When a movie’s tagline is “Prepare for awesomeness” you go in expecting a lot. Luckily, actor Jack Black says his movie, “Kung Fu Panda,” delivers on that promise. Black answered questions about his recent voice work as Po the panda in the animated film and what kids will think of a big, goofy bear in the showy world of martial arts.
For an actor so used to being expressive with your face what is it that you love so much about doing voiceover stuff?
It’s just the same thing that’s fun about acting with my face — it’s just as fun without my face, its still sitting making voices and behaviors through the voice. It’s a different kind of challenge.
The cameras were on you though?
That’s true, they were filming me just in case I did some funny moves that they wanted to copy.
Could you tell us a little bit about Po and what you liked about the character?
Well Po is a big sort of sensitive daydreamer and I guess what I love about the character is what I love about characters that think they have this idea of themselves as being a master of something. Like in this case a kung fu master, but really he’s just sort of this big clumsy clown and that’s very funny to me, that’s rich with potential.
What’s the hardest thing about voice acting?
The hardest thing is just keeping the pipes fresh, because when you do a few hours of studio voice stuff you can go hoarse pretty fast. So I just keep lubricated with a lot of teas and waters.
Can you talk a little bit about Po’s kung-fu style and what his signature move would be?
Po’s style is sort of a soft and bouncy and a heavy butt squisher…if he sits on you it’s pretty much over.
Do you have a background in martial arts?
I did do a little karate and a little judo, so I’m a pretty tough customer.
What’s making you go the PG route?
I just liked the project, I like doing the animation and “School of Rock” opened up the world for me where I realized I could be funny without dropping the F-bombs, and that’s that you know?
Does it have anything to do with getting married and having a kid?
Uh, not really, no. I did “School of Rock” before I was married and it was just something I felt I could be good at because even though Tenacious D has a lot of bad language in it the humor is pretty child-like, it’s still pretty sophomoric. I was already thinking I wanted to have a kids TV show or something, I wanted to get into that world before I did “School of Rock” so this all seems pretty natural to me.
What were you like as a kid, were you the class cut-up?
I was definitely what you would say was a class clown, I liked to make people laugh, and that got me all the way into where I am now I suppose. That need for attention and laughter in the world.
Did your teachers think you were funny or did it get you in trouble?
I don’t remember my teachers ever laughing at me. Actually in high school I had trouble just staying awake in class was the truth of the matter. There was a teacher in high school…I feel asleep in his class a lot I guess, and one day I fell asleep and when the bell rang he told everyone to quietly leave the classroom and he had the next class come in very quietly and I woke up in the middle of the class of strangers thinking ‘Who are these people? Oh my god I slept!’ And everyone was laughing as I got up tail between my legs and left the class.
What do you think will appeal to the parents who see “Kung Fu Panda?”
You know, it’s got a nice message about following your dreams and staying true to who you are and not being embarrassed about who you are. I think it’s got a good, empowering message for the kids.
As an actor how do prepare for the reality and pressure of playing a character that has to fulfill an ancient prophesy?
Well you know, everyone fantasizes at some point or another about being the chosen one who gets to save the world, and the ancient prophesy is an old, time-tested adventure tale and I just prepare by…not preparing. I just go scene by scene, this is what my character is doing here, and this is what he wants, and this is who he is. I don’t do a lot of Method, I didn’t go and live with the pandas and eat bamboo.
What has surprised you most about being a father?
You can’t really prepare for how much you’re going to love this new creature that comes into your life. And this new family is pretty fantastic, I didn’t know I had it in me, all the feelings and warmth and my heart got bigger I think.
Have you heard from any younger fans that saw “School of Rock” who were inspired to start their own bands, and do you think “Kung Fu Panda” has the potential to spark a martial arts craze?
I met tons of kids who have started playing music and were inspired to start bands and that always feels good, I’m glad that happened. The martial arts craze…I don’t know, it seems to be going strong, it always has been. Even when I was a kid I remember all the kids did karate at some point or another. It might make it even bigger, I don’t know.
What’s your all-time favorite martial arts movie and why?
My favorite one is kind of a new one I saw called “Kung Fu Hustle” with Stephen Chow, because he totally got the humor and the kung fu excitement mixture right. He’s so creative with the characters and the way that people you don’t expect to have kung fu mastership come out. And the way he revealed them one by one, getting higher and higher levels of kung fu mastery, was really beautiful. I loved that movie.
What movies did you enjoy as a kid, and do you think you’d enjoy this one?
I definitely would like “Kung Fu Panda.” When I was a kid I really liked the “Wizard of Oz,” I liked what everybody liked. It’s embarrassing to say but I really liked the “Breakfast Club” for some reason, I saw it as a kid and I was like ‘Wow! They’re all being real!’ What else did I like…I liked all the science fiction action movies. I liked “Star Wars” and “Alien” and those kinds of movies too.
How did it feel to work with Jackie Chan?
It’s an honor. I didn’t actually have any scenes where we were working at the same time. The only actor that I physically worked with on this movie was Dustin Hoffman. The rest of them the process of making the movie is going into the sound booth alone and they put your voices together later on just to make it easier on all the actors’ schedules. Jackie Chan’s busy making a lot of movies and so was I so we didn’t ever share the room, but it’s cool just to be in a movie with him.
In “Shark Tale” you used an accent. Was there anything challenging or refreshing about using your own voice in “Kung Fu Panda?”
Well you feel a little more vulnerable when you’re doing your own voice, you can’t really hide behind the character and say those are not my emotions, those are that characters emotions. So this is a little bit more personal I guess? But its easier on an obvious level too in that you don’t have to worry about the accent.
