Robin Smith Interview
Hello Everyone. Recently I had the pleasure to interview Robin Smith. Robin did the narration for the early 2000s Thomas PC games by Hasbro Interactive and Infrograms studios as well as some Thomas DVD extras. Today, He talks about his 10 years with Thomas, as well as other projects he was In.-Aaron
1- What made you originally want to do voice acting?
I always imitated people over the years so I was more of a mimic…then I Went to Algonquin broadcasting college when I was 18. That was where I realized I could do characters on a mic and get laughs. I did Many jobs in the meantime as I grew up, including lifeguard, gymnastics coach, clerk at convenience store, carpet installer…you name it, I did it.
Then… when I was laying carpet at a radio station the creative director lamented that they didn’t have enough writers so I said I can do that and my tires were “kicked” as a copywriter,
I soon became production manager and got to work with all the talent and with that I was able to see how they went at a script and how to voice. That’s what gave me confidence because of the people that were doing it in front of me. Later, after being in radio for ten years and being moved to Ottawa to Chez 106. I was ready to branch out. I did comedy bits for The Morning Show and then sold them to the All-Star and premiere comedy networks in the states. I also Acquired a talent agent and was given many opportunities with the community outside of radio. I worked for the c.b.c., all the museums, Artech Studios on various projects while voicing for numerous national and local clients. That’s when I realized, you can make good money from this. But only If you have the talent and the experience.
2- When Alec Baldwin left the show after 2002, Were there any talks of you becoming the USA narrator for the official show, not just the games, before Micheal Brandon was casted?
That was never an option, I was a sound alike for Baldwin, meaning you speak in a gravelly voice and over enunciate a lot. I was working on a monopoly game as Mr Money Bags and the producer sent my voice to HIT Entertainment in NYC and they decided I would be the dude for the games. I could do multiple characters, so why not. Baldwin was working so much they Couldn’t pin him down with a contract, so the other guy was hired for t.v. I certainly had enough on my plate doing all the games on all kinds of platforms, which I did for ten years, No worries there. It was like I was inside the belly of this “huge billion dollar Leviathan” and then Mattel bought hit entertainment and all the New York people were given NDA’s to sign and never have heard a word from them since. Fame can be a fickle mistress.
3-What was the most memorable/fun moment you recall/remember while recording the Thomas games?
I woke up at a swanky hotel In London and had to leave my jet lag behind into Soho (London) and a take a doubledecker bus in and rush in and record for all these executives from hit entertainment out of New York. I composed myself and entered the studio. The suits were behind their laptops and started to ask me for tea and scones, thinking I was just a p.a., then the director walks in and says “Robin, so good to see you made your trip across the pond, is everything to your liking.” You have never seen so many people stand up while closing their laptops. I guess they were expecting a big fat guy. Anyways , everything went cool after that and I got to get one of the execs to fetch me a double double coffee. Karma is a bitch.
4- Out of all of the characters you voiced on the PC games, (and other projects you were in) which one was your favorite to voice?
Slivh The Gargoyle Guardian in Raze’s Hell and Cranky The Crane in The Thomas games.
5- Thomas has changed a lot over the last couple of years. (The Switch to CGI, more than 1 voice actor) What do you think of the show today?
Not really into it. I worked with the original series creators in London many times and found they had a better way of portraying the franchise.
6- When you went to the UK to record your lines for the Thomas games, did you ever get the opportunity to go see the models used in the show in person, or meet the UK narrator Michael Angelis? If not him, anyone else you meet?
Well, at the vocal suite in Soho I sat in the same vocal booth as Judy Dench, she was recording Angelina ballerina at the time…got an autographed head shot. Also there was another time in San Francisco where I sat down to start recording and without looking up the booth producer said good morning Robin. I looked up and was kind of hesitant this was the same chair that Robin Williams had been in the day before recording some adr for bicentennial man or whatever. He figured he was just coming back for a retake. It was at American Zoetrope studios owned by Francis Ford Coppola in San Fran by the bay. (Touring Alcatraz in San Fran was a lot of fun)
7- While in public, has anyone ever recognized your voice from the Thomas games?
Nobody knows what I look like, or cares. My girlfriend would bring it up in London to get special attention, but a major point of being a voice actor mean’s nobody knows what you look like. Mel Blanc was never in Time magazine but everyone knows Bugs Bunny.
8- What made you stop working on Thomas?
I stopped working for the brand after ten years when hit entertainment was taken over by Mattel. Corporate restructuring it is called, I think they threw the baby out with the bath water, their loss. Everyone had to sign NDA’s down in New York, but I have never signed one to this day. No one can dispute my contributions.
9- If given the opportunity, would you ever return to do some Thomas gigs?
I would consider it if I had a renegotiation of my contract and for a pile of cash.
10- Do you have anything to say to the people reading that grew up with the content you started in?
To all of you who were bullied as kids. Success is the best revenge. I want people to read Desiderata and If by Kipling. Go out into the world and spread giggles (not COVID) when you can. Finally give Larry Sanders, Curb Your Enthusiasm, all the Monty Python shows and Santana a watch or listen.
I would like to thank Robin for doing this interview. It Was Very interesting to hear what he had to say. If anyone is interested, Here is his voice demo. His current email is rsvoice@icloud.com
