“When you have little ones, you really need to be present with them. I try to be present with my son as much as possible without being intrusive and asking all sorts of questions.” ~ Kyle Maclachan
photo credit: Stacy Molter at Fancy Shanty
I recently was blessed to interview Kyle MacLachlan who is the voice of the Dad on Inside Out. Although, he is known for his roles in Desperate Housewives, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Good Wife, Law and Order and my favorite 90’s show Twin Peaks. His biggest and most rewarding role is being a dad.
Here is Disney/Pixar “Inside Out” Star Kyle MacLachlan’s Thoughts on Parenting
What emotion would best fit your personality?
Km: I would say silliness because that is just kind of my nature.
As a Dad yourself, how much of the character is you because this a different character than what you normally play?
KM: It was fun to play this character because being a Dad myself; I was able to bring a little bit of my relationship with my son. Pete, Jonas and Ronnie, encouraged me to add my personality to the character. So I was happy to try different things, some of my ideas worked but most did not, but it was nice to try different ideas.
How was working in animation different from film and television?
Km: The process is strange, you’re sitting with a microphone and you don’t have anything visually to work with, so it’s all you. Pete would describe what was happening in the scene and I would read it. Then I would replay it in my head. It was like I was shooting my own little movie as I was saying the words. In the scene where I walked into the room and sat on the edge of Riley’s bed. I thought, would I say that from the doorway or would I knock? So, I begin just put it together in my mind by thinking let me try it this way or let me try it from here. I found the process fascinating.
You mentioned you have a son, has he seen the Movie yet?
KM: He scene the dinner scene and loves it. I plan on taking him to see it at some point this summer.
After doing this animated feature do you feel like you have a better understanding of your son’s emotions?
KM: He is turning 7, so he is still trying to figure out how his emotions all work together. Joy is the dominant, but he can bring in some disgust with attitude; which I am sure he has picked up at school. He definitely has this silly gene from me, in fact, it comes from my grandmother.
If you needed a Babysitter for son, which of the 5 emotions would you want them to have?
KM: I would choose the protective dad that they fear, but then he wouldn’t experience everything that I would want him to experience, so I’ll choose Joy. I think kids are pretty resilient, and if they got into trouble, they would figure a way out.
What do you think dads will learn from seeing the movie?
KM: He is a soft spoken Dad, that I think is really attempting to connect and understand what is going on in his daughter, Riley’s brain. With kids, a lot of this has to do with timing and you can’t engage them if they are not ready.
Has being a Dad shaped the way you take on new roles?
KM: It has added another dimension of consideration. How is this gonna affect my family both in me being around, I’m comfortable putting out there or Do I want to carry whatever remnants of that work environment back home with me?
Fun Fact – The strangest pizza he every ate was one made out of a variety of different Mollusks he created in the 8th or 9th grade at Marine Biology Camp.
Inside Out In Theaters Now
photo credit: Stacy Molter at Fancy Shanty
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