Brian Sommer Interview

Interview Transcription
MIXERRULES - There we go. Okay. So, welcome to the interview. This is the interview with Brian... How do you pronounce your last name? Because I have heard it pronounced a few different ways.

Brian - So have I as a matter of fact. It's Summer, so it's pronounced like S-U-M-M-E-R, it's actually the German spelling of the season. S-O-M-M-E-R but it's pronounced like Summer.

MIXERRULES - Exactly like my middle name, that's funny.

Brian - There you go.

MIXERRULES - Okay, so yes, today we are doing an interview with the voice actor of Jerry from U.B. Funkeys. You've also done some work in The Walking Dead I believe?

Brian - I've done some work in The Walking Dead, I have indeed. At this particular point in my career, which is about 15 years, I've got little over 200 video game titles. God knows how many characters within all those titles, so yeah it's been a healthy career with quite a lot of credits.

MIXERRULES - That's good, that's good. So how many times have you actually worked for Mattel on stuff?

Brian - I think this was the only one, if I remember correctly. And we have to remember this was back in 2007 that we recorded for this project, so it's been a while. So I may not remember all the details.

MIXERRULES - Yeah, that's be figured. So our first question that we have today is asked by someone in our Discord named Chrisisdead. Their question was: "How did you know how the voice should go if you haven't seen the character?"

Brian - Ah well first of all, I'm so terribly sorry that Chris is dead. But we'll go ahead and answer the question anyway. The process is standard for all of the projects. I have an agent appear in San Francisco, I'm with the Stars agency down in Los Angeles, I'm with the DPM. So, clients, the game developers will send an audition to the agent, the agent then sends it to me. Usually, within that audition packet will be information about the character. A lot of times there'll be an illustration of the character and then a description of the character's personality, what they want the character to sound like and then a few lines of dialogue that we record as an audition, which then get sent back. Mine, along with many other people, they get sent back to the developer and the developer chooses which actor they want to have come in and record the voice. So to answer the question: I actually did know what the character looked like and I actually did know, kind of, what they wanted the character to sound like. So, it definitely helps us out, instead of just doing it blind, they give us some information to work off of.

MIXERRULES - Okay, so the next question we have was asked by unknown_scientist, who was a newer member of our Discord when I asked for questions for you, for this interview. His first question is: "When you were recording the audio for Jerry, did you go to the studio, like Arkadia or Mattel wherever, whichever company it was that hired?

Brian - Right, so these particular characters were recorded out here in California and they were actually recorded by Somatone Studios. And again, this was back in 2007 and I think Somatone was just starting out during that time. Nick Thomas was one of the founders and I believe he was actually the director of the session, and actually if I remember correctly, they had not yet set up their recording facility at Somatone so we had to actually go to a studio which was down the street from them called Muse. And, interestingly enough, Muse is right across the street from Pixar Studios. I think some of you may know that name.

MIXERRULES - That's pretty cool.

Brian - Yeah, they're all located there in Emeryville and Muse was right across the street on Hollis at the time, I think they're still there. Somatone has since, of course, grown into a very large company, they've done a lot of recording. We actually recorded the original League of Legends characters at Somatone.

MIXERRULES - Ooh, nice.

Brian - Yeah, Yeah.

MIXERRULES - Well, the second question from unknown_scientist I'm gonna have to modify a little bit.

Brian - Okay.

MIXERRULES - Was there anything, like, while at the studio... Did you hear any like, voice clips for other characters that may or may not had've been put into the game?

Brian - I don't recall that and generally you wouldn't see anything that you personally weren't working on at the time. They may show you a trailer or give you a general feel of the game if that was needed, I don't remember if that was done. So, my most accurate answer is: I don't remember if there was or not.

MIXERRULES - Okay, so our next question is still from unknown_scientist. After--

Brian - Wow, pretty inquisitive person.

MIXERRULES - Yeah, he had multiple questions which was pretty good.

Brian - Well, that's good.

MIXERRULES - After the Funkiki update, which was the one where Jerry was introduced with all the voice lines, was there any other voice acting that you did for Funkeys, like, for a future update?

Brian - Right, I don't believe so. I actually... When you, Jackson got a hold of me, I actually had to do some research to find if, in fact, I was involved in the game at all. Like I said, back in 2007, that was a while ago. So, checking my records, I only have the one entry, so I believe that was my one and only time that I recorded for the project.

MIXERRULES - Ah, okay. His next question is: Where there any outtakes or made you changes that happened during the recording?

Brian - Well, there's definitely always plenty of outtakes when we're recording. You know, some flubbed lines or you... You know, a little joke here and there inserted sometimes, just to make the session a lot more fun. Although, you know, voicing these kind of characters is always fun. I don't remember anything specific and... Changes? Not likely, simply because if there were changes they would've brought me back in for what's called a "pickup session" to redo lines that got re-written or if they had changed the story or the character or something like that, they would've brought me back in. So, just given the fact that there was only one session, I don't think there were any changes.

MIXERRULES - Ah, okay. Let's see... Our next question is from a different person this time. It's from DatWynaut.

Brian - I think I know him.

MIXERRULES - Wallnut? Might be Wallnut.

Brian - Okay.

MIXERRULES - I'm bad at reading, I'm sorry.

Brian - That's okay.

MIXERRULES - He has two questions. First question was, I believe we went over this before but, maybe just a little reiteration or a little bit more in-depth would be good. He asked: How exactly did you get in contact or how did they contact you?

Brian - Yeah, sure. As we said, they contacted my agent and then the audition information was sent out and that's how that process goes. So that's... That's how it occurred in this particular one and that's how it occurs almost always. There are occassions once you're an established actor in the business, sometimes they will do what's called a "direct booking". So they'll call your agent and they'll say "Hey we've got a character that we want Brian to voice. So just send him in." And they circumvent the auditioning process. But most often they sent an audition out to multiple actors, get multiple auditions back and then they choose who they want.

MIXERRULES - Okay, so, he also asks: What's your favorite Funkey? Besides Jerry, of course.

Brian - You know, I was looking through the old audition packets and I think I remember one, I don't remember the name of the character, but he had a backpack and like a big handlebar mustache--

MIXERRULES - Oh, I think I know who you're talking about! Angus was his name.

Brian - That's right! That's exactly what it was because he had this great... I think they wanted him to a have big Scottish accent or something of the British Isles feel to it, and that's always a fun accent to do. So I think he would've been one that I would've enjoyed doing the voice for as well. But Jerry, I mean come on, Jerry is so laid back and fun, how can you not love him?

MIXERRULES - True, true. Okay, so now on to some questions that I have for you.

Brian - Sure!

MIXERRULES - How do you feel that even after U.B. Funkeys being shut down for a while, that there's still an active fanbase?

Brian - I think it's fantastic and it certainly speaks to the popularity of the game that even though the game is, you know, gone, it's still enjoyed. So, you know, kudos to you guys. I always say that, ultimately, I work for the fans, because if you guys aren't enjoying the game, if you're not playing the game, if you're not talking about the game, if you're not enjoying my performance, chances are I'm not gonna get called back. So it's really your input, your opinion about these projects that keeps me working. So i appreciate it, so thanks to you guys for keeping this alive.

MIXERRULES - Okay, I have two more questions and a surprise question I didn't send you beforehand.

Brian - Okay, very good.

MIXERRULES - Away! So, did you know there was going to be a U.B. Funkeys TV show, and if so, where there any voice lines that you were supposed to be recording for it?

Brian - I had no idea that there was going to be a Funkeys TV show, so that's news to me, and as I said that was the only session that I did so if they were planning on doing it, they may not have gotten to that point where they were casting for the voices, so, no. I don't know anything about that nor was I contacted regarding it.

MIXERRULES - Ah okay, so some time, if possible, would you like to someday play U.B. Funkeys and actually play as your character Jerry?

Brian - Sure, that would be fun! Although you're talking to a cave man that's for sure. I'm definitely not a tech guy, and a funny story when we did Walking Dead, when we wrapped up the first season of Walking Dead they brought us in, as a promotional sort of a thing, to play the game. And they gave me the controller and I have to admit that that was the first time I had a game controller in my hands since Atari came out, right.

MIXERRULES - Oh, wow!

Brian - So that shows you how old I am first, and secondly it shows you how bad I am at actual video game playing. So it's a good thing that I get paid to voice the characters in video games, not play the video games because I'd probably be living in a cardboard box behind a supermarket somewhere.

MIXERRULES - Okay, so there's one last question I wanted ask you, but--

Brian - Sure.

MIXERRULES - I just forgot it, so give me one second.

Brian - No problem at all.

MIXERRULES - I'm having to much fun, I'm starting to forget things.

Brian - Oh, well see? That's a good thing, that's a good thing.

MIXERRULES - Okay, so, if one day, let's say, the fans of U.B. in our Discord are trying to do a recreation project, like, we're trying to restore it to current-day... Or to Windows 10 edition and stuff like that, trying to make it where you can still play it... If we needed voice lines for a Jerry update, would you be able to provide?

Brian - I'm always happy to work on projects and if it is, you know, a resurrection of something, even better, you know, that's great. Of course, you know, there's the legalities and all that kinda stuff that would need to be worked out. You know, proprietary things with the company and so on and so forth. But that's all for agents and people in suits to deal with. They just call me and say "Hey, be here at this time at this place and record some lines." I love my job, so anytime I get to have some fun in a studio is okay with me.

MIXERRULES - Well yeah. Well thank you so much for this interview today, it was fun getting to talk to you.

Brian - My pleasure. My pleasure, Jackson, and my thanks to everybody out there in your community for keeping this game alive. That's great stuff.

MIXERRULES - Yeah, some day you might be receiving a U.B. Funkeys hub in the mail and a guide on how to get it working.

Brian - Thank you very much.

MIXERRULES - Yeah, thanks for the interview.

Brian - My pleasure guys, everybody take care.

MIXERRULES - Away.