Against the Gantz dubbing? Why don't we say so!

[topazera.livejournal.com]

E-MAIL/LETTER WRITING IN SUPPORT OF A SUBBED GANTZ IN THE AMERICAN THEATERS

Okay, I don't want to necessarily broach this as a campaign because honestly? It's probably too late, they've probably already started sinking money into the dubbing process and definitely already started advertising this as a dubbed film. However, everywhere I've gone, I've seen a lot of people with the same reaction "Ugh, dubbed? That's awful. I'm not even sure if I want to see it like that." So for the sake of future projects (for example, you can mention that you'd prefer subs for the second installment of Gantz), I think we should say something now!

This film is should really build on the fanbase already present in America (and all around the world!). We could be excitedly talking about bringing people to this movie, instead of even weighing if we really want to watch the movie like that ourselves. Why alienate the market you already have trying to appeal to people who might overlook foreign films anyway? Let's tell VIZ Pictures that dubbing is an outdated practice that doesn't work to their advantage in 2011!

There are addresses for both letters and e-mails. I'm not sure what's most effective but I think if more people just sent in a quick e-mail, the numbers might work to our advantage.

This should probably be the primary place to contact, as they are actually in charge of the dubbing process:
VIZ Pictures, Inc.
c/o NEW PEOPLE unit
1746 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

AND E-MAIL:
info@viz-pictures.com
(Taken from the contact page here.)

However this is the place distributing the movie in theaters so it's good to let them know you'd support a subbed film:
NCM Fathom
A division of National CineMedia
9110 East Nichols Ave, Suite 200
Centennial, CO 80112-3405

AND E-MAIL:
info@FathomEvents.com
(Ot just use this contact form here to send an e-mail.)

As in all letter writing, we want to come off well so be polite! Despite other concerns, we're lucky they are giving us both a chance to see the film and a live broadcast of Nino and Matsuyama Ken'ichi. I would suggest we show our thanks and appreciation for that! This really is a cool event, something I didn't even expect to happen, it's just this dubbing thing. I think the best bet is to be honest: for example, tell them if you wouldn't go because of the dubbing or just say if you're not excitedly spreading the word about it since it's dubbed. Maybe tell them why you don't think dubbing is to their advantage: mention the huge market for subbed anime in this country or that Nino is known in America because he was in an Oscar-nominated movie that just so happens to have been subbed. Your message doesn't have to be more than a paragraph.

Obviously, also feel free to ignore this post! You may disagree or this one-night dubbed event may not seem important enough to prompt letter writing and that's totally fair. XD However since I plan to turn my annoyance into a letter to VIZ, I thought I'd at least spread the addresses around. Happy Gantz watching, whenever you get a chance to see the film. :)

ETA: TICKETS NOW ON SALE. I haven't seen a list of all 300 theaters pop up yet but if you search for Gantz on movietickets.com and fandango.com, you can find some theaters (in fact both list different theaters) and buy tickets for it already! I think they are adding more as time goes on. It might help to know if you even can attend these screenings. :)

Comments

[madisonfink.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for supplying these, I think it's dumb that they are releasing it dubbed, I think it would just cheapen the GANTZ experience.

[hanasanai-yo.livejournal.com]

thanks for putting this info together. Its good to know who is distributing it because now i know what theatres it'll most likely be playing at.
I hope when i email viz, they will take it into consideration. When they showed the Bleach anime movies here, it was dubbed so i didn't go. oh, how i wish they would sub it and not take away from the experience. we have quite a few foreign films that play in the US with subs, i dont see why japanese ones should be dubbed over

[topazera.livejournal.com]

No problem! Did you see that a lot of movie theaters are now up and selling tickets on movieickets.com and fandango.com? :)

I agree so much, as you can probably tell! ;) It's true, I've seen a bunch of French, German and a few various other language films in theaters! I don't know why I can't experience the same thing with this Japanese film I want to see so much. :/

[cool1412.livejournal.com]

#1. I'll send an email after my test in 1.5 hours (^_^)>

#2. OMGOSH, THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME TICKETS ARE UP AT FANDANGO AND MOVIETICKETS!!! I have officially been going insane and telling irrelevant people that I have tickets to see it for the past... well, 11 minutes. (^_^')> XD But seriously, I was stalking Google (don't know much about pre-ordering so I was stalking the wrong sites, haha~) waiting for pre-ordering. GAAAAH, EXCITED.

[topazera.livejournal.com]

#1. Yay! I'm glad to hear other people are e-mailing too. :D

#2. No problem, bb! Ahahaha, that really could have been a whole separate post on the comm, couldn't it? I just kept expecting someone else to post about it! Well, I'm glad you got the news and ended your ineffective stalking. ♥

[kari-rika-dm.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. I got my tickets already; they're showing it at a theatre less than a mile away from my dorm. (:

I will e-mail Viz too. Hoping with all my heart that they don't dub.

[iupdarlin.livejournal.com]

I'm so doing this!! I'm still going to watch the movie, but mostly because of a mini-fan meet up more than anything.

Thanks for the info!!

[miiss-hachiiko.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for telling that fandango.com is taking online sales. <3 The nearest theater is going to have it, so I'm happy. <3

[ohmiya-luv14.livejournal.com]

DUBBED!! UGGG, they want to replace their voices D:< it takes out the whole intensity of the movie!! Wouldn't it be easier to sub it?? Subbing will just take translators, but dubbing require auditions, and choosing and stuff. And i belive subbing is WAY cheaper than dubbing!
im thankful about -hopefully- to watch Nino on the big scenese but DUBBED?!?! UGGHH!

[kenshin-dono.livejournal.com]

I am sure they have staff voice actors.

[matsujunlover1.livejournal.com]

I am definitely emailing. I SERIOUSLY HOPE THEY DO SOMETHINGG.
But I'm going to see it anywayy!!! So excited :D

[xdiamond-7x.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this! I'm totally against the dubbing (Of course, I'm sure everyone is). Usually the dubbed version doesn't really display the emotions that are portrayed. I mean it's not like I wouldn't enjoy the movie, these are amazing actors, but I see it as they've put in so much effort and hardwork that replacing the voices will take away all that -_-

Anyways, my friend and I will certainly be writing a letter. It's like you had mentioned, they probably already started the process. However, it wouldn't hurt in letting them know that subbing could have been a better choice XP
Again, thank you♥ ... I'm so happy there's a theater near me that will be playing it XDD

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Yes, I always assume that everyone is against dubbing too! Personally, I find it to be like nails on a chalkboard for anything live-action. It's such a shame to imagine all these actors we know and love having a good portion of their work just stripped away.

It's like you had mentioned, they probably already started the process. However, it wouldn't hurt in letting them know that subbing could have been a better choice XP
Over on a_ra_shi, astrangerenters made the good point of saying that we could write in and say that even if they can't do anything about this film, they might consider subtitling for the second one and do their best not to impede the audio track of the live interview! I really hope they figure out how to translate the live interview well.

[rainawallis.livejournal.com]

OMG, YES. A hundred times YES.

I am going to get all the students in my Japanese Club to write to this as well. :) Thank you for putting it together. :D

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I in no way meant to imply that the entire fanbase feels this way, just that a lot of people within in it do. The title was phrased as a question for a reason. ;) I wish I was okay with dubbing, it would make things like this much less frustrating as I doubt anything will actually change. :)

[captain-snen.livejournal.com]

emails sent! ^ ^

[parabocake.livejournal.com]

Would I be killed for this?

I doubt they're dubbing Gantz just to kill it. There are some people who might be willing to watch Gantz because of the plot but cannot sit through 2 hours reading subs. If they don't read fast enough, they miss half of the dialogue and what's going on. Some people just don't have the experience of reading and watching at the same time. Their experience will be sour and it'll be on their 'Worst movies ever' list. Some people expressed that in their IwoJima reviews. Everyone is a target audience and unfortunately, most of them do not understand Japanese. There are plenty of people who won't watch a movie because it's subbed even though it's a must-watch. Sucks for them, I know.

Anyway! It's great that you guys are doing this and I am against bad dubbing, too but you guys have to think beyond "Oh, they're totally gonna gonna kill it because they're gonna be monotone." You never know, the number of people who might want to watch this dubbed will be larger than those who'd want to see this subbed which means more profit for the company but no one really cares about that. The dubbers could also be highly-skilled. There are really good voice actors out there and there are good dubbed versions out there. I think that requesting for a subbed version along a dubbed version is better than "Please don't dub it." because there are other people who might not appreciate the awesomeness of subs but definitely appreciate a great movie.

/end rambling Just something to think about, I guess.

Thank you for organizing this! =)

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Ha, not at all! I definitely don't think they are dubbing Gantz to kill it, I think they're doing because they think it's the most profitable and sensible decision. I do agree, if anything is going to be dubbed, it should be an action movie that moves quickly!

However, I'm just not a part of that audience! From my perspective, something being dubbed is likely to end my interest in it. I'm not planning on writing advocating anything except my personal opinion which may be taken as completely offbase. :) Honestly, I'm not sure what is best for the health of movie as a whole. I think you can make a case that's a better to target the niche audience that likes foreign movies and is already used to subtitles, particularly for this very limited run. But again, that's just my conjecture!

I think that requesting for a subbed version along a dubbed version is better than "Please don't dub it."
And that's definitely a good point. Obviously, I think that's the best option. The only thing is can't imagine a release working like that just because it would require two different prints of the movie to be produced. Unfortunately that's just not cost effective. Honestly, I think it's an either/or situation. My letter made it clear that I'm on the side of subtitling but obviously they think there's a larger market for dubbing. They may be entirely right but that doesn't mean I'm not going to lobby for what I consider the superior option, as I'm sure people who feel strongly about dubbing would do if the situation was reversed. :)

I hope I continued this exchange on amicable terms! I do completely see where you're coming from. :)

[tuski-no-hime.livejournal.com]

sucks that its being subbed. but I AM GOING TO GO SEE IT IN THE THEATERS WHEN IT COMES OUT IN THE U.S. i am so happy! i just had to share it! thanks for all the info that you have provided us. its really helpful! *runs around her room and dances with excitement*

[namichan.livejournal.com]

good idea!! And thanks for the ticket info, i rushed to get my card and in the process cut myself, and now i have blood all over my keyboard... BUT I GOT MY TICKETS!!!!!!!

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Oh man, take care of yourself! You have to live to see NINO: LIVE VIA SATELLITE! ;D

[peachywink.livejournal.com]

thanks for the addresses! unless it's an animated film I just can't stand dubbing. It sounds weird and looks even worse.

[crystaltokyo.livejournal.com]

While I won't be participating in the write in, thank you SO much for the ticket info!

[dorkylifestyle.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the ticket info! I'm going to buy it right now! I found a theater close to my house that will show the movie \(*O*)/ I'm going with my aunt xD her ichiban is Nino! she is so excited :D and me too of course *______*

[narusaku4vr.livejournal.com]

My excitement for it releasing in the US dropped when I read about it being dubbed ,but when I read your post and checked out fandango, I found a theater screening it a good 17 miles from where I lived but when I checked movietickets I found a theater showing it 15 minutes from where I am. YAAY!!!
Thanks so much for the info.

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree about the feeling of reading it's being dubbed. :( And happy I could help!♥

[hannah-arashi.livejournal.com]

so i already sent an email but thank you soo much for getting this info out to everyone... Also thank you for telling us that tickets are available... I am soo happy... i checked and it will be in a theatre close to me!!!! Yay... <3

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Hee, good job being on top of the issue! :D I really wavered over posting this post after I sent in my own e-mail.

And yay! Close theaters and ticket buying! I almost wish we could demonstrate how many of us that would prefer subtitles are actually a part of their target audience. But that would probably be taken as just another reason to dub, because we'll cave and see it anyway. XD

[saori11.livejournal.com]

Eww WHAT?!
IT'S GOING TO BE DUBBED!?????!?!?!?
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I wanted to heard Ninomiya's beautiful voice!

[hopegrl18.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info!! I'll send one in too. There are two showings in las vegas that day and I have my ticket now!!

[lludara.livejournal.com]

I actually asked for them to include a subbed version with the dubbed version on DVD - and they may just do it.

I also was sure to mention in the email that I WILL support this as i want to see MORE japanese films released like this in the USA - and Ninomiya on the BIG screen? Hell yes!

I believe the dubb is because of the wider fan base which makes it more open to the millions who will possibly watch it. My mother is one of those - dyslexic and hates reading subtitles. I long ago realized i prefer subtitles.

On another note - i've also read they are OVER dubbing it... which means that you will be able to hear their voices as well - anyone confirm/deny this?

Also..does anyone have a list of the actual areas? I'm willing to drive but the most they have listed in 40 miles away =(

[kawaii-beela.livejournal.com]

On another note - i've also read they are OVER dubbing it... which means that you will be able to hear their voices as well

isnt that almost worse? its good u can SORTA hear nino and the original voices but i would be trying to hear the japanese dialogue so much that i wouldnt even care what the english voice over was saying haha XD

[nanfoodle.livejournal.com]

I...I think they're actually going to show it in a theater in West Virginia... I'm about to pee myself.

But it's dubbed....what do I do D:

[yuui1010.livejournal.com]

dubbed?
Are they stupid?!
Where's the fun n excitement n thrilled in it?!