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"Those first (episodes) are crazy. I think I almost passed out more than once during the recording. Sana talks more than she breaths!"

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Laura Bailey & Colleen Clinkenbeard Interview Transcript

With Matthew Anderson and Stephanie Costello

Laura Bailey and Colleen Clinkenbeard are two stars in the anime community. Colleen has voiced the lovely Éclair in "Kiddy Grade", while Laura is best known for her sexy reading for "Lust" in the uber popular Fullmetal Alchemist. Among their many achievements, they are both actors and ADR directors for the dub of the eagerly anticipated "Kodocha" anime!

In an exclusive interview, Colleen and Laura talks about their work on "Kodocha", their 2 year long friendship, Laura's abilities to knock out some of the insane dialogue in one take, and what to expect from the DVD release of Kodocha. We also talked with Laura and Colleen about their work on other anime, the differences between acting and directing, and how evil Colleen really is.

The online interview was conducted Wednesday, June 15 2005.

Special thanks to Tara, Jeff, and the rest of the staff at FUNimation for helping set up this interview. Some pictures are © Miho Obana/Shueisha ∙ NAS. Licensed by FUNimation® Productions, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Headshots courtesy of FUNimation and their respective owners.

DVD VISION JAPAN: First of all thank you for your time and support of DVD Vision Japan.

LAURA BAILEY: No no, thank you

COLLEEN CLINKENBEARD: What she said.

DVJ: Please introduce yourselves, and provide our readers a little bit of background information.

CC: I'm Colleen Clinkenbeard. I play Mama and co-direct the series. I'm also acting and directing in Fullmetal Alchemist currently. Laura's not important. she's here for moral support.

LB: I'm Laura Bailey, the coolest girl in this here apartment. I play Sana Kurata in "Kodocha" and also act as one of the voice directors.

CC: Yeah. but she's ugly and she smells bad.

DVJ : Holding my nose

LB: Yeah, but I'm still cooler than Colleen... so what does that tell you?

CC: I'm uglier and smell worse, but that's no excuse.

LB: It's a great relationship

DVJ: and a loving one too.

LB: of course....

CC: She's okay.

DVJ: So, here is the basic of basic questions: how did you get into voice acting?

LB: I was doing a play... and one of the other actors in the show brought me in to audition for "DBZ". Kent Williams. He's one of the coolest cats around.

CC: Actually, Laura got me into this whole thing. She was recording one day soon after we met and she brought me with her. Chris Bevins threw me in the booth and then I got called for an audition for "Case Closed".

LB: Luckily that was back when FUNi was still new, so getting in to audition was pretty easy...

DVJ: Is it tougher now?

LB: Wait.

CC: Luckily I knew the queen diva, so getting in to audition was pretty easy.

LB: I thought you're first part was on [Dragonball] GT?

CC: It was. but I auditioned for "Case Closed" first.

LB: Oh. show's what I know...

CC: You never listen to me. wench.

LB: and yes, it is harder now...

CC: Much harder. there are a ton of actors signed with funi now.

LB: The waiting list has gotten pretty long.

DVJ: Are you like contract players?

LB: Yep

CC: Yeah. We are also contract directors.

LB: We are contract directors and actors

CC: hehehe

DVJ: So, does that give you preferred treatment when you audition?

LB: Not really... it's still the same for us as it is for everyone else

CC: Doesn't everybody get a margarita and a pedicure when they go in? I know I do.

DVJ: Wait, a margarita and a pedicure? Where do I sign up?

LB: Man... I'm getting gyped.

CC: They don't like you. They told me yesterday.

DVJ Interview: Why don't you do a Bloodrayne move? I want my stuff. WHACK!

LB: I should. Those jerks. No love, I tell you

DVJ: I guess they suck the FUN out of FUNimation?

CC: It's a pretty easy going atmosphere. Everyone is loved. Everyone is gossiped about.

LB: Even losers like us

CC: Especially losers like us.

DVJ: I'm sure some readers out there would beg to differ about you two being loosers.

LB: Awww. so sweet.

CC: They can't see us sitting in our apartment reading fantasy novels on a Saturday night.

LB: Exciting stuff!

DVJ: You need to come to DC. We have Georgetown!

LB: hehe

CC: Oooooh. But do you have malls?

DVJ: Five story malls baby!

LB: I'm so there

CC: Fly me to the moon, sugar.

DVJ: I'll send the Leer Jet

CC: hehe

DVJ: Oh wait, sorry, I meant the super flyer saver plan on Junk Airways. No budget for the good stuff

LB: I think I've flown with them before actually.

CC: Sorry. We never get to talk to anyone. We'll stay on subject. I promise. Go ahead.

DVJ: That's what all you actors say. Had you seen anime before? If so, what shows do you like? If not, do you watch now?

LB: I had watched a bit of "Sailor Moon" and "DBZ" before I started.

CC: I just got done watching "His and Her Circumstance". Loved Veronica Taylor in that. But Fruits Basket is still my fav.

LB: She has to say that.

CC: I like Shojo a lot, But I don't get a chance to watch much outside of what we do at FUNimation.

LB: I'm looking forward to watching "Princess Tutu", I've heard good things

CC: Laura got a copy recently, we're excited.

LB: Much much

CC: I'm a romance girl, and I like the lighthearted humor in Shojo's.

DVJ: "Boys Over Flowers" or "Saikano" are good ones.

CC: See... I'm uneducated in the ways of anime. I don't know what those are.

DVJ: So "Kodocha" is right up your alley?

LB: YES!!!

CC: We love "Kodocha"!

LB: We couldn't stop watching it!

CC: L and I had all night sessions of "Kodocha" watching. It was intense.

LB: We had a marathon for like 4 nights watching all 102 eps!

DVJ: Oh my god!

CC: Especially when some of the discs wouldn't work, we were tearing our hair out.

LB: Sooo addictive [those] evil discs.

CC: Devil discs.

DVJ: I remember watching it on TV in Japan.

LB: Did you enjoy it?

DVJ: I loved the Shinohara opening, the one where they are doing the dance.

LB: So did we.

CC: Not of the song... of the anime.

DVJ: I did enjoy the anime, But I started watching it in the middle, so I got a little lost, and my Japanese was not that good.

CC: Have you been able to see any of the American version?

DVJ: No, I have not seen any of the US version except for the trailer on our Cool Visions page.

CC: We strove to overcome that barrier.

LB: Those first ones are crazy. I think I almost passed out more than once during the recording. Sana talks more than she breaths

CC: Yeah. it was fun to make her do them over and over.

LB: You got some sort of sick pleasure out of that. Quite scary...

DVJ: You are an evil woman Colleen

LB: Yes she is.

DVJ: So, tell us what "Kodocha" is about.

CC: I have heard from several sources that the point of the title "Child's Toy" is that the adults in the show are so obviously the toys of the very intelligent children involved.

LB: It's about... a 12 year old girl, who's also a famous TV star... and all of the people in her life.

CC: Sana is the most obvious example.

DVJ: Is that Jung or Freud?

LB:To put it in a completely non-romantic way...

CC: Nietzche. Sana is superwoman

DVJ: So is Laura, if she can belt out the constant stream of dialogue.

LB: ...and her mother is master of the universe.

DVJ: With a funny hat.

CC: Laura can do those raps in 2 takes. It's ridiculous. she's not human!

LB: Yeah but I listen to the Japanese 10 times before recording.

CC: It's an interesting process. Recording the songs.

DVJ: What did you think of Shizue Oda's work?

LB: I think it's amazing.

CC: Absolutely.

DVJ: Did you feel the need to try to match her reading, or did you just go for it.

LB: Well, we definitely wanted to capture the same feel...

CC: We tried not to concentrate too hard on matching exact inflections for fear the intention would be lost. We wanted to keep the feel of the show the same. The best way to do that was to let everybody be as crazy as they wanted and then pick our favorites. Most of the time [that] makes it so much easier to record the humor. We're used to bouncing joke off each other and we find each other endlessly funny... much to the consternation of our engineers.

LB: There's alot of adlibbing that goes on in the show, when we're working together.

DVJ: So, does this mean we might get to hear some outtakes or alternate dialouge on the DVD release?

LB: Hopefully. we certainly have enough outtakes to warrant that.

CC: I think there are some outtakes. Don't know if they kept them. Most would just be full of giggling.

DVJ: Much like me right at this moment.

CC: Like the commentary.

DVJ: Ohh, audio commentary! I love that stuff.

LB: Yeah, good luck understanding ours.

CC: Yeah. We ended up sounding pretty stupid. We're not that stupid, really. It's just two girls laughing a lot.

DVJ: I'm still reeling from Monica Rial's commentary on "Najica".

CC: Monica's our favorite!

DVJ: She is a doll.

LB: Heck yes she is!

CC: We love hanging out with her and she's a dream to record.

DVJ: Colleen, you mentioned something about the recording of the songs. Care to elaborate?

CC: Sure.

LB: Yes, Colleen

CC: Laura hears there's a song coming up, she groans.

LB: I hate to hear my own voice.

CC: Then we play the song in Japanese a bazillion times while she talks about how much she sucks and how she can't do it.

LB: Shut up!

CC: Then we turn the sound effects WAY up and she gets it in one take. I hate her. She's ugly and she still smells bad.

LB: The music has to be uber loud.

CC: Yeah. Otherwise you can't hear the beat.

DVJ: Will you be dubbing the opening theme?

LB: Funny story there.

DVJ: Do tell

CC: Oh the opening and closing songs will not be dubbed. Sorry. go ahead L

LB: Well, the opening song in season one won't be used. We couldn't get the rights for it. Tricky thing those rights.

CC: There will actually be a section of the script that includes the band name that will be changed too.

DVJ: You could not get the Japanese rights, or the rights to do it in English?

LB: Japanese rights

DVJ: So, there will be some changes?

CC: We couldn't get the rights to the music or the name in Japanese. Sorry.

LB: We weren't allowed to use the song, the band name, or the lead singer's voice.

DVJ: Wasn't it TOKIO? They are huge stars in Japan.

CC: Yup. I'm still afraid to say the name. I might get in trouble. (joking)

DVJ: I have no fear! TOKIO, TOKIO! LOVE & PEACE (one of their songs)!

CC: NOOOOOO!

LB: So even in the Japanese version of the FUNi release, we had to dub another person...

DVJ Interview: You hired a Japanese actor?

LB: Yep.

DVJ: Can you say his name, or is it on the DL?

CC: Honestly I don't know it.

LB: I don't know his name, unfortunately.

DVJ: Laura, about the song on the trailer.

LB: Yes?

DVJ: Is that an original song, or one from the series?

LB: One from the series, It's actually from the first episode.

DVJ: That trailer is one of the most popular pages on the site.

LB: Yay! Thank you. That makes me happy!

CC: Just wait. The songs get better and better.

DVJ: Just FYI, do either of you know how many words a second Laura can say in a typical Sana speach?

LB: Depends on the words.

DVJ: Guess.

LB: How do I even measure that?

CC: I'm trying to spell the longest word in the English language: floccinohsineehilipilification?

DVJ: What the heck does that mean?

CC: The act of judging something worthless. No jokes please.

DVJ: Damn!

CC: One more letter than antidisestablishmentarianism.

LB: So sad, Colleen, So sad.

CC: Shut up. Laura hates this.

LB: She scares me sometimes....

DVJ: I'm scared right now.

CC: She judges this worthless.

LB: Heck yes I do.

CC: She's a floccinohsinihilipilificationator.

DVJ: How has the feedback from the fans been regarding Kodocha?

CC: So far, great. We had a few questions about choices we made at the showing in Boston.

LB: People were laughing... so that's a good thing.

CC: But the overall enjoyment factor was impressive. The test of their enjoyment was that they weren't employing their squeaky hammers during the showing.

DVJ: Wow, now that's a ringing endorsement.

CC: We thought so.

DVJ: "The dub for 'Kodocha' is so good, fans won't use their squeaky hammers!"

CC: Laura did threaten them first.

LB: I did.

CC: That might've had something to do with it.

DVJ: And you don't want Bloodrayne and Lust yelling at you.

CC: Nor Alv.

DVJ: Wow, I was just going to say that. Now I am really scared!

CC: Can't forget "Kiddy Grade". It's my baby.

LB: That's right. my voice could kick their butts!

DVJ: I love "Kiddy Grade".

CC: Yea!

LB: It's super cool!

CC: I mean "woot", in Monica [Rial] speak.

LB: Colleen was awesome as Eclair.

DVJ: Yes she was.

CC: Thanks, babe.

LB: No prob.

DVJ: I found Alv pretty sexy.

LB: In a masculine sort of way.

CC: In her eighties clown getup? Are you serious?

DVJ: I like strong women.

CC: With blue hair.

LB: I kinda thought she was sexy too

CC: Now i'm scared. I liked Dverger. Now SHE was sexy.

LB: Pink hair rocks.

CC: Armblast, too.

LB: That's all there is to it

CC: Yummy.

DVJ: Hmmm, there is a joke in there somewhere

LB: We've digressed again.

CC: oops.

LB: oops

DVJ: We do that a lot.

CC: Jinx.

DVJ: So, how did you two meet?

LB: Colleen and I met while doing a play together...

DVJ: What play?

CC: Be My Baby, a British drama.

DVJ: Let's talk about your non-anime projects. What other acting do you do besides voice work (independent films, theatrical, TV)?

CC: I was a stage actress before I started with FUNI, but now I work at FUNI almost all the time, so there's really no time for anything else.

LB: I've done my share of indie films and commercials and such. I just shot one for Taco John's.

CC: With a monkey....

LB: a cowboy monkey...

CC: ...on a scooter.

DVJ: So, you did a commercial with a cowboy monkey on a scooter for a taco joint?

LB: Yes I was on the scooter, the monkey was riding a dog...

CC: Not in the play though. That's not very British.

LB: No.

CC: or dramatic.

LB: actually, it was quite dramatic.

DVJ: The play or the monkey on the dog?

LB: I dropped my burrito and everything.

CC: Laura on a scooter. Very sad. I cried.

DVJ: Dare I ask what she had on?

LB: a helmet.

CC: Oooooh. I have a story.

LB: huh?

CC: Every year Laura does this gig for Frito Lay.

LB: Shut up! Shut up now!

CC: She is on stage at their yearly convention.

LB: I hate you!

CC: For all the high muckety mucks, you know?

DVJ: Okay

LB: Be nice. They're good people.

CC: And she has to wear this skin tight silver space suit with a wig and green eyeshadow!

DVJ: Oh yeah!

CC: And pretend to be an android who's breaking down. Her name is Delta.

LB: For your information... the suit is green!

CC: Get it? Delta...Data...

LB: and I don't wear a wig

DVJ: Any pictures?

CC: But she gets to ride a Segue and eat chips.

LB: Yes, unfortunately.

CC: Actually... Maybe I could download one or two, if Laura's not a very good girl.

LB: You are evil.

DVJ: Be bad Laura, be bad!

LB: He he! I'm destroying all evidence at the end of this interview...

DVJ: Laura, didn't Rayne win an award for sexiest video game vixen at the Video Game Awards? Do you get to keep the award…or at least…see it?

LB: No... but I did record the acceptance speech. I actually didn't even get to see the show though...

DVJ: Well, don't feel bad. I didn't get to see it either.

LB: I feel better knowing that (smiles). Rayne is hot. She's one of my favorites to record, because it's so differnt.

DVJ: Tell us about "Prison A Go-Go".

LB: Oh dear God. I actually didn't do much in that film.

DVJ: What about "Graduation Day" or some of your other films?

LB: I actually just filmed something with [FUNimation ADR Director] Mike McFarland

DVJ: He was telling me about that. It looks interesting. What's the name, and what's it about?

LB: Yeah [it's] very bloody and fun. [It's called] Placebo. It's about this creepy guy who falls in love with a girl from afar and the lengths he goes to to make her love him. I'd call it a dark romance.

DVJ: Sounds very dark.

LB: You have no idea.

DVJ: I'm trying to get a copy to review.

LB: If you do, let me know... I still haven't seen the final cut.

DVJ: It sounds like you are very proud of this project.

LB: I am. It was alot of fun.

DVJ: How did you audition for Sana?

LB: Well... it ran about the same as other auditions. We got the sides and had about five minutes to look over them, then hopped in the booth and let fly.

DVJ: Colleen, were you in on the casting process?

CC: Actually I did the initial casting.

LB: I think, though, the fact that I had watched the show so much, helped me understand the character more.

CC: It would've been difficult for Laura to cast herself, so that's a good thing. I'd hate for "Kodocha" to have lost her as the lead just because she didn't want to take something for herself.

LB: Yeah. I wouldn't have.

DVJ Interview: How did you become a co-director for Kodocha?

LB: I was asked to join Colleen by Justin Cook, our producer. I'd directed some other projects already.

CC: Laura joined in at episode 5. So it wasn't too late in the process.

DVJ: Was it because of your work on Gunslinger Girl? Was that your first directing job?

LB: Yeah, I think so. I did a bit of the blue gender movie, and some eps of case closed before that, but "Gunslinger Girl" was my first large project.

DVJ: How difficult was the transition from actress to director?

LB: Much easier than I expected actually.

DVJ: What was the biggest hurdle, and your biggest triumph?

LB: Having acted at funi for about 4 years before doing any directing, I had a better grasp of how to get what I wanted for a show, or from an actor. My biggest triumph so far has been working on "Kodocha", honestly. Colleen and I have been putting so much into this show, and I think the effect has been noticable

DVJ: Okay, I know you have to go, Laura, one last question.

LB: k...

DVJ: Anything you would like to say to all your fans out there, or mention about "Kodocha"?

LB: Oh gosh. Thank you for being so supportive! I've very rarely had anyone be anything but incredible to me. It means so much to know that you guys see how much we care about what we do. I love doing this! Thanks for keeping me hired!

DVJ Interview: Thanks again!

LB: Toodles.

CC: Dork!

DVJ: Okay, Colleen

CC: She's getting ready for an audition.

DVJ: Break a leg!

CC: Don 't say that! She really will! She's a klutz.

DVJ: oh dear.

CC: The only girl i know who can look good falling.

DVJ: Let's talk about your breakout role, Eclair in "Kiddy Grade".

CC: That was actually my first real role. The only other part I'd done was Colm in "Dragonball GT". Éclair was a joy to play. It was kind of like stage acting. I got to play several different characters in one. Monica [Rial] really played a big part in showing me the ropes. Acting off of her made everything much easier.

DVJ: So, did you use any psychology in playing Éclair?

CC: Justin Cook is quite the philosopher, so there were several long theoretical discussions during the recording process. I'm sure Éclair benefited from that.

DVJ: By the way, you did an outstanding job on Fullmetal Alchemst.

CC: Thank you! I adore that show. It maintains a large part of my focus during the day. Mike [McFarland's], too. I love working with him. He has my utmost respect professionally and personally.

DVJ: Was FMA your first directing job?

CC: [No] When Justin Cook was made producer, he gave the directing of Kiddy Grade over to me. I think I started at episode 15 or 16. It was a nice introduction, because I was already so close to the project I could just pick up where he left off.

DVJ: How difficult was it to direct your self?

CC: I was very close to the engineer, so not difficult at all. As long as the director/engineer relationship is solid, self-directing is almost easier than otherwise. Laura and I both need someone who'll tell us we don't suck as much as we think we do.

DVJ: How important is the engineer in the directing process?

CC: An engineer provides that support, as well as being psychically connected to the director and knowing how to best aide efficiency.

DVJ: So it's much more than flipping buttons.

CC: Absolutely. It's knowing the person you're working for and knowing what they want almost before they do.

DVJ: Are there different challenges in directing a drama (Full Metal Alchemist) compared to a comedy (Kodocha)?

CC: Directing a drama like FMA is difficult because subtlety is hard to achieve when directing voices. You have to find the balance between emotional connection and realism. A comedy like "Kodocha" is easier in some ways because the adlibbing makes the process so much more active and group-involved. It's also harder in some ways because high energy is so very vital.

DVJ: Did you use an ADR script as a basis or was it all impromptu

CC: No no no. Definitely an ADR script. John Burgmeier is one of the best writers in the business. He has the thankless job of trying to make the translations make sense so we get the gist of the story, while trying to afford us room to play. Difficult when the show is as culturally based as Kodocha.

DVJ: Was it tough to sync the flaps with the ADR script?

CC: Absolutely. Luckily we cast the best.

DVJ: What about the cultural elements in "Kodocha"? What obsticals did they present for the cast and for you?

CC: "Kodocha" is filled with Japanese references which make it as pop-culturally hilarious as can be. When that comes to America, we have to do our best to keep the pop-culture feel, while making the transfer to an American audience. The animation makes that difficult. but we don't want to lose one of the best aspects of the show, so we kept the humor modern and "child like," but we added in American slang where Japanese slang was so that the feel would come across.

DVJ: So, how did you work around it?

CC: It's a delicate balance. We didn't want to remove the Japanese culture. It's still set in Japan. Most of the Japanese references are still there. only the ones we felt couldn't transfer were changed. John's job again.

DVJ: Didn't Mike McFarland do some ADR work as well?

CC: Mike is one of John's most relied upon writers. John is the head writer and people like Mike and Sonny Strait write scripts for him. He then reviews them. I've written about 4 "Kodocha" scripts and I'm working on one right now. It's VERY hard. Mike and Sonny and John have their work cut out for them. I couldn't do it every week.

DVJ: Are you going to do all the episodes?

CC: There are 102 eps so far as I know. We've bought the first 51. I hope we'll get the next as well. Depends on who's buying'.

DVJ: What is better, acting or directing?

CC: Hmmmm. Depends on the character, the show, and the day.

DVJ: How much fun have you and Laura had working on this project?

CC: Are you kidding!? It's a blast. We get to ride to work together. We get to run back and forth between booths giving each other candy. and we get to share our inside jokes with the rest of the world. We're in heaven.

DVJ: How long have the two of you been together? You're like sisters.

CCe: hehehe. Just to clear it up, cause sometimes there's confusion.... we're not "together." We've been roommates for two years now and we're in the process of signing a lease for our new house. We're very much like sisters.

DVJ Interview: You two are very lucky.

CC: Very. I don't know how we got this lucky. Sometimes I feel guilty.

DVJ: Do you have any plans for some non-anime projects in the future?

CC: I have been considering trying to find some outside broadcast work lately. I don't know if I want to do anime forever. But I've never done any film work so it's a big step. I think I might try it out. I miss theatre very much.

DVJ: Anything you would like to say to your fans or to the "Kodocha" fans out there?

CC: I hope everybody enjoys the dub as much as we enjoyed the dubbing. If dubs aren't your thing... the sub's on the disc too. No offense taken. Please listen to the stuff in the background. It's always got some kind of insane joke in there, but then it gets mixed. Love you guys!

DVJ: Thank you so much for your time.

CC: Thank you, too!.

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