Thursday, February 23, 2012

Transformers: Prime Promo, Cullen Q & A

Saturday brings a new episode of Transformers: Prime with Orion Pax Part 2. The story continues anemisic Optimus Prime's adventures with the Decepticons as the Autobots try to figure out a way to rescue him. Promo clip for the episode is below. In addition the voice of Prime, Peter Cullen, answers a few questions from fans about the his role in the cartoon series. Re-created below, the full Q & A is here on The Hub's Facebook page.


1. Brandon Torio: What would Optimus say about you if he met you in real life?
PETER CULLEN: I don’t know what he would say, but as all of us who want to do the right things in life, we might hope he could say something positive, encouraging and inspiring. "A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, be loved and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of a man" (John Adams). Caring about what others think of you is the defining moment that separates selfishness into compassion and generosity. President Harry S. Truman once said, "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."

2. Morgan Harris: What kind of advice would you give to future voice actors?
PETER CULLEN: Voice acting is acting. There are some out there that think its not real acting, they are wrong. Attend a session and just watch them perform. During "Transformers Prime" recording sessions I am always amazed at each and every actor going through their performance. They are uniquely talented, devoted professionals from different walks of life, age, and heritage. They have studied acting. Seriously studied, and have seen the ups and downs that come with it. Never give up. No matter how discouraged you become, never give up! Trust your instincts, practice your abilities, and above all, love what you are doing and do it with truth. I love this... "Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom."

3. David Shropshire: Have you changed your approach or interpretation of Optimus over the years?
PETER CULLEN: My attitude will never change with Optimus Prime. He came from a script that was a brilliant new version of hero. I still draw from my original source, and that source was someone closer to me than no one but a few will understand. Considering the effect Prime has had, you would have loved this man as well. There are times when a different approach to his character occur. I have weighed the significance of them with concern, but in the end, I find some justification. I must, for I do not have a final decision, I can only rely on their understanding of him, and respect for him. Can he lose his temper? Did he lose his temper? Is he becoming human? Is he real after all? Most importantly, will he always stand for the core values of society, the true measures of character? To that I say, "As long as I'm alive!"

4. Natasha M Lifa: What made you decide to do voice acting?
PETER CULLEN: It was really a 'no brainer' for me when I took the advice of my parents to do what I loved. I loved a lot of things, but somehow my ability to impact people with voices, sounds that came from inside me from God knows where, eventually won out. One elocution contest led to another, and before long I knew that acting was to become my life. I studied, and soon became a full time actor in repertory theatre, cabarets, and eventually TV and film. It became evident that I could audition for voice acting roles twice as often as on camera roles, and so, off I went. I am a lucky man and I wish that for everyone. PS, My first cartoon series was "Mighty Man and Yuck" where I met the King, "Frank Welker." We have shared a great friendship over the years, and working with him again (Prime and Megatron) is to say," It doesn’t get better than this!"

5. Becky Crowder: How does it feel to work with new talent in the "'Prime" series?
PETER CULLEN: It has a glow of its own. "Transformers Prime" will possibly enter record for season three in the near future, and I look forward to that. I truly admire the entire cast, as each member brings something unique into the works. The show has its own soul, and as the Transformers has changed quite a bit over the years, the Autobot presence has not. The addition of humans brings each session a strong and enjoyable experience. We really love working together. The respect, the generosity, and the unselfishness of all, permeates the room. The laughter and appreciation we share together is undeniably one of the best experiences I have encountered in my career.

9 comments:

  1. thank you for sharing article! The respect, the generosity, and the unselfishness of all, permeates the room. The laughter and appreciation we share together is undeniably one of the best experiences I have encountered in my career.

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  2. I think the way Peter Cullen plays Optimus Prime in G1 was more real, he seems to be the way his brother described to be a real hero. G1 prime was alot more human, he did lose his cool onice at the very start when he demand sideswipe for his rocket pack and after he crashed landed he was pissed Jazz had to cool him down. ( In transformers prime the autobots need a true 2nd in command in that first episode the autobots got owned and they are lost without a leader rachet is just a doctor like Bones McCoy they need someone like Jazz in 2nd in command when the autobots were fighing like they were Jazz would have tell them to chill out and keep their heads together.) G1 prime he was not only a great leader he was a great friend to everyone and he had several best friends like Jazz, ironhide, omega supreme, sliverbolt and bumblebee. In the live action movies and prime he is like a vulcun. Thanks to Michel Bay Optimus Prime will never be the same. After G1 peter cullen never played Optimus Prime again and maybe not other voices he played never got famous like Optimus Prime and when the Unicron trilogy came on Optimus Prime was played by Garry Chalk and hes seen it and must think that fans forgot about him. The fans request that Optimus Prime should be played Cullen in the live action movies and when they first called him he said yes right away just to get back into the fame, he played Optimus Prime like a vulcan and hes been doing it ever since from the movies to future series. But he really done it well back in the G1 days he was alot more real of a true human.

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  3. A Vulcan? I dont get it.I think Prime had some of his greatest sayings in the history of Transformers in the movies and beleive me that doesn't mean I loved the movies because there was plenty Iwasn't crazy about but I thought Peter Cullen was excellent in the movie version and I think Prime had great moments in all 3 movies and he called Sam his friend and called BumbleBee his old friend and how it was an honor to serve with them all so I couldn't disagree more with your analysus. Although I do agree that Prime was also great in G1.

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  4. Well what I was saying is that Optimus Prime does not show much emotions in the movies and the new series. Mr Spock calls Kirk his old friend and has his great phrase "the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few". That's how Peter Cullen plays Optimus Prime today, in G1 he play him with emotions.

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  5. Yeah, I get what your saying, there is a difference between then and now and while I do beleive that some of the sayings that Prime spoke in the movies are timeless quotes, he's also alot more cold at the same time and sometimes downright nasty but then again alot of people like that side of Prime like in the third movie when he said we will kill them all, the crowd went nuts and also in the second movie when Prime said give me your face, people love it.He looked like he had some emotion after Sentinal went crazy and took the pillers, he looked upset, I dont know I guess its all how we look at it and we all have different perspectives but its an interesting discussion.

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    1. Well i think u may have a point I do love the moments in the 3rd movie like Prime shotting down the piller and said "get down here sentinal!!!" that did sound like G1 prime but I wish it was megatron because its prime's rival.

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  6. That was awesome when Prime said get down here Sentinal, that was an excellent moment. I also liked when in the first movie he said humans are a young species and have much to learn but I've seen goodness in them and freedom is the right of all sentien beings and in the second movie when he said fate rarely comes at a time of our choosing and ofcourse there are other quotes as well but the way he said get down here sentinel was said with authority and thats Peter Cullen at his best.

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  7. I guess the stupid humans made me mad that I over look the great things Optimus Prime said. In the movies Peter Cullen is the true star.

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  8. i wonder if they will have a girl autobot in the 4th one i think that should be fair

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