The Dub Voice Behind the Jack of Diamonds:
An Interview with Scott Roberts

Many thanks to Scott Roberts for contacting me and agreeing to conduct this interview via email.  He's a great actor, a fun individual to correspond with and very tolerant of over obsessive fans like myself.  :)

`Straya: You've discussed with me before about how G Gundam was your first dub part, and that you're primarily a stage actor. How did you get into the theatrical arts?

Scott:  I first started performing at the tender age of 13. I fell down in front of my class and made all of them laugh.

`Straya: How was it that you ended up with Blue Water?

Scott:  Simply put, I auditioned for them. A good friend of mine had auditioned for them before, and brought me along for the ride. They liked my voice and I was lucky enough to land George as my first character. It’s been about a year since I began working for Blue Water.

`Straya: For G Gundam, what was your favourite episode to work on, and do you have a favourite "George quote"?

Scott:  Isn’t it obvious? "GAME OVER!!!" Just kidding. No, to be honest, specific lines are lost to me, since very rarely did we re-tape episodes (one shot wonders that we are). Certain episodes like the battles with Mirabeau and Chapman stand out, as well as putting down Chibodee, and of course the finale.

`Straya: Is George your favourite character in the show or do you prefer another?

Scott:  I’m going to embarrass and shock some people by saying I haven’t seen a single episode of the series yet. We of the not so frozen north have yet to experience G-Gundam in all it’s post-produced glory, so although I think George is the man; I’ll wait to see the finished product.

`Straya: What's your favourite Gundam from G?

Scott: I gotta say, the first time I saw the Devil Gundam I said holy s---t!

`Straya: In terms of giving a performance, do you find it easier to act on stage, or behind a microphone at a recording studio?

Scott:  Dubbing is a lot like film. Everything is recorded for posterity, whether you like it or not. The stage is great for leaving bad performances in the past, and forgetting that time your voice cracked like a twelve year old girl. Then again, in dubbing you can just nail a line bang on and it’ll be saved on DVD till the end of time. Let’s just say I’ve grown much more comfortable behind the mike in the last year, and that it’s a very separate form of performing from the stage.

`Straya: If you can tell us, what other dub related projects have you worked on or are working on besides G Gundam?

Scott:  I’ve worked on Zoids CC (Hiltz), Fancy LaLa, Jungo (Johnny), and a few more that will be coming out shortly. If Straya’s still talking to me ;) by that point I’ll update my resume with you guys.

`Straya: Do you have an active interest in anime, or in animation in general?

Scott:  As a wee lad I was watching Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion before I knew they were "anime". I also loved Defenders of the Planet (I think that’s the title) and Voltron. In the last year I have learned more about Gundam and Dragonball and Akira and Metropolis that I ever thought I would. I will admit, however, that the original Transformers series is my favourite animated series of all time. The guy who did Optimus Prime had the coolest voice ever, and yes, I cried when he died in the movie. (side note: Orson Wells, the man who directed Citizen Kane, the greatest American movie ever made, voiced Unicron, and I think it was the last film credit he ever had.)

`Straya: Of all the parts you've ever played, either on stage or off, which ones have been your favourites?

Scott:  Being animated really lets you leave your body and become something totally different. I really enjoyed being Hiltz and destroying whole cities with my Death Stinger, and I enjoyed being George since he’s so principled and just (he’s so honourable he make my hair hurt). On stage, some of my favourites have included Azdak in Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle, Dromio in Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, and a young Einstein in Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile.

`Straya: Do you have any aspirations or goals in terms of what else you'd like to do with your career?

Scott:  A Chinese opera singer who taught me in University told me I should go into voice work, and life seems to be leading me in that direction. I really enjoy performing on stage, but also enjoy the cash afforded by voice work. Now that I’ve been a cartoon, I want to have a lead on a series, and maybe play a character that can transform!

`Straya: As per one of our earlier chats, what sort of music do you prefer?

Scott:  My musical tastes run the gamut from classical to contemporary. I listen to classical for the most part when I drive to keep down my ire at other drivers. Some of my all time favourites include REM, Bad Religion, Offspring, Leonard Cohen, Nirvana, Neil Diamond (the man), Blue Rodeo, Radiohead, Dave Brubeck, and the Irish Rovers. Right now, heavy rotation on my CD player includes Sarah Slean’s Night Bugs (good Canuck girl with great pipes), the Mile 8 soundtrack, and Bad Religion’s All ages. Oh, and the best song ever (right now) is the version of Somewhere over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiowe. Pick it up, it’s on the Finding Forester soundtrack.

`Straya: And speaking of music, can you sing as well as stage act and pull off an excellent dub job? :)

Scott:  Ha! In the arts, someone who can sing and dance and act is known as a "triple threat" I can hold a tune without totally embarrassing myself most of the time. So I guess I’m a double threat and a third.

`Straya: On a final note, how's it feel to have "fangirls"? :)

Scott:  You mean I have more that one? It’s very flattering. Mostly it’s nice to hear feedback from those who really appreciate the series. I don’t take praise very well and tend to get a little flummoxed at any attention. But I’m glad that most people liked the show.