[WF Riddle] - What do Sam Bakker and Mel Gibson have in common?...

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They both have taken drastic steps to get rid of their Australian accent!

I just saw a promo video where Sam manages to sound *ALMOST* American.

-- TW

PS: As I understand it, on the original Mad Max movie, they had to dub in someone else's
voice for the whole movie, cuz Gibson's accent was so thick, no American would've been able
to understand what he was saying!
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Who the heck is Sam Bakker?
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
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      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Who the heck is Sam Bakker?
      An internet marketer...

      Cheers

      -don
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    Neither are Australian!

    Mel was born in the US and moved here when he was 12. He had an Aussie accent in his Australian films but I didn't think it was a very strong accent. Maybe it's because was softly-spoken in his early roles.

    Sam is definitely from New Zealand. To me he has a strong NZ accent.

    Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
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    Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

    PS: As I understand it, on the original Mad Max movie, they had to dub in someone else's
    voice for the whole movie, cuz Gibson's accent was so thick, no American would've been able
    to understand what he was saying!
    FWIW, most of the voices were dubbed in the original Mad Max U.S release. I believe the voices of the Sugartown Cabaret, John Ley, and Steve Bisley were the only voices that were not dubbed. Supposedly the distributor, American International Pictures, was not all that happy with the dubbing.

    MGM has long since released a DVD that has both the US and Australian soundtracks on separate tracks.

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      FWIW, most of the voices were dubbed in the original Mad Max U.S release. I believe the voices of the Sugartown Cabaret, John Ley, and Steve Bisley were the only voices that were not dubbed.
      I wasn't aware of that. For obvious reasons I've only ever seen, or more accurately heard, the version with Aussie accents.

      It also seems strange that Steve Bisley's voice wasn't dubbed, as his accent (in every other film and TV show I've ever seen him in) is unmistakably Australian.

      Perhaps it was a sign of the times, but surely nowadays American audiences can accept a non-American accent in movies and TV shows. I'd like to think that anyway.

      On a side note, with the exception of Meryl Streep and the guys from South Park, Americans trying to do an Aussie accent always come across as sounding like Cockneys (Londoners), and they should stop and just hire an Aussie to do it. The English can do a passable "Aussie" though as seen below, but Americans, not so much.

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      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
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        Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

        I wasn't aware of that. For obvious reasons I've only ever seen, or more accurately heard, the version with Aussie accents.

        It also seems strange that Steve Bisley's voice wasn't dubbed, as his accent (in every other film and TV show I've ever seen him in) is unmistakably Australian.
        They didn't dub his singing as he was driving a truck that was ambushed. I guess they liked his voice...

        Cheers

        -don
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

        Perhaps it was a sign of the times, but surely nowadays American audiences can accept a non-American accent in movies and TV shows. I'd like to think that anyway.

        Monty Python - Australian Bruces - YouTube
        I think it depends on the role. Americans are enthralled with people with foreign accents when they aren't so thick they can't be understood, and when their English is fairly good. In movies, an accent will be seen as sexy as long as the "hero" isn't supposed to be the all American hero. Can you imagine Indiana Jones not being the all American tough guy?
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        Sal
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        • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
          Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

          Can you imagine Indiana Jones not being the all American tough guy?
          No I can't.

          Same thing with James Bond being the quintessential Brit hero. I remember before Pierce Brosnan took on the role of 007, there was a rumour that, in order to keep the franchise going, the producers were thinking of making him an American, and moving him from MI6 to the CIA. That is just wrong on so many levels, and far from reviving it, would probably have killed the franchise stone dead.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    I did not know that about Mel Gibson!

    Anyhow - point still stands - Sam has taken measures to sound American.
    And he does it pretty well!

    Probably especially important when hawking a product called CTA Bar.
    That's "CTA Barrrrr," not "CTA Bahh."

    Other notable examples of accent changes...

    Hugh Laurie's American accent is EXCELLENT.
    I recently found out (very surprising), the butler on "The Nanny" is from ALABAMA!
    I would've SWORN he was truly British!

    -- TW

    Like in copywriting, little things can reveal the truth (even if you're trying to hide the truth).
    Saw an actor trying to be from New York City. He slipped up when he said, "WESTSIDE drive."
    We New Yorkers know, it's pronounced "westside DRIVE."
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    What do you think of Aussie actor Simon Baker in the Mentalist? Is his American accent believable?

    In Australia he does creepy TV ads for a local bank, but in an American accent! So weird.
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  • Profile picture of the author sambakker
    What is a New Zealand?
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    Create high quality sales funnels in minutes http://iglooapp.com

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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    i would have thought someone with 560 entries would have discovered and utilised the search function by now
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