So I was never really comfortable through the whole thing. Me, surrounded by all these major celebrities. And so, finally, when the movie came on, I wasn't in a relaxed state, by any means. So I was sucked into the energy and the nervousness of the whole experience. Of course, the only premiere I'd ever been to before that was a Whinne the Pooh premiere - that was a pink carpet this was a blue carpet. QUESTION: Do you recall your first reaction when seeing the live-action film for the first time? CULLLEN: I remember that we were at the film's premiere. So I just avoid those areas where I may be terribly disappointed. It hurts enough to justify your day laborer attitude without being stomped on all the time. In this case, with Optimus, I am personally attached that way, but I'll never let myself get so attached to something that I'll be hurt or injured if and when I'm replaced. You have an awareness of the character and his popularity and how that's affected people. And he would says things like, I think you're going a little far with that, Peter! QUESTION: Between movies and toys and TV shows, do you find yourself with a sense of ownership about the character of Optimus? CULLLEN: If you do a character long enough, you certainly develop a sense of possession about it. His voice was the first thing that I noticed and so I quickly began impersonating that. And when he came home, there had been a significant change in him. A Purple Heart recipient, as well as the Bronze Star. QUESTION: Where did the Optimus voice come from? CULLLEN: I was actually impersonating my brother Larry. Unless I purposefully do the voice and then I'll get a reaction. So I'm always afraid that some child will have that same reaction to me…I'm not recognizable…In fact, I don't know if I was supposed to wear a hat today, but they sent me a cap that said across the top - "I am Optimus Prime." But I'm faceless, in a way. I remember being disappointed at seeing the physical look of the person behind the voice, because I'd always had my own reflection as to what that person should look like. So when you think of that - fourteen guys huddled around the table, cracking each other up - I miss that feeling… QUESTION: Do you ever get recognized? CULLLEN: Rarely, if ever. There's a lot to be said for the old days because of the intermixing of characters - not withstanding the hilarity that creates fourteen guys - muckrakers, all of us - standing together in a room ….Just imagine us all in school, as kids, doing voices to make the class laugh. But today, given the technology to record people in their homes - it certainly has changed in that regard. We'd line up in front of microphones and record the thing together. QUESTION: How has the vocal recording process changed from when you first began? CULLLEN: Back in the old days, we all used to work together.
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