Post by /\/\att on Nov 27, 2005 2:43:39 GMT -5
Kevin is the voice of Solomon Grundy on the season two episode of The Batman "Grundy's Night".
LoG sat down with Kevin to chat about Grundy and his brainchild - the movie Underworld.
-------------------------------------------------------------
October 31, 2005
LoG: You're well known as a comic book fan.....but a Marvel one. How familiar were you with the history of the Solomon Grundy character prior to undertaking the role?
Kevin Grevioux: Well, even though I'm a die hard Marvel fan, my first comic was actually a back issue DC comic, Justice League of America #92. It was one of those JLA/JSA team-ups and Solomon Grundy was in it. I remember wondering why a nursery rhyme character is in a comic book. Other than that, I never knew much about the character. It was fun doing his voice though!
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: How did you come to work on The Batman? Did you audition or were you approached by someone?
KG: I was actually approached by someone. I got a call from my manager after she was contacted by Warner Animation about the possibility of my doing a voice for them. The producers and writers I met over there where just great fun guys. They had read one of the many articles I did and decided they like my voice and offered me the job. Of course I jumped at it. I've always wanted to get into animation voice-overs, and this was my first break.
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: What do you think of the show,"The Batman", overall?
KG: I think it'sfantastic! Both the production design of the show and Jeff Matsuda?s character designs are amazing. I think the animation is on par with most things coming out of Japan. I was given a tour of Warner Animation and was able to see some of the ?behind the scenes? stuff. It was phenomenal. I felt like a kid in a candy store. You should see the things they?re doing over there. In fact, there was actually ANOTHER version of Solomon Grundy that was designed that I thought was slick. But they decided to go with the one that aired. Which is still cool. I also think the stories of The Batman are good as well. I?d like to see him meet other heroes though. In fact, I just bought Batman vs. Dracula and to my mind, that was the Batman animated film Warner Brothers has done so far. I look forward to more. I just wish Batman had gotten in more licks!
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: Did you see Batman Begins? If so, what did you think of it?
KG: Yes. I bought the DVD other day. It was VERY well done. And I thought the story was EXCELLENT. Christian Bale is a very intense actor and he was perfect to play Batman. What I liked about it is that they tried to give it a type of realism that was lacking in the other movies. With this one, they got into his psychology more. They also explained some real life things like using different companies to order the exotic equipment that Batman has. BathI will say I missed the Lazarus Pit and Talia given that Ra?s Al Ghul was in the movie.
I will add this though, collectively the animated versions of Batman that Warner Bros. has been doing over the past 10 years has been about the best incarnation of Batman that have been created. Even more so than the comics in someways.
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: Your resume states that you worked on Batman Forever. How was that experience? Do you have any memories from that job?
KG: That was fun. It was my first real superhero movie. I was in the Mask, but he wasn?t really a superhero though. I remember being on the set and waiting for Val Kilmer to come in wearing the bat suit, that was cool. And I also remember trying to actually touch the suit when Bob Ringwood turned his back as it was hanging on the rack.
One thing that happened is that I was one of Harvey?s Thugs who was on top of one of those gold statues in the circus scene. I had to do a stunt up there and hit one of the guys across the head. Well, Joel Schumacher couldn?t see me so he wanted to me to come to the very edge of the platform; as close as I could and still be safe. Now, I?m not afraid of heights, but that was a LONG way down if I had slipped.
I also remember meeting Tommy Lee Jones. That was cool.
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: Any The Batman or Batman related work coming up in the near future?
KG: Not yet. I was told that Solomon Grundy was going to come back some point in the future, but I don?t know when. I hope he does come back, but we?ll see.
-------------------------------------------------------------
**and now a question from one of our forum members**
BatmAngelus asks:Kevin, I thought you were awesome in Underworld and I was pleasantly surprised to find out from watching one of the DVD documentaries that you co-write the screenplay. You must be quite talented. Are you involved at all with Underworld Evolution? If not, how come?
KG: Thanks for the compliment!
No. I'm not involved with Underworld Evolution, even though some of my characters and concepts are still being used. Basically what happened is that I was unrepresented when I wrote Underworld. It was my first script that had a shot at getting made thanks to the Director Len Wiseman who I developed it with. As such, I had to deal with the agent who did the deal for Underworld and I had to step away, sign over all my rights and let another writer who was already with the agency come in and do a rewrite. Either that or the film doesn?t get made. It happens all the time in Hollywood. So I made the best deal I could at the time. I had to ?play ball? to get my foot in the door. That?s the nature of the beast. It?s unfortunate, but hey? that?s show biz. No worries though. The fortunate thing is that getting Underworld made has lead to a bevy of good things. I was able to start my screenwriting and producing career at a higher level, I?ve met a LOT of really cool people in both the film and comic book industry and I created my own comic book company imprint. I also have some cool film projects in the works now, so I?m still where I want to be, just not in Underworld. The advice I?d give ANYBODY who is trying to break into the business is to be prepared to give the ?first one? away. ?First one? meaning your first project that springs from your mind that gets you in the door. You might have to give it away to get where you want to be. The way I look at it is that all things, bad or sad, work together for good and I feel very blessed to have created it. The best is yet to come.
A huge thanks to Kevin for taking the time to chat with us here at LoG! He's a very friendly guy, and a class act. For info on his comic book projects and general news, don't forget to check out his official website HERE
LoG sat down with Kevin to chat about Grundy and his brainchild - the movie Underworld.
-------------------------------------------------------------
October 31, 2005
LoG: You're well known as a comic book fan.....but a Marvel one. How familiar were you with the history of the Solomon Grundy character prior to undertaking the role?
Kevin Grevioux: Well, even though I'm a die hard Marvel fan, my first comic was actually a back issue DC comic, Justice League of America #92. It was one of those JLA/JSA team-ups and Solomon Grundy was in it. I remember wondering why a nursery rhyme character is in a comic book. Other than that, I never knew much about the character. It was fun doing his voice though!
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: How did you come to work on The Batman? Did you audition or were you approached by someone?
KG: I was actually approached by someone. I got a call from my manager after she was contacted by Warner Animation about the possibility of my doing a voice for them. The producers and writers I met over there where just great fun guys. They had read one of the many articles I did and decided they like my voice and offered me the job. Of course I jumped at it. I've always wanted to get into animation voice-overs, and this was my first break.
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: What do you think of the show,"The Batman", overall?
KG: I think it'sfantastic! Both the production design of the show and Jeff Matsuda?s character designs are amazing. I think the animation is on par with most things coming out of Japan. I was given a tour of Warner Animation and was able to see some of the ?behind the scenes? stuff. It was phenomenal. I felt like a kid in a candy store. You should see the things they?re doing over there. In fact, there was actually ANOTHER version of Solomon Grundy that was designed that I thought was slick. But they decided to go with the one that aired. Which is still cool. I also think the stories of The Batman are good as well. I?d like to see him meet other heroes though. In fact, I just bought Batman vs. Dracula and to my mind, that was the Batman animated film Warner Brothers has done so far. I look forward to more. I just wish Batman had gotten in more licks!
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: Did you see Batman Begins? If so, what did you think of it?
KG: Yes. I bought the DVD other day. It was VERY well done. And I thought the story was EXCELLENT. Christian Bale is a very intense actor and he was perfect to play Batman. What I liked about it is that they tried to give it a type of realism that was lacking in the other movies. With this one, they got into his psychology more. They also explained some real life things like using different companies to order the exotic equipment that Batman has. BathI will say I missed the Lazarus Pit and Talia given that Ra?s Al Ghul was in the movie.
I will add this though, collectively the animated versions of Batman that Warner Bros. has been doing over the past 10 years has been about the best incarnation of Batman that have been created. Even more so than the comics in someways.
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: Your resume states that you worked on Batman Forever. How was that experience? Do you have any memories from that job?
KG: That was fun. It was my first real superhero movie. I was in the Mask, but he wasn?t really a superhero though. I remember being on the set and waiting for Val Kilmer to come in wearing the bat suit, that was cool. And I also remember trying to actually touch the suit when Bob Ringwood turned his back as it was hanging on the rack.
One thing that happened is that I was one of Harvey?s Thugs who was on top of one of those gold statues in the circus scene. I had to do a stunt up there and hit one of the guys across the head. Well, Joel Schumacher couldn?t see me so he wanted to me to come to the very edge of the platform; as close as I could and still be safe. Now, I?m not afraid of heights, but that was a LONG way down if I had slipped.
I also remember meeting Tommy Lee Jones. That was cool.
-------------------------------------------------------------
LoG: Any The Batman or Batman related work coming up in the near future?
KG: Not yet. I was told that Solomon Grundy was going to come back some point in the future, but I don?t know when. I hope he does come back, but we?ll see.
-------------------------------------------------------------
**and now a question from one of our forum members**
BatmAngelus asks:Kevin, I thought you were awesome in Underworld and I was pleasantly surprised to find out from watching one of the DVD documentaries that you co-write the screenplay. You must be quite talented. Are you involved at all with Underworld Evolution? If not, how come?
KG: Thanks for the compliment!
No. I'm not involved with Underworld Evolution, even though some of my characters and concepts are still being used. Basically what happened is that I was unrepresented when I wrote Underworld. It was my first script that had a shot at getting made thanks to the Director Len Wiseman who I developed it with. As such, I had to deal with the agent who did the deal for Underworld and I had to step away, sign over all my rights and let another writer who was already with the agency come in and do a rewrite. Either that or the film doesn?t get made. It happens all the time in Hollywood. So I made the best deal I could at the time. I had to ?play ball? to get my foot in the door. That?s the nature of the beast. It?s unfortunate, but hey? that?s show biz. No worries though. The fortunate thing is that getting Underworld made has lead to a bevy of good things. I was able to start my screenwriting and producing career at a higher level, I?ve met a LOT of really cool people in both the film and comic book industry and I created my own comic book company imprint. I also have some cool film projects in the works now, so I?m still where I want to be, just not in Underworld. The advice I?d give ANYBODY who is trying to break into the business is to be prepared to give the ?first one? away. ?First one? meaning your first project that springs from your mind that gets you in the door. You might have to give it away to get where you want to be. The way I look at it is that all things, bad or sad, work together for good and I feel very blessed to have created it. The best is yet to come.
A huge thanks to Kevin for taking the time to chat with us here at LoG! He's a very friendly guy, and a class act. For info on his comic book projects and general news, don't forget to check out his official website HERE