ARGH! (Cowboy Bebop problem)

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-10 03:35pm

OK, so I'm watching the Cowboy Bebop movie the other day, and I notice that, according to the credits, David Lucas did not handle the voice of Spike, Steven Blum did. OK, understandable. After all, according to this letter here, David Lucas and Steven Blum are different people, they just sound exactly alike and are often mistaken for one another. Also, David Lucas doesn't have a union card, so he shouldn't be able to work in film. Now this would all be fine and well, but watch the interviews with the actors included with the DVD. There's a guy, looks to be in his mid-30s, with the label "Steven Blum" going on about how much fun it was to work on the original Cowboy Bebop series. Wait a minute, I'm thinking, what the fuck is this guy who supposedly is NOT David Lucas doing going on and on about his work on the TV Series? This is just frustrating as hell. I'm beginning to believe that letter was just a hoax and these two really are the same people.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-10 03:38pm

As I recall, they are indeed the same person. Lucas has a number of stage names, among them David Hayter (undr which he did the voice for Solid Snake) and probably others we don't know yet.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-10 03:40pm

Stormbringer wrote:As I recall, they are indeed the same person. Lucas has a number of stage names, among them David Hayter (undr which he did the voice for Solid Snake) and probably others we don't know yet.

Read that letter. I don't know if it's a fabrication or not, but I don't think the author of that site is a liar.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-10 03:44pm

Durran Korr wrote:
Stormbringer wrote:As I recall, they are indeed the same person. Lucas has a number of stage names, among them David Hayter (undr which he did the voice for Solid Snake) and probably others we don't know yet.
Read that letter. I don't know if it's a fabrication or not, but I don't think the author of that site is a liar.

I doubt the that it's a lie on her part. But I think David himself is pulling a fast one. He's supposed to be a bit reclusive after all.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-09-10 04:43pm

Explain to me how David Lucas plays Spike in the Cowboy Bebop series, and Steven Blum plays Spike in the movie, and yet it had been announced that they were going to keep the original English voice cast?

Exactly.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-10 04:47pm

But, supposedly, David Lucas is a nonunion actor, which would eliminate any chance of him playing Spike in the film.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-09-10 05:32pm

IMDb confirms that the two VAs are indeed the same person.

And does this union rule apply to foreign/animated films?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-10 06:21pm

I think it just mostly applies to American animation.

A pox on the Hollywood unions, I say...

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-09-10 08:09pm

Durran Korr wrote:But, supposedly, David Lucas is a nonunion actor, which would eliminate any chance of him playing Spike in the film.

Which is exactly why he has to work under a pseudonym.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-10 08:21pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:But, supposedly, David Lucas is a nonunion actor, which would eliminate any chance of him playing Spike in the film.
Which is exactly why he has to work under a pseudonym.

The union would not approve, and they would have gotten to him about it by now.

And does this union rule apply to foreign/animated films?

It applies to films, methinks...and the Cowboy Bebop movie is a film, obviously.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-09-10 09:10pm

I don't know what the union rules are exactly, there are most likely loopholes that allow this.

Oh, and for some proof:
Discography

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-09-10 09:47pm

SAC rules are pretty cool

basically since actors are unemployeed 90% of the time, and almost everyone of them started working non union jobs, they simply ask for a percentage of your union work fees.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-11 12:40am

The union would not approve, and they would have gotten to him about it by now.

Given that he has a several different, known psuedonyms I think it's entirely possible at least one of them is union. The Steven Blum one is most likely the union registered one.

It applies to films, methinks...and the Cowboy Bebop movie is a film, obviously.

It would apply to the English voice work. Foriegn films that are subtitled do not fall under the regulations.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-09-11 12:46am

Also you can't work non union under your union name. (it's wierd go with me), Since work is scarce you can always work under conditions that don't include medical coverage for months later, free food etc. Sometimes named actors will often work on indipendent projects using other names for artistic purposes. Let's face it. Bruce Boxlitner's wife and Ed Asner are not idiots. they don't enforce the absolutes but ask that members don't abuse them.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-09-11 12:51am

Oh and Screen actor's guild was formerly run by Ed Asner form the 1970's until he retired a few years ago.

Currently it's run by the actress that used to play on Little House on the Parie and is now married to Bruce Boxlitner. (You try dealing with a membership who is absent 90% of the time.)

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-11 01:00am

Melissa Gilbert. That's her name.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-09-11 01:05am

Thanks Spanky I hate it when I can't remember a name.