THAILAND
- What was your first dubbing role and how did you get it?
It was when I was 17-18 years old. I remember it so well. There was the dubbing team visiting the music bands of many universities, including C.U. Band of Chulalongkorn University where I was a singer.
As Disney's cartoons are my favourites since I'm a little girl, I decided to join the casting right away :)
During the first day, I met Mr. Kritsana Saringkhannon (กฤษณะ ศฤงคารนนท์). He taught me how to dub for both speaking and singing in many acts. He's the best trainer and he still does his beloved work to this day (he died in 2018). He's an extraordinary director so if he said he felt quite sure that I would get the job - as my voice was similar to the original - Disney would approve my voice for that character :)
My first audition was Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, but I didn't have the time to join the second audition since at that time, I went to study French in Amboise (City in Center part of France) for 5 weeks, so I didn't get the job. But my friend in C.U Band got it (Netnapha Hanrotchanawut (เนตรนภา หาญโรจนวุฒิ)). She's also a great voice actress and singer of many Non/Disney characters such as Jasmine, Thumbelina, Kiara (The Lion King 2), Melody (The Little Mermaid 2), Miriam (The Princess of Egypt), etc... and she did them so well !!
Mr. Kritsana or Khun Tony contacted me again the next year, to audition for Nala in The Lion King. This time, I got the job !! Yahoo !!!
As it was my first job, and though my part was not so long, I had to drive far away to go to Ram-indra Recording Studio for many weeks as I can practice. I can remember the last word I dubbed, it was the word "Simba" - the last scene when Nala called Simba during the fight with Scar. As I thought that, it's only one word, so I threw the script on the floor, but you know what ? I had to dub this 1 word for almost one hour. As that time, we recorded the sound with Big Magnetic Tape, and they couldn't synchronize the sound and the image like Digital can do. So I had to dub again and again until the voice is at the right time !
Actually I believe my action seemed like I didn't pay respect to the people who worked hard on the script, so I got punished to repeat the line again and again... I promise I won't throw anything on the floor anymore! I won't do it anymore in the rest of my life, I swear !
Also, there's a story to remember when The Lion King was on program, Mr. Sumet Ong-art (สุเมธ องอาจ) - who dubbed Simba - the two kids who dubbed Young Simba and Young Nala and I had to show up to the newsman for an interview. When Mr. Sumet said "sawasdee krup" (the way to greet in Thai) the reporter said "wow" because of his beautiful voice. Me too, I felt his voice was so charming; as we recorded our parts separately in different recording rooms, I had never heard his voice before...
As Disney's cartoons are my favourites since I'm a little girl, I decided to join the casting right away :)
During the first day, I met Mr. Kritsana Saringkhannon (กฤษณะ ศฤงคารนนท์). He taught me how to dub for both speaking and singing in many acts. He's the best trainer and he still does his beloved work to this day (he died in 2018). He's an extraordinary director so if he said he felt quite sure that I would get the job - as my voice was similar to the original - Disney would approve my voice for that character :)
My first audition was Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, but I didn't have the time to join the second audition since at that time, I went to study French in Amboise (City in Center part of France) for 5 weeks, so I didn't get the job. But my friend in C.U Band got it (Netnapha Hanrotchanawut (เนตรนภา หาญโรจนวุฒิ)). She's also a great voice actress and singer of many Non/Disney characters such as Jasmine, Thumbelina, Kiara (The Lion King 2), Melody (The Little Mermaid 2), Miriam (The Princess of Egypt), etc... and she did them so well !!
Mr. Kritsana or Khun Tony contacted me again the next year, to audition for Nala in The Lion King. This time, I got the job !! Yahoo !!!
As it was my first job, and though my part was not so long, I had to drive far away to go to Ram-indra Recording Studio for many weeks as I can practice. I can remember the last word I dubbed, it was the word "Simba" - the last scene when Nala called Simba during the fight with Scar. As I thought that, it's only one word, so I threw the script on the floor, but you know what ? I had to dub this 1 word for almost one hour. As that time, we recorded the sound with Big Magnetic Tape, and they couldn't synchronize the sound and the image like Digital can do. So I had to dub again and again until the voice is at the right time !
Actually I believe my action seemed like I didn't pay respect to the people who worked hard on the script, so I got punished to repeat the line again and again... I promise I won't throw anything on the floor anymore! I won't do it anymore in the rest of my life, I swear !
Also, there's a story to remember when The Lion King was on program, Mr. Sumet Ong-art (สุเมธ องอาจ) - who dubbed Simba - the two kids who dubbed Young Simba and Young Nala and I had to show up to the newsman for an interview. When Mr. Sumet said "sawasdee krup" (the way to greet in Thai) the reporter said "wow" because of his beautiful voice. Me too, I felt his voice was so charming; as we recorded our parts separately in different recording rooms, I had never heard his voice before...
- In 1997, you became the voice of Aurora, how was it to dub such a classical and iconic princess?
I heard that the Thai Disney team had the plan the renew the old Disney movies, starting from Cinderella, then Snow White. So I asked Mr. Tony the director that, if he wanted to redub Sleeping Beauty, he could contact me too, as I love the songs of this movie a lot ! He called me to join the cast, and I got it !!
Though the songs were very difficult, my work was so smooth and I was so happy while I was singing for Aurora as I loved all the songs so much. Though I have to sing again and again, to imitate the style of the original voice, I just felt happy to do it. And at that time, I was so young and strong, I could repeat singing until the singing director, Mrs. Sukanda Bunyathanmik (สุกานดา บุณยธรรมิก), was satisfied with my work.
Though the songs were very difficult, my work was so smooth and I was so happy while I was singing for Aurora as I loved all the songs so much. Though I have to sing again and again, to imitate the style of the original voice, I just felt happy to do it. And at that time, I was so young and strong, I could repeat singing until the singing director, Mrs. Sukanda Bunyathanmik (สุกานดา บุณยธรรมิก), was satisfied with my work.
- You dubbed Anastasia the same year, how did you get that role?
At that time, my friend Netnapha Hanrotchanawut (เนตรนภา หาญโรจนวุฒิ) (the voice of Jasmine), and I had a good opportunity to join the casting for the singing of the same character, Anastasia. At that time, Netnapa was auditionning before me, and as our voices were so similar, Mr. Tony said that if she had the job, I wouldn't. We sang first the last part of the first song (Journey to the Past) as there's a long long wind to finish the song. After Netnapha finished, then it was my turn. Then, after both of our audition ended, it was funny and felt proud at the same time that the sound control guy asked the director where he found us, as we both could sing the long ending part so well, haha...
For the speaking part, Fox chose to use a different person, a famous actress that they know will bring people to watch the Thai version... So, now, it's back to the era of separating speaking and singing voices again because of marketing.
The recording sessions went smoothly. I had a great time working in the studio. And when the singing director said "finish", I was so happy. All the songs were wonderful.
For the speaking part, Fox chose to use a different person, a famous actress that they know will bring people to watch the Thai version... So, now, it's back to the era of separating speaking and singing voices again because of marketing.
The recording sessions went smoothly. I had a great time working in the studio. And when the singing director said "finish", I was so happy. All the songs were wonderful.
- For your role as Tzipporah, did you audition for the speaking parts as well?
The team separated the singing and speaking jobs as well. The reason was that the speaking parts were so dramatically hence that it was difficult for us. So they used professional voice actors. And we, the singers, did what we do best... sing !
I had a great chance to audition for 2 characters, for Yocheved (Moses' mother), and Tzipporah. Actually, I did want to sing the difficult and charming song sung by the mother, but it seemed my voice was more fitting to Tzipporah so I got her.
Actually, I'm a buddhist. My religion uses reason, not belief - can you see the word "lie" in the middle of the word believe ? So it was quite difficult for me to sing the song about belief like that. The singing director from Dreamworks had to talk with me a lot, to help me sing like I believe in that miracle.
I liked him a lot and gained more power to finish the job when I told him I don't have the ability to sing the chorus part. He told me that I was born to be a soloist. At last, we have completed the singing part as Tzipporah beautifully :)
I had a great chance to audition for 2 characters, for Yocheved (Moses' mother), and Tzipporah. Actually, I did want to sing the difficult and charming song sung by the mother, but it seemed my voice was more fitting to Tzipporah so I got her.
Actually, I'm a buddhist. My religion uses reason, not belief - can you see the word "lie" in the middle of the word believe ? So it was quite difficult for me to sing the song about belief like that. The singing director from Dreamworks had to talk with me a lot, to help me sing like I believe in that miracle.
I liked him a lot and gained more power to finish the job when I told him I don't have the ability to sing the chorus part. He told me that I was born to be a soloist. At last, we have completed the singing part as Tzipporah beautifully :)
- The same year, you dubbed Kayley in Quest For Camelot, but this time, only for the speaking parts!
I really would have loved to sing. As the duet song (Looking Through Your Eyes) was so beautiful. I auditioned for both speaking and singing parts, but another girl got the singing job, not me. Felt upset a bit. Anyway, the speaking job as Kayley was good as well. The story was so fun and I felt like I joined the adventure with Kayley ^^ (I still would have liked to sing the song "Looking Through Your Eyes" today).
- Then you became the new voice of Ariel, in the masterpiece The Litte Mermaid. How was it to dub such a beloved and famous Princess?
For Ariel, I remember it was my third job. So we had a joke between the director and me: I've first been an animal (Nala), not much speaking; then, an animal again (Vixy), not much speaking again; and then, Ariel, half human, half animal, kept silent for half of the movie, hahaha.
I can remember that I copied all the sound I heard, Ariel's songs, signs, giggles, vocalizes, the way she talks to Sebastian, and Flounder. I was so happy to do this job.
After that, I had the great opportunity to be Ariel again in the TV Series. There were lots of lines, a lot of songs to sing then, I felt I could finally naturally sing, laugh, talk as Ariel forever...
I can remember that I copied all the sound I heard, Ariel's songs, signs, giggles, vocalizes, the way she talks to Sebastian, and Flounder. I was so happy to do this job.
After that, I had the great opportunity to be Ariel again in the TV Series. There were lots of lines, a lot of songs to sing then, I felt I could finally naturally sing, laugh, talk as Ariel forever...
- Do you know why you didn't dub the speaking parts of Vanessa - Ursula's human form - while it's supposed to be Ariel's voice?
I don't know the real reason. But I can guess. As Thai society, we have the picture of the bad character to have typical voice. And, at that time, I was new and not much experienced, the director might have thought that I couldn't do it. But, I could sing as Vanessa as we could adjust our voices to fit with the song. I hope you like my job as Vanessa as well. I do like it as it was colorful and different.
- In 2002, you redubbed another famous Princess: Belle. How did you end up getting that role?
I can remember well the day the director called me and told me "you got the job as the beautiful Belle". I was sooo happy! They re-did Beauty and the Beast in 3D to show it on theaters. While I was dubbing the speaking and singing in the studio, I was so happy to do it again and again until the director was satisfied :)
- And your last major role to date was Merida in "Brave": how did you get this one?
The director Tony called me while I moved back to my hometown, Phuket. He said he wouldn't call me if he didn't think my voice was so similar to the character. So, I flied to Bangkok to audition. After a while, he called me to tell me I had the job as Merida. I trusted him as he always knew to do his job.
I was a bit worried about speaking as Merida, as I hadn't practriced both speaking and singing for a long time. The director planned a schedule for me for two days - normally, there's just half day for a movie. We separated into two parts. I did the first half in one day. Another half the next day. On the ending part, it was the deep sorrow feeling scene of Merida who turned her mom into a bear. It was my first time, successfully speaking in one time without fixing anything, and I was speaking with tears in my eyes as I felt along with Merida.
The director and his friend like my speaking part a lot. I was so happy that I could do it and didn't make any trouble to anyone.
I was a bit worried about speaking as Merida, as I hadn't practriced both speaking and singing for a long time. The director planned a schedule for me for two days - normally, there's just half day for a movie. We separated into two parts. I did the first half in one day. Another half the next day. On the ending part, it was the deep sorrow feeling scene of Merida who turned her mom into a bear. It was my first time, successfully speaking in one time without fixing anything, and I was speaking with tears in my eyes as I felt along with Merida.
The director and his friend like my speaking part a lot. I was so happy that I could do it and didn't make any trouble to anyone.
- Did you audition for other roles you didn't get?
As my director, Tony, was very talented with his job, he always chose me for fitting roles, so I didn't lose much time in auditions. The one I did, I got the job ^_^
Just felt sad that I didn't get the singing parts of Kayley. And another one was Mulan. The team called me to audition on the day I finished the cast for another dubbing and I was just flying back to Phuket. Who knows? If I had joined the cast, I might have got the job as Mulan too. I like the song "Reflection" a lot. Really sorry that I missed the chance to audition for Mulan.
Just felt sad that I didn't get the singing parts of Kayley. And another one was Mulan. The team called me to audition on the day I finished the cast for another dubbing and I was just flying back to Phuket. Who knows? If I had joined the cast, I might have got the job as Mulan too. I like the song "Reflection" a lot. Really sorry that I missed the chance to audition for Mulan.
- And finally, what was your favourite character to dub?
I love all characters. All jobs made me happy since the day I knew I got them, during the practice, during the dub, during the song, and after the work was done. I was so happy to go to the theaters to watch the movie that had my voice in it, and my voice on CD for sale ^_^ And still today. Those dubbing and singing jobs make me happy everytime I think of them, I think I will be happy until the last second of my life that I used to have great opportunities to do these jobs.
My favourite character to dub is Merida. She's brave, smart, love her family and don't fall in love with any guy! As now I'm getting older, while gaining some experience, I think Disney and all cartoons made for children have wrong perception about love. Actually, we can be happy without love or romance. And the marriage is not the answer for life. In Buddhism, I learnt and experienced for real that if you love someone or something, you will get sad and sorry from that person and that thing. Besides, we were born alone and will die alone on ourself, so we should learn to be happy with oursevles alone. Let's think about it ^^
My favourite character to dub is Merida. She's brave, smart, love her family and don't fall in love with any guy! As now I'm getting older, while gaining some experience, I think Disney and all cartoons made for children have wrong perception about love. Actually, we can be happy without love or romance. And the marriage is not the answer for life. In Buddhism, I learnt and experienced for real that if you love someone or something, you will get sad and sorry from that person and that thing. Besides, we were born alone and will die alone on ourself, so we should learn to be happy with oursevles alone. Let's think about it ^^
Interview by Guillaume Zabou
August 3, 2016
August 3, 2016
