Bolt: Interview with Mark Walton, Voice of Rhino

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MARK WALTON is the English language voice of RHINO in BOLT

QUESTION: What was it like gong from being the scratch voice of Rhino to being told you were actually going to be the English language voice in the movie?

MARK WALTON: As often happens a lot of people in the studio who have a talent for acting do the scratch temporary voices for the story reels as they film the story boards. These are voices that will be replaced by professional actors when it is animated. So I was just thrilled to speak these very well written lines for this very funny character. If that was as far as it would have gone then it was a lot of fun to do. Maybe that was why I had so much fun with it because there was not any pressure of it being production dialogue. Or so I thought. Doing the voice was fun but I did not even dare hope that they would actually use it in the finished film. I always assumed they would pick a professional actor. Then a year and a half went by and a lot of people at the studio who had seen screenings said it would be great if I ended up in the film. But I couldn't allow myself to hope for something like that. The more time went on and the longer I waited to hear if they were going to replace the voice or not, then I allowed myself to think about what might happen if I did stay in the movie. A friend said I might be going down the red carpet with John Travolta and I said to stop saying things like that! I thought I was going to get my hopes up only to be really disappointed. So just about the point where I was trying not to worry about it but I couldn't stop thinking about it, I was brought down to the recording studio by directors Chris and Byron and producer Clark. I thought I was just to re-do one of the first lines that I had recorded a year earlier. They asked if I could read it with a bit more enthusiasm and as I read the script I suddenly realised that I was speaking a line that said...and I'm the voice of Rhino! I looked up and the directors were nodding and saying I had got the part. I was so excited that I just went crazy. I was screaming and giving everyone a hug. What I did not know was a video camera captured the whole thing and at a crew meeting they showed a video of me when I was getting the news. I was just shrieking and my brain was melting down. It was a little embarrassing but touching that they cared enough to go to such trouble for me. Working for Disney is just unbelievable any way but now to be an immortal character in a film is something that I still have a hard time believing that it has actually happened. It is a dream that I would have never allowed myself to have had. But maybe Rhino would have dreamed it because he dreams pretty big. I am slightly more grounded than him...but not much.

QUESTION: What has it been like to hear that Rhino is a scene-stealer in Bolt?

MARK WALTON: It is a great bonus but I don't know how much of any credit that I can take for that because the directors and story artists came up with the idea for Rhino and wrote wonderful dialogue that I did not have to add to at all; it was just so funny as it was. Then these amazing animators added all these nuances that I would not even have thought of doing, to the performance. So something that was kind of funny becomes that much funnier in their hands. It is flattering and thrilling but all of these other people deserve the credit for making it all work and making my vocal performance really sing.

QUESTION: Do you see anything of yourself in the character of Rhino?

MARK WALTON: There is obviously a little bit of a disconnect between this little pudgy guy and me, but every once in a while I will see a facial expression or a gesture.

QUESTION: Where did the inspiration come from for the voice of Rhino?

MARK WALTON: When I started I tried to imagine what a hamster should sound like but Chris and Byron said they just wanted me to do my voice. So I guess I just tried to be myself when, like Rhino, I got to meet my idol. I did not have to work very hard to become somebody else.

QUESTION: Was there a physical challenge in playing Rhino?

MARK WALTON: He does a lot of yelling and laughing and running and panting. Amazingly I found that I was out of breath and red-faced if the recording session went on for more than a few minutes. I would also be totally hoarse for the rest of the day but it was a small price to pay for fame a glory.

QUESTION: So what was it like when you did get the chance to bathe in the spotlight and join the rest of the stars on the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of Bolt.

MARK WALTON: There was some talk of me going down the red carpet in a giant, inflatable ball – that would have been funny! But I did get to walk down the red carpet with all the flash bulbs going off. A stretch white limo picked me and my family and friends up and took me there. It was amazing, so cool. I said if I had to die right then it was ok. It was an honor for me to be in a cast with such really great professional actors. One of the coolest things that happened was at the Los Angeles premiere was when Malcolm McDowell - who plays Dr Calico, the villain - congratulated me. He has played some amazing parts and been in some iconic movies and he said that I was amazing and that I had stolen the show and he hugged me. That was the thrill of my life.

QUESTION: Has being the voice of Rhino in Bolt given you a taste to do more of this kind of voice work?

MARK WALTON: Oh yeah! I don't know if anyone will ask me again but it is kind of addictive and such fun. This has been one of the best jobs. I would love to do more. Just imagine people let you do this AND pay you money! It was so much fun to have my friends call up and say they hadn't realised that I was going to be in the movie.

QUESTION: And will there be a Bolt 2?

MARK WALTON: We'll see. One can only hope.

QUESTION: What about going back to your day job?

MARK WALTON: It is going to be difficult. It has been great flying round the world for the premieres of Bolt. All the attention has been really nice and it has been interesting to see how people on the other side of the microphone live. But luckily my job is a great one and I feel so fortunate to be working for Disney and doing the sort of stuff that I would do for fun.

QUESTION: Does Rhino have a special section on the DVD of Bolt?

MARK WALTON: I am not sure of all the extras that will be on the DVD but there is a short that is all about Rhino. I did the voice for that and they brought Malcolm McDowell and a lot of the original voices back for it. It is really funny. I shouldn't give too much away about the plot of his short, other than to say that it is a dream of Rhino's come true. Everything that he would want pretty much happens in the short.

ENDS