With possibly *the* largest number of characters voiced
across all three seasons of "Digimon," Derek Stephen
Prince is fast becoming a big name with the fans. Quite likely
the most popular voice actor on the show at the moment, he took
some time out of his busy schedule to answer the multitude of
questions I had.
Chris McFeely: When did you decide you wanted to build
a career for yourself as an actor?
Derek Stephen Prince: That's a loaded
question, but I'll try to be brief. I actually started when I was
10. I appeared as an extra on a short lived show called "240
Robert" with Mark Harmon. I did a lot of stage work through
elementary and high school. It was after high school that I felt
I wanted to be an actor and went to college for Musical Theater
at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (where people like
Ming Na, John Wells, Steven Bochco, Blair Underwood, Jack Klugman
and Ted Danson graduated - just to name a few). I went to New
York for 2 years and did summer stock and tours, and wound up
back in California where I grew up and landed my first big TV gig
as a co-star on the first season of "E.R." where I
played a rookie fireman. I also appeared on a couple episodes of
"Saved By The Bell".
CMcF: How did you break into the voice-acting industry? What were
you doing before you got your break?
DSP: After ER and Saved By The Bell, things were slow. I took a
voice over class at the SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) Conservatory,
where many actors can take free classes to sharpen their skills.
I never really got into voice-overs. I had an introduction to it
in college, but nothing major. The person teaching was Bob Bergen
(voice of Porky Pig and Tweety Bird). He gave us two pieces of
material to read. After class, as we all were leaving, he stopped
me and asked if I had a demo tape. I had no idea that you needed
a demo for voice-overs, and I only had my on-camera demo. He said
that I showed a lot of talent and I should take professional
classes. His was the first I took. At that time, he was doing a
show for Saban called "Eagle Riders". I got to sit in
and see first hand what Anime was all about. That prompted me to
take a couple more classes and make my first demo (I'm currently
on my third). Then I contacted casting at Saban and said that if
they were ever looking for new talent, that I'd be happy to send
them my demo. The Casting Director asked what I was doing the
following day, and asked if I'd like to go to an audition. I said
of course, tried out, and wound up being cast as a regular on
"Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers," my first professional
voice-over gig.
CMcF: Through what events were you approached for the
Digimon series? You play a huge number of characters, but were
there any others that you auditioned for?
DSP: After being
on MMPR, that set me up for other shows that Saban produced and
auditioned for. Some I got, some I didn't. For Digimon 01, I
actually wasn't brought in for the auditions. I was asked by the
casting director, Paul DiFranco, whom I had never worked for
before, if I was interested in doing a guest character
(DemiDevimon). I was actually referred to him by someone else at
Saban. I said yes. He then learned that I could do a Peter Lorre
imitation, and got the role of Digitamamon. It wasn't until
halfway through that season that I actually auditioned and got
the role of Piedmon.
CMcF: Speaking of roles... who would you say has been
your favourite character to voice? There have certainly been a
lot of them, so I don't know if you'd be able to pick just one...
DSP: I've done a lot, but I would have to say that so far, the
most fun and the most rewarding role has been The Digimon
Emperor/Ken Ichijouji: The Emperor because he encapsulated evil,
and Ken because of the arc he made as the Emperor to becoming a
DigiDestined.
CMcF: At the other end of the spectrum, were there any
characters you found to be a strain to voice?
DSP: I found it challenging to voice Paildramon and
Imperialdramon, because when you record you do it by yourself
(for Anime). Often, Paul St. Peter did his part first so I had to
listen really good to match all his inflections in the way he
said his lines.
CMcF: If there was one
other character on the show that you'd like to be able to voice,
who would it be?
DSP: If you're referring to the second season, then I'd have to
say Mummymon.
CMcF: You're currently voicing Impmon on the third season
of the show. A question that is on a lot of fans' lips at the
moment is - will you be voicing Impmon's Digivolved form,
Beelzebumon? Maybe you should shed some light on his American
name?
DSP: First off, the American name is Beelzamon. Yes, I am voicing
him. I actually just did his first line which is at the end of
Episode 131. At that time, noone knew what he was supposed to act
like, or what his personality was, so we just took a shot at it
and did 3 or 4 interpretations. 133, the next episode he's in,
where there is more detail to the character was in the process of
beign written so we had nothing to go on. When I initially did
Impmon (whom you may harken to sound a lot like DemiDevimon) I
auditioned for it. They wanted someone who sounded like Joe
Pesci. Well, anyone who's anyone knows that if you want Pesci you
go to me. When we were voicing the Digimon CDrom game, we had to
come up with something for Beelzamon, because he is featured in
it, so the director and I thought it would be funny/cool to do a
bad-ass New York type. So if it doesn't work out for the series,
then you'll at least get to hear Beelzamon as if he was a
hardcore Sylvester Stallone. :) This interpretation didn't look
like it would work when we got to see a picture of him for the
first time.
CMcF: As one of the "bigger" names in Digimon,
with THE largest number of characters voiced under your belt, do
you find your voice is ever recognised when you're out? I'd
imagine that any younger relatives you may have reacted well to
finding out they're related to the voice of Veemon!
DSP: I have not
yet been recognized as any of the characters I've portrayed. If
someone was a huge fan that I bumped into, perhaps they'd be able
to tell I was Ken, because he is the closest to my actual voice.
To actually hear what my "real" voice sounds like, you can go to www.voicebank.net, click on
House Reels, then my agent - Tisherman - then Promos, then Men,
then me. I'm listed as Steve Prince.
CMcF: Do you think you were cast in other Saban projects as a
result of your popular work on "Digimon" (or vice
versa), or was each assignment independently secured?
DSP: I owe everything I was considered for at Saban a direct
result of my involvement with Power Rangers. If I hadn't done a
series regular on that show, it's likely that I probably wouldn't
be involved with Anime as much as I am.
CMcF: It's my understanding that a lot of voice actors
rarely watch the shows they work on. Does this hold true for you?
If you do watch the shows, whatare your opinions of them?
DSP: I often try to watch the shows if able. If I really like an
episode, like "Piedmon's Last Stand" from season one, I
request a tape for my files. I feel that some of the shows I work
on, particularly the current season of Digimon, are way too dark
for kids to watch and have a hard time understanding why they get
approved. But hey, that's why they have test groups and network
people to handle that. I just do my job, and enjoy it. :)
Sometimes, I feel that the post production music overshadows the
dialogue. That seems to be a running area that I'm nit-picky
about. Perhaps, when Disney takes over in 2002, that'll change.
CMcF: It's fair to say that voice actors receive little
appreciation for what they do, beyond cult and fan followings.
What are your opinions on this? Do you like the anonymity?
DSP: I come from an on-camera background, so I wish that I was
recognized more, but I like the rewards of being acknowledged by
the peers I work with, because that's pretty much the only people
that would recognize me anyway. The one variation from
that, was when I was asked by a benifit organization to donate an
autographed picture for a charity event, because they liked my
work as Ken/Digimon Emperor, which is how I AKA'd it.
CMcF: What advice do you have for those out there who
aspire to be voice actors? How should they go about making their
way into the industry?
DSP: Don't. Seriously. If there's anything else you aspire to do,
or like to do, do it. This business is very hard to get in to,
harder to get a job at. But if you must, then be sure that those
who are in the business and have the experience to give you sound
advice, let you know that you can compete against the thousand of
others out there who are making a career for themselves. It
always seems like there's never enough work for those who want to
get started, but if you have the talent, drive and determination
then you'll make it. Just look at me.
CMcF: Who would you cite as your inspirations, in the
industry, in life, in anything?
DSP: I owe a lot to Bob Bergen for
lighting the spark in me to pursue this industry. I owe a lot to
Karen Carter, a casting director for Saban, who loved actors
enough to take a chance on me in bringing me in for MMPR without
even hearing a demo, and let me try out for a series regular,
which I booked. I owe a lot to Scott Page Pagter and David Walsh,
who as the Director and Engineer for MMPR, developed my talent
from not knowing squat about dubbing, tbecoming one of the better
actors out there who can really do it. Finally, I owe a lot to
the various other directors out there who constantly think of me
and reccommend me for projects. They keep me working! (In
particular, Wendee Lee, Michael Sorich and Richard Epcar.) As for aspirations, I hope to work as much as Jess Harnell, Frank
Welker, and Jim Cummings.
CMcF: Are there any individuals in the industry that you
would like/hope to work with in the future?
DSP: The above mentioned, as well as any celebrity actors that do
voices for cartoons (movies mainly)
CMcF:
Are you friendly with any of the other voice actors on
the shows you work on?
DSP: The above mentioned directors, as well as Brianne Siddall,
Richard Cansino and Steve Blum
CMcF: What do you do in your spare time? What hobbies or
interests do you have?
DSP: I like computer games. I am currently studying to be an MCSE
(Microsoft Certified Systems Expert) to configure networks in
business offices. Once I get my degree, I will have more
stability in my chosen field as regular work. Let's face it,
no-one who is doing anime is making a fortune at it, and all
shows must come to an end sometime.
CMcF: What are you working on at the moment? What can we
expect to see from 
you next?
DSP: I'm currently working on "Mon Colle Knights" as
one of the leads, Mondo. Also working on a yet to be released CGI
project from Japan called Zentirx. Can't say a lot about this
project, because it's under wraps, but it looks like it will be
interesting. Especially since we are providing the voices before
it's animated with computer graphics! Not your usual anime, nor
the fact that it's CGI.
CMcF: Any final words you'd like to impart to your fans?
DSP: Thank you all for thinking so highly of me. It feels good to
be recognized. The voice over industry is a family, so if anyone
out there is SERIOUSLY thinking of getting into the business, I
would be happy to speak with them via email to give them whatever
advice, support or encouragement they'd need to help them make
it.
DSP: And thank you Chris, for your time and dedication you have
put into this website. Thank you also for quickly acknowledging
and addressing my concerns. Much appreciated. It has been a
pleasure being interviewed by you, and I wish you much luck in
all your endeavours!
Since giving this interview, Mr. Prince has now shut down the e-mail address he was using to talk with fans.
Many thanks to Dave Mallow for arranging this interview.
