Interview with the Devil Lady (Shawn Sides)

Since the early days of production here at Monster Island, Shawn Sides has been a wonderful part of ADV Austin?s productions. Starting with her lead role as ?Sakura Saginomiya? in 801 T.T.S. Airbats (1995), Shawn has continued to show her skill with characters ranging from the playful lion cub ?King? in Nadia: the Secret of Blue Water, to the tortured ?Jun Fudou?, as The Devil Lady (2003). In addition to her voice acting gigs, she spends much of her time acting and as Resident Producer with the Austin born, nationally acclaimed ?Rude Mechs? theatre collective (www.rudemechs.com ). After recently wrapping the Devil Lady series here at the Island, I caught up to Shawn?and after she morphed back into human form?this is what she had to say:

Monster Island - Has performing always been in your blood (No Pun intended)?

Yes. I come from a very dramatic family. When I would misbehave my grandmother would pretend she was having a stroke and fall over on the floor. She wasn?t doing it to be funny. My mom would ?call the police? or pack my bags for the orphanage. Very Tennessee Williams women, with the back of their hands to their foreheads a lot. I inherited the drama, though I try and temper it. I?ve been acting in plays since I was a little kid. When you come from that family it?s a struggle to go for the subtle and I have to constantly restrain my hammy instincts, even while just, like, talking on the phone.

M.I. ? How / When did you first sink your teeth into Voice Acting? First impressions?

When I sit down and think about it, it really isn?t all that different from stage acting ? in the sense that what goes on inside your head/body is the same. I can?t be still or out of character in my body language when I?m voice acting ? I have to play the role with my whole self or it comes out sounding weird. Which must be a hoot to watch from outside the booth. The BEST difference is that I can wear cut offs and look like crap if I want to.

M.I. - Who are your influences?

The TV. It?s a populist genre and everybody gets the conventions. I?m suspicious of people who say they never watch TV or don?t own a TV. I know it?s an ?idiot box? and all that, but fattening food is bad for you, too, so just, you know, practice a little restraint. I think people who are phobic about TV are kind of snobby. It?s hard to say what my acting influences are specifically since I do so much more directing work for my theatre company lately. Favorite actors are Crispin Glover and Julianne Moore.

M.I. - Now that you are done with Devil Lady, what do you come away with in regards to Jun?

I love that character ? the blasé, angst-y high-fashion model who turns into a growling demon super hero! Two awesome characters to get to play individually, let alone melded. And then you get to morph as well. I kept thinking about American Werewolf in London for the morphing moments.

M.I. ? What kind of music do you listen to? Favorite Food?

I was listening to a lot of garage rock not too long ago, but I kind of OD?ed. Now I go to hear live, old-style country bands here in Austin a lot (not Alt-country so much). Red Volkaert (sp?) and Billy Dee and Earle Pool Ball ? these guys that have been playing forever and are just amazing musicians. Dale Watson on Thursday nights at Ginny?s Little Longhorn is the kind of experience that you mostly here about as ?from the good ole days back when Austin was cool.? But you can experience it now.

Chips and queso. (see above re:restraint).

M.I. ? Do you like to be: Good guy, bad guy, or animal (or both in the case of Devil Lady)?

Animals. Or animal-like humans. Growling, snarling and drooling come very naturally to me. I haven?t gotten to play many bad guys, but I think generally those parts are more fun. They?re usually written more interestingly ? at least in plays they are.

M.I. ? What was it like to play ?King? in Nadia: the Secret of Blue Water?

It was the best damn time in the world. (enthusiastic growl!)

M.I. ? What was your favorite toy as a child?

E-Z Bake Oven. It?s amazing what some light bulbs will do to mud. Never played with dolls ? always stripped them naked and pulled their arms and legs off. That was the extent of their usefulness.

M.I. - What's the most challenging aspect for you when it comes to Voice Acting for Anime and how does it differ from stage performance?

Not having other actors in the room to respond with. Not knowing the character?s arc ? even within the episode.

M.I. - When working on a role, such as Jun, do you feel its better to be fully aware of where the character is going, or be exposed to things much like she is?

I don?t really know what?s better ? I?ve had very few opportunities to really know what?s going to happen. I do think it?s a challenge not to know (see above). But can?t really comment on whether the challenge is a pro or a con.

M.I. - Being mostly a solo process, how do you work around not always having the other performers' recordings to work against?

Luckily, there?s always the Japanese. It?s a challenge (see above) ? having other people in the room helps you shake up your interpretation of the lines (among many other wonderful things), so you just trust the director and take the self-centered approach of ?woo-hoo, I get to set the tone for the whole scene.? Luckily, the directors know what the hell they?re doing ? certainly better than I do.

M.I. ? What do you like to do for fun?

Dance Dance Revolution.

M.I. - What words of wisdom would you pass on to aspiring voice actors?

Watch everything. Read everything. Practice funny voices in your car. Practice funny voices in public.

And Now?. The really big Questions:

M.I. - What is your favorite word?

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGHHH!

M.I. - What is your least favorite word?

?Journey? when used to describe a character?s emotional changes over the course of a script

M.I. - What turns you on?

Anime fans

M.I. - What sound do you love?

That woosh sound just before you fall in those roller coasters that take you up several stories and then drop you

M.I. - What sound do you hate?

The Nokia factory tune

M.I. - What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Travel writer or restaurant reviewer or wine connoisseur or roller-coaster reviewer

M.I. - What profession would you not like to participate in?

Day-care professional or washroom attendant

M.I. - If heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

?Okay, Shawn, we?re giving you another shot at it. This time you?ll be rich.?

M.I. - Thanks a million Shawn! Until we scream again!

Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 (Archive on Friday, May 07, 2004)