Darren Pleavin. Photo © Darren Pleavin. The history of Hong Kong dubbing, especially with respect to the Godzilla series, remained largely a mystery for decades. The various dubbing companies, and the actors they employed, went essentially nameless and faceless during that time, and it took the efforts of several Internet sleuths to begin putting names … Continue reading I HEREBY DUB THEE! Darren Pleavin Reminisces About Dubbing Toho Kaiju Movies in Hong Kong!
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
A VOICE ACTRESS’ JOURNEY TO THE EAST! Sharon Szmidt Remembers Dubbing Godzilla Movies in Hong Kong!
Sharon Szmidt. Photo © Sharon Szmidt. The late 1990s saw a bevy of Heisei-era Godzilla and Mothra films become available on home video in the West for the first time. These VHS releases featured dubbing recorded in Hong Kong by Omni Productions, which was headed by prolific voice actor Rik Thomas, and American Sharon Szmidt … Continue reading A VOICE ACTRESS’ JOURNEY TO THE EAST! Sharon Szmidt Remembers Dubbing Godzilla Movies in Hong Kong!
GODZILLA’S MILLENNIUM MAN! Actor Takehiro Murata on His Memorable Roles in the Godzilla Series!
Takehiro Murata in July 2023. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on March 18, 1960, Takehiro Murata became an actor at an early age and would go on to star in movies for some of Japan's most successful directors. In the U.S., Mr. Murata is most famous for his various turns in the Godzilla series. His … Continue reading GODZILLA’S MILLENNIUM MAN! Actor Takehiro Murata on His Memorable Roles in the Godzilla Series!
SYNC OR SWIM! Craig Allen Remembers Dubbing the ’90s Godzilla Films in Hong Kong!
Inside the Shanghai Studio in the 1990s where the Godzilla films were dubbed by Omni Productions. Front row, from left to right: Henry Coombs, Sharon Crose Szmidt, and Ina Chow. Back row, from left to right: Craig Allen and an unidentified individual. Rik Thomas is in the background. Photo © Craig Allen. When Craig Allen … Continue reading SYNC OR SWIM! Craig Allen Remembers Dubbing the ’90s Godzilla Films in Hong Kong!
CARRYING ON GODZILLA’S LEGACY: Producer Shogo Tomiyama on Guiding the Godzilla Series into the New Millennium!
Shogo Tomiyama in March 2021. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on February 27, 1952, Shogo Tomiyama rose to prominence in the Japanese movie industry by becoming a producer at Toho Pictures. Internationally, Mr. Tomiyama is well-known for producing the Godzilla series from Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) through Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Mr. Tomiyama officially joined … Continue reading CARRYING ON GODZILLA’S LEGACY: Producer Shogo Tomiyama on Guiding the Godzilla Series into the New Millennium!
PRODUCING GODZILLA: Former Toho Pictures President Shogo Tomiyama Reflects on the Godzilla Series!
Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on February 27, 1952, Shogo Tomiyama rose to prominence in the Japanese movie industry by becoming a producer at Toho Pictures. Internationally, Mr. Tomiyama is well-known for producing the Godzilla series from Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) through Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Mr. Tomiyama officially joined Toho in 1975. After working … Continue reading PRODUCING GODZILLA: Former Toho Pictures President Shogo Tomiyama Reflects on the Godzilla Series!
GODZILLA AND MOTHRA IN THE ’90S! Assistant SFX Director Yosuke Nakano Reminisces About Heisei-Era Kaiju!
Yosuke Nakano (whose professional name is Yo★Nakano) is a veteran of Japanese special effects who has worked on various SFX franchises for a variety of studios. Born on August 8, 1971, Mr. Nakano graduated from high school in Fukuoka in 1989 and enrolled at the special effects department of Tokyo Eizo Geijutsu Gakuin (Tokyo Institute of … Continue reading GODZILLA AND MOTHRA IN THE ’90S! Assistant SFX Director Yosuke Nakano Reminisces About Heisei-Era Kaiju!
A CANADIAN ACTRESS IN TOKYO! Shelley Sweeney Discusses Her Career in Godzilla!
Shelley Sweeney, born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, lived for many years in the small town of Kelowna, British Columbia, in the Okanagan Valley, an area of the Rocky Mountains. After being scouted and signing a modeling contract in Japan, she moved to London, England, where she attended the Corona School, a drama academy for young … Continue reading A CANADIAN ACTRESS IN TOKYO! Shelley Sweeney Discusses Her Career in Godzilla!
GODZILLA GETS TENURE! Actor Ronald Hoerr on His Professorial Roles in the Heisei Series!
Ronald Hoerr came to Japan in the 1960s with no ambition to become an actor, but he found himself working full-time as a TV and movie performer by the late 1980s and early '90s. Following his transition into the entertainment industry, Mr. Hoerr appeared in Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) as Professor Alexander Mammilov and Godzilla … Continue reading GODZILLA GETS TENURE! Actor Ronald Hoerr on His Professorial Roles in the Heisei Series!
A BRUSH WITH GODZILLA! American Actor Jon Gallock Discusses His Close Encounter in ‘Godzilla vs. Destoroyah’!
Jon Gallock moved to Japan by design but became an actor there almost by accident. After becoming involved in show business, Mr. Gallock quickly landed a role in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) as an airline pilot taking off from Hong Kong who nearly collides with the Big G as he rises out of the sea. … Continue reading A BRUSH WITH GODZILLA! American Actor Jon Gallock Discusses His Close Encounter in ‘Godzilla vs. Destoroyah’!
Vantage Point Interviews 