now has a name! Live with It is a comedic account of a 25-year-old guy's cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease. (description from IMDb). Stephanie will be playing a character named Susan.

We also have minor updates for her other two upcoming films. In A True Story. Based on Things That Never Actually Happened...And Some That Did, her character is named Amanda. A new trailer is available in HD on Youtube here. We suggest only our older readers click through to watch due to strong language and mature themes. Stephanie appears in the trailer at 27 seconds in. In Not Quite College, her character is named Jessica. No official release dates yet for either film, but we will keep you posted.

Stephanie has also appeared in two episodes of the latest season of Weeds, which is described by IMDb as a "comedy about a suburban mother turned marijuana dealer." You can catch her as Fiona in episodes three and four of season six. Canadian fans can catch the series on Showcase or watch episodes online (episode 3, "A Yippity Sippity," can be seen here and episode 4, Bliss, can be seen here). Fans in the US can catch the series on Showtime Network. Showtime has the first episode of season 6 available online as well.

NA Voice Actor Update: Fall 2010

Hello readers! Lots of updates for you this time about the North American voice actors. They've been busy! Updates about Emilie-Claire Barlow and Stephanie Beard will be featured in an upcoming post.

We previously reported that Harvey Atkin (Bumboo/Pox) will be appearing in Barney's Version. This film has now premiered at Donostia-San Sebastian International Film Festival (Spain), Venice Film Festival (Italy), Toronto International Film Festival (Canada). It is scheduled to show at the Hamptons International Film Festival in New York on October 7th. Still no date for the theatrical release confirmed.

Dennis Akayama is also appearing in a recently released film. He plays Captain Hotaka in Resident Evil: Afterlife. Another installment in the Resident Evil series, this film follows Alice as she joins a group of survivors who want to relocate to a mysterious safe haven known as Arcadia (description from IMDb).

Sabrina Grdevich (Anne/Sailor Pluto #1) appeared in an episode of Rookie Blue, as Anna Vetter. In this episode of the police drama, a heat wave wreaks havoc on the city (description from IMDb).

David Fraser (Grandpa Hino) will be playing Karl Rove in the upcoming film, Casino Jack. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, on September 16th and 17th. It is expected to show in theatres starting in December 2010. An official trailer is available here. He also appears in Covert Affairs as a supervisor in the episode entitled "Houses of the Holy." The show is a crime drama about a CIA agent.

Katie Griffin can be heard as Hikaru in Beyblade: Metal Fusion. Canadian fans may be interested to know that new episodes are coming up on YTV. We previously reported that Robert Tinkler (Rubeus) appears in this show as Gingka. We have also heard that more voice actors from Sailor Moon may be appearing in this series, so keep listening out for them!

Naz Edwards (Queen Beryl) will be appearing on stage in the upcoming musical The Drowsy Chaperone, which runs from November 11 - December 26, 2010 at the Performance Network theatre in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ticket information is available here. Here's the description of the play from the theatre: "A lollapalooza of a musical to take you back to the dazzling fantasy of the 1920's - when stars had charisma, Broadway had romance and audiences had the time of their lives. You know the one... where the Broadway star wants to leave the show because she's fallen for an oil-rich lummox, so the producer hires a gigolo to woo the girl and put the kibosh on the nuptials? Winner of Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, it's guaranteed to put a song in your heart! Featuring Naz Edwards (Little Shop of Horrors)."

Tracey Hoyt (Rini #1) can be heard in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! as Sally's Mom.

Sarah Lafleur (Sailor Uranus) appears as the title character in Taylor Warren, a 14 minute short film. It premiered July 25th at the Regency Academy Theatre in Pasadena, CA as part of the 2010 Action On Film Festival. (source: sarahlafleurfan.com)

Alice Poon (Catsy) can be seen in Devil, recently released in theatres, as Officer Choi. This PG-13 film is about a group of people trapped in an elevator who realize that the devil is among them (description from IMDb).

Alison Sealy-Smith (Amphibia) has now appeared in seven episodes Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures as Nurse Lydia. Although these episodes premiered some time ago, we only now have confirmation of her appearance in them.

Robert Tinkler (Rubeus), can also be heard in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! as Fish, Thing 1, Thing 2, and other characters. Fans can catch this series on Treehouse in Canada and PBS in the US.

North American Voice Actors: Summer Update

Sabrina Grdevich (Anne Granger, Sailor Pluto #1) appeared in When Love is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story, as Julia. The biography is based on the true story of the enduring but troubled love between Lois (played by Winona Ryder) and her alcoholic husband Bill (played by Barry Pepper), co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. The movie was premiered on US television April 25th and on Canadian television on May 5th.

David Huband (Serena's Dad) now has two upcoming films for 2010 and another for 2011. We previously reported that he will be appearing in Running Mates, as Father McDonough, set to premiere later this year and in Dream House, as officer Nelson, set to premiere in 2011. Later this year he will also be appearing in a short film called Animal Control, as a vet. The film is about Larry, an eccentric amateur taxidermist whose only companions are the animals he's stuffed. All three films are currently in post-production. We will be sure to let you know when we have information about release dates.

Rino Romano (Tuxedo Mask #1) can be heard in the upcoming Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions video game as the 3rd Spider-Man. The game will be released on September 7, 2010. He can also be heard in the film Get Him to the Greek, which is currently in theatres. The film is about a record company intern who is hired to accompany an out-of-control British rock star to a concert at L.A.'s Greek Theater (description from IMDb).

We previously reported that Harvey Atkin (Bumboo/Pox) will be appearing in Barney's Version. A trailer for the film is now available for viewing on Youtube, but the language is a bit mature/suggestive so our younger readers may want to avoid this one. No release date yet, the trailer only says "coming soon." Rating not yet available either.

Norma Dell'Agnese (Prisma) appeared in the premiere episode of the Canadian comedy Dan for Mayor. The show is about a slacker in his early 30s who ends up unintentionally running for mayor of his town. Fans may recognize Fred Ewanuick, who plays the protagonist, as he was previously a recurring character on another Canadian comedy show, Corner Gas.

Robert Tinkler (Rubeus) can be heard in Beyblade: Metal Fusion as the hero of the series, Gingka. Gingka and his friends take on a group known as the Dark Nebula who want to conquer the world (an extended description is available on ANN via the link above).

Toby Proctor (Tuxedo Mask #2) joined in on the Canada Day festivities in the township of Scugog, Ontario. The celebrations were hosted throughout Palmer Park and Water Street. Fish TV held a sports celebrity weigh-in in the afternoon. Toby was joined by comedian Russel Peters, actor Aaron Douglas, and Brian Skinner of the LA Clippers.

Tracey Hoyt (Rini #1) appeared in an episode of Living in Your Car as Nurse Cohen. the episode, entitled "chapter four" first aired on May 28th. Fans can catch the series on HBO Canada. Description from IMDb: The story follows Steve Unger, who was caught cooking the books and now finds himself legally forbidden from working in any position that involves "other people's money". Clinging desperately to the last vestige of his former self - his luxury sedan - Steve hopes to begin anew. Shunned by family and friends, under court order to teach an ethics class to other "fallen angels," Steve now makes his home inside his luxury car. Propelled ahead by his needs and whims, trying to simultaneously help and exploit everyone he meets, Steve attempts to survive in the land of the have-nots and at the same time somehow resurrect the charmed life he once had.

Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailor Venus #2) will headline the 21st year of Hillebrand Jazz at the Winery alongside Denzal Sinclaire; the Richard Underhill Quintet and the Jake Wilkinson Quintet featuring Michelle Willis. Fans can see her perform on Saturday, July 10th in Niagara. Gates open at 2 pm and the concert takes place from 4 pm to 8 pm. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased online at www.hillebrand.com or by calling 1.800.582.8412 ext. 2. The annual Hillebrand Jazz at the Winery began in 1989 with the intent of bringing premier Canadian jazz talent to Niagara Wine Country and serving it up with premium wines and Wine Country cuisine. (source: CNW)

Up Close & Comfortable with Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern

Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern (Sailor Venus #1) can be seen in a new segment from CTV and TD Canada Trust called Up Close & Comfortable. During the short interview, the co-creators talk about what it's like to write for Flashpoint and how they approach season premieres and season finales differently from other episodes.

To watch the video, just visit the Up Close & Comfortable website and select Up Close with Flashpoint.

A REAL interview with the REAL Linda Ballantyne

Hey Moonies!

We are pleased to finally bring you our best interview this year - a REAL interview with the REAL Sailor Moon! Linda Ballantyne has so many great stories to share, and we can't wait for you to read them! A special thanks to Linda and her agent for arranging for this interview and this exclusive photo under these special circumstances! Unfortunately, it appears that some mysteries are going to be unsolved. Without further ado, read on, Moonies!

MC: We'd like to extend a warm, warm, welcome to the Real 3rd voice of Sailor Moon, Linda Ballantyne! Thanks so much for doing this – the fans have been really heartbroken since the news of the imposter broke out. How are you today?

LB: I am fantastic! I'm so happy I've been given the opportunity to answer all your questions. I have to admit, when I was alerted to the "fake" interview my initial reaction was "Wow! What a great interview… I wish someone had asked me those questions". Then as I read through the fake answers I started to get a little frustrated. Not only was this impersonator taking credit for my work, but he/she was giving the wrong answers to fantastic questions. The more I thought about it the more enraged I became. I know how passionate Sailor Moon fans are. This was as much an attack on them as it was on me. But in true Sailor Moon style, the villain has been stopped and now I get the chance to answer all your great questions. Incidentally, this is the first Sailor Moon interview I have ever been asked to do.

MC: So we have a bit of a Moonie Mystery to solve – the imposter had said that you played Snow Princess Kaguya in the Sailor Moon S movie, however the voice for this character has never officially credited. Did you play this character at all or any other characters in Sailor Moon?

LB: You're going to find this really hard to believe, but I can't remember if I played Snow Princess Kaguya. I know, I know. It has been about 10 years since I voiced the series and I honestly can't recall… and heaven knows I wouldn't want to take credit for another actor's work! I did play the odd additional character but we tried to stay away from using my voice as much as possible since I was already voicing so many lines. 4 hours of screaming can really take its toll on your vocal cords.

MC: Were you aware of how big a cultural phenomenon Sailor Moon was before you were cast? Were you shocked with the extent of the popularity of the show once you were involved?

LB: I was definitely aware of Sailor Moon's popularity but I had no idea it was the cultural phenomenon that it was. I knew that kids really loved it but when I discovered the adult following as well I was blown away.

MC (and Sparkling Blue): How did you get the role of Sailor Moon?

LB: I auditioned for the roll of Sailor Moon, like every other roll. I remember I was really, really sick that day with bronchitis. I almost didn't go in because I could barely talk. I was so frustrated because my nieces were huge Sailor Moon fans and I so wanted to impress them (for once!). I knew I could do a good impersonation of Serena and I really wanted a fair shot at the part. I didn't talk the whole time I was in the audition room until it was my time to go in. If you walk into an audition and start giving excuses as to why you're not "on" that day you give a really bad impression right off the top, so I decided to just do my best… and tell them after I had finished. They had me listen to a sample of Terri's Sailor Moon and then I had to copy exactly the way she did it. I find mimicking people very easy. They were really happy with the match. They had me come back a couple of times but I think I probably had the part after that first audition. The really tough part was after I was given the part and I had to do lines that Terry had never done before. It's one thing to copy someone, it's another to take new material and try to do it they way you think the last person would have done it. It can really mess with your intuitions… and that's something you have to always rely on.

MC: The actress that played the role before you (Terri Hawkes) was quoted in an interview saying she saw Serena "as a girl as well as an emerging young woman", still having a "girlish voice" but also going on a kind of emotional roller coaster. How did you come up with your take on the voice of Sailor Moon?

LB: I found Serena to be a girl who loved being a goofy teenager but deep down inside was so much more than that. A teenager who realizes she has responsibilities. I wanted her to be constantly pulled in different directions.

MC: When developing the voice for Serena/Sailor Moon did you try to make it similar to other interpretations of the role, or did you try to take the voice in a different direction? Was it difficult to take on the role of a character played by two other actresses? Did it make you nervous or change your approach to the role?
Chase: Compared to Tracy Moore and Terri Hawkes, how would you say you portrayed Sailor Moon compared to the other two voice actresses?


LB: I started by just trying to imitate Terri as best I could. They wanted an exact match of her voice so I tried to give them that. But as I said earlier, it's easy to imitate someone but it's a whole other ballgame to take new material and try to figure out how someone else would do it. I really struggled with the first few episodes. I remember coming home so frustrated saying to my husband that I just felt like I had no say in how this character should be played. It was my husband who said, "You have to make it your own. You're not Terri Hawkes. Trust your intuition". That's when the character made a definite change in a different direction. She was much more playful and there was a lot less screaming. I guess the difference between my Serena/Sailor Moon and the others is that the goofy teenager came out more.

MC: During the recording of the S and SuperS series, Cloverway was under a strict timetable in regards to completing dubbed episodes. As an actor, did you find it challenging knowing that you might have only a couple of opportunities to capture the mood of a particular scene? What was the production schedule like? We know for the first two seasons that the actors worked into the wee hours of the morning to meet the 5 episodes per week deadline. Was it ever like this for you? How long did it take to get through both seasons?

LB: I wouldn't do more that 4 hours at a time of Sailor Moon. Quite frankly, I couldn't do more than 4 hours at a time! The part was very hard on my vocal cords. I would wake up each day and clear my throat to see if any sound came out. On my drive to the studio each morning I would warm up my voice, trying to get it higher than it wanted to go. I was doing a lot of voice work aside from Sailor Moon at the time. My days were very full. And to top it all off I had a four year old, a two year old and an 8 month old baby! I was exhausted! But as far as the actual dubbing went, we usually only had to do two takes of most lines. They always do a second take as a safety in case there is something technically wrong with the first. We would save all the screaming and fight scenes for the end of the record day to save my voice for the lines. I really can't remember how many months it took to record both seasons but it was quite a few. My youngest child couldn't talk but I remember her imitating the way Serena's voice would roll up and down. I called her Mini Moon… of course!

MC: If you could have a role in a possible re-dub of Sailor Moon again would you like to reprise any of your roles?
Florentino Ramirez: If the studios do redo the dub over again, will you PLEASE repriseyour role as Sailor Moon?


LB: I would love to reprise the role of Sailor Moon again… and I'm quite sure it would be a whole new take on it. It would be fun to see how she would emerge now that I have a lot more years under my belt as a voice actor. I wonder what would come out of my mouth now…

Florentino Ramirez: If they only bring back Sailor Stars to dub, could you at LEAST dub yourself in that so that there's continuity, ending the series with your voice? I hate animes that change voices for characters between seasons (ie; good old Ranma in Ranma 1/2 =p).
L S: If some studio (FUNimation ^^) were to make a dubbed version of the
fifth season of Sailor Moon, Sailor Stars, would you be interested in
doing Serena/ Sailor Moon again?


LB: You guys are great! I would be honored to play the part again… and I'll bet Terri would be too! Maybe we could arm wrestle for it…. no wait… Terri has twins. She's probably a lot stronger than me.

MC: What was your favourite aspect of playing each role? Was there something you found particularly interesting about either or both character(s)?

LB: I loved playing the goofy teenager that had all her priorities mixed up. Hanging out with her friends, boys and (of course) food were Serena's main focus… but then she'd be pulled towards the path of responsibility through Sailor Moon. I especially loved falling in love as a teenager.

MC (and Tpirandsailormoon and Salvatore Maronne): Do you have any memorable experiences from dubbing and/or favorite scenes? What was your favourite episode of the series to work on?

LB: I loved the final few episodes of each series but especially the Super S series. I couldn't wait to find out how it ended. Recording it was really like watching the show. I was hooked!

Fans can watch this one on YouTube! Part 1, Part 2, Part 3!

Chase: Did your talents to the dub benefit your career? Did the job make you more popular?

LB: I definitely learned a valuable voice skill dubbing all those episodes and I think doing any role people have heard of helps give you an identity as an actor. Sailor Moon is a great thing to have on a resume. Even today I will audition for dubbing shows and the director will say, "Dubbing is not easy. Have you done any dubbing before?" and I'll say a little. There's usually someone in the room who will laugh and say, "Linda was the voice of Sailor Moon. She's done more than "a little" dubbing before".

MusicallyObsessedBoi: Have you ever dressed up as Sailor Moon?

LB: No, I have never dressed up as Sailor Moon… but my daughter did for Halloween once… her choice. I also had a baby-sitter who screamed when she found out I was Sailor Moon. She was in tears telling me she was Sailor Moon's biggest fan. She said, "I even ruined my grade three class picture because I dressed up in my Sailor Moon costume for picture day". Personally I feel she probably enhanced the picture. My kids were too young back when I was dubbing the show to understand that it was only my voice that was used for the part of Sailor Moon. My eldest told me I didn't look like Sailor Moon because I have brown hair. I would joke with them every now and then by calling out to my husband, "Honey, have you seen my Sailor Moon outfit?" while I was getting ready to leave for a record. Once my daughter asked me if I got dizzy spinning around when I changed from Serena into Sailor Moon. Way too cute!

Musically Obsessed Boi: Was there ever any discussion about dubbing Sailor Stars? If so, where you looking forward to it?

LB: I never heard any discussions about dubbing Sailor Stars.

KaitoMizuno: In the Past, there were some rumors about sailor moon for live action movie. Do you think Sailor Moon would make a great live action film?

LB: I think Sailor Moon is perfect the way it is. I can't even imagine a live action version. I guess I'm just too old school.

Shinraitenchi - There were quite a few inconsistencies throughout the dubbing of Sailor Moon S and SuperS (mainly with attack names and such) so were you aware of these alterations/inconsistencies done to the English scripts of Sailor Moon S and SuperS when you were recording?
Salvatore Marrone: Were you aware of story changes from the Japanese version - such as Uranus and Neptune's relationship?


LB: I wasn't aware of any inconsistencies at the time but it makes sense that there would be. There are bound to be differences simply because literal translations from Japanese to English may or may not make sense. The show was also (supposedly) playing to younger demographic in North America. I think they had to alter story lines to make them more "acceptable". I would have loved the Uranus and Neptune relationship to be in its original form. I guess at the time the powers that be felt North American audiences weren't ready for it. Too bad.

ChibiGinger: Have you ever read the manga (comics)?

LB: I have read some of the manga comics. My eldest daughter loves them!

L S: Did you ever feel that there were silly or strange lines on the script?

LB: Are you kidding me? Every episode we would find silly or strange lines in the script. Some we would change on the spot because they were just so grammatically incorrect. Others we couldn't change for timing issues. And some made us laugh so hard we didn't want to change them.

ChibiGinger: Have you ever watched the Japanese dub?

LB: Every single line I ever recorded I watched the Japanese version first. That's the way you do dubbing. You watch the original to get the timing and then you dub over it by fallowing along with "the bouncing ball". But I have never watched a whole episode from start to finish just for the sake of watching it. The internet wasn't around back then like it is today. Maybe I would have at the time if YouTube existed.

MC: How long have you been acting for and what got you started in it?

LB: I started acting on stage and film in my early twenties. I went back to theatre school in my late twenties to find more direction in my career. One of the courses they offered was a voice-over course. I fell in love with voice right there and then. When I graduated I found an agent who did both on-camera and voice. I was really lucky because I got a part in my very first voice audition (a butter commercial). After that, my voice agent really believed in me and he sent me out for everything. Having someone believe in you is one of the most important things you can ever hope to have. My family believing in me has been my most important strength throughout my career. To answer your question, I've been voice acting for about 15 years.

MC: Do you prefer acting for live-action productions or animation? Why?

LB: I much prefer acting in animation over live action. I can't stand seeing myself on TV. I am way too hard on myself that way. I notice every fault I have. I also love the variety of roles I get to play in animation. I have been everything from a baby to a teenage boy to an insane witch to a common housefly. Come on! Who would love to play a common housefly? You name it I'll play it.

MC: The Rhythmoband technique is not used very much in cartoon dubbing anymore, and now there is a "beep method" that is more commonly used. Which method did you prefer and why?

LB: The initial preparation for the Rhythmoband was very time consuming. Every line had to be hand written and matched up to sync with the character's mouth movements. I think the person who did it must have just about gone blind trying to do it. Not only did they have to sync up the mouth movements but they also had to make the English words match up with the original Japanese. You can't even begin to understand how hard that would be. Today they use computers to do it and if a line is too long or isn't worded properly they can just type in the new words and it's fixed on the screen right there and then. It's a lot like karaoke. You see the picture and the words are under it. Just follow along with the bouncing ball. With the "beep method" the lines are on a page in front of you and you just listen for the beep and start reading. It's a bit harder than the computer method because you can't really read and watch the mouth movements at the same time. You just have to hope you're reading in sync and then you go back and fix the lines that don't match. After doing this method for a while, I find I almost memorize the lines as I do them so I can watch the screen to make the words fit. It's definitely a learned skill.


MC: You voiced several humorous enemies in the Disney Cartoon, Yin Yang Yo! Many fans don't know that some Disney cartoons are actually dubbed in Toronto. What was it like when you found out you had gotten a role in cartoon from such a legend in animation? We also loved the voices you came up with for the enemies (especially Saranoia!) in Yin Yang Yo! How did you come up with the right voice for them?

LB: Getting a part on Yin Yang Yo was definitely a high point of my career. To be able to say "I work for Disney" is pretty cool. And they really trust their actors which made it all the better. There is a very big difference between dubbing and regular animation. Disney cartoons are all original animation. No dubbing is done with them. What that means is that you do the voice first and then animate it after… which is the complete opposite of dubbing. It's a lot more fun to do because the actor is able to create a character and give it a lot of subtle or not so subtle characteristics. Working on Yin Yang Yo was like a dream come true. I was thrown a lot of different characters and told to go for it. I usually start by looking at the concept drawings for the character. I get a feel for what the character looks like and then I read the script with that in mind. I try to figure out what I think this character will sound like but I keep a very open mind because sometimes the director will want to go in a completely different direction. If you get too set in your ways it's hard to break away from them. With Yin Yang Yo they pretty much let us do anything we wanted. They really trusted us and that made it a lot more fun. We could change lines if we thought of something better or just add quirky characteristics to our characters and they would stick. The writers really got on board with that and they'd incorporate our choices in their writing. Playing villains like Saranoia is always fun because they have so many faults and they take themselves so seriously. They are always so full of themselves and that makes it even more rewarding when they finally fail at whatever it is they are trying to get… because, let's face it, bad guys usually don't win. The crash and burn is just so much fun to play. When I was asked to do Smoke I realized right away that it could easily be played like a bad version of Sailor Moon. I really wanted to stay away from making her sound like Sailor Moon. It just didn't seem right. I actually thought they had asked me to do that part because they knew I had done Sailor Moon… and I was surprised when they went with the character I chose. It wasn't until after we had finished the series that I found out the director, producers and writers had no idea I had been Sailor Moon. One of them was a bit freaked out because he was a huge Sailor Moon fan. He said that's what inspired the character in the first place. Then they were kicking themselves for not getting me to do it like that. For the record, I wouldn't have!

(Interested fans can watch an episode of Yin Yang Yo here.)

MC: How did you get involved with the Rubber Chicken Farmers? Some fans have seen the hilarious Oh Baby! How did that project come to be?

LB: I have a friend I went to theatre school with who lived in Vancouver and was part of the Rubber Chicken Farmers. We were really missing each other and sad we weren't working together. We wrote the script for Oh Baby! together by email as a simple writing exercise… but when I flew out to visit her she insisted we film it. It was purely for fun and not meant for anything other than that… And then YouTube came along…

MC: When coming up with the voice of Percy in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, how much did the old series on PBS influence how you portrayed the voice? Or did you come up with something completely different?

LB: I think the original Thomas and the Magic Railroad series was narrated by Ringo Starr and there were no actual voices for the trains at that point. Percy was the first 'boy' voice I had ever done. I got to meet Britt Allcroft after I was cast and I was so nervous because I had never done a boy voice or an accent on a show before. I asked if my English accent was OK and she said "Oh ya. It's such an easy accent to do. There's no right or wrong. You're fine." And that was that.

MC: You were also the voice of Janet van Dyne/The Wasp in the Avengers: United They Stand cartoon. Having played a female superhero in an American cartoon and in a Japanese anime cartoon, what do you think makes these two interpretations of female superheroes different?

LB: The Avengers and Sailor Moon are two totally different cartoon styles. There is no comparing the two. I suppose Wasp was a lot more serious than Sailor Moon but again it was a completely different cartoon. I'm not sure that the difference was between American and Japanese, just different styles. I always enjoy finding the fun in characters and it was harder to do that with Wasp. But in the end, they were both on the side of virtue.

MC: Did you know about the Avengers comic before you got the role as the Wasp? Did this have any influence on how you came up with the right voice for the character? If not, how did you come up with the right voice?

LB: Wasp was the very first cartoon character I had ever auditioned for. I was excited just to get the audition let alone the part. But what made it all the more sweet was my older brother was a huge comic book fan and loved the Avengers. I had read a few Avengers comics growing up but I didn't know a lot about Wasp. I listened to what the director wanted and just went for it. He was a great guy and really worked with me to bring the character out. There were also a bunch of other actors on the show who really helped show me the ropes. It was a great learning experience. In truth, Wasp sounds pretty much like me. It's what my real voice sounds like… only more dramatic.

(Interested fans can watch an episode of The Avengers here.)

MC: This year marks the 15th anniversary of Sailor Moon in North America. Did you ever think that the fandom would continue to stick by this show through the good and the bad for so long?

LB: It really is amazing. Sailor Moon has become a cult classic. The fans are so strong in their beliefs and their love of the show. I am in awe of their commitment.

MC: Some industry sites are reporting that you are going to play the reindeer Vixen in an upcoming Christmas movie called Rudolph and His New Friend Frosty. This is also slated to feature Sailor Jupiter (Susan Roman) as Cupid, the original voice of Rudolph Billie Mae Richards, and a Beatle himself, Ringo Starr! What can you tell us about this project? Are you excited to work on it and are you going to get the chance meet any of the other stars involved at all?

LB: I would be very excited to work on this project but unfortunately I'm not… at least, not to my knowledge. I haven't heard anything about it. But to meet Billie Mae Richards would be really cool. She was a voice I grew up with—a real inspiration. And Ringo Starr! Come on!

MC: Do you think you or your character would want to eat Sailor Moon Character-Themed Bento for Lunch? What do you think of this very different event in Japan to promote the return of Sailor Moon?

LB: Are you kidding me?!!!!? Serena would eat anything… and love it! And so would I! I love Japanese food. Sailor Moon Japanese food would definitely taste even better! I think the event is a great-- very fresh and different. I'm not so sure I'd have the patience or the skill to make it but I sure would love to eat it.

MC: You've played a lot of different kinds of voices for early childrens' cartoons (I've caught Gerald McBoingBoing a few times myself!) When coming up with the right voice for these characters, how does it differ from action shows or other cartoons you do for older age groups? Do you think about the kinds of shows you used to watch when you were that age too?

LB: You definitely have to change your read according to the age group you are playing to. A younger audience needs love and innocence, caring and compassion. An older audience needs more a more clever kind of humor and read. I don't think the sound of the voice is what makes the difference but the way in which the lines are delivered. I could use the same voice for a character in a preschool show as I did in a teen show but because the attitude is different they will sound like completely different characters. I was a Flintstones and Jetsons fan when I was younger. I loved those shows. Also Bugs Bunny. Anything Mel Blank did was pure gold. Carol Burnett was also my idol. She has been a great source of inspiration throughout my career. I still watch cartoons all the time. There are a lot of really great shows out there.

MC: Thanks again so much for your time Linda and we wish you the best of luck in the future! And we promise, in the name of the Moon we won't ever let impostors bother the fans again – they will be moondusted! Are there any other upcoming productions that we can hear your voice in?

LB: Currently I'm working on a few new shows. I'm Lily's Mom in My Big Big Friend, Queen Mayla in Yoko, Mo and Me and Kazarena in Bakugan. I've been "the voice of" the Comedy Network for the past 13 years as well as being in a bunch of radio and TV commercials. I also have a Lucky Charms on-line game that should be coming out soon. I'm the cute little Magical Creature. I'm also putting together a talk radio show with two other women. We are just in the beginning stages of it but I think it's going to be great-- really fun!

Thank you so much for letting me answer all your fantastic questions. You are all so inspirational to me. If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to throw them my way. It's been a blast!

Sincerely,
Linda Ballantyne

PS - Thanks for all your kind words and support. This is a great site. It is for the true fans.


Once again, thank you to Linda Ballantyne and her agent for this opportunity!

NA Voice Actor Update for April

Dennis Akayama (Malachite) appears in the film Repo Men, as a doctor. Fans can also see him on TV in Mayday, a show which dramatizes real-life air disasters, as a captain; in Wingin' It, a family comedy about an angel in training, as Mr. Nakamora; and in Warehouse 13 as officer Ogawa. Canadian fans can catch the premiere of Warehouse 13 on April 30th, on City TV. Description of the show from IMDb: "After saving the life of an international diplomat in Washington D.C., a pair of U.S Secret Service agents are whisked away to a covert location in South Dakota that houses supernatural objects that the U.S. Government has collected over the centuries. Their new assignment: retrieve some of the missing objects and investigate reports of new ones."

Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailor Venus #2) performed "You're Driving Me Crazy" live on Canada AM on Monday, April 12th to celebrate her third Juno nomination. Her performance was delightful and the hosts enjoyed having her on the show again.

Stephanie Beard (Rini #2) will be appearing in an upcoming, untitled Seth Rogen film. The movie is a comedic account of a man's cancer diagnosis and his struggle to beat the disease.

Little Shop of Horrors, featuring Naz Edwards (Queen Beryl) as Audrey II has been extended through May 16th. Fans can catch the show at the Performance Network Theatre in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Tracey Hoyt (Rini #1) can be seen in Pure Pwnage as Jeremy's mom. So far, she appears in the first and fifth episodes of this television series about Jeremy, a L33T gamer who lives in his mom's basement and is forced to get a "real" job. Canadian fans can catch the series on Showcase. Episodes are also available for viewing on the Showcase website, make sure to click on Pure Pwnage in the side menu to see all available episodes. This show was previously a popular web series, since 2004.

Tracey Moore (Sailor Moon #1) can be heard in the Care Bears to the Rescue movie. The release date is not yet available, but the movie will be centred around the Care-a-Lot Rescue Awards.

Roland Parliament (Melvin) was nominated for "Educator of the Year" at Niagara College recently and the award ceremony was April 7th. Although he didn't win, he's proud to say that his friend and colleague Barbara Mantini of the Acting for Film and Television program did win. Here's what Roland had to say about it: "That's 6 nominations and 2 awards for our program in only 2 years since its inception. Not bad for a fledgling program in a college with 700 professors! Major kudos to Martin Doyle for having the smarts, guts and determination to convince Niagara College to launch this program."

Alice Poon (Catsy) will be appearing in the upcoming crime drama television series Rookie Blue as a paramedic named Caroline. The show is scheduled to premiere in late June. Fans can also see her in the film Repo Men as a TSA agent.