Boy Me Singing 209
VOICE ACTOR
INTERVIEW WITH
PHIL DEJEAN

Phil Dejean is a well-known character (actor/cameraman/cartoonist) from Manhattan's music
and cable access scenes. He plays BOY ME SINGING 209,
The Devil, The Cow, Emo Bat Genie, and assorted other characters in The Power People.

Where does your Devil voice come from?
I think of the smoothest "guapo" I could muster. Macho. I'm watching a lot of Antonio Banderas now. His voice is higher pitched than what I thought it was. Also I add a little bit of Ricardo Montablan.

What is the origin of the "Cow" voice in "Power People?"
One part Stinky Joe Besser (I'm gonna give you such a pinnnch!) and part Sal Piro (emcee of the Rocky Horror Picture Show 8th street Playhouse floorshow from the movie "Fame") As an avid RHPS fan I used to watch him do his thing over and over again like the movie it sticks in your head and it started coming up when I was thinking about how sassy cow was. As a emcee Sal was a fast thinker that always had snappy and funny combacks to anything the drunken hazy audience could muster.

Is it true you have been on public access TV since the year 1927?
What you talkin' bout Pedro? Lets just say I've been guesting on a lot of Manhattan Neighborhood Network programs before it was called that. I've been doing Checkerboard Kids Steady since 1996. http://checkerboardkids.tripod.com

What are some of the coolest "fan moments" in Checkerboard kids history?
Interviweing Desmond Dekker (R.I.P.), Pauline Black of the Selecter and Fishbone. I'm such a fanboy!

Who is your favorite Beatle? Your favorite Marx Brother? Your favorite outlaw gang of the old west?
Beatle I went through phases with each one but John wins out!
Marx Bros: Chico! Drunkard, Gambler, womanizer, over the top stereotypical accent, what's not to love?
Outlaw Gang? Rufus Buck Gang, They say they were creek indians, Ever seen a photo? He's black so you'll never see a movie about him.

Which is the best Ramones song?
"I just wanna have something to do" I remember playing that song over and over (this is before cds with a repeat button!) Joey signed my "Road to Ruin" I know, So fanboy right? *ahem!* In any case for technically overall best Ramones song I really enjoy "Howlin at the Moon!" Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics producing he also produced Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More" I love that one too!

Favorite Columnist?
There was a time I was really into Savage Love by Dan Savage, It used to have me rolling. I remember I had read an article about some girl with an extremely weird kink and my friend was dating the said girl in the article! How cool is that?! (sorry to leave out what it is in case either person reads this.)

If you could work with any film director in history, who would it be?
Terry Gillam. I love Monty Python, I love his films. I remember his name was bandied about he was on tap to direct the movie adaption of comic book "The Watchmen" film back in the days. Too bad he didn't because that would have been the best film in moviemaking history!

If you could cause everyone in the world to love each other forever or get to live for 1,000 years in freedom and luxury, which would you choose?
if everybody loved each other or could even act civilly towards each other I wouldn't need luxury. I'm sure the freedom angle would turn out cool too.

Phil has a cool collection of videos he's shot and edited with such luminaries as the Trachtenburg Family Players and Underdog Lady from the Howard Stern Show. Check out his vids here:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=checkerphil