Group: The 404s.
Website: www.the404s.com
Upcoming Events: Animethon 17
Note: This Interview was conducted via email as opposed to voice recording. This was due to the number of people that needed to be interviewed and time constraints.
With so many new 404s on the field, we thought it would be nice for people to get to know them a bit better. So here’s a nice interview with their new members.
Can we start by you guys telling a bit about yourselves?
TONY: I am more of a sci-fi / comic book guy than an anime guy. I can say, however, that I am ‘old school’ anime, in that I used to watch Battle of the Planets (the English dub of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman) every day after school about 25 years ago. I am an aspiring actor, and am getting very excited for my call back rehearsal to Wipeout Canada! Afterwards, it’s obvious I will be Stratford Shakespeare Festival-bound after landing that.
PAUL: I am a complicated man. I was born on Mount Ishbel. I act in a hospital to train doctors and students. I act a lot, it lets me be normal in front of you humans. Sometimes I do Crimestoppers videos-sometimes as a criminal, sometimes as a victim. I love dinosaurs, brewing wine and beer, eBay and collecting music-related things like posters, picks and setlists.
TEIGAN: My improv and acting experience started in high school when I became a part of my school’s improv team. I love improv in all its forms. I also take great glee in doing the technical aspects of theatre. I love directing, as well as set and costume design. I got into anime with Pokemon and Inuyasha but progressed into other animes such as Naruto and Hunter X Hunter and continue to watch different
shows as I find them. As for sci-fi stuff I am really into the Stargate series, really I watch anything that airs on the Space channel. Studio Ghibli rules my video collection, and Jacqueline Carey books rule my book shelf.
AARON: I was born in Calgary, Alberta. When the doctors saw me they knew everything would change. The prophecy of the one who would entertain them all had been set into motion. I was to become a master of timing and movement, but not without practice. I went to Mount Royal College (now University) to do theatre studies for two years, and after that quickly joined an improv group that deals with at risk teens called Act Out. I used to do improv in high school and captained my team, “The Naughty Housewives”. In one of the most epic improv battles I’ve ever been a part of in the Loose Moose theatre high school championships, my team “President’s Choice” came in second. As a child I liked Dragon Ball Z, the Super Mario Bros cartoon, and Record of Lodoss War. I’ve always been into gaming, mostly role playing games. I still remember when my favorite game ever came out: Final Fantasy 3, or 6 for other people.
DANIEL: I was born in Calgary in 1990. I generally enjoy theatres and plays but have become a member of the “Whose Line is it Anywho?” improv club at Mount Royal University. I am an otaku who specializes in fantasy genre stuff, however my portfolio does include familiarity with magical girls, high school dramas, super heroes, Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and RPG games. I generally wait for new anime to get to episode 14 before I start watching.
Why did you decide to join The 404s?
TONY: I met Mark in an improv workshop, and he asked me to try out for his team. I had actually never heard of The 404s before that. I was looking to join an improv team, and the comic / sci-fi angle appealed to me.
PAUL: I joined for the money and to meet women. So far I am not any richer, but I did meet Teigan…
TEIGAN: I couldn’t give up improv, and I had seen the 404s before so I decided to try out for the group. Anime conventions are a blast and so are improv gigs, so what’s not to like?
AARON: I joined The 404s because I love improv. The thought of doing “geek-prov” (that The 404s excel at) was just too enticing to pass up because i am such a geek.
DANIEL: I had witnessed The 404s group perform improv at Otafest for the last 2 years, and decided not only to join but also to learn the ways of improv to improve my wit. I found out the most information about them by accidentally having my ex-vampire ninja friend take the same bus Mark did on the way home, and spark a conversation.
How has being a part of The 404s the last 6 months been going so far? Is it what you expected?
TONY: The last six months have been really good. We’ve gone to a few different places, and had a bunch of people laughing at us (in a good sense). For what I expected, the improv is pretty standard stuff, but
honestly, seeing some of the ‘things you see’ at an Anime convention has raised my eyebrows a bit. The people I perform with are good people, and we just keep getting better and better.
PAUL: It has been like a warm hug…
TEIGAN: I have really enjoyed the conventions and the convention crowds to be sure. There hasn’t been a lot of much else because I live too far away to hang with the team (for now).
AARON: It is what I expected, and MORE! I’ve had so much fun rocking the crowds with bombs on Twilight and Dragon Ball Z. The crowds are really into what we do, and we do it well.
DANIEL: After a year of effort, I officially became a member of The 404s and it’s going fantastic so far. Although it was not what I expected last year, it is a more efficient version than the University’s improv club. We are in a massive growth phase and will get more comedically powerful with every show and practice.
What do you feel you bring to the 404′s?
TONY: A van that seats seven. I think that is the most valuable thing.
PAUL: I bring a thirst!
TEIGAN: I offset the large amount of testosterone that seems to be given off by having a 7 to 1 (male : female) ratio present on stage. I bring improv experience and a different cosplay to every convention I
can.
AARON: I really bring a sense of, well… I guess the only word for it is awesomtasticfunlaughingness – if you don’t know what that means, Wikipedia it! I also think that I bring a lot of the looks to the team, as in people are always staring because my finger is up my nose a lot, but it’s not my fault! I have a couple of Batcaves on my face that need cleaning out once in a while.
DANIEL: I personally bring a slightly more calculated personality to The 404s, a pretty good knowledge base for the kinds of things young audience members want to be in a show, and a physical presence fueled by flexibility that lets me do minor gymnastic stunts without hurting
myself.
What is your most memorable moment in being with the 404′s so far?
TONY: Performing at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, a few months ago. I think that is the time our group really ‘gelled’ as one. We had a guest (Ian Boothby), and we kept up with him. We found
out afterwards he is this long-time super improv stand-up comedy guy. So, we felt very good about ourselves that we were able to legitimately share the stage with him.
PAUL: Performing naked, in front of a PG crowd… Or was that just a wonderful dream..?
TEIGAN: I am going to say that the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo was pretty awesome. Being able to improv with Ian Boothby was a highlight for sure. It’s always neat to expand your improv boundaries by being on stage with new people.
AARON: On stage, being two playboys with Tony was pretty fun, and I also liked being a ninja against Mark’s pirate. But the most memorable moment with The 404s for me was when Teigan and I did a “More Specific” scene and the audience wouldn’t let her stop speaking for like two minutes, they just kept yelling “More specific”! That scene is on YouTube for anyone who wants to check it out.
DANIEL: My most memorable moment in being with The 404s so far was finding out that by doing improv, I get into all the geek-themed conventions I want. That, and watching the expressions of the crowd when the audience sees a well timed “splits” from someone weighing 340 pounds.
What are some things you absolutely dread the fans will request from you?
TONY: Dread? Not dread, but when they ask for specific anime stuff which I don’t know. Once, when we were doing “Scenes From A Hat”, someone wrote down something that said ‘Yaoi’ in it, and I had no idea
what it meant. However, after the scene Teigan came over to explain it to me. We started speaking in louder voices, and it turned out to be funnier than the sketch.
PAUL: I dread they ask me to dinner and a movie… Please my fans, be more interesting when asking me out. Could I suggest hunting rats at the graveyard, and a nice breakfast of crepes?
TEIGAN: If I wrote that, then it would happen and the first rule of improv is that the answer is always yes, so I would be obliged to do it. So we are going to keep this answer on the down low!
AARON: I dread that they will want me to leave the stage and never return. Or that they will want me to do a scene in an anteater costume, which I feel is very personal because my girlfriend and I love to role play anteater and sexy car cleaner (you know you’ve done it before – quit lying to yourself!).
DANIEL: I dread nothing. The fans can request anything, and like a true improviser, I will do what they want.
What is one thing you wish your fans knew about you?
TONY: No comment.
PAUL: I take bribes, bootleg recordings and hugs!
TEIGAN: I never wear matching socks. It’s not because I can’t find matching ones or that I am a horrible shopper. It goes much deeper than that, and if you want to know you might just have to come up and ask me. Rawr.
AARON: I wish the fans knew how much I care about them. They are my life and soul, and I am their body to do with what they will. I would also like them to know I enjoy their company and that you can never say I love you too much… I love you audience!
DANIEL: If I do a stunt [onstage], it’s because I’ve learned how to not harm myself during it.
What is something you’d like your audience to request you to do?
TONY: Something original, something that isn’t specific to a very small group of people, and frankly, omething practical. [At a show this year], it was tough when ‘Alice in Wonderland’ came out, and people kept saying ‘Jabberwocky’…What’s an occupation? Jabberwocky! What’s a favorite food? Jabberwocky! Give me a small island off the coast of Antarctica. Jabberwocky! Stretch your imagination out a bit… Don’t just yell out something for the sake of yelling something. And that one Anime character that has appeared in one film that one time? That one isn’t super helpful either! Not really a request for me, more of a request for the audience.
PAUL: To have a dance off.
TEIGAN: Lulz, I have no idea. That is like asking for you to come up with something and your mind is immediately devoid of thought. Hmm, a banana cream pie eating contest is high on my list.
AARON: I would really love the audience to request a song improv. I don’t know if I’d be good at it, but I would just love to be in a romantic duet with Tony. He’s dreamy!
DANIEL: Keep their demands as physically positioning as possible.
Want to comment on this article? You can on our forums over here.
Related posts:
Victor Vargas is the manager and editor of Anime-Alberta. He's the former chair of Animethon 16 & Animethon 15 as well as a former president of BAKA (The Banzai Anime Klub of Alberta)