Award-winning actor Colm Feore reminisces about a snowy day when he entered Fred Smith’s studio in Kitchener, Ontario, to lend his voice to the Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, The Girl Who Cried Pearls. “I portray almost all the characters,” mentioned the versatile actor in an interview with CBC News. While there was one young girl character requiring a genuine young voice, Feore took on the other roles.
Residing in Stratford, Ontario, with his wife Donna, who is involved with the Stratford Festival, Feore agreed to voice the characters for the 17-minute film under the condition that he could do so at Smith’s studio. The studio is utilized for various projects including movies, documentaries, TV voiceovers, corporate audio work, and music recordings.
Smith, who has collaborated with Feore on multiple projects, commended the actor’s exceptional preparedness, likening it to having the script memorized beforehand. The voice recording session for the film was brief, lasting just a couple of hours, but was filled with camaraderie, laughter, and creative synergy.
Impressing the directors and producers with his instinctual grasp of character nuances, Feore’s talent shone during the recording session. Smith was pleasantly surprised to learn about the film’s Oscar nomination through a text from Feore, expressing gratitude for still being able to pursue his passion after many years in the industry.
The stop-motion animated film, set in early 20th century Montreal, follows the tale of a destitute boy who falls in love with a girl whose tears transform into pearls. Directors Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski sought Feore for his remarkable acting range and experience, citing his ability to handle diverse material with ease.
During the recording process, Feore collaborated closely with Lavis and Szczerbowski to ensure the characters’ voices aligned with the filmmakers’ vision. Immersing himself in the characters, Feore incorporated physical gestures and mannerisms while performing the voices, striving to bring the animated puppets to life authentically.
This marks the second Oscar nomination for the Montreal-based animators, known for their previous work on the NFB short Madame Tutli-Putli. Lavis and Szczerbowski expressed their pride in representing Canada and the NFB at the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony.
Feore, contemplating attendance at the Oscars if invited, is also looking forward to the Screen Actors Guild awards, where his series Landman is nominated. The Girl Who Cried Pearls has been nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the Academy Awards, scheduled to take place on March 15.