FRANK GONZÁLEZ THE MAN OF THE THOUSAND VOICES
Frank González transcends not only as an exceptional Cuban actor of radio, television, theater and cinema, but for his gift of vocalizing the most dissimilar characters. It is enough to mention Mambí Colonel Elpidio Valdés, the most popular character of Cuba, to whom he gave voice and life, immortalized in the animated cartoons by director Juan Padrón.
"It is not only having the ability to change your voice, but to give life to a character from a caricature. This requires imagination, fantasy and a work with your vocal cords until getting to design it as close as possible to what the child imagined when he read the cartoon. It is to begin to do trials in a microphone until finding the voice, the timbre that works, the sonorous characteristics that the personage must take from their physical and psychological qualities; I would say it is something almost innate.
«Probably a lot of Elpidio Valdés has emerged from the gatherings I shared with Juan Padrón in the Military Staff of the Revolutionary Navy, where we were both stationed at the military service when, before going to sleep, we would enjoy making jokes and giving voice to characters of stories loaded of humor invented by both.
»Elpidio has given me infinite joys as an actor. Not only has he allowed me to reach this audience, but to be well received and imitated on account of his teachings. The Cuban public has shown me their recognition and gratitude, and that is the best prize that an actor can aspire to.
"In addition, through this character I was able to meet our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro and talk with him about the material needs we required to perfect our dubbing work, especially from a technological point of view. The result is today materialized in the splendid and modern building of the Animation Film Studios of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), which is named after Elpidio Valdés, in whose recording laboratories Cuban animated films are created and made, which can compete internationally.
«I feel satisfied with my career, although one always believes that one can do more and better. In recent years, my health condition has not allowed me to conduct it as before, although I'm still doing dubbing and with sporadic appearances on television.
»I am happy to be represented by Actuar agency. I thank its workers for the support they have given me and the influence they have had on my artistic life. They are in charge of organizing, making viable and promoting the work of the actors, and they do it with professionalism and affection».