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Madagascar 2: Ben Stiller and Chris Rock Interview
We caught up with professional funny men Ben Stiller and Chris Rock, who lend their voices to the characters Alex the lion and Marty the zebra respectively in the sequel to the hit CGI family animation Madagascar 2. We asked Ben and Chris how voice acting differs from their regular comedic roles and what it’s like working with each other. LOVEFiLM: Was it more fun second time around? Ben Stiller: I enjoyed it more because having seen the first movie you have an idea of what it’s going to look like when it’s done. The first time around it was a few years of doing recordings. And it’s hard, you know? Because you don’t know what it’s going to all come together as. So the second one you can visualise what it’s going to be. LF: Is it easier to do a voice over than to actually do it on camera? BS: I don’t know if it’s easier. It’s different, you know? It’s a different energy and a different process. It’s really different for me because most of the time you’re alone. I mean, maybe Chris, because you do stand up, you’re used to self-generating more? Chris Rock: It’s weird because sometimes I’ve had sessions that felt like – even when they were four hours – felt like a 10 hour movie day or whatever. BS: Yeah, it definitely takes it out of you because it’s just you. You just have to be producing and when you don’t have any stimuli, like other characters and you’re not seeing anything, it’s sort of like you have to create it in your own head. CR: It’s weird too, because when you act, you’re not directing or anything. Because of all the set ups and everything on a normal movie day, you probably only work four to five hours!
LF: You recorded some scenes together didn’t you? Did it get competitive at all? CR: No, I’m not competing with this guy! BS: No, it’s acting. Acting is give and take, you know? And that’s what’s fun about it. But I did get competitive a little bit with Chris because I’d be like “OK, I’ll just do the scene with him” and then he’d start busting out. I remember you were funny and I was like “Oh s***! This is really funny!” CR: I’m just trying to stay in the business! BS: You’re doing well with that! But it’s also kind of great, because it inspires you to want to do your best. There’s a good energy that comes out of being in a room with someone else. LF: When you first started out acting, did you ever think you’d be voicing a lion and a zebra? BS: Never in my wildest dreams… CR: It’s weird. It’s like I’ve got the ‘kit’ now. I remember when I first got a little success in like ’96, Jerry Seinfeld calls me up and he says, “Well what’s going to happen now is you’re going to get the kit.” I go, “What’s the kit?” He says, “So now you’re going to get a book deal, you’re going to host some award shows, they’re going to offer you some movies, a TV show”. You know, it’s like the kit for successful funny people. So I would say a part in an animated movie goes in the kit. LF: Ben, your son was also involved in the movie…
BS: Yeah, he wrote and directed it! No, but seriously, we wanted a child’s perspective. He came in one day to do a little… You know, he was offered the part. He didn’t have to audition. It was just through nepotism. He came in and he was into it for about two minutes or so and then he wanted to go home. And he got upset and he started to cry a little, and we used that in the movie! LF: No hesitation on your part then? BS: Oh absolutely! Whatever it takes to get the best performance. LF: Are your kids big fans of the movie? CR: My kids are big fans, but they prefer High School Musical 3!
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