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INTERVIEW WITH VIC MIGNOGNA
This is a transcript of an interview I conducted with the English voice actor Vic Mignogna. Vic has lent his voice to various anime characters over the years, but he's best known for his role as the voice of Ed from Fullmetal Alchemist. On the Sunday evening of Anime Evolution 2006, after the Meet and Greet dinner, Vic and I sat down for a fairly informal interview in the dining hall.
I'd like to thank Blue Rose for videotaping it. The sound quality on the footage didn't turn out that great, so I've pieced this together as best I can. Also to note, there were a bunch of interruptions (like Vic being asked for a photo, etc.) that I've edited out to make this read smoother. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy the interview. :3
Pan: What's your favorite role you've done to date?
Vic: If I had to pick one, I'd probably have to say Fullmetal Alchemist, but I love so many of them -- Dark from DN Angel, Kurz Webber from Full Metal Panic!, Gawl from Generator Gawl. I've done so many that it's hard to pick just one.
Pan: How has being the voice of Ed changed your career?
Vic: Well, I've done about 65 shows, but for me, it's been more major than any other series I've ever done, and it's really been life-changing in that way.
Pan: What do you prefer, FedEx or UPS?
Vic: FedEx.
Blue Rose: Thank you!
Pan: See, FedEx is awesome, and we're not down with brown.
Vic: Uhh... I hate UPS.
Pan: What was your first convention experience?
Vic: My first convention experience was Ohayocon in Columbus, Ohio. I had done a good many roles, but nothing huge. And it was a really neat experience. I really didn't know what to expect. Although, I, myself, have been a con-goer. Star Trek, Star Wars conventions and sci-fi cons, dressing up in costume, you know, so it seemed somewhat familiar to me.
Pan: You can understand where the fans are coming from.
Vic: I understand very well where the fans are coming from.
Pan: Your fans respect you for the fact you understand that. We want to thank you for being a really cool fanboy about everything.
Vic: It's my pleasure.
Pan: What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?
Vic: ...
Kira: *whispers loudly* 42. [Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Reference]
Vic: What? Is there an answer to this or something?
Pan and Kira: Yes.
Vic: Well, I have my own answer. Hmm. What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Should I give you my serious answer or something funny?
Pan: It's up to you. Or you could give us both.
Vic: My serious answer would be my relations with God. My faith is very important to me, and I'd say that's the key to life, the universe, and everything. Apart from that, I would say, maybe a lighter answer would be enjoying your life -- enjoying what you do, making choices in your career that you enjoy -- not based on how much money you think you're going to make or what prestige you think you may get out of it, but just something that you love to do. I do things that I love. I do things that I'm going to be doing when I'm 80 years old, whether someone pays me to do them or not. So that's kind of how I gauge the world around me. Music, video, graphic design, theatre, voice acting -- these are all things that I love to do. These are all things that I'd do if someone pays me to do them or not. I'm just lucky enough to be paid. *laughs* At least for now, anyway.
Pan: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Vic: European or domestic?
Pan: You win!
Vic: Ha! *flashes a 'thumbs-up' at the camera*
Pan: Finally, do you have any message for your fans?
Vic: That I love you. And I'm so grateful for the opportunities to do what I do. That I have gotten the most unbelievable joy and happiness out of the kindness and support, and the encouragement the fans have given. I'm glad that I've been able to do things that people have enjoyed, and I hope I'm able to do lots more in the future.
Pan: Thank you very much. But before we go, we're going to play a game. I like to call it "Rock-Paper-Zazel", and it's a version of rock-paper-scissors. Basically, we play rock-paper-scissors as normal, except whoever loses has to block themselves with this, uh, torn up program, before the other person, who wins, hits them in the head [with a pen] like this. *demonstrates by hitting Vic in the head*
Vic: Ow. I don't like this game. *laughs* OK, I have to admit something. I don't know how to play rock-paper-scissors.
Pan: That's OK. It's very easy. You basically-- *makes a fist*
Vic: That's rock.
Pan: *nods* Rock. *flattens hand* Paper. *peace sign* Scissors.
Vic: *copies the hand actions* What beats what?
Pan: Logically, it works out. Scissors can be beaten by a rock, because a rock can smash the scissors. *acts out the action with Vic* But paper, on the other hand, scissors can cut it. So, scissors beats the paper.
Vic: But then rock can beat everything, because you can smash paper with rock.
Pan: But paper covers rock. *demonstrates*
Vic: Ah!
Bystander: Unless it's super-paper.
Vic: My paper is cardboard. It's fifty weight.
Pan: And scissors can be broken by rock.
Vic: Right. OK.
Pan: Do you want to play a round of rock-paper-scissors just normally first?
Vic: Let's do that.
Pan and Vic: Rock, paper, scissors! [Vic: scissors; Pan: scissors]
Pan: It's a tie.
Pan and Vic: Rock, paper, scissors! [Vic: paper; Pan: paper]
Pan and Vic: Rock, paper, scissors! [Vic: paper; Pan: rock]
Vic: Ah!
Pan: You win!
Vic: And I would go-- *picks up the program to defend himself*
Pan: No, I'd grab this [the program] and you'd try to hit me.
Vic: *tries to hit Pan with a pen*
Pan: Exactly. This is going to be very interesting. I can tell already. *laughs* Are you ready?
Vic: Ah! *flails* The pressure!
Pan: You ready?
Vic: Wait.
Pan: Get into the zone.
Vic: If I lose, I have to hit myself?
Pan: If you lose, you have to go like this. *defends herself with the program*
Vic: If I lose, I have to hit myself with the program.
Pan: Yes. You defend yourself with the paper.
Vic: OK. Ready?
Pan: Are you ready?
Vic: Wait!
Pan: We're going to do the best two out of three.
Pan and Vic: Rock, paper, scissors! [Vic: scissors; Pan: rock]
Pan: *crushes his scissors and hit him on the head with a pen*
Vic: *defends himself and half the program goes flying* Here's the problem. *goes looking for the part of the program that flew off behind him* The problem is that I've never played and it takes me a minute to think about, "OK, did I just win or lose?"
Pan: It's OK. I was just as slow.
Vic: Ready?
Pan: Ready.
Pan and Vic: Rock, paper, scissors! [Vic: rock; Pan: scissors]
Pan: *defends herself*
Vic: *forgets what to do, remembers, and tries to hit Pan with the pen* See! I can't think fast enough. I've never played this.
Pan: We're tied. This is the tie-breaker. Are you ready for this?
Vic: Wait.
Pan: In and out. Deep cleansing breathes.
Vic: I'm ready.
Pan and Vic: Rock, paper--
Vic: CHAINSAW! *pretends to turn on a chainsaw and cut Pan in half* I win everything!
Pan: *headdesks*
Vic: Chainsaw beats everything!
Blue Rose: He's got you there, Pan.
Vic: Let's play rock-paper-chainsaw!
Pan: But wouldn't the chainsaw...? OK, fine. Ready?
Pan and Vic: Rock, paper, chainsaw! *much flailing results*
Vic: *while Pan's distracted, Vic hits her in the head with a pen*
Pan: ...
Everyone: *laughs*
Pan: *headdesks and laughs*
Vic: *kisses Pan on the wig head [which Pan didn't notice until she watched the video XD]*
Pan: That was awesome! Well, I think we're done. Thank you very much.
*Vic and Pan shake hands*
Vic: My pleasure.
Pan: It was very nice to meet you.
Vic: It was nice to meet you. It was a pleasure to be here.
Pan: And that's it.
*both Pan and Vic wave at the camera as it turns off*
I'd like to thank Vic for talking the time to talk with me, and being such a good sport. You rock, man! X3
And while you're here, why don't you check out Vic's website? ;3
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