Interviews
You can sometimes find a lot more to movies by their cast and crew. Why I like documentaries. ' to questions " to answers.These 'views found at FFfreak.com, and copied with the webmaster's permission. Thanks again.
Donald Sutherland (Dr. Sid) –'What was it like seeing your virtual character on screen?'
"My wife felt that my face would have been different. For me, this was perfect. I was astounded by the art of this film. The soul of this film was amazing. The message is very important today, as the film looks at the devastation and wreckage of the hearts of people who are in short-term profit mode. This film has a very strong message."'Do you see computer-generated actors as any threat to real actors?'
"No. Absolutely not. Did photography put an end to oil paintings? No, it expanded art and introduced a new form. When TV came out, people said that it would be the end of film. But film has not only survived, but thrived. Computer animation is a new form of film - of art. You feel different things from it. It's a new way to tell a story. The audience has a different relationship with computer generated images. In theory, you're not suppose to know that the robot's a robot."'What did you think of the Final Film?'
"When Aki and Gray kiss in this film, I loved it. The artificiality about the whole film really works. Doing the film digitally created harmony between the characters, the environments and all of the special effects. The beauty of the landscapes in this are exquisite. You couldn't have done this film with full live action."'What do you think the theme of this film is?'
"It's about purity of the spirit. It's about Gaia. It's about the ability to go beyond yourself, go beyond the mundane."'Were you familiar with the Final Fantasy video games?'
"I've never played a video game and I don't plan on it. I don't even watch TV. I enjoy reading. But this film goes beyond a video game. The intent of this film is honourable. The story is very relevant. And the medium is fascinating to behold."
Peri Gilpin (Jane) –
'How did you approach this film?'
"I used my imagination create this character. Jane is a very physical person in this film, always running around firing weapons. I tried to keep the energy up, especially since I'm sitting in a little glass sound booth with the director on the other side and not actually lugging a heavy bazooka around with me wearing 60 pound armor. I'd just jump around the studio to keep my energy high."'What do you like about Jane?'
"Jane' tough and a good soldier. She seemed to have a crush or a thing for Gray, but she loves Neil. She's a no-nonsense girl."'What was it like seeing a virtual character with your voice on the screen?'
"I didn't see any resemblance to myself on screen, but other people have said they've seen it. They taped my face when I recorder the first time and people have told me that certain ways jane speaks look like me. My husband said he saw little things in her face that looked like me. Of course, I don't look in the mirror when I'm talking, so it'd be harder for me to catch it."'Did you feel different in working with this film character than you would with a live action film or show?'
"Even though I wasn't in make-up or costumes, I felt like I performed in this film. The only element they needed was my vocals, but they made me feel needed as an actress. I only wish I could act as good as the CG Jane does in this movie. There's so much detail and emotion in this film."'What was it like working with Hironobu Sakaguchi?'
"This was my first time working with a Japanese director and it was a pleasure. I always felt welcome to ask questions. I really felt appreciated. They'd send me gifts for my birthday, even if I'd finished with the voice acting. Since they're located in Hawaii, I got some Hawaiian art, syrups, pineapple juice and things like that. They were always very nice and considerate."'What's the theme of Final Fantasy?'
"I love the message of the movie: let's try to respect the Earth and each other, rather than trying to blow it up. It's a beautiful idea, that we're all connected by Gaia. Final Fantasy is like a beautiful poem performed through computer animation. We're all connected to each other by our souls and to the Earth. This is such a great story to tell, and I think it's the right way to tell it. These characters really have personality quirks - needs, goals, self-confidence, little neuroses. You can see it in their faces and in their muscles. You just can't take your eyes off it."'Were you familiar with the Final Fantasy video games before this film?'
"I didn't know anything about the video games, but my cousin and some of my other relatives have played every game. This was definitely the first project I've worked on that they were interested in every aspect of!"