Botcon 2012: Voice Actor Panel Dan Gilvezan and Buster Jones

Delicon wrote:This was Buster Jones' first Botcon and Dan Gilvezan's second. It was also the first time these men have been around each other since the end of the original cartoon. Buster entered in a tuxedo while Dan was dressed casually, which Dan joked about. Buster Jones obtained his first Transformer the night before. Neither had any idea how big the franchise would become. Dan joked; had he known, he would saved EVERYTHING (including scripts, photos and thumbprints)

Dan Gilvezan stated his favorite episode from Transformers Generation 1 was Transport to Oblivion due to his extensive involvement in it. Dan talked about rewatching the episodes on DVD and how excellent the Shout Factory! Matrix set was. He mentioned how enduring the franchise was and how mainstream it had become. Mr. Gilvezan admitted to auditioning for the role of Bumblebee in the new movies, but admits his voice may have bee too friendly for the live action version.

Dan admired the Bumblebee hats in the crowd. He said the most unique gift he received was from a woman named Stephanie yesterday - a needlepoint Bumblebee

Buster Jones spoke about life as a musician. Playing drums and the saxophone. He said that Scatman Crothers (Jazz) wouldn't talk to him for a 3 year period "back in the day" due to being competitive about music and seeing Buster as an upstart. Buster eventually saw him play one night and they eventually became friends. Dan said that Scatman's ukulele playing was a highlight of the recording sessions. Both talked about how competitive voiceover work was, that you might get 1-2 roles of 100. Buster said even agents are constantly getting in and out of the business and that he has had many agents.

Buster Jones shared with the crowd that he was present to hear Wally Burr and Orson Welles clashing during the recordings for the 1986 movie. He said it got ugly between them and Dan mentioned; when new people dealt with Wally, it was like lambs being lead to the slaughter. Buster said that Wally had an amazing voice for a director. Dan said he would have liked a bigger role in the 86 movie and that he recorded all his lines in only 20 minutes.

Mr. Gilvezan admitted he wished Bee's alt mode was still a Volkswagen. He also thought a Mini-Cooper would be the next closest thing. Dan introduced his "beautiful wife Joselle" who brought up his book and joked that "this is what celebrity gets you". He also mentioned recent work such as some regional commercials and the Spiderman Shattered Dimensions video game. He talked about past work on Spiderman and his Amazing Friends, G.I. Joe, Dino Riders, Spiral Zone and Sectaurs. Dan referred to Frank Welker as "the premier voice actor of our time." He said he'd love to work with Frank Welker and Peter Cullen again. Either on Transformers Prime or if Hasbro produced a reunion special with the surviving voice actors. Which received a massive response from the crowd.