Luis Guzman Talks Turbo

Luis Guzman Talks Turbo, available now on Blu-ray and DVD

The DreamWorks Animation comedy Turbo features one of the finest ensemble of voice talent in recent memory. The story follows a snail (Ryan Reynolds) who dreams of becoming fast and winning the Indianapolis 500. After a freak accident, Turbo gets his wish, blessed with lightning-fast speed that takes him all the way to Indy to chase down his dreams, with the help of a taco vendor named Tito (Michael Peña). I recently had the chance to speak with Luis Guzmán for the Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD release. The actor voices Angelo, Tito's brother and owner of a taco restaurant who disapproves of this whole adventure. Take a look at what he had to say below.

I was going through your very impressive resume, and there's not a whole lot of voice work on there. Is there something you always look for in a voice role?

Luis Guzmán: I just look for the excitement of it all. They show you ideas of what he's going to look like, and it's pretty cool. I just dive into it.

I know some of these animated films actually film the actors doing the voice work. Did that happen here, and if so, did they use that footage to reference how the character moves?

Luis Guzmán: They videotaped the body movements, facial expressions, all that stuff, and then, through the magic of the technology and animation, they employ all that and put it together.

When you first got the role of Angelo, was there anyone that you might have based him on, as far as the voice go? He's a very frustrated brother who's trying to get his younger brother whipped into shape. Is there someone that you looked to, in reference for that voice?

Luis Guzmán: Not really. I just based it on myself, you know. I'm a big brother as it is, you know. I'm a realist, and I have a younger brother who is definitely a dreamer, and you just go with that whole attitude. You just simplify it, but at the same time, it's real.

What's it like when you get to actually see the finished product? You probably see artwork and different segments, but you must not have that much of an idea of what the film really looks like until you see the finished product. Is that a unique experience, getting to go from just voicing it to seeing what it actually looks like?

Luis Guzmán: Well, I went in to do three recording sessions, and after the second session they showed me a little bit, so I'd have an idea. The third session, I saw some pictures of what my character might look like.

Is there anything that you're working on now that you can talk about?

Luis Guzmán: I just did a short little documentary. I went shopping with $58 for a family of two. I try to do work with charities and homeless shelters, things like that, and last week I went shopping with $58 for two people for a week. That was really interesting. That was a real challenge, to figure out how to come up with three squares a day for that.

What would you like to say to anyone who didn't get a chance to see Turbo in theaters, about why they should pick it up on Blu-ray or DVD?

Luis Guzmán: I think it's very entertaining and fun. I know people will enjoy it, and I know people who have. It's beautifully animated with a great cast. It's the story about how anything is possible.

Great. That's about all I have. Thanks so much, Luis.

Luis Guzmán: Thank you.

You can check out Luis Guzmán as Angelo in Turbo, which is currently available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD.