INTERVIEW: ‘Red vs. Blue’ has a ‘Paradox’ on its hands
Photo: Red vs. Blue: The Shisno Paradox will be released Jan. 1 on digital, DVD and Blu-ray. Photo courtesy of Rooster Teeth / Provided by Think Jam with permission.
Rooster Teeth, one of the most influential media companies in the United States, has been going strong with its web series for many years, and its flagship property, Red vs. Blue, has been with the creative team almost since day one.
The web series, which is a tongue-in-cheek sendup of Halo and video games, has 16 seasons under its belt, and now the franchise is gearing up for the digital, DVD and Blu-ray release of Red vs. Blue: The Shisno Paradox, coming Jan. 1.
Red vs. Blue, or RvB, is believed to be the longest running episodic web series in history. It follows the adventures of two groups of soldiers who are vying for the same piece of real estate, no matter how undesirable it may seem.
Gus Sorola, a founding partner of Rooster Teeth, voices the character of Simmons on the series. Recently, he exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox about the character and the history of the show. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
How did you develop the voice for Simmons?
I really wish I had put more thought into the early development of the character. When we started I’d never really done any acting, so I didn’t focus too much on what the character was about. In the early days, I drew inspiration from Smithers when he would brown nose up to Mr. Burns in The Simpsons. I viewed him as a lackey hoping to work his way up the chain of command by getting into his boss’ good graces.
What do you like best about the character?
I liked Simmons matter-of-factness when it came to dealing with situations. I always felt like he takes a very no-nonsense approach to whatever task is at hand, no matter how zany it is.
What’s it like to record with the other actors? Is it a true ensemble?
We actually very rarely record together. I did record a session with Matt (Sarge) this past season, but before that, I really can’t remember the last time I was in the booth with someone. At this point we’ve been playing our characters so long that I think we can pretty accurately imagine how the other actors are going to play their parts.
What makes Rooster Teeth such a good production company to work for?
I’m very lucky to work at Rooster Teeth because we really foster creativity here, and we have so many projects going on. I’ve never been stuck working on a project that I’m bored of because there is always something else to distract me. I guess that can be bad as well since I need to focus and prioritize tasks as needed.
Why do you think Red vs. Blue continues to be such a hit?
I think RvB is super relatable beyond just the scope of core video gamers. The humor deals with bureaucracy and the workplace, so I think just about anybody can relate and laugh at the situations the guys get themselves into. Granted most people don’t time travel or encounter gods in their day-to-day life, but I think you get the idea.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Red vs. Blue: The Shisno Paradox will be released Jan. 1 on digital, DVD and Blu-ray. Click here for more information.
