June 8, 1997—Special Edition #1 Administrator Interview: Britta Phillips Lesley Aeschliman year will be as good at this first year has by DéAnna Gegenheimer It’s hard to believe that it’s been a been! Hi, all you Jem fans. We know that Britta Phillips is the singing voice of Jem, whole year since I first started the Truly ADOBE ACROBAT FILES Outrageous! Mailing List. But some- The Truly Outrageous! Anniversary Issue is an right? Well, recently this little songbird times it’s harder for me to believe just Adobe Acrobat file. This document was arranged for the opened up to let us know a little bit more standard 640x480 monitor, but you can “zoom in” to ex- how much this list has grown and amine something more closely with the magnifying glass about herself and her work on the show. changed during that time. When Truly tool, above. Your left and right arrow keys will allow you Thanks for joining us, Britta. It’s to navigate forward and back through the pages. Also, Outrageous! 1.1 was distributed on there should be a table of contents on the left hand side. been a long time since your work on June 4, 1996, there were only nine peo- If you do not see it, select one of the layout controls at top Jem. It must have been such a blast left. ple subscribed to the list…but now, a This Anniversary Issue should print out very getting paid to do what you love to do year later, there’s about 300 people that nicely from any printer, but bitmapped images (photos) best. How did you first hear about sing- have been reduced to screen resolution to save space. receive these digests. All artists have been credited in the event you should wish ing on the Jem show? I’d like to thank all of you for your to contact one of them by private e-mail to request a higher My father had worked with Anne support and involvement with this mail- resolution image. Bryant for many years and was told that ing list. If it wasn’t for you, this list Acrobat is a trademark of Adobe Systems, Incorporated. they were looking for a singer for the Jem and the Jem logo are trademarks of Hasbro, Incorporated and wouldn’t be what it is today! Sunbow Entertainment. This document is an unendorsed fan maga- voice of Jem. They were looking for And here’s hoping that this next zine. someone who was not a professional “jingle” singer. They told me about a CD they released How did they decide on you? for dogs (songs about dogs for dogs and They had everyone auditioning dog owners/lovers) when I saw them at record the Jem theme song. The “Truly my father’s wedding last June. Outrageous” theme song you hear on What were your recording ses- the show is my audition. sions like? Do you know if they hired the sing- I don’t read music, so Ford would ing voice or the speaking voice first for sit at the piano with me and sing the the show? song. He and Anne would also fill me in I don’t know…Sorry. on what the corresponding storyline was Did you have any input on the for that episode. I would memorize it as songs, or help to write any of them? quickly as possible and begin record- Anne Bryant and Ford Kinder did ing. It took approximately one hour per all of the writing. Ford also did some song. singing for the male characters. Occa- How many songs did you do in a sionally I would improvise a little em- day? bellishment, but usually stuck to their At least two and up to six. specific arrangement. Britta Phillips Did you know any of the musi- When you sang songs that in- Original photo courtesy of Britta Phillips cians that played while you sang? cluded other singers (i.e. the Misfits or My father played a lot of the mu- the Stingers) did you actaully record with Holograms and Misfits. I’m forgetting sic on keyboards, using MIDI, samples them? someone… etc…I met some other players, as well No. We always recorded one at a (My guess would be that Ford might (most of them acquaintances of my fa- time. I would usually lay down the initial have been the singing voice of Riot, but ther). Ford did most of the piano music. voice track and they would go from Britta cannot confirm this as she never Were there any songs you liked there. They did record the background recorded with the other singers.) in particular, or hated? vocals all at once. The Holograms and How did you all get along? I didn’t enjoy hitting some of the the Misfits were the same singers. I was friendly with all of them, but excruciatingly high notes in some of the Who were they? they were quite a bit older than I was so songs, but I don’t recall actively hating Ellen Bernfeld was Pizzazz and we didn’t spend much time together. I was to sing any of them. The songs that also sang backup vocals as a Misfit and 21 at the time. My father is still friendly stand out in my mind are “Only Me and a Hologram. Ford was at least one of with Ellen Bernfeld and has played in the Music”, “Only the Beginning”, “We the regular male characters. Florence bands of hers since Jem. She and Anne Can Make a Difference”, “Happy End- Warner sang background vocals for the Bryant had a band together for a while. ings”, “Shangri-La”, and “Jazz Has.” “Jazz Has” was fun because I got to try again. Why did they never go back and a slightly different singing style. correct it? On the cassette tapes, it says the Hmmmmmm…I believe it was music is a product of Wild Star/Star Wild suppose to create some realism. Music. Do you know who they are? What sort of benefits did singing I assume it must be Anne Bryant on the show have for your career? (music primarily) and Ford Kinder (words It never really had an impact on and melody primarily). Unless they sold my career. My short-lived acting career the rights to someone else. was in a different genre and after that, I Did you also sing for the commer- never volunteered the information about cials? Jem or my acting experience while pur- Yes. suing a record deal with Belltower. The Glitter ‘n’ Gold Jem theme was Okay, I’m confused. Why would not used in the show. Are there any other you not credit yourself as the singing songs that you might have recorded that voice of Jem? It would seem that a big were not used? job like that would get people’s atten- Not that I know of. tion. Did you ever use it as a credit on Any funny or amusing stories you your résumé? remember about any songs? I did include Jem on my résumé Ah yes…There was that time I in- as an actor for a while, but it wasn’t re- sisted on singing an entire song in Latin. ally relevant to the style of music that In the song “Let’s Not Forget the Belltower was doing. Past” with Bobby Baily, there is a bit of a Are there any similarities between flub in it. You started a bit early with your what you sing now and what you did as singing, stopped, then started the song Jem? Just some timbral similarities your singing voice is to Samantha ways trying to get me to sing the Jem since it is my voice, but I was singing Newark‘s speaking voice? Some people theme for them. “in character” at the time so it sounds still can’t believe they are two different Do you ever give in? very different to me in spirit. I also sing people. I have, on rare occasion, been quite a bit lower in register these days I never really thought about it. They persuaded to parody myself for a few and my voice has matured a bit so it did a good job, but she doesn’t really seconds. doesn’t sound as much like a kid. sound like my speaking voice. You mentioned your little brother. Have you ever sung any Jem Do you know it’s been said that you Tell us about your family. songs in a concert (or anywhere else), look like Jem? My sister’s name is Inga, and or wanted to? Ha! No I didn’t. Of course, my she’s 32 and lives in New York city with I have not. I wanted to do a dark, grandmother says so, but that’s her job… her husband. My brother, Webb, is 18 slow version of the Jem theme when So, you didn’t do any of the years old. He will be going to Stanford Belltower played at my little brother’s photoshoots for the merchandise pack- in the fall (ohh, hear that all you single high school last year since most of the ages? kids knew that I was the voice of Jem, Nope. but I had some resistance from the other Do you have any of the dolls? band memebers. I have one. Jem, of course. My (Ohhhh, wouldn’t that sound grandmother bought me one. My dad cool?) bought one, too. He still has his, too. I am Have you ever watched the not very familiar with them, and I had no show? idea there were so many until I had a look My manager videotaped the first at the “Truly Outrageous!” digest. few episodes for me to watch. It came How did you first hear about the too early in the morning for me. It tick- huge following of Jem? How do you feel les me to hear my voice coming out of about that? Jem. I’m amazed and pleased. I suppose Who were your favorite charac- I first heard about it from my little brother. ters? Do/did people ever recognize you I like the Misfits as the voice of Jem? (Why am I not surprised?) No, not unless someone tells them. Did you ever get a chance to do I’ve always been anonymous as the voice any voice-over work for the show? of Jem. The only person that ever really No, just singing. cared was my little brother’s best friend. Britta Phillips Did you ever realize how close (We care!) People that do know are al- Photo courtesy of Britta Phillips ladies out there). I’m the oldest…34 in ally the case with young actors starting June. I also have 2 ex-step sisters, Daria out, I naively assumed I was right for the and Anuta, 21 and 24, who live in L.A. part. I believe this possitive attitude is the Did your “fame” ever cause con- reason I got the role. flicts with your family? How was it decided that you would No, never. Since I’ve always been sing the song “Mr. Big Stuff”? anonymous as the voice of Jem, it never I think it was written into the script interfered with anything at home. that way. When you are able to put aside Now, after all of this, you joined the the music, acting, and the whole career, band Belltower. How long were you a part what do you like to do? of the group? I enjoy reading—mostly works of Seven years. philosophy, criticism and biography, and We know you have a great album the occasional novel or short story. I also out there called, “Popdropper” which was work out with weights and jog regularly. recored in England, right? How was your Now, after Jem, we know you did tour there? the movie “Satisfaction.” How did you It was a great experience person- like it? ally and professionally. People are gen- It was a lot of fun. Not terribly chal- erally able to sustain more interesting lenging, but fun. I have fond memories conversation due, I suppose, to less fre- of everyone in the cast. I was particu- quent television watching. I think the Eng- larly close with Scott Coffey and Julia lish value the art of conversation more Roberts. I kept in touch with them for a than “most” Americans and have a great couple of years, but we all moved so attention span. They do, however, lack the many times that we eventually did lose energetic optimism that is one of the best each other. features of American culture. I enjoyed liv- How did you get the part? ing there for almost three years, but I’m My manager lied to an agent and glad to be back in the States. said I was this great actress. The pro- What did you miss the most? ducers of the movie were looking for My family and my dog…Taco Bell! actors that had some musical talent so Jumping back to Jem; after it had they sent me on the audition. Being that been a part of your life for almost three it was my first audition and I had not yet years, did you feel saddened when you been rejected over and over, as is usu- knew the series was ending? “Jem & Jerrica” (detail) by Brenna Nelson ([email protected]) It was a great job...But I was pretty Shonali Bhowmik. They have been best busy with other projects so I didn’t wal- friends since the fourth grade and low in self-pity. formed the band about three years ago. Do you miss singing in the Jem It’s well crafted pop-rock. I just recently style? joined since Belltower disbanded last I can’t say that I do. I even have a summer, and am playing bass and sing- hard time listening to the things I did a ing a little bit. Darren Dodd is the sole year ago. I think that this is common male member and plays drums. The CD among singers/musicians. will be released on Vel Vel records this Was it a lucrative career for you? fall, and we’ll be making a video and I had to join the screen actors guild touring this summer. I’m also working after I got hired. So, I made the scale on a project of solo material. It’s still in wage which was more than enough to the pre-production stages, but I’ll keep support myself. you posted. If someone was interested in doing I really hope she does. Thanks voice-over work, or singing for a series again to Britta for giving us a little in- like this, what advice would you give sight on her life. We wish you the best them? of luck! I was in the right place at the right time and was lucky that they were doing A Gap in the Collection open auditions. If my father hadn’t been by Jason in the business I never would have known How was I to know that Lesley about it, so I have mostly him to thank. was going to include dolls in her poll? The best advice I have is to record a demo Well, anyway, for those who contributed, tape of different singing styles and send I thought I’d go ahead and post the re- them all over to jingle houses and adver- sults. Here are the dolls that were most tising companies. They also want people wanted, plus, just for fun, I thought I’d that can sight read music. I’ve been told include which songs would be available that it’s very difficult to break into. on the cassettes packaged with the What plans do you have for you dolls: musical career in the future? 1) TECHRAT—A bit of a surprise, Right now I am with a band called at least to me, but a logical choice con- Babyfat. There are two other female sidering his appearance. That wild hair singer/guitarists, Michelle DuBois and plus his flashy outfits would have trans- “Jem & Jerrica” (detail) by Brenna Nelson [email protected] lated perfectly to doll form. My funniest vote came from Chad S. who voted for “Don’t Touch Me Techrat—similar to Tickle Me Elmo, but when you touch him, he starts shaking and hisses ‘Don’t touch me!’” I laughed for days over that! Cassette: “Hollywood Jem Theme”, “Gimme a Gimmick” and “It Takes a Lot.” 2) THE STINGERS (RIOT, MINX and RAPTURE)—I thought for sure that these guys would take the top spot, but it was very close! I guess that goes to show that you can never be too sure about anything. Still, there was a lot of demand for these bad girls and boy, with “Synergy” computer model by Matt Willson ([email protected]) Minx being slightly more popular. Riot would come with his hi-tech Synthaxe, 4) SYNERGY COMPUTER—You’d green stockings, orange gloves, boots Minx with Entropy, her synthesizer, and think since Synergy appeared most often and headband, and would include a TV Rapture with a guitar. in her big computer form that Hasbro camera and microphone. Cassettes: would have produced her before a doll of Cassette: “Hollywood Jem Riot—“The Stingers Theme”, her holographic version and certainly be- Theme”, “Now!”, “This Is Farewell.” “Take It Or Leave It”, “Let Me Be.” fore something like the New Wave Honorable mentions— Minx—“The Stingers Theme”, Waterbed. A number of people suggested Graphix—proposed Misfit ally “Perfect Match”, “It’s a Hard, Hard Life.” special features, like a built-in cassette (like Clash), who would design the Rapture—“The Stingers Theme”, player or working lights. Dan suggested group’s artwork. There were plans to “Under My Spell”, “Destiny.” making room for the Synergy doll to sit introduce her on the cartoon at the same 3) REGINE CESAIRE—This inside. I figured since this would be a large time as Regine and Astral. lovely fashion designer would make a accessory that there would not have been Eric Raymond—The Misfits’ stunning doll with her cappucino skin, a cassette included. sleezy manager. like Raya’s and ultra blue hair like Aja’s. 5) LINDSEY PIERCE—Somebody Craig Phillips—Aja’s hunky boy- Cassette: “Hollywood Jem has to interview Jem and her friends (and friend and Stormer’s brother. Theme”, “Believe In Yourself”, “Straight foes)! She’d come wearing that same Others worth mentioning came From The Heart.” outfit she always wore—the orange dress, from Chad S. (see TECHRAT, above) include: tion Site” at http://www.3dimagery.com). Kick the Plant Rio Light has some wave-like proper- Laser Suit Misfits—guaranteed to ties. A pebble tossed into a pond pro- blind your child within ten minutes of duces a small circle of ripples in much playing. the same way that a light ray produces The Limp Lizards—with cassette reflections (ripples) when it strikes an featuring “Broken Glass” and “I’m Okay.” object. Two pebbles dropped into a Well, let’s see how these results pond near each other produce interfer- compare to Lesley’s! Thanks to every- ence patterns where the ripples pass one who participated! over each other. Holography is a way The Whole Picture to record those interference patterns from a three-dimensional object. by Matt Willson During the development of the Jem TV series, writer Christy Marx re- searched real-world holography in or- Christy Marx der to establish a technical base for Photo courtesy of Christy Marx Synergy’s holograms. Although many of the episodes violated the technical limi- Then in 1963 American scientist tations set forth in the Jem Bible (a tech- Emmett Leith introduced lasers to holog- nical guide for scriptwriters), even the raphy. The work of George Stoke (who original premises were far beyond cur- coined the term “holography”) and others rent holographic technology. So, what quickly led to the development of the vari- (Figure 1) The two circular patterns above rep- is holography? ous types of holography we know today. resent light waves spreading out from two The term “hologram” comes from The laser price code readers in a super- points. The area where they cross over forms the Greek roots for “whole” and “image.” market are a form of holography. And what is known as a Moiré pattern. You will “side-looking”, or “synthetic aperature” notice some non-circular patterns in that area, And in 1947 British scientist Dennis but that is only an illusion. In fact, the straight Gabor conceived of a way to record truly radar, which can produce photographic lines of your computer monitor’s screen (if you three-dimensional images. Unfortu- quality images from hundreds of miles are viewing this Acrobat file on your compu- nately, Gabor did not have access to the away, is another example. ter) create even more Moiré patterns by “cross- (I will not dump a lot of math and ing over” the circular patterns. Use the mag- precision light sources (lasers) neces- nifying glass tool to zoom in and out until you sary to make optical holograms. (At that physics on you here, but if you wish to see the four-petalled flower pattern. Like a time, holograms were limited to maser know about holography in more detail, Moiré, a hologram is really only a series of images and the nascent technology of there are numerous books available and fine lines on film, but produce other patterns radar.) even Web sites, like “A Hologram Produc- when viewed properly. The basic set-up for recording a works in a similar way. Music is mixed in FILM LENS hologram is shown in figure 2. A laser is with a “carrier frequency.” When you tune OBSERVER used as a light source because it is a a radio, you are selecting a frequency to LASER type of precision light with high coher- “filter out,” or remove—known as hetero- RECONSTRUCTED ence (which means that it produces very dyning—so that all you have left is mu- (Figure 3) “VIRTUAL” OBJECT clean “ripples” in our pond). The laser sic.) The three dimensionality of holo- fire on a sailing ship. LASER grams is very real and not limited to a sin- You can buy various types of holo- MIRROR gle perspective such as other parallax- grams from many card and novelty BEAM LENSES based “3D” images (lenticular screens, shops, or perhaps from your favorite SPLITTER polarized glasses, etc.). Unfortunately, all science museum’s gift shop. Many holographic technologies known to this credit cards now carry a “rainbow holo- author require some filter (such as the gram” which is visible in normal daylight. OBJECT hologram shown in figure 3) between the You can order the necessary compo- viewer and the image. That is, there does nents to make your own holograms from not yet exist a “free-standing” hologram many places—such as Edmund Scien- like the ones R2-D2 used in the “Star tific Company of New Jersey. (The (Figure 2) FILM Wars” movies. And since holograms are above is not meant as an endorsement made from light, they usually require a of Edmund Scientific, and the author light is evenly divided into two paths by darkened setting to be visible. So, opaque has no connection to them.) a “leaky” mirror known as a beam splitter holograms, like Jem, are not yet possi- (some light goes through, some ble. Interview: Patricia Alice Albrecht bounces off). One beam will act as a But who knows what the future may by DéAnna Gegenheimer reference while the other is used to illu- bring? A true hologram projector should Many actors will tell you that it is minate a 3D object. The light bouncing be able to cancel light where it is not more fun to play the “bad guy” because off the object carries the “fingerprint” of needed, the way Synergy was shown to it is a role with fewer constraints. But that object. That “fingerprint” will cause work in the Jem series. Right now that that does not mean that such roles are interference patterns when it encoun- looks like a pretty tall order to fill. Some easy—they require a performer with a ters the reference beam. inventor may find an embarrassingly sim- certain…Pizzazz! When the developed hologram is ple technique that we’ve overlooked in the When did you first hear about the held up in front of another coherent light same way that Dennis Gabor made use Jem auditions? What was the audition source, a three-dimensional image of of known physics when he proposed holo- like? the original object can be seen on the grams. Perhaps individual atoms might be I first heard about the auditions other side of the “window.” (A radio “excited” into emitting light like St. Elmo’s through Rita Vennari, my agent at Sutton, Barth and Vennari. All I knew blessed with looking and sounding was that it was a reading for a new show. younger than most people my age, so to I thought little of it because at that time get this show was a gift from the great I auditioned frequently and this was just spirit. Of course now that I’m a mother of another shot at it. I do recall being very a two year old and starting menopause, hungry. Wally Burr had had us read and gravity is setting in...Need I say more? re-read and re-read. It was a long audi- How were voice sessions held? tion and when I read for the part of Were you with the other cast memebers Pizzazz, I was so angry and hungry, my during recording? angst just kind of came out very authen- tically. Did you know you were reading for the part of Pizzazz? And did you know what a trouble maker she was before you got the part? I did know I was reading for the part of the antagonist, but I didn’t know how important she was to the show. Like most auditions, I do my job, go home and forget about it. If a call comes in stating that I got the part, I think, wow...Now what was it for and what did I do? Did you do any crazy, fanatical things to get the part? Pizzazz has quite the over-active personality. I didn’t do anything unusual for the audition. My dark side is usually kept so well hidden that when it has a legal chance to fly...The energy that comes out of me feels perfectly awful. About how old were you when you worked on the series? Excerpt from the comic “The Real Pizzazz” by Brenna Nelson I think in my mid thirties. I am ([email protected]) The cast read ensemble for epi- younger people. sodes. This helps to maintain continu- How did the group click as a whole? ity and the right energy levels needed As a whole, the group got along for the action in the show. Wally Burr well. I liked everyone. Charlie Adler is would make us run lines and scenes wonderfully funny. I think of him on over and over and over again until he occassion and wish him well. In a way, I got exactly what he wanted. I recall, one felt like we were kind of like a little pseudo show, when Samantha (Jem) wasn’t in. family. We worked together for a long Wally asked me to read her lines. I did time. I admired Sue Blu and all the great hers as well as my own and we must work she has done in the area of voice- have been there for at least four hours. over education. Bobbie Block moved to Wally insisted I give Jem’s lines the San Francisco, I think. Cindy had a sweet same energy that Samantha would. daughter, Touchi, I think her name is and Doing that as well as Pizzazz’s lines, I think they moved back to Chicago. plus the other characters that we did Catherine Blore is still in L.A., I think. I meant I was doing at least four different would see her occassionally at auditions characters. and exchange big hugs. Michael just com- I remember going home that night pleted an interesting art show in Glendale. and crying. I was so exhausted because So, it seems to me he’s following his I thought I couldn’t keep up with the heart’s dream. I continued to keep in touch demands made upon me. It was a turn- with Linda Dangcil. She, by the way, was ing point. Anyone who thinks that for a one of the Tiger Lilie’s group in the Peter moment acting is an easy profession is Pan movie with Mary Martin. She was a clueless. It takes amazing stamina and child then, but is still as charming today. strength of moral and physical charac- Jack Angel was a mench. I respected ter. No wonder most of it is done by them all. How similar/different is your per- husband is pursuing his song-writing ca- sonality with your character? reer and I am promoting an anthology. As I mentioned, Pizzazz would be I’ve been published in: Wind Eyes, A me at my worst. Obviously, something Woman’s Reader & Writing Source. I I’m quite capable of, but work on not pro- plan to use it to secure teaching posi- jecting into the world. tions as I am scheduled to teach at Did you ever watch the show? Nashville Tech in the fall. I still act in Which episodes were your favorites? commercials and voice-over jobs when I watched the show once or twice. they come up. I paint watercolors and There was quite a bit of competi- have turned some into greeting cards. tion between Jem and Pizzazz when the Anyone interested can order them and/ Stingers enter the series. Did you feel or my book via this e-mail address. As the same when a new set of principals for personal messages, I regret I can- joined the show? not keep up on any correspondance. As I don’t remember the Stingers you see, this has already taken me way coming into the show. Sorry. (She “Dreamy” by Joe Bushardt too long to get back to you. doesn’t remember Riot? Wouldn’t he be Submitted by Denton Matthews I appreciate your sweet dedica- crushed!) ([email protected]) tion to Jem, DéAnna, and recommend I heard that Wally Burr is quite the that you and and those reading this al- character. Can you recall any amusing your Jem days curled your hair. I hope ways follow the leadings of your heart. stories about him? that was a good sign:) —Blessings, Wally, as I said was a drill ser- Working on the series was a great Patricia Alice Albrecht geant of a director. He’d drill until he got experience for me. I liked the cast and it exactly the way he wanted it and technicians. It seems that Patricia is, and we sometimes that meant ten takes. Have What have you done since then? wish the best for her. I personlly wish to you ever tried sceaming for five seconds Since the show, I’ve married Bruce extend my graditude for her participa- long, tough and loud ten times ten times Michael Miller and we are the amazed tion in this project for the fans of Jem. If ten…? parents of Forest, whose birthday is July there are any persons interested in her (Ouch, I can just picture Patricia 18th. He’ll be three. Keeps us hopping. books or greeting cards, you may con- having to do that scream Pizzazz was Recently I moved to Nashville where my tact me via private e-mail famous for, but over and over…not a
“The Holograms” (detail) by Brenna Nelson ([email protected]) * Friend Or Stranger * You Gotta Be Fast * That royal outfit The Stingers modeled * Midnight Magic * most of the Misfits, especially Stormer * Roxy’s original outfit * Only The Beginning * Glitter ‘n’ Gold Rio * Most things worn by Pizzazz * Jerrica’s original blue and white suit * That teal & yellow one with the stars and that horrendous headband! * Pizzazz’s “clown” collar outfit in “We’re Off And Runnin’” * that long blue shirt Jem was wearing in “Like A Dream” * Kimber and Stormer’s fashion taste when they became a duet
HAIR WITH FLAIR (character with the best hair color and style) Total votes cast - 57 out of 64 (approximately 89% of the respondents)
#1 Danse (9 votes or 16%) Jem (9 votes or 16%) #3 Aja (8 votes or 14%) #4 Kimber (6 votes or 11%) Stormer (6 votes or 11%) #6 Clash (4 votes or 7%) #7 Raya (3 votes or 5%) Shana (3 votes or 5%) #9 Pizzazz (2 votes or 4%) Rapture (2 votes or 4%) #11 Jerrica (1 vote or 2%) Jetta (1 vote or 2%) Roxy (1 vote or 2%) Synergy (1 vote or 2%) Techrat (1 vote or 2%)
BAD HAIR DAY (character with the worst hair “The Misfits” by Brenna Nelson ([email protected]) color and style) Total votes cast - 58 out of 64 cast - 57 out of 64 (approximately 89% of the Interview: Michael Sheehan respondents) by DéAnna Gegenheimer Have you ever wondered who that #1 Eric Raymond (13 votes or 23%) #2 The Stingers (11 votes or 19%) guy is behind the voice of Rio? Well, #3 Riot (8 votes or 14%) some of you already know that Michael #4 Techrat (7 votes or 12%) Sheehan is the fabulous voice of Rio #5 Lindsey Pierce (6 votes or 11%) Pacheco, but who is he really? In the #6 Minx (4 votes or 7%) #7 Craig Phillips (2 votes or 4%) following interview, you’re going to find #8 Jacqui Benton (1 vote or 2%) out that this single (well, not really, he The Limp Lizards (1 vote or 2%) is dating, but he’s not married) sensi- Mrs. Bailey (1 vote or 2%) tive artist is a well versed, down to earth, Rapture (1 vote or 2%) great guy who is thrilled to find out about Separate Jem and Jerrica dolls (1 vote or 2%) the huge following of Jem fans. Synergy as an actual computer playset (1 Michael, thanks for taking the time vote or 2%) to entertain some of your fans. Let’s start “She’s Got the Power” by Joe Bushardt off with some easy questions about the Submitted by Denton Matthews UNIVERSAL APPEAL (best doll) Total votes ([email protected]) cast - 58 out of 64 (approximately 91% of the show. How did you first hear about cast- respondents) ing for the show? (approximately 91% of the respondents) Casting comes almost always #1 Glitter ‘n’ Gold Jem (10 votes or 17%) through agents. My agent submitted me #1 Danse (10 votes or 17%) #2 First edition Jem/Jerrica (7 votes or 12%) to Marvel/Sunbow as a possible voice #2 Jem (9 votes or 16%) #3 Jetta (5 votes or 9%) #3 Shana (8 votes or 14%) Synergy (5 votes or 9%) for Rio and I went to Wally Burr’s studio #4 Clash (7 votes or 12%) #5 Clash (4 votes or 7%) with other actors to read for the part. #5 Kimber (4 votes or 7%) First edition Kimber (4 votes or 7%) The casting was fairly quick. I read the Pizzazz (4 votes or 7%) Raya (4 votes or 7%) initial audition and then had a call back. Rio (4 votes or 7%) #8 Aja (3 votes or 5%) #8 Roxy (3 votes or 5%) First edition Shana (3 votes or 5%) I think I knew I had the role within a Video (3 votes or 5%) Stormer (3 votes or 5%) week. #10 Jem/Jerrica (1 vote or 2%) #11 Danse (2 votes or 3%) Did you know you would be audi- Jetta (1 vote or 2%) #12 Ba Nee (1 vote or 2%) tioning for the the part of Rio? Or were Lindsey Pierce (1 vote or 2%) Flash ‘n’ Sizzle Jem (1 vote or 2%) you just trying to get anything available? Raya (1 vote or 2%) Pizzazz (1 vote or 2%) Stormer (1 vote or 2%) Rama Llama (1 vote or 2%) All actors will basically read for Techrat (1 vote or 2%) Rio (1 vote or 2%) anything. I did know that I was up for Rock ‘n’ Curl Jem (1 vote or 2%) “Rio” because of the breakdown in the WHERE ARE THEY? (best character that Roxy (1 vote or 2%) cast list. My voice was too light for Eric, should’ve been made into a doll) Total votes Second edition Shana (1 vote or 2%) into theaudition. Bamm, Ihadabitofreputationcoming “Flintstones” asthevoiceofBamm I hadjustcompleteddoingthe been Wally Burr)knewmyvoiceandas The castingdirector(whomayhavealso male voicebeingcast,asIremember. and atthetimehewasonlyother and if there wereno questions andno arrive about oneorsointheafternoon Our castwas noexception.We would interpretations thatmakethescript fly. board andthedirector, comeupwith through, withsomeinput fromthestory pick upascriptandafter oneread neous andthetrueprofessionals can work with. They arefunnyandsponta- are generousandanamazinggroupto I usedmytwentysomethingvoice. series. Justbeyond‘teenyearsandso real age Jem fans? I’ll leave the guess- the leave I’ll fans? Jem age real I project. Mattel a for Ken of voice the ing up to you. I have no idea!) no have I you. to up ing rivalry the with unfamiliar is he guess between Jem and Barbie. We will have will We Barbie. and Jem between to correct him on this, won’t we?) won’t this, on him correct to cast memebers? cast worked on the project? the on worked Almost toaperson,voiceactors his giving avoided he how (Notice Rio wasabouttwentyorsoforthe was he me informed also (Michael Was is easy to work with the other the with work to easy is Was How old were you when you when you were old How
“The Holograms” (detail) by Brenna Nelson ([email protected]) with him. Samantha because sheneverargued over workafterourshow. Wally liked I don’tknowifshedidany othervoice- fessional voice-overgal at thetimeand her licenseplate.Shewas notapro- drove alittlecarthathad SINGSAMon Jem/Jerrica. Shewastallandpretty about eighteenorsowhensheplayed the memorial. she camedownfromSanFranciscofor friend/voice coachpassedawayand Samantha Paris)onsaturday. A mutual memoral servicewithBobbiBlock(now and thenalsoSueBlue.Iwasata Alice Albrecht. IseeCharlie Adler now touch withLindaDangcilandPatricia necessary) didthatduty. Iamstillin women playinglittleboysandgirlswhen Adults whosoundedlikekids(usually read with,butweseldomhadkidsthere. sometimes theyaremoredifficult to five. Imentiondealingwithchildrenas children todealwith,wewereoutby establish her singing career. She can She career. singing her establish Samantha to name her changed Block Paris for professional reasons. She cur- She reasons. professional for Paris rently runs a voice talent agency and agency talent voice a runs rently teaches voice-over lessons for actors for lessons voice-over teaches in the business. She lives in the San the in lives She business. the in Fransico area.) Fransico (After Jem, Samantha went on to on went Samantha Jem, (After Samantha Newarkwasonly Bobbie update: Block (Bobbie be heard singing the song “In Your ing stories you remember from anyone? Eyes” in the Japanese anime project See above. Amusing stories? Well, A-KO. Currently, she is said to be work- to tell some of what went on would break ing on an album to be released in the the voice-over actor’s code. Some of the spring of ‘97.) most talented of us are the most bizarre. How many recording sessions Let’s just say that sexual innuendo and would it take to finish one episode? such helped to keep our sessions light What would be a typical day for record- and silly. ing? (Does that surprise any of you? See above. One session for one Knowing the acting business, it doesn’t 22 minute show. We raced through the surprise me in the least:)) shows and had a ball doing it. See Have you seen any of the epi- above for a typical day. One thing I sodes? Which ones were your favorites? didn’t mention is that we would do a I’ve seen them all and liked them session in segments. For instance, if I all. It’s been a long time, but when, in the didn’t come on until page seven or so, second batch, we had Minx and Riot and I could go into the lobby of the studio that crew come in, I think I liked some of and study my script and have a cup of that tension and more dangerous stuff, as tea, knowing that it would take about it seemed the producers were taking twenty minutes to get to my part. some risks that were going beyond stand- Sometimes it was slow going because ard cartoon fare. the director, Wally, wanted a particular Speaking of Riot, how did you feel sound and it would take a few takes to when he was added to the show? get it. As Wally’s significant other is my (Townsend Coleman is the voice of Riot. theatrical agent, I can’t say a lot about For those of you who are unfamiliar with criticism that Wally has earned. The his current work, you can hear him as the best part is that he is a pal of over voice of the Tick. Definitely not the soft, twenty years and was very, very gra- sultry voice of the alluring Riot!) cious to me when he and Kristine at- I was a little jealous of Townsend tended my art exhibit. He and I met that when he first came on board as Riot. He night on a totally different level of con- is, in fact, a great guy and a fine talent. I necting. don’t know why I felt the way I did…just Are you still friends with cast that my character was a little insecure, I members after all this time? Any amus- guess, and maybe I was afraid he’s actu- “The Holograms” (detail) by Brenna Nelson ([email protected]) ally taking over for Rio. it’s me and I’d forgotten about the job. realize the strong following of men out (I would say that’s exactly what How did friends react to your voice there, but don’t worry, I’ll let him know Christy was aiming for when she added being a part of a “soap opera” cartoon? you exist.) them on to the show. Poor Michael, we In my business all of the people who And maybe they wanted to keep still love you!) are pals are simply thrilled when some- the male aspect less powerful to show I loved his work on the Tick and one is working. Most of them were not the girls who were fans that they (the was disappointed when I wasn’t chosen actually fans of Jem! But when we would girls at home) could be glamourous and to play Arthur, the Tick’s sidekick. Rob talk about work and I got to say that I had strong with out all the help that men of- Paulsen, I think, took over for Mickey a series, all were very happy. It’s a tough ten are given credit for? And…The Dolenz as Arthur, the Moth. business and, as you know, when you villian, Eric, was truly a jerk, maybe as (Wow, from the Monkeys? Way have a good job, it’s a thrill. another political comment about men? cool!) Like the rest of us, did you ever get How similar/different is “Rio” from Kath Souci is a very pretty frustrated that “Rio” was sometimes an your real personality? woman, and as Minx, I found her a fine idiot when dealing with both Jerrica and I am much more hip and hand- talent. Jem? (Personally, I thought Jerrica was some! But, he has better hair! Does it feel strange to hear your way better and that Rio was such a nerd [Editor’s note: Maybe not, voice on television, but not see your- for not seeing it:)) Michael. I saw Rio listed in the “How self? This was one thing that drove me Does It Feel To Be Popular?” poll just This is an interesting question. nuts. Only Rio didn’t know about Jem/ before this interview. Michael was no- I’ve been on the air since I was in col- Jerrica. He was so naive and, as you say, ticeably absent from the “bad hair day” lege and have heard myself a lot. My an idiot. I constantly and quietly com- responses.] ego loves it and the one story that plained that he was the only one who What have you been working on comes to mind is when the lady I was didn’t know and apparently a dodo for not in the years since Jem was discontin- going with about the time we did Jem guessing. I think that (did we discuss ued? was at the gym and into the ladies this?) he was sort of like Lois Lane to I’m an artist and, as I told you, dressing room was piped radio station. Superman. Only Lois (in the old shows have just closed a six week exhibit of One of the commercials I’d done for and comics) was truly in the dark about my artwork at the local municipal gal- Knudsen’s Yogurt was on and two girls Clark. I wanted Rio to be less of a dummy lery in Glendale, CA. My work is rather were near my lady in the locker room. and even though he was good about help- ecclectic. I do installation art (site spe- They commented on how much they ing the girls out of a jam now and then, cific stuff with found objects and ‘ideas’) liked my voice! What an ego trip. And, he was excluded and kept pretty shallow. as well as assemblage, video and Po- my lady was flattered for me, too. Some- Obviously, it was a girl’s show. laroid color transfer photography. The times it’s funny to hear a cartoon or a (Now guys, don’t get ruffled feath- highlight of my recent show was 101 spot with a familiar voice and realize that ers over this comment. Michael doesn’t riverstones installed on redwood plat- forms with velvet bags on a 300 square bers of the cast. I was promised that the the 99 Cent Store, I found a funky doll foot wall. One hundred of the stones main characters could be done. I was pre- in a funky dress with funky boots were carved with Chinese calligraphy. pared to pay for them, too, and give them and...Rio’s head!!!!!!!Arrrrrrrrrrg!!!!!!! Another piece was 109 test tubes with to the others as a gift. Never heard back (Anyone care to fill him in on this germinating sunflower seeds that from the studio and don’t have a charac- one, or should we sweep it under the commerated van Gogh’s painting ‘sun- ter model of Rio nor of any of the others. rug and hope it doesn’t pop up again to flowers’ which was painted in 1888. I do have a Rio doll… All new and in the insult all of us Jem fans out there?) Were you told when the series box. Well, that’s about it folks. Thanks was going to end? How did it feel know- (Fear not fellow Holograms, I have again to Michael for taking the time to ing three years of life was about to come informed Michael of our recent discus- spend with us. We wish you the best of to an end? sions of available cels, and we are cur- luck with your art career. Doing the series was great fun. rently working on obtaining a few. If you As we met only once or twice a week have any leads about this, please con- for a few hours, it’s not like one might tact me via private e-mail imagine for an on-camera television
BOTTOM VIEW ACTUAL SCALE (CIRCUIT TRACES) L.E.D. AND ELECTRONIC SYMBOL (NOTE NEGATIVE LEAD MARKER)
ONE CENTIMETER
TOP VIEW (L.E.D. PLACEMENT) AVOID BATTERY SHORTS
JEM AND THE JEM LOGO ARE THE PROPERTY OF HASBRO INC. AND SUNBOW ENTERTAINMENT Solder the leads down qucikly because small devices like this LED don’t enjoy a lot of heat. File the bumps of solder down a bit so that your work is clean. The LED leads and the groove can be filled in with a fine putty. I recommend Squadron Green Putty from your local hobby shop. And don’t be such a Kimber—let the stuff dry before you try to sand it down! The stars will need a clip to com- plete the electrical contact and to hold the battery. The contacts from a 1/4-inch store. (The surface mount LEDs are fairly common.) battery. If the clip is too tight, the exces- Drill the lead holes in the stars and sive stress may crack the copper trace connect them across the face of the star off the plastic star. (Back to square one!) with a grove just big enough to help hold And remember to file any rough the LED. You can use the point of a edges—someone will be wearing these! number 11 X-acto blade in place of the Excessive heat from a soldering fine drill bit, but work carefully. I used a iron can ruin the trace. So, apply a blob Dremel high-speed motor tool to cut the of solder to the contact area first. Then groove. (while holding the clip in a gloved hand) The cathode, or negative lead of heat up the clip to make it receptive to the LED usually has some kind of mark- solder, and hold it into place. (I put a ing (a cross on the lead, a silver spot tab of masking tape around one end of on the LED body, etc.) You can also test headphone jack (Radio Shack no. 274- the clip to help hold it by.) the LED by holding the leads around the 312) are an excellent choice because you Home stretch! lithium cell. Yes, that brilliant red light know they will stick to solder, they are Cover the face of the earrings with will be what people see coming from the made for electrical connections, and the Scotchlite reflective tape, and trim the earring! Anyway, the cathode fits in the metal has excellent springiness. Cut the excess with a razor blade. Even though center hole. You may need to extend contact off and bend it into a flat S-turn the earrings have an LED, this reflec- the other lead with a short bit of wire. with just enough “grip” to hold down the tive tape, like a road sign, will do neat things in flash photos. I sealed the edges of the tape from lifting up by ap- Truly Outrageous! Anniversary plying a small bead of cyanoacrylate Issue adhesive (Crazy Glue). The capillary Executive Editors: Lesley Aeschliman action will draw the glue in. Wipe off any and excess, and be careful of the reflective Shannon Muir tape. You may also chose to paint the Editor: Matt Willson edges of the earrings gold. The last step is to apply an ear- A special note of thanks to ring post. You might have to trim one Patricia Alice Albrecht edge of the contact pad to make it fit Britta Phillips and along one of the star’s points. The ear- ring is turned on simply by pushing the Michael Sheehan battery under the clip on the back. (Un- for sharing their thoughts like common light bulbs,LEDs are po- with us, larized, and will only work one way.) to Christy Marx Each battery will run an earring for her regular visits with us, for eleven hours straight. Guys, earrings and to all the like this make it very easy to find your Truly Outrageous! Jem Digest date in a big crowd, and wearing them subscribers who made this out in public can give you plenty of neat Anniversary possible. anecdotes to tell your friends. (My sis- ter was almost bagged by concert hall Happy Anniversary! security who saw the earrings from a distance and thought she was bootleg videotaping the concert.) It’s showtime!
Jem is a trademark of Hasbro, Incorporated and Sunbow Entertainment. This Anniversary Issue is an unendorsed fan magazine.