Interview With Janice Chiu - Part 4

The final part of my interview with Janice Chui. Make sure to say hello to Janice at the ConVENTion this summer!

Today we discussed Nina Conti: Her Master’s Voice. If you haven’t seen it, check it out!

Video Transcript:

I see your puppets right behind you — a couple of them.

Yeah, K.A.R.L.’s back there, and then I’ve got a couple of Dangerous-es. I tend to get extras, because the soft puppets will degrade after a while. The original Dangerous went a little longer than he should have, and he started cracking around the mouth. I was heartbroken, because I love that puppet.

Oh, I’m sorry. That must have hurt.

Yeah, it did. So I’ve got a couple of Dangerous-es now, and some others in the truck. It pays to have a backup, especially if you find a character you really like.

I talked to Nina Conti out at Vent Haven one year. She said Monk is just a store-bought puppet — off the shelf. They don’t make him anymore. I asked if she had a couple of them, and she told me she actually found someone who could mold the head and recreate Monk for her.

Oh, okay.

Yeah. In one of her videos, she had a stunt monkey that got run over.

I haven’t seen that video yet. Did you enjoy it?

Yeah, there are short clips in it of her mentor — I can’t remember his name, Campbell maybe? Anyway, there were sections where he did improv, and also a phone conversation with Nina, giving her advice about the art. It was really neat. I bought the video last fall but haven’t had a chance to sit down and watch it fully yet.

So you’d recommend it then?

I think so, yeah. And Monk is so mean — but in a funny way. At a convention she said Monk is her inner voice that always tells her she’s not good enough. If she starts to feel self-doubt, Monk voices it. That’s her way of turning those thoughts into the character.

Interesting.

Yeah, I’d never heard it described that way before. Monk is her doubt — her inner voice. But she is good enough. She’s very good.

Yeah, I think so too. That’s an interesting way of putting it.

It’s just an extension of oneself, whether it’s good or bad, silly or serious.

Then what am I?

I don’t know what you are — we’re figuring that out.

Okay.

I think you’re good. That’s what I think.

I think you’re a good guy.

Because I like kids.

That’s great. I’ll tell you, kids in the hospital would absolutely love you.

Yeah, that would be fun.

I think you’d need to get some clearances, though. I don’t think hospitals just let anybody come in.

Depends on the hospital.

Right. But I’m sure it could be arranged. If you talk to a doctor, or call the hospital directly, sometimes charities help arrange visits. There’s probably a way to do it.

Okay, I’ll look into that.

Good. Well, I won’t hold you up any longer. I really appreciate your time today, and when this comes on, I’ll let you know.

Yeah, definitely. That’ll be cool.

Fantastic. Nice talking to you.

Very nice talking to you, Tom.

Thank you again so much for being a member of the course. I’ll get your diploma out to you as quickly as I can, and I’ll talk to you soon.

Okay, bye-bye.