Award-winning actor Colm Feore reminisces about a cold day when he visited Fred Smith’s Kitchener, Ont., studio to lend his voice to the Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, The Girl Who Cried Pearls. “I portray nearly all the characters,” shared the accomplished actor during an interview with CBC News. Apart from one young girl, all other voices in the 17-minute film are voiced by Feore.
Residing in Stratford, Ont., with his wife Donna, who is associated with the Stratford Festival, Feore expressed his initial condition of recording at Smith’s studio before agreeing to voice characters in the film. Smith’s studio is a hub for various voiceover projects, including movies, documentaries, TV, commercials, and music productions.
Praising Feore’s professionalism, Smith mentioned that the recording session for the film was a brief yet enjoyable experience filled with laughter and efficient work. Feore’s ability to grasp the essence of characters in a single take often leaves directors and producers amazed.
The creators of The Girl Who Cried Pearls, Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, emphasized Feore’s indispensability for the project. Known for his diverse roles in films like Chicago and Thor, as well as the TV series Landman, Feore’s versatility made him a sought-after choice for the film.
During the studio sessions, Feore collaborated closely with Lavis and Szczerbowski to understand and deliver the nuances required for the characters he voiced. Immersing himself in the characters, Feore not only provided voiceovers but also physically enacted the characters’ gestures while watching the film.
The Montreal-based animators, Lavis and Szczerbowski, expressed their delight in representing Canada and the National Film Board of Canada at the upcoming Academy Awards. This marks their second Oscar nomination following their acclaimed work on the NFB short, Madame Tutli-Putli.
Feore hinted at attending the Oscars if invited, while also looking forward to the Screen Actors Guild awards ceremony where Landman, the series in which he stars, is nominated. The Girl Who Cried Pearls has been nominated in the best animated short film category at the Academy Awards, scheduled for March 15.