Welcome to the Nicole Oliver hour! Well, it certainly seemed that way from all the questions she fielded.
Equestria Daily's coverage of Bronycon 2013 begins with the first voice actor panel of a very long and fun-filled weekend. Taking the stage today were Lee Tockar, Nicole Oliver, Cathy Weseluck, Brenda Crichlow, Maddy Peters, and Michelle Creber. Y'all know the drill; hit the break for all the gab!
- Lee Tockar: Snips, Steven Magnet, a shopkeeper [Ed: likely from "Magic Duel"], and the angry beavers in "Keep Calm and Flutter On".
- Nicole Oliver: Cheerilee and Princess Celestia.
- Cathy Weseluck: Spike, Mayor Mare, and "other incidentals."
- Brenda Crichlow: Zecora.
- Maddy Peters: Scootaloo.
- Michelle Creber: Apple Bloom -- and Sweetie Belle's singing voice. (She's kinda shy about it, though.)
The wonderful thing about the voice actors is that they've been together long enough to just go off the rails with each other. There wasn't a whole lot of time before the floor opened up to audience questions, but we did manage to hear these:
- This is the largest brony convention ever. Have y'all seen anything that surprised you, or is there anything you're looking forward to seeing?
- Nicole: Seen some wicked costumes, including someone in a full Vinyl Scratch costume. Must've been hot. Hope he's hydrated. She also wants to visit the vendor's hall.
- Cathy and Brenda already went and were impressed with the variety of merchandise available. Mugs, pins, plushies, etc.
- Get Brenda Zecora merchandise, y'all!
Onto audience questions! Told you we didn't have a lot of time! And, as always, foals went first.
- For Cathy: What best imitates the spirit of a drainpipe? [Ed.: ?????]
- The drainpipe, of course.
- Have you guys ever received rotten voice directions?
- Cathy: Everyone works with storyboards and makes notes on what they're looking to deliver for each line, as well as maintaining their own idea of how to pay a scene.
- Lee just went the safe route and sucked up to directors who will remain nameless. No, none of the people on the panel have ever told a lie, either...
- How much practice goes into voice acting?
- It depends on the actor. Characters get easy to voice after you've done them for a while. Eventually, you start looking for nuances and points of emphasis during prep work, but then Cathy just goes "I'm not acting. I'm only being myself." In Spike's voice.
- Seriously, bless this woman. ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ANSWER she gives always comes from Spike's voice.
- Cathy played Rarity in previous generations. Now she voices Spike [who has an infatuation with Rarity.] Discuss.
- The old Rarity was very different age and personality wise. It was a lot of fun to "playa different child" and do all the singing for her. Her role as Spike this time around was just a funny coincidence.
- Favorite things about MLP?
- Lee: You guys!
- Audience: *cheers*
- Cathy: Being part of such a wonderful movement. You guys have proven over the last couple years that friendship is magic, and I just hope we can continue this forever and evermore.
- Are the staff allowed to look at fanwork, like art, comics, and writing?
- Yes [Ed.: to the first two. Writing? Bad news bears.].
- What's it like working together,and how do you do it? Are there fights?
- Michelle: Not that you know.
- Maddy counters with declaring her enmity with Michelle on the spot.
- Add in some unconfirmed but clear rumors of "voice-offs"between the VAs, which they launch into on stage anyway. Oh, Lee and Nicole, you so silly.
- What would Apple Bloom and Scootaloo say when they got their cutie marks?
- Apple Bloom: Oh, sweet applesaaaaaaaaauce!
- Scootaloo: Wow, this is so awesome!
Foal questions done. Adults went next.
- For Nicole: Celestia has both a loving and nurturing side and an authoritarian, commanding side. How do you reconcile these two sides of Celestia when voicing her?
- People aren't flat. Characters have many different colors and shades, and it's all about being able to look in the mirror and accept all the colors. You have to be willing to give lots of things a try and jump off cliffs with them.
- For Nicole: Does Celestia have any response to the friendship letter GLaDOS wrote her?
- She hasn't seen it, but she'll look it up.
- Also, bronies apparently enjoy Portal.
- If your character does a full 180 and becomes evil, what do they do?
- Spike: *growls like a dog*
- Everyone pretty much lost their stacks. Everyone also likes Equestria Girls.
- Celestia: Marries Discord and live in chocolate pudding.
- Zecora: *starts ranting in pseudo-Swahili. Excellent show.*
- Scootaloo: Make everypony a blank flank.
- Apple Bloom:*goes with Scootaloo*
- This question was basically the best ever.
- How do I into VA?
- Michelle: Theater is great for getting yourself in front of an audience and being comfortable in your own voice.
- Lee: Get yourself a little recording device and get used to the sound of your own voice, and find the qualities that make it unique. Then find someone in the craft and take lessons from him. You must leave inhibitions at the door. You need to believe in yourself and the person you are.
- Brenda: Your own natural voice is a character too, so bear that in mind when you’re starting out. Also, find the talent agents in your area to find out who’s teaching around you.
- Cathy: Be honest and realistic about what your range is.
- If you guys met your character from MLP, what would you do with them?
- Lee: has always wanted to ride a unicorn.
- Nicole: Same, and then brush her hair.
- Cathy: Get Spike into a gem mine and go to town!
- Brenda: Look in Zecora's book of spells.
- Maddy: Go scootin' with Scootaloo!
- Michelle: Help AB find her cutie mark. Oh, and go on adventures!
- Lee, take 2: Move Steven Magnet into the Ponyville fountain so that he can be in more episodes.
- If Celestia had to spend an evening with Discord, what would they do?
- Celestia: Everybody get out your books, get writing, and pitch 'em to Mitch. Uh, go bowling, go to the Legion for a beer, there's Bingo Night. A nice, romantic dinner with some rose petals. Walk on the beach, holding hooves. Try out his wings, let him use my barette.
- Who would get the upper hoof in the end?
- Celestia: That would be me.
God, I love these people. Unfortunately, EqD's coverage for THIS panel had to cut off, as Aquaman and I had to run to our Pre-reader panel in a vastly, vastly smaller room.
