Vanessa Marshall | Hera Syndulla | Star Wars

In early April 2016 I was able to interview Vanessa Marshall (better known as Hera Syndulla; one of the main cast members of Star Wars Rebels) for StarWarsAwakens.nl (the Dutch Star Wars site).

Every Star Wars fan knows you as the voice of Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels and you also did voice work for various Star Wars games. How did you get started working for Lucasfilm and how did you get the part of Hera?

In 2002, I was honored to portray Jan Ors in Star Wars: Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast. A few years later, I was thrilled to be a part of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords and then Star Wars: The Old Republic. When I auditioned for Rebels, the Top Secret project was called WOLF. When I read the script, however, it seemed very Star Wars to me, so I decided to plug in the various narrative elements of the Saga into the WOLF script, and fortunately it worked out! Because, obviously, it was STAR WARS! When I went to the callback audition, I saw a picture of a green Twi’lek on the wall, and that is when I knew for sure! I almost fainted! Ultimately, I booked the role of Hera, and it has been intergalactic ever since!

How did you ‘create’ Hera’s voice?

I could tell from the first script how dedicated Hera was to ideas of liberty, justice and freedom. Those are things I also care very deeply about, so I tried to bring my convictions and an open heart to each record session. In addition, my father is a pilot, and I have been flying with him in his open cockpit bi-plane many times, so I already had a unique understanding of the level of skill, focus, and courage necessary to make such bold moves in the air. I also study martial arts. I train several times a week in Muay Thai, MMA, and more traditional Boxing styles, so I am very familiar with combat moves and situations. I think I brought a lot of this to the microphone. I usually research and research for my roles, but Hera felt very close to me, so I only had to look within!

 

Can you describe how a day working on Rebels goes?

The cast usually gathers with Dave Filoni before we begin. He will show us pictures of new characters, and he will break down exactly what we need to accomplish in the episode. I feel like we are in a locker room, and when step in front of our mikes, it’s GAME TIME! I have tons of fun with the other actors. We work hard and play hard too! I always want to make sure everyone is ok, not hungry or thirsty! Like Hera, I am kind of the mom of the group!

You just mentioned Dave Filoni. How is he to work with?

He is a genius! He always encourages us to try new things, to go further than we might we might expect. He suggests various nuances, and then lets us do our thing. In the end, he knows exactly what he wants, and we enjoy giving it to him. When we finally see everything animated on television, it is immensely rewarding!

What is your own view on the Rebels series? 

From initially reading the words on the page, I am blown away by the writing itself. When we perform the script, I am moved by how compelling the words are when read aloud. Finally when I see the produced show, it is so fantastic, beyond anything I could imagine previously, that I get to enjoy the show, like any other Star Wars fan! Working on the inside does not prevent me from enjoying the final product. Going from the page to the screen, it is so different that I forget I ever read the words in the first place. I get so caught up in the show when it airs! I love to live Tweet with everyone about it! I get to be a fan too!

You must have a favorite episode!


Honestly, it is hard to choose just one! I think the Season One Finale was perhaps the most special one for me, particularly as a huge Clone Wars Fan. I adore Ahsoka, and I have been worried about her ever since she left Anakin and the Jedi Order. I was so relieved to see her again! When she came forth as “Fulcrum,” I wept with joy!

Regarding Hera: how much does her character resemble you?

Very much so! We share a lot of values, ethics, and even facial expressions! It is almost spooky! They sometimes film us while we record, and I wonder how many things they use as a guide!

What do you think of Hera’s story arc so far? 

I am elated that Hera got promoted, she got to fly a B-Wing, she got to heal issues with her father, and, in the end, she set up an actual rebel base. She has come a long way from the secrecy and planning required of her in Season One, when she always knew more than her crew. Now everyone is on the same page. Unfortunately, as the rebels have gotten stronger, so has the Empire, and subsequently the casualties are even more numerous! I look forward to seeing where she goes from here!

In the season 2 finale of Rebels were a lot of cliffhangers. Do you already know what will happen in season 3? Or is it a mystery for you as well?

I know a few things about Season 3, but I too have many questions!

You were a kid when the original Star Wars came out. What memories do you have of your first encounter with Star Wars?

I saw Episode IV in the theater with my cousins. I still thank my aunt today for taking us! From the moment the Star Destroyer moved across the screen, I was hooked. I particularly loved Princess Leia! She was such a great female icon! The movie had a huge impact on me then, and it still does when I re-watch it today.

You have Dutch roots on your mother’s side. Have you ever been to the Netherlands? And –since this interview will be published on the Dutch Star Wars site- is there anything you want to say to your Dutch fans?

Yes, I have been to the Netherlands. I went when I was a teenager, and I was delighted! Hope to visit again! To my Dutch fans? “De Kracht is met jullie!”

That’s great! Many thanks for your time and I look forward to Rebels season 3!

Keith Szarabajka interview | Cikatro Vizago | Star Wars Rebels

In the Star Wars Rebels animated series we met a lot of new characters and one of them is crimelord Cikatro Vizago, a Devaronian who operates on the planet Lothal. His voicework is done by (voice)actor Keith Szarabajka. Many will know him from his role as Gerard Stephens in The Dark Knight where he is confronted with The Joker (Heath Ledger). He also had parts in movies like Argo, Transformers: Dark of the Moon (ass Laserbeak) and TV series like The Equalizer, Golden Years en Law & Order.

Mr. Szarabajka did the following interview exclusively for this site and it is also published on StarWarsAwakens.nl; the Dutch Star Wars community site.

How did you get started in the (voice)acting business?

I started in the voice acting business pretty much like anyone else. An agent saw me in a play in New York, and asked if she could start sending me out. Things clicked and there goes my life. I also did a reading of a short story at Symphony Space in New York City before a live audience. The man who ran Symphony Space and Selected Shorts, Isaiah Sheffer , lived in my building, which was just a couple of blocks away from Symphony Space on New York’s Upper West Side. He invited me to do one, and I went to the theater around 6 PM to do a sound check and look the place over. It was a cold rainy, February evening in 1987. The sound check was unremarkable and I walked back home for dinner afterwards. When I returned to the theater for half hour, around 730, the audience was lined up around the block . When we started the show around 8pm, it was packed! It felt like people were hanging from the rafters. I felt like a rock star! A lot of people in the industry attended those readings, and I began getting steady work in voice acting.

Star Wars fans know you as Cikatro Vizago from Star Wars Rebels. How did you get this part?

I auditioned for it. But unknown to me, I had a little inside help. Greg Weissman, with whom I worked on the Godzilla animation series and other things, was one of the writers, and he and I always got along. So I’m sure he had something to do with my hiring.

How did you create the voice of Cikatro?

I looked at the drawing and just let it dictate what he would sound like. I wanted him to sound foreign but not Russian. Alien but still understandable. Greg and Dave Filoni liked what I came up with, so there you have it.

Besides Rebels you also did some voices for the game Star Wars: Force Commander. Were you a Star Wars fan before your first 'Star Wars job'?

I have always been a huge Star Wars fan. I even think Jar Jar Binks has been unfairly slandered. I just wish it were all true.

Your non-voice acting resume includes some critically acclaimed movies and series; especially Argo and The Dark Knight! Can you share some memories regarding working with directors like Ben Affleck, Christopher Nolan and Clint Eastwood?

One thing in common among all three of these directors: They were uncommonly kind and polite in their dealings with me and in what I could see of their interaction with the other actors, but also still firmly in charge. None of them were pushovers, by any means. Clint liked to do one or two takes and then move on. Actually, all three were pretty much in that mode, even though each of the movies was a different genre from the rest. Ben hired me without an audition, as I did an ABC After School special with him when he was 12 or 14. He actually remembered me. Mr. Nolan really knew what he wanted from a scene and could get it. He added me into a lot of scenes. I just wish he’d added me into The Dark Knight Rises, but that didn’t happen.

Of all the projects you have done....which one are you most proud of? And why?

I come from the theater, and the six years I spent at the Organic Theater of Chicago are my fondest memories and from which I drew my closest friends. John Heard, Joe Mantegna, Dennis Franz, the late Meshach Taylor and the late Roberta Custer. Jack Wallace. Stuart and Carolyn Gordon. These are my theatrical family. I just directed a new play at Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angles Project, Watching O.J. by David McMillan, which ran for 7 weeks to sold out houses in Los Angeles. It is slated to come again back in February.

In TV: Daniel Holtz in Angel was the most fun; Harlan Williams in Stephen King’s The Golden Years was the role of which I’m proudest. And Profit was my favorite show that I did. Too bad it only had 8 hours of life. It was terrific and ahead of its time in 1996. I also loved doing The Equalizer and Edward Woodward.

The film I’m proudest of is Missing by Costa-Gavras in 1982.

What is your dream role? If you could play any role in a movie (acting or voice acting): what would it be?

The next job for which I get hired is my dream job.

Final question: who (or what) has been your greatest influence in your (voice)acting career?

The Organic Theater Company of Chicago made me who I am today, for good or for bad.

 

Star Wars Celebration Europe II

July 27 2013 was the second day of Star Wars Celebration Europe II. Of course, StarWarsInterviews was there to report! Personally, what really made this event so great were the talks with the 'biggies' in Star Wars land. These talks were presented by none other than Warwick Davis. Here's a video I made of how he was introduced to the public: He also had a translation droid with him on stage to assist him. His first guest was Kathleen Kennedy, the new president of LucasFilm. Unfortunately she couldn't answer questions regarding Episode VII, but nevertheless it was a great (actually, the best) talk of the day. To me, the best thing she had to say was that the story is always the most important, no matter how good the special effects are and that they are looking for real locations to shoot instead of 'green screen' locations. Wait....she DID have a real scoop for us: the announced that the legendary John Williams is composing the music for the new trilogy! (and the crowd went wild) Immediately after this news a video message from Mr. Williams was shown. Next up was Dave Filoni, who came to talk about Star Wars: Rebels, the new TV series (starts fall 2014) The good thing is that the new series will be heavily inspired by the art of Ralph McQuarrie, as can be seen in the images he showed the public, including the new logo and the new ship called "the Ghost". He wasn't allowed to say when exactly between Episodes III and IV the series will take place and gave some cryptic answer when he was asked if characters from Clone Wars will star in some way in the new series. My guess is that they will. In the artists section I met japanese artist Tsuneo Sanda. Now, I have this piece made by him since the late 90's, no needless to say I really admire his work! Time for some various pix: Angry Birds.... A big AT-AT Some Lego Last, but certainly not least, was "Straight Talk from a Princess" with Carrie Fisher (who brought her dog with her on stage!). Unfortunately no questions regarding Episode VII were allowed. Still, it was a lot of fun, especially when she and Warwick recreated their scene from Return of the Jedi, of which I made this video: After that, day 2 was over. Unfortunately, no interviews (I've interviewed most of the actors that were there, but would have loved to interview Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Ian McDiarmid) but still a fantastic day and a fantastic event!