Interview with Donna Rawlins

Recently Donna Rawlins, the voice actor for the American version of BT ran across my page. She e-mailed me and we began corresponding back and forth, I asked her if she would be willing to do an interview, and she agreed. So one night we met online and had this little chat.

Landale: How did you get the job of becoming the VA for BT?

Donna: I have voiced characters for CD ROM Games for the production Company PCB PRODUCTIONS in the past - they submitted me to the makers of .Hack - and I was cast. The decision was made by the client.

Landale: interesting, so you didn't necessarily seek out the job, rather your talents were seen by the client and they kinda picked you?

Donna: yes.

Landale: How did you start working as a VA?

Donna: I came to LA as a singer and then got interested in commercials as a VA because it was lucrative and fun... plus the "instrument" is the same. The use of the voice. I love playing with texture, pitch, mood, ect.. The games and cartoons came later as I got more involved with VA in general. I also do audio books and other narrations.

Landale: how did you go about getting into the VA scene, was it an audition process, or more of a submission of tapes and such?

Donna: Well... it started when one of the guys in my band, TRIAL BY FIRE, was working a day gig as an audio mixer/editor and had to cut together some voice over for a commercial. He seemed to think I'd be really good at it (being a singer and all) so we put together a short 'faux-demo' to play for the producer he was working with at the time. That producer liked my voice enough he hired me to read on some of the commercials they were producing at the time. I was pretty blown away really. Felt hugely lucky, so I took a class, made a demo and then started marketing myself rather methodically... One thing led to another and it ended up becoming a full-on career!:-)

Landale: great : ) hard work pays off in this business *heh* only way to get your way in, anyway moving on...
Landale: I know you've mentioned some already but, What other VA work (anime or not) have you done? working on? plan to work on?

Donna: I just finished another anime called GENE POOL. Other than that, airing right now on national TV is the 2003 SUZUKI campaign, and on radio I have a campaign for ON THE BORDER MEXICAN RESTAURANTS.  Games I have voiced parts on this past year are: DEFENDER, DUAL HEARTS, BATTLE REALMS:WINTER OF THE WOLF, BOUNTY HUNTER and DOOMSDAY RESCUE.

Landale: Are you "pro-dub" or "pro-sub", as in regarding anime- which you prefer/enjoy, subtitles or dubbing?

Donna: I actually enjoy both but would have to go with the dubbing. Subtitles are cool though, because you can get the feeling of the original language.

Landale: yeah, hard to pick sometimes, it's interesting to see the differences between the two :-) Speaking of differences, just curious but do you have any inside info. regarding the decision to change Ginkan's name to "Silver Knight" in the US version of .hack//SIGN?

Donna: unfortunately, no, but I could ask around...

Landale: thanks :-) Just wondered since they didn't seem to change the names of anything else.. well I guess they did change Puchiguso to Grunty.. but moving on 

Landale: What do you like best about .hack//SIGN?

Donna: It’s reflection of real life and philosophical aspects. I also find the plot really intriguing.

Landale: intriguing yes, and at times very confusing too *heh* I think that's one of the reason it attracts people to it?
Landale: Have you seen all the episodes of .hack//SIGN? The Eng versions or the Japanese. Which did you like better?

Donna: now - back to your comment & question... I agree - it is a bit confusing at times and that IS part of the attraction. Like a David Lynch film...  I have not seen even all of the English versions! 

Landale: really? interesting, thought you would have gotten to see your own work :-)
Landale: What do you think of BT? Was it easy to relate to her, are you in anyway similar to the character?

Donna: It was very easy to relate to her - I definitely think there are similarities but I tend to lean toward her playfully sexy/nice side rather than her self-motivated, challenging side.

Landale: *nods* like all the characters in .hack, they all have more than one side to themselves- but BT is one of the more complex I think.
Landale: What sort of research did you do about BT, or were you told a bit about her and then just went with that?

Donna: they just explained her personality to me and I connected immediately.

Landale: Would you say BT is your favorite character from .hack//SIGN, or do you have any other favorites?

Donna: I do love BT's personality! But I find the entire cast interesting. I ADORE Mimiru!! Her personality is outspoken and strong -plus- she frequently draws your attention back to what's "right". I also am extremely fond of Bear - even on screen I assume you can sense my flirtatiousness in between the jabs and my selfish motivations. He is a favorite because of his steadfast, insightful nature. He is always the calm voice of reason and the first to protect when protection is called for. And SORA is sooooo creepy!

Landale: *he* yeah, Sora.. interesting character- but there are a lot of those kind of players on MMORPG's, so fits so well into the series
Landale: What do you think of .hack//Sign as an anime in general? High points? Lows?

Donna: hmmmm.... I think it's hard for me to say because I'm partial. I like it better than some for the mere fact I know more about it and am more intimately involved with it. Overall I'd rate it pretty high.

Landale: you make a good point :-)
Landale: you mentioned back in a previous e-mail that you had completed work on the show and the games, if you can tell me- just how much involvement did you have in the games? From what I've heard BT appears in the later volumes

Donna: I didn't do too much on the games.

Landale: cool- good to know thought BT must make some sort of appearance though :-) Will look forward to that in the later volumes.

Donna: yeh !! ;-)

Landale: ok, last question I can come up with *heh* Have you seen any of .hack//LIMINALITY or .hack//Tasogare no Udewa Densetsu ?

Donna: no!! It's really unique coming from the VA's perspective- as we get hired to do a job and for the most part don't know what we're getting into until we show up for the gig and the producers fill us in. Most of the time we do our thing and go our way. The interesting thing about THIS project - for ME at least- is that I LOVE it so much!! I have had so much fun working on it - the producers are wonderful people and the show is so fascinating.... I love my character --> so.... I am discovering .HACK kind of 'backwards'. In other words it's not like I knew about it and sought it out - it was in the 'DOING' that I grew to want to learn more. That's why I was so thrilled to find YOU!!! 8-)

Landale: well I'm glad you ran across my page as well :-)
Landale: there is a lot for you to discover yet sounds like :-) this whole project .hack is huge, I can't believe there is so much- novel, game, anime, OVA, it's crazy - let alone how they all tie together, I'll be very interested to see where it all goes.
Landale: recently it was mentioned that there is a .hack//ANOTHER STORY, which takes place later after the events of the games (I think). At this time all I really know is it supposed to tell what happened to the other characters from .hack//SIGN. Any word on you coming back to the project to dub for BT ?

Donna: No news yet but I will keep you posted as I find out ANYTHING -- I really did not know the scope of the project.

Landale: wonderful :-)
Landale: well I think that's all I really have as far as questions :-) Thank you SO much for doing this.
Landale: I'll be writing this up and putting it up on the website soon. :-)
Landale: and if you hear anything from the other VA's you mentioned (Silver Knight, Bear, and Subaru) agreeing to do something similar to this- please let me know :-)

Donna: It was purely my pleasure!!!!!!! Let me know when it's up and where I can find it! Meanwhile I will chat with my friend the SILVER KNIGHT, BEAR & SUBARU and see if they'd be willing to do something! xo! We'll stay in touch.