Peter Fernandez: Well, of course Speed Racer.
N.B.: Well, of course!
Peter Fernandez: But there’s a series also that I directed the voices on, and played an occasional villain on it called Courage The Cowardly Dog. I was the director of the voices on that and I’m horrible villains on it.
N.B.: [laughs] That’s on Cartoon Network. That’s a very fun cartoon.
Peter Fernandez: I know! Yes.
N.B.: That poor little dog. [laughs]
Peter Fernandez: Uh huh. [laughs] Yeah, but it always works out in the end and I don't want to scare kids to death but somehow they know it’s gonna work out all right and even little children seem to enjoy it.
N.B.: I think it’s much easier when they know there’s always going to be a happy ending, that they can get through it.
Peter Fernandez: Yes.
N.B.: How did you end up in the directing chair for that?
Peter Fernandez: Well, I directed a lot of stuff, you know, going back to the feature films and everything that I dubbed. And that’s what I do. I work very well with actors. I think the best directors, anywhere, for feature films, anything – are ones who have acting experience. You know how to talk to an actor. In just a couple of words, you clue them in rather than people who are not used to having acting experience, will take forever to explain something that the actor gets with the proper words, in two or three words.
N.B.: Right. An actor’s director.
Peter Fernandez: Yeah. Yeah.
N.B.: Did you have much part in this recent release of the DVD? Were you in the "History of Speed Racer" featurette or anything like that?
Peter Fernandez: I think so. I haven’t seen it yet. I’m anxiously awaiting a copy. [laughs]
N.B.: [laughs] The packaging is fun.
Peter Fernandez: Yeah.
N.B.: The the Mach 5 tin.
Peter Fernandez: Really?
N.B.: Yeah. Very fun.
Peter Fernandez: Oh. That’s great!
N.B.: They did it right. [laughs]
Peter Fernandez: Yeah. Well I think the new series that’s included, the Speed Racer: The Next Generation, I think is excellent.
N.B.: You provide voices for that, as well, correct?
Peter Fernandez: Yes, just the voice. I didn’t right or direct it for anything. And I do a fun character that, in the first series, is Spritle, that’s always with the chimpanzee. Now, and I do Spritle’s voice in the new series. Now he’s 40-some-odd years old and runs a racing car driver’s school. I tease Corrine Orr, who was the original Spritle, "I’ve replaced you."
N.B.: [laughs] Does he still have his chimp sidekick?
Peter Fernandez: No, it’s a robot this time.
N.B.: Oh, okay! They really updated it.
Peter Fernandez: Oh, no, no. Conor has the robot.
N.B.: This is terrible to say, but I’ve been a little bit biased and haven’t watched it because I was so fond of the original.
Peter Fernandez: Well, this one you won’t see the original Speed.
N.B.: Right.
Peter Fernandez: Possibly, there might be another 26 and he might appear.
N.B.: Oh!
Peter Fernandez: A little older.
N.B.: Sure.
Peter Fernandez: But I don’t know that for sure and you haven’t heard anything from me.
N.B.: Okay. [laughs] Wink, wink. How has the business changed over the years?
Peter Fernandez: Well, as far as dubbing concerned or - ?
N.B.: Voiceover work, or getting an animated show up and running, anything like that.
Peter Fernandez: Completely changed. If somebody wants to get into that line of work, I wouldn’t know how to – I couldn’t tell ‘em how.
N.B.: Oh.
Peter Fernandez: First of all, everything is pre-recorded, usually. The dubbing that is done on existing things, which I’ve seen a fair amount of anime lately, I think is atrocious. They don't worry about the lip synching or anything.
N.B.: They just provide their own line readings?
Peter Fernandez: Oh, yeah, well. Heh heh.
N.B.: [laughs] I can tell how you feel about that. How did you feel when they were making the live-action film? Where you excited about that?
Peter Fernandez: It was a job offer to me and a great job and, I accepted immediately. And got a big kick out of doing it, I will say.
N.B.: Yeah, the Wachowski brothers. They are visionaries, I think. So sweet, that they were so honored that you were there.
Peter Fernandez: Well, I tell you that they used to run home from school to watch Speed Racer? They told me this. And they said, “The first thing we did when we got the job was to tell Warner Brothers, ‘Find Peter Fernandez.’” Not that I was that hard to find.
N.B.: [laughs] Do you have a favorite comicon that you attend?
Peter Fernandez: No. I enjoy all of them. They’re sort of similar and yet, quite different, depending on what part of the country. But I think they’re great. And the way the kids and grown-ups make up their costumes and wear them the whole time, it’s astounding. It’s a constant show at these things.
N.B.: They are a lot of fun. I’ve been to several. I’ve never made it to the big one and San Diego, I sure would like to.
Peter Fernandez: But I tell you, it’s a madhouse.
N.B.: Yeah. I kind of wish it was still the old days, when it wasn’t quite – it’s almost like a Hollywood film festival now. But it still is the comicon to attend.
Peter Fernandez: Yes. If you can get in. I mean, I understand that it’s sold out well in advance and they changed the whole traffic pattern in Downtown San Diego for it.
N.B.: Woah.
Peter Fernandez: That’s how crowded it gets.
N.B.: Were you on a panel? Or were you signing autographs?
Peter Fernandez: Lionsgate had me out and so did Nicktoons – an hour each day to sign my autograph and it was only for an hour each day. They cut the line. I would’ve stayed there for hours, but -
N.B.: Aww.
Peter Fernandez: -- I thought, “Gee, that’s not fair to the people who are in line.”
N.B.: It’s painful. I’ve been one of those people who’ve been cut off. [laughs] And it is painful.
Peter Fernandez: Uh huh, sure!
N.B.: I guess they have to stop somewhere, otherwise, oh man, I bet you’d be there alllll day. [laughs]
Peter Fernandez: I have at some of them, but that they usually give me a hotel, so I go back to my room and have a Scotch.
N.B.: [laughs] Do you meet some interesting people?
Peter Fernandez talks about Broadway, radio performances and growing up during the Depression
