Garry Chalk Interview

Optimal Optimus Primal · Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:08 pm

Hey, guys! A friend of mine from another TFs board, and myself, will be conducting an interview with my friend Garry Chalk (the voice behind Beast Wars/Beast Machines Optimus Primal, the Unicron Trilogy Optimus Prime, Slash & Turbo from Reboot, Gutsman from MegaMan, Russian Colonel Chekov from Stargate SG-1, Inspector Pawlachuk from Cold Squad, and Vice Principal Grimes from Scooby Doo: The Mystery Begins) at some point in the near future. Or after the new year since he appears to be a bit busy right now. If anyone has any questions that you would like me to ask him, please feel free to post them here or send me a PM. I can't guarantee that we'll have the time to ask him all of them, but I would be happy to get some questions from you guys.

Thank you!

Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:20 pm

You forgot to mention that he was alongside Robert England in Freddy vs Jason as the town cop

What is the whackiest character he has ever played?

What is the greatest role he would ever like to play?

I see Garry as being able to act in a wide range and I would love to see him be someone like the Marvel Kingpin of crime. Would he be interested in that sort of role? Why or why not?

If he could have a super power, what would it be?

I would also love to see Garry (alongside pretty much ever one else from BW) in a series like Heroes. Would he be interested in that? Should we start harassing the show's creators?

Does he know how awesome he is?

There's a couple for you OOP

Optimal Optimus Primal · Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:51 pm

You forgot to mention that he was alongside Robert England in Freddy vs Jason as the town cop

True. But I can't list his seemingly endless list of credits. Rollbots, Watchmen, Eight Below, Deck the Halls, He-Man, MacGyver, Sliders, Aliens in America... Far too many more. He is, after all, the "King of LifeTime."

There's a couple for you OOP

Thank you, Silver! ^^

Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:33 pm

Well, that role in Freddy vs Jason will always be a special memory for me, because I had not seen Garry before (i.e. I had no idea what he looked like) and I had seen this movie a whole bunch of times before. So I'm sitting on the train, heading into uni on a very cold morning. Laptop perched on my lap with F v J playing away and the exhaust fan keeping my legs warm. Watching, watching... scene with the head cop of the town..... the voice bounces around in my head..... "wait..... I know that guy...." thinking thinking.... replay scene.... thinking... replay... thinking.... "OMG!!!" I yell, startling the man next to me who had been snoring against the window. He turned to me to tell me off, but my manic grin convinced him otherwise.....

Soooo...... long story, short story, that was the first time I saw him "live." Then it was awesome seeing him in SG1... and Scotty's guest appearance too

Alak · Unread post by **Alak** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:01 am

He played a Russian? *goes on Youtube to hear the accent*

Anyways, here's one question I've always wondered:

If Beast Wars ever had a reboot or live action adaptation, would you return to the role of Optimus Primal?

Optimal Optimus Primal · Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:39 pm

That's funny, Silver! Of all movies, it had to be that one that you recognized him in.

I yell, startling the man next to me who had been snoring against the window. He turned to me to tell me off, but my manic grin convinced him otherwise.....

!! I love your story.

I remember several years ago sitting down with my dinner in the living room and watching this new show called Dark Angel that I thought looked interesting. I was staring at my plate of spaghetti trying to coil the noodles around my fork when I heard a very distinct voice. My eyes shot up to the TV screen and I said, "Oh my God! It's Garry! It's Optimus!"

And that was the first time I recognized him in front of the camera. As a dirty, crooked cop.

He played a Russian?

Yep. It was actually at least the second time he played a character with a Russian accent. But in SG-1 he actually learned to speak some Russian for that role. He was in several episodes and even went down with "his" space ship. Such a sad ending to that season.

Thank you, Alak!

Unread post by **SilverfromOZ** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:49 pm

Sure Garry went down with his ship, but he'll be back in another season in his Transmetal form.... oh wait

I must say that it was an awesome way for his character to go. Very noble, very Russian. I loved it, in the same way as Dinobot's death was awesome

Could you picture Garry as a Gou'ld... ooh wait! Make that another question!

If he were to play a Gou'ld what would be his personality traits/backstory?

Unread post by **Nurann** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:27 pm

OOP, I've died and gone to the Matrix. Thank you.

-Some of Optimus's character bios described him as a veteran of the last great war. In season 1 of the series, he seemed to be portrayed as a newbie in command for the first time, particularly in how some of the crew treated him. Which way did you see Optimus when you first started playing him? What was your overall opinion of Optimus Primal, and how did that change as the series progressed?

-How much input did you get to give in developing your character? If you could change anything about Optimus what would it be?

-I heard once that you get casted as a cop/leader a lot, but what kind of roles do you actually prefer to play?

Okay, I'll stop for now, but I will probably have more. <3 Thanks again for letting us add in a few questions!

Alak · Unread post by **Alak** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 3:03 am

Optimal Optimus Primal wrote: Yep. It was actually at least the second time he played a character with a Russian accent. But in SG-1 he actually learned to speak some Russian for that role. He was in several episodes and even went down with "his" space ship. Such a sad ending to that season.

Thank you, Alak!

No prob! I watched his final Stargate appearance on Youtube (the one you just described). It seemed like his death was so...meh...at least for someone so epic. Many of the comments below the video were filled with sadness and disappointment, as was I.

Optimal Optimus Primal · Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:05 pm

Sure Garry went down with his ship, but he'll be back in another season in his Transmetal form.... oh wait

Nice.

Could you picture Garry as a Gou'ld... ooh wait!

Actually, I find it difficult to picture that. Maybe because he's always typecasted as the officer, colonel or good guy leader. However, whenever he is a bad guy (as rare as it is), he comes off as pretty creepy.

Okay, I'll stop for now, but I will probably have more. <3 Thanks again for letting us add in a few questions!

You're very welcome, Nurann. I never ask him these kinds of questions because they honestly don't cross my mind, so I thought I could get some help from you guys and offer the opportunity.

It seemed like his death was so...meh...at least for someone so epic.

I would've liked it to have been more as well but considering his character was not a major one, or even secondary, I thought it was pretty cool that he got to have his own "ship" and participate in the biggest battle in the enitre show. It's too bad he never got to walk through a stargate, though.

Aesir · Unread post by **Aesir** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:33 pm

I think I'll wait til August to ask him stuff myself

Optimal Optimus Primal · Thu Nov 26, 2009 2:06 pm

That's cool, Aesir. ^^

Unread post by **Phoenix** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:32 pm

I didn't know he had been a part of so many different series. Though sad thing is I only ever watched BW of all the shows listed there.

Questions, eh.. I'd have to get back to you on that one. Nothing really comes to mind right now.

Wicked Woman · Unread post by **Wicked Woman** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:24 pm

I have a question for Gary:

If you could choose a character from BW to have played if not Primal, who would you have wanted to be?

What inspired you to become an actor? (voice and live)

WW

Optimal Optimus Primal · Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:29 am

I didn't know he had been a part of so many different series. Though sad thing is I only ever watched BW of all the shows listed there.

He has a long list of credits, Phoenix. I'm sure you've seen or heard him in something but didn't realize it. His credits are nearing 300 shows/cartoons/movies that he's been in. If anyone wants to check them out, go to IMDb.com.

Oh, one of the Mainframe shows I forgot to mention was War Planets (or Shadow Raiders). He voiced Emperor Femur.

If you could choose a character from BW to have played if not Primal, who would you have wanted to be?

You know, I think I remember someone asking him that before and I'm pretty sure he said Megatron. But that was years ago, so don't quote me on that.

Thank you, WW! ^^