Russell Means - Billy Two-Feathers
in a phone interview with Jim Gratton, 28 April, 2007
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| Mr. Means driving 'The Rainbow Sun' |
Could you tell us how you became
involved with the Magic Railroad movie?
“I was contacted by my agent and was offered the
role, so I took it after I read the script.”
Were you familiar with the Shining Time
Station television series and of Thomas the Tank Engine in general?
“I knew about it because
my good friend, George Carlin had been on it for a while.”
Getting back to the script,
we discovered that there were many powerful scenes that were filmed, and then cut from the final movie we ended up with.
“Yes,
well the entire movie as originally written was fantastic. I was so confident that this was going to be an over 100 million
dollar hit, that I was just elated with the role and elated with the story. It was so complete (the story), that any 8 year
old could grasp it.
But, you have to understand the idiocy of Hollywood, which is the studio system. And the studio
system, they are bereft of humanity, and they do not understand anything, let alone children.
For instance, they did
some test showings to 5-6 year olds, and then they said that the 5-6 year olds couldn’t get the live-action, but they
really got the cartoon action. What?!
At any rate, well why are you worried about the 5-6 year olds? You know that
from 5-8, the parents have to take them to the movies. They’re not going to take them a second time. With kids older
than 8 years old, they can go by themselves, and they return. That’s what makes a hit movie – it’s the return
to see the movie!
But the studio that was in charge of the movie, they as you know cut up the movie until it was unrecognizable.
Peter Fonda was livid! Because insofar as the story is concerned, as it was shown on the movie screen, there was no reason
for his character! They’d cut out the entire reason for his character. That had to be confusing!
But nevertheless,
the movie as originally written, and in the director’s cut - I understand that there is a director’s cut –
is excellent. I think that people such as yourself, with other fans and the actors - we should start throwing demands out
there. I still believe that the movie in its original entirety is a huge hit, just like other children’s movies.”
We learned from Doug Lennox who played PT Boomer that his role was dropped because it was too frightening
to children.
“Yeah, that’s the other thing I heard – ‘It was too frightening
for children’. I feel so bad for Britt and everyone in there! The lady who played the stationmaster - Didi Conn, had
two thirds or 75% of her role cut out. She had even more cut out than I did, and that was really sad because she played such
a great role and is such a good actress. The whole thing was a huge - HUGE disappointment, and I do believe if a groundswell
of fans could get going, we could get that director’s cut released.”
It would
be nice with the 10th anniversary of the movie coming up (2010)
“Wouldn’t it though?”
What was it like driving the locomotive in
the movie?
(Note to fans: In the movie, Mr. Means was on the footplate of the Strasburg
Railroad’s #475 – Mastodon class 4-8-0 built in 1906 by the Baldwin Works. In the script, the locomotive is known
as the 'Rainbow Sun')
“It was fantastic! I understand what a privilege that is. There are train buffs
that would give one of their extremities to be able to do that – I know that! So I am very happy with that experience.
I drove a train out of Pennsylvania, and I drove a train on the Isle of Man.”
Do you
have any special message to pass on to fans of the movie?
“I just told you – a groundswell
of demand to see the entire movie.”
I really appreciate you taking the time from your
weekend to speak to me. Once the interview is up on the fansite, we’ll send Mrs. Means the link to it.
“Sure
thing, I appreciate that. Take care.”
______________________________
Update: 30th April,2007
Linda Ballantyne
- Percy
In her reply to Christopher Sherburn on 19th May, 2007
Talented character actress Linda Ballantyne was the voice
behind Percy in the Thomas and the Magic Railroad movie. Linda recently answered a few questions posed by SiF member 'Truro'
(Christopher Sherburn) about her work on the film. Thank you, Linda, for sharing your memories with Christopher and the Fansite
:)
How did you first hear about the production?
I first heard about the project through another actor Tony Daniels. I had
only just begun voicing for animation and Tony recommended me to the director. They seemed to be having a difficult time finding
the right person for the role of Percy and Tony threw my name in the hat. I auditioned and was told I had the part…
but had to go in and meet the writer in person first for the final OK. When I went into the production offices I figured I’d
be doing the audition again but as it turned out I was introduced to Britt Allcroft herself! She just wanted to say ‘hi
and welcome on board’. She asked if I had any questions and I said, “Are you OK with my British accent?”
That was all I had. Pathetic. She said she thought I was perfect for the part and not to worry. The meeting took all of about
2 minutes.
Were you familiar
with the Thomas the Tank Engine series before hand?
The day I was told I’d be voicing the role of Percy in Thomas
and the Magic Railroad my niece was born. I ran out to the store and bought a wooden Percy train and b-lined it to the hospital
to meet the newest member of the family. When I arrived, I mentioned casually (or as causally as I possibly could being as
excited as I was) to my nephew Brian that I’d be voicing his favourite character. Brian looked up and me and said “I
don’t think so, Aunt Linda. Percy’s a boy”. Brian ended up being my best source of information… and
my greatest critic. You gotta love family!
Was
it fun to provide the voice for one of the most popular characters in the series?
Percy was actually a very small part in the film. I completed the whole
voice session in about 1 hour (if even) and I was by myself in the studio. It’s more fun to record a voice session with
all the characters there, but in the interest of time often they’ll record them separately. But I did like the character
of Percy. He’s so sweet and wants to help out so much. I particularly loved when he was scared and trying to be brave,
“I am brave. I am brave… oh, it’s not easy being brave”.
Was
there any additional dialogue you recorded for Percy, that was deleted from the final cut of the film?
I may have had some other lines that didn’t make it into the film…
but I really can’t remember now. It was a few years ago. I think there was one scene that was cut out but I’m
really not very sure.
As you can appreciate, any recollections of your experiences
during the production would greatly help us.
On one final note, I’d like to say that
I quite liked your portrayal of Percy. Very ‘boyish’ sounding, and you did quite well giving him a British accent.
It was a while ago and I’ve done many, many cartoons since so it
starts to get a bit muddy. I do remember going to see the film and being horrified when I first heard Percy speak because
I thought I’d been replaced. As the film went on I realized it was in fact me but the heart palpitations continued for
the next few hours.
Good luck with your endeavors and let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.
I may even have my original script still… but I’d have to dig to find it if it’s still hanging around.
Linda
Ballantyne
______________________________
Susan Roman - James
In her reply to James Gratton on 1st October,
2007
|
| Susan Roman |
Susan Roman applied her skills as the voice talent
behind James in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. We wish to thank Susan for taking the time to answer our questions, and
for sending us a lovely photograph of herself for the fans :)
As you will see, Susan still has fond memories of working on this film...
How did you become involved with Thomas and
the Magic Railroad movie to voice 'James'?
After checking through my Daytimer for 2000, I see that I
had an audition at 2:00pm on Friday, April 28th at Dave Studio (which is what it was then called) in Toronto.
Underneath the call time is a notation that reads: "Looking for youthful, approachable engines.
Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Animated feature film."
When I turn to the following week, I see that I had a callback
- this time at CineVillage - and beside that notation is written "Britt Allcroft".
Then, turning to the week after that, there's another call time:
Wednesday, May 10th at 2:00pm at Dave Studio. This has "James - Thomas and the Magic Railroad" written as the only notation.
Were you already familiar with Thomas's
world, in particular - the character 'James', the books by the Rev. Awdry or the television series?
At that point, I was not very familiar with Thomas nor with the
television series - but I most certainly knew about them. I remember thinking how lucky I was to be able to
work on a quality project that already had such an enormous, loyal following.
Given how these steam engine characters have
a universal and ageless appeal, what were your thoughts and feelings about taking on the role? What did family members and
friends (especially the younger ones) think? Did any of them see the movie?
I was DELIGHTED when I got the part of James! I auditioned for
three or four roles, and James was the engine I absolutely liked the best, the one that felt the closest to me. Most
of my friends (certainly the females!) zeroed in on the fact that Alec Baldwin was in the film, wondering if
I might run into him at the studio. Not a likely scenario - but we can always dream, can't we?
Did you get to meet Britt Allcroft and any
of your fellow cast members?
I met Britt at the callback and that was an enormous help. She
was so conversant with each and every character - their personalities, their nuances, their secret hearts,
and everything in between. I remember feeling very comfortable with her at the helm. Nothing was left to chance,
she knew exactly what she wanted - but she also encouraged and welcomed creative input from the actors which, in my books,
is a gift from the gods.
Your characterization of 'James', combined
with your voicing him in a british accent is very youthful and memorable. As a voice actress, did the role pose any special
challenges?
Oh, thank you! My mother was British so that sound, that
rhythm has been rolling around in my head for a long, long time. You know, sometimes you find yourself involved
with projects that have no distinct voice, no apparent direction - and you just have to fly by the seat of
your pants and hope that you can figure out what it is that they want. But that was absolutely not the case with this
project. Right from the get-go, we were made to feel integral to the film, as vital components of that special
world. This was a collaborative effort. When you're working to such high standards, the only
thing you can think about is doing your absolute best.
When recording your lines in the studio, did
you have any visual aids, such as video footage of James to help you 'get into character'?
We recorded our lines to picture, so we were aware of each and every
little wink and blink and eye roll that appeared on the screen. That's always an enormous advantage - when you can actually
see the animation, you can incorporate all those wonderful little idiosyncrasies into the dialogue. Even the fact that
James is a red engine was a strong, visual clue as to what he was all about.
Do you have any special memories or anecdotes
of working on the movie?
I think that, in order to be a good voice actor, you
have to be able to remember vividly what gave you the most pleasure as a child, and I know that I would have been
enchanted with Thomas and all the engines on the railroad. It was wonderful to be a part of bringing
that to life - to think that somewhere out there was some little kid, who could have been me, falling under the spell
of such a vibrant, magical world.
______________________________
in a reply to Callum Walker on 27th May, 2009
Canadian actor and Toronto resident
Doug Lennox requires no introduction - he and his character PT Boomer has been mentioned often throughout the Magic Railroad
Fansite, with many of our contacts acclaiming his acting performance in the movie. SiF's Callum Walker compiled a list
of questions for Doug, for which we are very grateful to have received answers for. It's only fitting that we are at last
able to hear Doug's story, which he is happy to share with his Magic Railroad fans...
Doug, can you tell us about how
you first heard of and became interested in this movie?
I first heard of the project when Britt and the producers
came to town (Toronto) and began scouting sites and setting up auditions.
What were your initial impressions
of the PT Boomer character?
I’m used to playing strong characters but because
it was a family movie I realized that Boomer would have to be a misunderstood bigger than life guy with an obvious comedic
twist. He had to be scary but sympathetic … he knew all the principle characters from childhood … like most bullies,
mostly bluster.
Do you recall if there was an
audition for the part? If so, can you tell us about it and were there other contenders?
There were at least two auditions and yes, there were many
others in the running for the part including actors from the U.S. and Britain but other than those locally I don’t know
who they were. It was Britt who chose me.
Was working on Thomas and
the Magic Railroad any different than anything you’ve experienced as an actor before or since?
Every movie is a unique experience because of the personalities
involved but the routines are the same … The greatest difference of course was The Isle of Man. Some of the green screen
work was new to me … you're performing in isolation.
As an actor, did you have a lot
of creative input and improvisation in your portrayal of PT Boomer? Did Britt Allcroft work with you in getting the character
just right?
Britt was wonderful to work with and open to any ideas
or interpretations I came up with … I believe it was her first directorial position so she was on a heavy learning curve
herself … she’s a very strong woman.
In addition to sharing
a few key scenes with Peter Fonda, you also had a few with actors Russell Means (Billy Twofeathers) and Cody McMains (young
Patch). Were Russell and Cody great to work with?
As you know, Russell is an icon within the aboriginal struggle
in North America so it was great to meet him on that level … as a performer he was a pussycat … as a friend, very
human …. Cody was a great kid and on the brink of a breakthrough … both were delightful not only to work with
but also to hang out with. I had some good times with Cody’s dad.
The Isle of Man is said to be
a beautiful place to experience. Did you enjoy your stay there during filming and able to meet the residents and explore the
Island? What part of the Island was your favorite – or were fans to visit, what area do you recommend?
The island is fascinating and incredibly beautiful with
a remarkable history made unique by its Viking influence on its British heritage … The museums are elaborate and the
castles, some dating to post-Roman times as well as the defenses built by Henry VIII and the withering mounds and ruins of
Celtic churches are still alive … It’s a very compact place so it’s all one wonderful memory … the
residents are amazingly hospitable and I met a gentleman named John (sorry, I can’t remember his last name) who was
visiting his family estate while I was there .. we met in the hotel bar with his parents and he made it an issue to show me
around the entire island during my time there … very classy guy!
| Photo posted to SiF with permission of Doug Lennox |
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| Doug Lennox and Peter Fonda on location at "Grandpa's Cottage", Port Cornaa, IOM - August, 1999 |
Did you travel down to Pennsylvania to
film any of your scenes there?
No
Actors often have doubles
perform risky scenes for them. Were any used for any of your scenes e.g. with the motorcycle?
I wrecked my left knee in a motorcycle accident while in
the army so it couldn’t take the weight of the bike, so all moving motorcycle scenes were done by a stunt person (a
woman)
Did you ever get the opportunity to visit the
models set?
No, but I have the original set design sketches .. one
signed by the entire cast and crew … I have it framed in my “ego” room.
Can you tell us about what
it was like filming the green screen sequences in the Toronto studio?
My scenes on top of the train and falling off the bridge
were all done against green screen … what can I say … I was in a body mold with a harness and … it was different.
Can you tell us about filming
the barge scene? We’re told that the set dressers may have used an oatmeal mixture to make the ‘sludge’.
The barge scene was shot in the same location as the green
screen in Toronto … The sludge was messy and wet and in a tank built for that purpose … it might have been oatmeal
… it took about four takes …. I had to fully submerse myself for each take.
Do you have any special memories
that you’d be able to share of working on the movie?
Just the joy of meeting and working with new people in
a magnificent environment.
Can you tell us about what happened
after you found out about your character being cut?
I received a phone call from a producer in California which
struck me like a body blow but I appreciated his directness and honesty … he told me that Boomer was too powerful and
scary for the child audience … This was after throughout the shoot the AD’s , the cinematographer and others on
the crew would take me aside and tell me that I was the best thing in the film … a star vehicle .. so I simply had to
accept the disappointment. I still wonder about the politics … but now it's ancient history …. And the movie flopped
… I can’t help wondering if it would have been less of a failure with Boomer intact? I still had the real experience
on location and was paid well!
Were you surprised at the sudden
interest in your PT Boomer character back in 2007 after all of these years?
Surprised is an understatement …. Amazed at the depth
of interest in all things Thomas … It’s not an unpleasant experience, just the opposite … I’ve had
dozens of international emails curious about my role in the film, all from very understanding intelligent and kind people.
In closing, and this may seem
odd, but given that it’ll be the 10th anniversary of the movie (2010), and what we have discovered of what could have
been, is there any special message that you’d like to say to the fans?
I am moved by the very sincere curiosity of the movie's
fans. It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed …. Thank you for your interest both in Boomer and myself
… Although I don’t dwell on what might have been … making a movie is a collaborative and creative process
in the hands of those who conceive and control it … as an actor I am simply a foot soldier, but still proud of my contribution
and warmed by the curiosity.
SiF wishes to thank Doug for sharing his insight
about his contributions to the movie - albeit uncredited but in the end rediscovered! Doug, we wish you
all the best in his endeavours as actor, author and radio host :)
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