Editing Wikisimpsons:Chris Ledesma interview

[[Chris Ledesma]] came onto the Wikisimpsons IRC on October 19, 2011 at 6:05pm (BST).
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[18:05] == Chris_Ledesma [62971b18@gateway/web/freenode/ip.98.151.27.24] has joined #wikisimpsons
[18:05] <Phinbart> Hi!
[18:05] <Cook879> Hello Chris_Ledesma
[18:06] <Phinbart> The user that contacted you, Doh5678, is currently having his dinner!
[18:07] <Phinbart> Would you mind answering some questions that Doh prepared for the interview?
[18:08] <Chris_Ledesma> Sure
[18:08] == Doh5678|Dinner has changed nick to Doh5678
[18:08] <Phinbart> Hi, Doh! Chris_Ledesma's here.
[18:08] <Doh5678> Hi Chris_Ledesma
[18:08] <Chris_Ledesma> Hello!
[18:08] <Phinbart> First question, What made you start working for The Simpsons?
[18:09] <Chris_Ledesma> First, thanks for having me.
[18:09] <Cook879> Thanks for joining us :)
[18:09] <Phinbart> You're welcome.
[18:09] <Chris_Ledesma> Next, I don't want to sluff off every answer to my blog, but just to remind you, I'm sure some of the questions can be answered there.
[18:10] <Phinbart> It's an honour to have a member of the staff of the Simpsons to come on here.
[18:10] <Cook879> Like this one :P
[18:10] <Phinbart> OK.
[18:10] <Chris_Ledesma> I started working on SIMSPONS because I was music editor for TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW and when TRACEY finished, I was offered the chance to continue on SIMPSONS
[18:11] <Phinbart> Next question, if you want to answer it here, How did you feel when you heard The Simpsons' had been extended for 2 more series?
[18:11] <Doh5678> Who offered you the job?
[18:11] <Chris_Ledesma> Amazed and relieved
[18:12] <Chris_Ledesma> If you believe everything you read in the press, it wasn't a for sure thing that the show would continue
[18:12] <Doh5678> Were you worried?
[18:12] <Phinbart> Yeah, it was on the news here.
[18:12] <Chris_Ledesma> On the Friday deadline, Al Jean told us not to believe everything and that he was more optimistic than pessimistic
[18:12] <Doh5678> The UK if you don't know
[18:13] <Chris_Ledesma> I DO know!
[18:13] <Chris_Ledesma> We know that the UK has some of our most loyal fans
[18:13] <Phinbart> Doh, you gave him a clue when you said "2 more series?" in the second question.
[18:14] <Phinbart> Third question, again if you want to answer it here, How long does it take to do an average song?
[18:14] <Cook879> Well all four of us on here are from the UK, so I guess we are :)
[18:14] <Chris_Ledesma> By "song" do you mean one of the musical numbers where everybody sings?
[18:15] <Doh5678> Yeah
[18:15] <Chris_Ledesma> OK, much more detail on the blog, but nuts & bolts here
[18:15] <Chris_Ledesma> It takes about 9 months from start to finish
[18:15] <Chris_Ledesma> Alf receives the lyrics from the writers, then composes the tune
[18:15] <Doh5678> O_O
[18:16] <Chris_Ledesma> then we record the song with a small quartet and studio singers
[18:16] <Phinbart> For 9 months, how long would the song be?
[18:16] <Chris_Ledesma> then I go into the studio and teach the song to the cast and/or guest stars
[18:16] <Chris_Ledesma> the cast vocals and the quartet music are sent off to animation and we don't hear about it again for about 6-8 months
[18:17] <Phinbart> Ah.
[18:17] <Chris_Ledesma> then we see the animated version, go into the studio and replace the quartet with the full orchestra
[18:17] <Chris_Ledesma> and that's it!
[18:17] == Solar_Dragon|AFK has changed nick to Solar_Dragon
[18:17] <Phinbart> Hi, Solar!
[18:17] <@Solar_Dragon> I'm back.
[18:17] <Cook879> Do you every forget about the song by the time you re-record it?
[18:17] <@Solar_Dragon> Hello Chris_Ledesma, nice to see you here :)
[18:17] <Chris_Ledesma> hello dragon
[18:18] <Phinbart> This is Solar Dragon, the official head of the wiki.
[18:18] <Phinbart> But not the sub-wikis.
[18:18] <Chris_Ledesma> Not usually. I try to follow its progress thru the animation phase, but it is a long time
[18:18] <Phinbart> OK, would you like to answer another question?
[18:18] <Chris_Ledesma> sure
[18:18] <Phinbart> Which guest stars have you met? Which was your favorite?
[18:19] <Chris_Ledesma> I've been so lucky ... many, many, many
[18:19] <Chris_Ledesma> U2, Dixie Chicks, Smothers Brothers, Kelsey Grammar
[18:19] <Chris_Ledesma> David Byrne, Weird Al, Bryan Cranston
[18:19] <Chris_Ledesma> I enjoy working with Kelsey Grammar
[18:20] <Chris_Ledesma> He loves the absurdity of Sideshow Bob and is always very gracious taking direction from me during singing
[18:20] <Phinbart> Another question?
[18:20] <@Solar_Dragon> Did you meet Chris Martin as well then? Sorry, I'm a big Coldplay fan :P
[18:20] <Chris_Ledesma> Also on the blog: NOT Michael Jackson - he didn't sing his songs in the episode
[18:21] <Chris_Ledesma> He did not sing for the show. He did lines and we used their CD for the little bit of music
[18:21] <@Solar_Dragon> Yeah, we know about the stand-in he had to sing for him. :)
[18:21] <@Solar_Dragon> Oh, that's news to us
[18:21] <Doh5678> Kipp Lennon wasn't it?
[18:21] <Chris_Ledesma> Yes, Kipp Lennon
[18:22] <Chris_Ledesma> Chris Martin did not sing for the show. He did lines and we used their CD for the little bit of music
[18:22] <Chris_Ledesma> I only get to meet the stars when they have singing to do
[18:22] <Cook879> Well I know all about Tony Bennett's appearance - very informative blog that one :)
[18:23] <Chris_Ledesma> Thanks. He was our first big "get"
[18:23] <Phinbart> Next question?
[18:23] <Chris_Ledesma> fire away
[18:23] <Phinbart> What's your favorite episode? Least favorite?
[18:23] <Cook879> Need to catch up with your latest blogs - college has made me fall behind with my music pages
[18:24] <Chris_Ledesma> We've done 490 eps now. Hard to rank a #1 and a #490.
[18:24] <Chris_Ledesma> "Bart Sells His Soul" is a fave
[18:24] <Chris_Ledesma> "Lisa'
[18:24] <Chris_Ledesma> "Lisa's Pony" is a fave
[18:25] <Cook879> Haven't watched them in ages - remember watching "Bart Sells His Soul" loads of times on video when I was younger
[18:25] <Chris_Ledesma> Really enjoyed "Behind the Laughter" - had the real music and real narrator from the real series
[18:25] <@Solar_Dragon> I loved that episode too :D
[18:25] <Phinbart> "Replaceable You" is the 490th episode...just figured that out.
[18:26] <Chris_Ledesma> Alf is composing that one right now - we record music on Monday and finsih dubbing on Tuesday
[18:26] == Jedimca0 [~Jedimca2@unaffiliated/jedimca0] has joined #wikisimpsons
[18:26] <@Solar_Dragon> Hey Jedimca0
[18:26] <Phinbart> Hi, Jedimca0!
[18:27] <Phinbart> This is a member from ShoutWiki, our former host, Chris.
[18:27] <Chris_Ledesma> Hello, welcome
[18:27] <Phinbart> Why do you compose the music so close to the airdate?
[18:27] <Cook879> Do all the baseball games and what not effect your production schedule?
[18:27] <Jedimca0> and a bit of a simpsons fan too :P
[18:28] <Chris_Ledesma> The schedule is tight because animation is so time & labor intensive. Sometimes all the pieces aren't in place until 3 or 4 days before air
[18:28] <Chris_Ledesma> Ever since FOX started airing post-season baseball, it has affected our October schedule.
[18:28] <Phinbart> Interesting.
[18:28] <Chris_Ledesma> This year, though, the Halloween show will be on BEFORE Halloween. Woo-Hoo!
[18:28] <@Solar_Dragon> Have you ever ran out of time and had to postpone episodes then due to music not being ready?
[18:29] <Chris_Ledesma> Haven't missed an airdate yet
[18:30] <Phinbart> Next question?
[18:30] <Chris_Ledesma> ready
[18:31] <Phinbart> Do you own any Simpsons merchandise?
[18:31] <Chris_Ledesma> Lots. Not as much as some of the diehard fans, but quite a bit. My family buys some for me, I collect some and I have exclusives that have been given to cast & crew over the years
[18:32] <Chris_Ledesma> I plan to do a blog post about the cast & crew gifts
[18:32] <@Solar_Dragon> That'll be great! We could incorporate that into our merchandise wiki :)
[18:32] <Phinbart> I was about to say that...
[18:32] <Doh5678> Make #sure you put pictures in
[18:32] <Chris_Ledesma> Wouldn't be any fun without pix
[18:33] <Jedimca0> hehe
[18:33] <Phinbart> Next question?
[18:34] <Doh5678> The next question is by Solar_Dragon
[18:34] <@Solar_Dragon> Hehehe
[18:34] <Phinbart> I'll re-word this.
[18:34] <Phinbart> Do you think you can put more Coldplay music into future episodes?
[18:34] <Cook879> Personally I think more Sinatra needs to be in there :P
[18:35] <Chris_Ledesma> Unfortunatley, my pay grade is too low to be making those calls. I put in what I'm TOLD to put it ;-)
[18:35] <@Solar_Dragon> Nawww... :P
[18:35] <Chris_Ledesma> We've done a few Sinatra sound-alikes over the years. Micheal Dess does a FANTASTIC Sinatra impersonation and has sung for us 3 or 4 times
[18:36] <@Solar_Dragon> Well, as long as no Justin Bieber or N Dubz comes into The Simpsons, I'll be happy :P
[18:36] <Cook879> We'll have to interview one of the fellow Music Spotters then :P
[18:36] <Chris_Ledesma> Michael Dees - sorry for the typo
[18:36] <Cook879> Cool, I wondered who the impersonator was - I'll add that to the wiki later.
[18:36] <Chris_Ledesma> He gets credit in the End Credits roll
[18:37] <Phinbart> So, no Coldplay...
[18:37] <Phinbart> Next?
[18:37] <Cook879> If its one thing we need to complete its our credits
[18:37] <@Solar_Dragon> Oh, something we've been trying to work out for some time, the Sirens from "Tales from the Public Domain", who provided the singing voice for them?
[18:37] <Chris_Ledesma> That was the song to the tune of "Copacabana" right?
[18:37] <@Solar_Dragon> Yes
[18:38] <Chris_Ledesma> It was our usual group of studio singers led by the amazing Sally Stevens
[18:38] <Phinbart> Next question?
[18:38] <Cook879> I'm sure I said Sally Stevens - I win :)
[18:38] <@Solar_Dragon> We guessed it was her. Weren't 100% sure though. Thanks :)
[18:38] <Chris_Ledesma> Sally does most of our lead female vocal singing, though ofetn her voice gets replaced by a cast member
[18:38] <Chris_Ledesma> but when we don't replace, then her voice stays in.
[18:39] <Chris_Ledesma> Other females that sing for us regularly are Edie Lehman Boddiker and Suzy Stevens
[18:40] <Cook879> It was a while ago but I'm pretty sure I read that Sally runs some sort of vocal contracting - are they the main studio singers?
[18:40] <Chris_Ledesma> Yes. Sally does our vocal contracting and she hires them often
[18:40] <Cook879> Cool - thanks - I'll find somewhere to add that as well :)
[18:41] <Doh5678> Next?
[18:41] <Cook879> Chris, as i haven't kept track of your blog that well recently, have you completed all the steps of msuic production yet?
[18:42] <Chris_Ledesma> Yes. And I've added at tab at the top of  the post page labeled "Music Editing 101" where you can get it all in one place.
[18:42] <Phinbart> Is Roz (Jane Lynch) singing in "Replaceable You"?
[18:42] <Chris_Ledesma> Nope, no singing for her.
[18:43] <Cook879> Ok, I'll be sure to try and get them done over half-term. I only have 1-3 on our page at the moment.
[18:43] <Doh5678> Next question then?
[18:43] <Phinbart> So, is everyone ready to move onto the next question?
[18:44] <Phinbart> Solar, I've got the latest SW update before you have!
[18:44] <Chris_Ledesma> BTW, I can continue til 11AM my time (about 15 more minutes) then back to the grind!
[18:44] <Doh5678> Any secret previews for new episodes?
[18:44] <Phinbart> That you're allowed to give us?
[18:45] <Chris_Ledesma> Well, everybody knows about Lady Gaga by now
[18:45] <Phinbart> Yeah...
[18:45] <Chris_Ledesma> But there are 2 songs in the show with her & Lisa
[18:45] <Phinbart> http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z176z5z5 - There's even a promo!
[18:45] <Doh5678> Which are?
[18:45] <Chris_Ledesma> They are original songs written by Gaga's team just for us
[18:46] <Chris_Ledesma> I just directed Anika Noni Rose in a duet with Grampa for an ep that will either air later this spring or early next fall
[18:46] <Phinbart> Grampa? We thought it was Homer.
[18:46] <Chris_Ledesma> Anika plays a love interest from Grampa's past and happens to be a night club singer
[18:47] <Cook879> Suppose you think Dan and first character you go to is Krusty.
[18:47] <Cook879> *Homer
[18:47] == Jedimca0 [~Jedimca2@unaffiliated/jedimca0] has quit [Ping timeout: 252 seconds]
[18:47] <Cook879> I was thinking of Krusty thrid :P
[18:48] == Jedimca0 [~Jedimca2@unaffiliated/jedimca0] has joined #wikisimpsons
[18:48] <@Solar_Dragon> Internet fail Jedimca0? :P
[18:49] <Doh5678> Next question?
[18:49] <Phinbart> First, any other previews you can give us about upcoming eps? Perhaps the 500th?
[18:49] <Jedimca0> no idea
[18:50] <Chris_Ledesma> I'm still sorting thru scripts. This far in advance I focus on music needs for each episode and, as far as I know, no songs or special numbers in the 500th.
[18:50] <Chris_Ledesma> So what you've heard about the ep on the 'net is pretty much what's out there
[18:51] <Phinbart> OK, next question?
[18:51] <Cook879> No big musical number where everyone declares they hate the Simpsons :( Thinking about it that would have been cool
[18:51] <Phinbart> Would you mind if I put a transcript of this interview on the wiki, Chris?
[18:51] <Chris_Ledesma> That's fine
[18:51] <Phinbart> OK,
[18:51] <Phinbart> What do you think of Wikisimpsons?
[18:52] <Chris_Ledesma> I like it. It's so vast (like the show) I haven't explored every nook & cranny yet
[18:52] <Chris_Ledesma> What do YOU think of it?
[18:53] <Phinbart> We all think it's great!
[18:53] <Cook879> We haven't made every nook and cranny yet!
[18:53] <@Solar_Dragon> Always room for improvement of course. Although we're a lot better than our biggest competitor though too :P
[18:53] <Phinbart> simpsons.wikia.com
[18:54] <Chris_Ledesma> Well, between you guys and SNPP I can look up anything that I can't find in my own personal database
[18:54] <@Solar_Dragon> We strive to be better than SNPP too at some point :P
[18:54] <Doh5678> Thanks :)
[18:54] <Phinbart> SNPP, I think, is one of the best Simpsons sites out there.
[18:54] <@Solar_Dragon> Then you'll only need us ;)
[18:54] <Cook879> They just need newer episodes on there
[18:55] <Chris_Ledesma> Yeah, well I read somewhere that the guys were in their late teens when they started
[18:55] <Chris_Ledesma> and never expected to be still running the site in their 30s and 40s
[18:56] <Cook879> I bet you weren't expecting to be still working for the show either
[18:56] <Chris_Ledesma> I guess it's a lower priority for them now
[18:56] <Chris_Ledesma> That's for sure.
[18:56] <Cook879> Yeah - Also its a lot of work if there's only a small team
[18:56] <@Solar_Dragon> At least for us, anyone can edit and help out:)
[18:56] <@Solar_Dragon> * :)
[18:57] <Doh5678> Ok, so for however long we have left, anyone can ask any question they like to Chris
[18:57] <Cook879> Can i play guess the episode your working on right now?
[18:57] <Chris_Ledesma> well, I think I gave that away a few minutes ago
[18:58] <Cook879> In hindisght yes you did :P
[18:58] <Cook879> I would say THOH fits the 9 day rule but if I remember correctly you already did that
[18:58] <Chris_Ledesma> you can play "what episode is Chris starting on Friday?"
[18:58] <Cook879> The Food Wife is next right?
[18:58] <Doh5678> The Food Wife?
[18:58] <Chris_Ledesma> THOH 22 is IN THE CAN, BABY!
[18:58] <Cook879> Then The Book Job?
[18:59] <Chris_Ledesma> Food wife is IN THE CAN, BABY!
[18:59] <Doh5678> Book Job?
[19:00] <Phinbart> :)
[19:00] <Phinbart> We've been given the full plot now, so no need for preview.
[19:01] <Chris_Ledesma> And with that, I have prep work that I must do for "Replaceable You"
[19:01] <@Solar_Dragon> Okay, it was great talking to you :)
[19:01] <Cook879> Enjoy - thanks for stopping by :D
[19:01] <@Solar_Dragon> Thanks for giving us this opportunity :)
[19:01] <Doh5678> Thanks for the interview
[19:01] <Chris_Ledesma> My pleasure. We can do it again after the 500th
[19:01] <@Solar_Dragon> That would be awesome :)
[19:02] <Chris_Ledesma> Bye!
[19:02] <@Solar_Dragon> Bye!
[19:02] <Doh5678> Bye
[19:02] <Phinbart> See ya later!
[19:02] <Cook879> bye
[19:02] == Chris_Ledesma [62971b18@gateway/web/freenode/ip.98.151.27.24] has left #wikisimpsons []
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