Welcome Renae Jacobs!

[Michaelangelo]

I'll like to welcome Renae Jacobs to TMNT-L, for those of you who don't know she is April O'Neil from the original TMNT series.  It's a Great Honor to have her here, so I hope everyone takes the time to say hi to her.  

Thank you so much for joining our forum Renae!  I can't say how much of an honor this is, since the original TMNT series is what made me a fan of the Ninja Turtles and has changed my life, in a good way.    I was wondering if you could take a minute to tell us how you got the job of April O'Neil and how you felt about it?

I was also wondering if you could answer our welcome questions at the Getting to know us! *Please Read* topic.  

Thank you so much again!  If there's anything you need or want to bring up, feel free to PM me and I'll make sure to help out as much as I can.  

[Kazari]

Welcome Renae! What other shows have you voiced in?

[Eclipse]

Welcome Renae! It's a pleasure to have you here! ^__^ Thanks for taking the time to join up and chat with all of us! It totally means alot!

My question for you is, Out of all the voices that you've done, which was your favorite??

[Brinatello]

Hi, Renae!  Nice to meet you.  I'm Sabrina, or go by Brinatello on here.  Welcome to this board!  Hope you have a pleasant stay!

[AprilJacobs]

It is my pleasure to answer your questions and I appreciate your welcomes!  I have just done an interview that may be helpful in answering some of your questions, it should be listed soon so look for it....  I have done quite a bit of voice over work over the years.  I would have to say that April was one of my favorite, as the show lasted over 9 years and all of the cast members became a family. It is so rare that a show makes it past one season let alone nine.  I look forward to meeting you here.  Have a great holiday season and a happy new year!  Renae

By the way my name is spelled Renae not Renea.... April O'Neil signing out, channel 6 news!

[Eclipse]

Aww that's great! I bet it was really great working with all of them, especially Rob! He's such a great guy. So kind and everything! Hehe, gotta love his sense of humor too though! Thanks so much for answering the questions! It really is nice of you to even do this for all of us. Means alot to me, I just love getting to talk with Voice Actors!

Oh oh, I was wondering! While you were doing the voice for the series, did you ever look at the lines and get a little confused about them?  Oh yeah! What was your favorite line that you had to say? (I'm sorry, it's just so great to get to find these things out!)

Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas Happy New Year..! (etc.) to you too!

[Shredder]

http://www.twelveoclock.net/showthread.php?t=810

Here's the new direct link

[Michaelangelo]

I'm sorry about the spelling mistake on your name, I'm dystic so I know I do make some mistakes.     I fixed them all though

[Danceingfae]

I just wanted to say welcome and i'm very happy to see you on here with all us! The original cartoons is what got me hooked into the TMNT, so i'm thrilled to be able to say hi and let you know i loved your work as April!

[Brinatello]

One thing I liked about April was her jumpsuit.  Didn't care for the color, but drawing the pattern was fun back when I used to make all sorts of pictures!  Renae, if you've seen the new TMNT show, what is your opinion on April?  I'll admit I always liked it in the original show when she got rescued, but I enjoy seeing her getting some kicks in and protecting herself.  So, I guess I like a little of both.  Sorry, if I shouldn't have asked that.  I was just curious.  Thanks!

[AprilJacobs]

So if you look on the twelveoclock.net site you should be able to read an interview I just did. It may answer many of your questions.  I had worked with the original director, Stu Rosen on a number of other shows, My Pretty Pony, Glow Firends, The Moondreamers and he had asked me to audition for the part of April, along with every other gal in town!  He had me try to pitch my voice lower as he thought that I might be a bit young sounding.  He told me after I got the part that, he'd not even presented my tape to he producers at first.  I guess they did not like any of the other auditions because when they told him that he'd have to keep looking he said " I have one more, but I did't think that you'd like it".  When they heard my audition, they said' That's April!"  So that's how I got the part.  

I have enjoied all of the voices that I have been so fourtunate to get paid to do.  I must say that April is on the top of the list!  I love doing funny,  high, silly, voices.  In the Glow Friends Save Christmas I did all of the vioces for the elves.  Each one talked to each other.  It got a bit confusing but it was fun. I felt as if I was the entire cast of Munchkin Land in the Wizzard of Oz!

Reguarding the YELLOW JUMPSUITE,  I often wished that they might put me in some other outfit, what can I say it that I remember people asking me "Now who are you on TMNT?"  and I'd say "The one in the yellow jumpsuite" then they say "oh yea." so I guess it wa a way for people to realize that April was not a turtle....  I have not seen the new TMNT so I can not make any kind of comments on it.  What do you think of it?

My Favroite line was... "Put me down you big ape!"  I think I said that in almost  every show!  
I thnk that about answers the questions that were posted.  Thanks again for loving the Turtles and of course me, April.    

Renae

[Shredder]

Hey all,

 The Interview will be rerun tonight at 6PM.  Check it out here at...http://www.loudcity.net/Music/tabid/88/ctl/viewStation/mid/407/StationID/280/Default.aspx.  Hopefully it'll work like I think it does and e veryone can hear the interview at 6PM EST...

[Michaelangelo]

Hiya,

I was just listening to the interview on TMNT Radio... and I got a question, I heard you lived in Michigan when you were nine, I was wondering where in Michigan you lived?  Heh can't help it when I hear of a fellow Michiganer.

I'm from Ferndale, Michigan which is very close to Detroit.  Never cared much for it here, but have lived here all my life.

[Shredder]

Hey all,

We'll be rebroadcasting it tommorow at 12PM ESt.  LoudCity Fixed all our problems so now everyone can hear it

[Brinatello]

I have not seen the new TMNT so I can not make any kind of comments on it.  What do you think of it?

OH!  Missed this question.  Sorry.  Ummmmm...well....the show's great as far as I'm concerned!  It's more closely based on the Mirage comics, something I discovered later on in my TMNT interest.  I mean, MUCH MUCH later on, say, around 1998 or so.  When I started reading those, it was instant love all over again.  There has been questions of which toon is better, and I'm honestly stuck on an answer.  I love both because both are so different!  The original toon is a classic and I'll always like it and I've now accepted this new show as well.  

One other question, Renae.  Sorry in advance!  I read your info at IMDb and noticed you were in the cartoon "Rose Petal."  My sister and I had two dolls from that!  I had Rose Petal and she had Orchid.  Both had a very nice flower aroma!  But, anyway, the site doesn't mention which voice you did.  I saw the cartoon years ago and hardly remember much of it!

[Jephael]

Hey Renae, good to meetcha! I just love watching the original cartoon and you were always one of my favorites. I thought the Catwoman episode in 1988 was hilarious! Do you remember what it was like making those meowing noises?

[Danceingfae]

Just wanted to take the time to wish you and your family a very happy holiday this season and hope you have a wonderful new year!

[AprilJacobs]

Sorry it has taken be a bit to respond to your questions.  I was born in Chicago but lived in East Lansing unitll I was 11.  I got my start in VO at Michigan State.  There was a show that was flimed there called "The Land of Play".  I took a class when I was 9 from the creator of the show on puppetry and voice acting.  I was asked by the woman. I forget her name, to join the show so at the age of 9 I was working in VO.  

With reguard to "Rose Petal Place"  I was Orchid and Lillyfair. I loved working with Marie Osmond, she was so kind and easy to work with.   I understand that it might come back.  If so I'll let you know,  the original producer has asked me if I'd like to do it again... so we'll see.


Renae

[Michaelangelo]

Wow I can't believe I haven't replied to this!

It's very cool that you went to Michigan State!   You know I never realized that some of my favorite characters growing up could of even been here in Michigan at any time, like Rob Paulsen also has Michigan connections   It also surprises me that you got started in voice acting here in Michigan, it always feels like there's NOTHING to get involved in around here that has to do with acting and when there is stuff it's usually either big crowd scenes or you need to be in the Union.

Have you been able to make a living off of doing acting alone or is there other stuff you're doing as well?  

[pkazee]

I got my start in VO at Michigan State.  There was a show that was flimed there called "The Land of Play".  I took a class when I was 9 from the creator of the show on puppetry and voice acting.  I was asked by the woman. I forget her name, to join the show so at the age of 9 I was working in VO.

I believe the woman you are referring to was named Helen Shaw.  She was known as Miss Helen on the show.  I have pics of her from the show on my fb page.  One is of her interacting with a puppet named Mongo that lived in a birdhouse.  I think Mongo was supposed to be a squirrel.  Is it possible you voiced Mongo?

Other memories of that show are of her using a magic key to open a magic door, though I can't recall what was behind the door.

She also spoke to two-dimensional wooden cut-outs of animals as if they were real.  One of them was a rather surreal depiction of a cat.

The only other thing I remember about this show was that she would spend several minutes feeding fish while the camera was focused on a close-up of the fish swimming around and eating the flakes she slowly dropped into the tank.  There would be sparse, tinkly music playing during this segment.  Very hypnotic.  And calming.

-Paul Kazee

[Michaelangelo]

I wanted to say Thank you so much for joining me for an interview on Cowabunga Corner.  It was a real honor getting to meet and talk with you.  The interview is up on the website now.