A Visit to the "Jackie Chan Adventures"
Recording Studio with Clancy Brown

by Beth Blighton

On Monday, June 14th, 2004, Clancy Brown Web Site webmistress, Kim Lay, and I were invited by Clancy to be his guests at what may well be the final recording session for the animated series "The Jackie Chan Adventures." (For more info on the series, click HERE.)



Clancy plays good guy Captain Black and bumbling evil henchman Ratso in the series, as well as various other smaller characters, including a stuffed animal (that occasionally comes to life), named Super Moose.

It was a wonderful experience meeting the many cast members featured in this finale, and watching them work together under the expert ear of director Sue Blu. Series stars James Sie (Jackie), Stacie Chan (Jade), and Sab Shimono (Uncle) were present, as well as regulars "Smallville's" Michael Rosenbaum (Drago), Noah Nelson (Tohru), and guest stars Miguel Sandoval (El Toro Fuerte), Franco Velez (Paco), and Susan Eisenberg (Viper) -- and many more!

Recording was very fast paced, with most of the cast present in the same room. They started with page one of the script and went straight through to the end, breaking the pages down into short sections or acts in a way that is somewhat similar to a band rehearsing a piece of music a few bars at a time. Each actor was usually given the chance to offer a couple different readings, tweaking the characterizations at the director's advice. All final takes seemed to be recorded twice "for safety" in case of any technical glitches.

It took approximately three hours or so to complete the half hour episode. Pickups (lines individual actors may not have been available to record during prior sessions) were recorded, as well.




After the recording session was finished, cast and crew retired to a cozy wrap party at the studio, with wonderful Chinese food sent in with congratulations from Jackie Chan, himself. (Chocolate covered fortune cookies -- YUM!) Champagne toasts all around, laughter, and casual conversations rounded out the day among this very cordial cast.

It was an amazing experience to see how these sessions are handled and meet all the wonderfully talented people involved. Thanks to everyone in the cast & crew of "The Jackie Chan Adventures" for making us feel so welcome. And, of course, a huge THANK YOU to the ever-gracious Clancy Brown for starting off our great Los Angeles adventure with such a bang!