Fansite Conference Call for How to Train Your Dragon

I am honored to say that The Butlers Pantry is included in this conference call. I'm still waiting for the details, it will be either this Friday or Saturday.

Please post your questions on this thread. A reminder that they will need to be on topic and content appropriate, as this is a kid's movie.

I have no idea how these things go or how many sites will be represented. My guess is to take the best question and probably one backup question in case there's time.

good for you, dk!!!!

Oh!!!! I'm so excited for you DK! You should post this on Twitter if you haven't.

Usually, each site gets to ask Gman one question, at least that's how it was the first few times.

Possibly, DK, you will be asking/talking to Gman.

Is there really anything that we don't know about Gman? Not a real question, but he's so open in his interviews, and goes off on tangents that expose him more, what's left?

We really need to have a question.

I could open it to Twitter, but I wanted to ask the registered members here first. It's only fair our site gets the first shot at a question, since it would be representing our forum.

I need to think of this to come up with a specific question, but in general I think we should have something specific about this movie, and then a general follow up one.
But you may only get to ask one question, so maybe a more general one (that can tie into this movie as well)?

Hmmmmm. I must ponder this further.

The problem is coming up with a question that is somewhat relevant to How to Train Your Dragon and not be something that he's been asked before over and over again.

Okay. I'll give this a shot or two.

Question: How much and what parts of yourself, your personality, did you put into Stoick?

Question: Did you learn anything about being a parent that you would apply to raising your own kids?

Question: Are all Vikings horny? (I just have to add this! )

I just got confirmation that the call is scheduled for 4:30 pm PST this Saturday, so we'll need to come up with a question by Friday evening.

The call will only be 15 minutes, so I doubt we'll have time for more than one. But just in case, it's always good to have a backup.

Now to come up with a way to pick the best question.

It's good to have a few backups, just in case your question is taken by the other sites. It's happened.

No one else has any questions???

I suppose I could open it up to Twitter, but I wanted to give all of you a shot first.

I'm not sure what has or has not been asked before. How about this....

Do you find that doing voiceovers are more or less challenging than acting in front of a camera, and why?

That's a good one. I think the questions on the list are pretty good so far, even the not so serious.

Donna I like the voice over question, however, he has answered it before and talked about how it was kind of like acting in 300 where you had to pretend that things were there that weren't. But maybe you could put a spin on it, specifically, asking about acting alone in a booth without other actors - and you might get another answer.

I think that you will probably be asking your question last, since the others sites have been around longer, so many of the more "obvious" questions may be asked before they get to you (especially about HTTYD). So I would definitely have several on deck, just in case someone already ask a similar question.

What about having one that isn't specific to the movie, but references it? For ex:

Based on your previous interviews, you have indicated that good scripts and different acting challenges are always a factor in chosing a project, and thus you have acted in many generes of movies, now including doing an animated one.

My question is this: With all the very good writing on network and cable series lately enticing well-respected and talented big screen actors like Glenn Close (Damages), Gary Sinise (CSI:NY) and even John Lithgow (guest staring on Dexter)to tv -- have you, or would you ever consider doing a series or a guest spot on television? Or are you going to continue to focus strictly on movies?

Are those screen actors doing TV because there's a lack of movie roles for them? To me, it seems that way, and that would make the last question an insult. That's my 1 cent.

I've always wanted to know this....

Which comes first...the animation or the voice overs? And if it is the animation that comes first, how do you keep up with it, doing your voice over?

I actually know this! Voice over ususally comes first, with them filming the actors doing their lines. Often they then draw the characters expressions to match.
But Gerry would probably have a much better answer...

LegoJulie wrote:

Are those screen actors doing TV because there's a lack of movie roles for them? To me, it seems that way, and that would make the last question an insult. That's my 1 cent.

I think many are going to TV because the writing is actually better, depending on the project. Those actors that I named are Academy Award nominees who have been extremely successful in movies. I don't think that they are doing TV because they have no other options.

Personally, I think there has been a lack of good roles and scripts in Hollywood for awhile. It seems to be the same old crap, or remakes of old movies. It's like there is a lack of imagination - or maybe funding - for anything original and different.

I agree, that Hollywood loves to recycle itself, when there are so many talented people out there with original stories. It's such a shame.

Okay, how about:

Did you watch a lot of animated movies/cartoons when you were a kid (i.e. Charlie Brown, Disney movies, claymation) and if so, what were your favorite ones?

Do you think today's CGI/computerized animated technology adds to the enjoyment of these movies, or did something get lost in the process (i.e. the "human touch")?

Everyone has good questions. I was instructed to come up with about six of them, and was told we might have time for two.

I'm not sure how to pick the best ones because they're all very good.

Thanks everyone!

Fansite call just finished. I used PamelaJane's question (and mentioned your name), Gerry said it was a really good question. The other sites pretty much touched on most of the other questions, so I chose to ask how auditioning for voiceovers differs than auditioning for regular acting roles.

The other questions were good as well, but since everyone was staying on topic with the movie, I thought it would be a good idea to do that.

It was my first time and I was very nervous, but hopefully we'll be included in more of these in the future and more people can be included. Transcript will be provided to us by next Tuesday, and Tamara from gerardbutler.net has promised us a media file of the call.

Thanks everyone, and it's an honor representing this forum. I just hope I did you proud.

What fansites were included in this call?
How many questions were asked in total?

Thanks DK.

Let's see, there was us, The Butler Did It, .net, and Gals. There might have been one more, I don't remember? Some of the names didn't show, then Dayna got cut off until the end of the call.

I think we each got 2 questions, one of the sites might have gotten 3? Then Dayna got on at the very end and asked one question.