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Interview With Leon's face model !
Got something that might interest ya ! 
Resident Evil Database Recently posted up their interview with Leon's Face Model "Jamisin Matthews" in RE: D
They all wanna Dye their hair lol "Julia voth" xP !
Resident Evil Database Recently posted up their interview with Leon's Face Model "Jamisin Matthews" in RE: D
Original Interview in English:
Hello, Jamisin. Thanks for your time talking to us. So, first of all, we would like to hear from you how the opportunity to be Leon S. Kennedy's face model in "Resident Evil: Degeneration" came to you. How and when did Capcom get in contact with you?
Being a fan of action films, I was taking classes from Reuben Langdon, who was running his production company in Burbank and is one of the truly helpful and talented guys in Hollywood. They were holding auditions for another Capcom project. I did not book that job, but was lucky enough to be considered as a possible new Leon for an upcoming project.
What do you think about the character Leon S. Kennedy?
I like his story arch throughout the game (canon and not) and that Capcom allowed the character to grow and evolve over the years. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I think the face models they used portray the appropriate look for each era in Leon's life.
Do you think you have something in common with him?
Physically, you can see the change in the RE4 Leon Kennedy to the Degeneration Leon Kennedy. I think others did too, because when the Degeneration movie came out, some people were surprised by the change in Leon's face. They seemed to think he looked more brooding or "gloomy"; I know that sometimes I also come across that way! So maybe I brought that to Leon; which is appropriate seeing the situation he is in!
How do you feel by finding out that fans of Resident Evil and fans of Leon in "Resident Evil: Degeneration" are also fans of Jamisin Matthews?
I am happy if anyone takes the time to check out my work, but wish I could have done even more to be the complete LSK character. As you know, Leon's motion capture actor and voiceover actor were different people. I would have also liked to portray Leon a few more times!
Have you ever played any Resident Evil game? And besides Leon, do you have any other favorite characters?
Yes, but I have only played the RE games briefly. I know the character dossiers and Leon is my favorite in Resident Evil. Admittedly, I am not a gaming expert. I have friends who have every platform and title, but me not so much. My first martial arts coaches were the characters in the first Mortal Kombat video games. From that point on, I realized that there are human beings behind every aspect of game production, so I always looked at the gaming environments as a mixture of the normal "real" world and the fantastic gaming world. I also learned that sometimes it is harder to learn how do something in a game than in real life! I am currently playing a Red Dead Redemption game from a couple years ago.
Could you tell us about the process of "lending" your face to Leon S. Kennedy? How was it?
Yes, the photographer digitally photographed every angle of my face in a neutral expression and then in more specific emotions. These pictures became the starting points which the digital artist manipulates to exactly the face they want. This is why the finished character looks a little different than the face model. However, when you compare the complete change in demeanor and proportions of Leon's face from RE4 to Degeneration, and then match up the previous face model's basic proportions to his RE4 Leon and mine to Degeneration Leon, you can see how much the process keeps a substantial resemblance to the original model's face. It is cool to know that there is a real soul in these animated characters and that Capcom takes so much care in their development and production. Interestingly, you can tell they made even more adjustments to my face for Darkside Chronicles (which my face was also contracted for). From what I've seen, RE6 Leon looks different than the Jamisin Matthews Leon Kennedy.
Do you believe that nowadays the games productions are as big as the Hollywood ones?
They are different, but sometimes I prefer the cinematic interludes and cutscenes in the games to many movies; particularly the camera work. Though cinematography in live-action movies seems to catch up.
Have you seen the live-action movies? What do you think of them?
From what I've seen of the movies, they have a more grounded and strength focus while the games and CG movies have a more flowing and balletic feel. I tend to watch more Asian films when it comes to action. However, it seems they've been experimenting more with "super-gravity" in the last few years so tastes go back and forth.
The actor Johann Urb is playing the role of Leon S. Kennedy in "Resident Evil: Retribution 3D", the fifth movie of the franchise. Have you seen pictures of him dressed as Leon? What do you think of him?
I think he will do a great job playing the character based and will put his own spin on the Leon's personality. They made a choice to have his hair a little different than the game Leon, though.
If you were invited to play Leon S. Kennedy in a movie, would you accept the invitation? Have you ever thought of doing a "Leon S. Kennedy photoshoot" or something like that? Fans would definitely appreciate it!
Yes, actually the first time I cast to play Leon was for the Wii promos, but due to certain circumstances I was unable to fly to Tokyo to do the shoot. I still feel that was one of my biggest missed opportunities in my life. It was live-action video/film too, not just the scanned photo face. As for the feature-length RE movies, I need the right theatrical representation to be considered!! Someone like Johann has much more box office draw, which is very important. However, I welcome any opportunity to portray Leon again. Interesting idea on the photo shoot, I will keep it in mind next time I am working with a photographer I played another famous character related to the band My Chemical Romance and I often thought of continuing him also.
Could you tell us about your future plans and works? Do you have any projects going on right now?
Yes, I am in an upcoming project with Angela Sarafyan from Twilight: Breaking Dawn and a short film directed by Amiee Graham. Otherwise all of my current and recent projects have been lifestyle and brand modeling for clients like Mini Cooper, Harley Davidson, Oceana Hotels.
Would you like to send a message for us fans of Leon and fans of Jamisin?
Yes I am glad to have played a small part in the Biohazard/RE legend and welcome any opportunity to portray Leon Kennedy again. I will gladly grow out my hair and dye it blond.
Hello, Jamisin. Thanks for your time talking to us. So, first of all, we would like to hear from you how the opportunity to be Leon S. Kennedy's face model in "Resident Evil: Degeneration" came to you. How and when did Capcom get in contact with you?
Being a fan of action films, I was taking classes from Reuben Langdon, who was running his production company in Burbank and is one of the truly helpful and talented guys in Hollywood. They were holding auditions for another Capcom project. I did not book that job, but was lucky enough to be considered as a possible new Leon for an upcoming project.
What do you think about the character Leon S. Kennedy?
I like his story arch throughout the game (canon and not) and that Capcom allowed the character to grow and evolve over the years. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I think the face models they used portray the appropriate look for each era in Leon's life.
Do you think you have something in common with him?
Physically, you can see the change in the RE4 Leon Kennedy to the Degeneration Leon Kennedy. I think others did too, because when the Degeneration movie came out, some people were surprised by the change in Leon's face. They seemed to think he looked more brooding or "gloomy"; I know that sometimes I also come across that way! So maybe I brought that to Leon; which is appropriate seeing the situation he is in!
How do you feel by finding out that fans of Resident Evil and fans of Leon in "Resident Evil: Degeneration" are also fans of Jamisin Matthews?
I am happy if anyone takes the time to check out my work, but wish I could have done even more to be the complete LSK character. As you know, Leon's motion capture actor and voiceover actor were different people. I would have also liked to portray Leon a few more times!
Have you ever played any Resident Evil game? And besides Leon, do you have any other favorite characters?
Yes, but I have only played the RE games briefly. I know the character dossiers and Leon is my favorite in Resident Evil. Admittedly, I am not a gaming expert. I have friends who have every platform and title, but me not so much. My first martial arts coaches were the characters in the first Mortal Kombat video games. From that point on, I realized that there are human beings behind every aspect of game production, so I always looked at the gaming environments as a mixture of the normal "real" world and the fantastic gaming world. I also learned that sometimes it is harder to learn how do something in a game than in real life! I am currently playing a Red Dead Redemption game from a couple years ago.
Could you tell us about the process of "lending" your face to Leon S. Kennedy? How was it?
Yes, the photographer digitally photographed every angle of my face in a neutral expression and then in more specific emotions. These pictures became the starting points which the digital artist manipulates to exactly the face they want. This is why the finished character looks a little different than the face model. However, when you compare the complete change in demeanor and proportions of Leon's face from RE4 to Degeneration, and then match up the previous face model's basic proportions to his RE4 Leon and mine to Degeneration Leon, you can see how much the process keeps a substantial resemblance to the original model's face. It is cool to know that there is a real soul in these animated characters and that Capcom takes so much care in their development and production. Interestingly, you can tell they made even more adjustments to my face for Darkside Chronicles (which my face was also contracted for). From what I've seen, RE6 Leon looks different than the Jamisin Matthews Leon Kennedy.
Do you believe that nowadays the games productions are as big as the Hollywood ones?
They are different, but sometimes I prefer the cinematic interludes and cutscenes in the games to many movies; particularly the camera work. Though cinematography in live-action movies seems to catch up.
Have you seen the live-action movies? What do you think of them?
From what I've seen of the movies, they have a more grounded and strength focus while the games and CG movies have a more flowing and balletic feel. I tend to watch more Asian films when it comes to action. However, it seems they've been experimenting more with "super-gravity" in the last few years so tastes go back and forth.
The actor Johann Urb is playing the role of Leon S. Kennedy in "Resident Evil: Retribution 3D", the fifth movie of the franchise. Have you seen pictures of him dressed as Leon? What do you think of him?
I think he will do a great job playing the character based and will put his own spin on the Leon's personality. They made a choice to have his hair a little different than the game Leon, though.
If you were invited to play Leon S. Kennedy in a movie, would you accept the invitation? Have you ever thought of doing a "Leon S. Kennedy photoshoot" or something like that? Fans would definitely appreciate it!
Yes, actually the first time I cast to play Leon was for the Wii promos, but due to certain circumstances I was unable to fly to Tokyo to do the shoot. I still feel that was one of my biggest missed opportunities in my life. It was live-action video/film too, not just the scanned photo face. As for the feature-length RE movies, I need the right theatrical representation to be considered!! Someone like Johann has much more box office draw, which is very important. However, I welcome any opportunity to portray Leon again. Interesting idea on the photo shoot, I will keep it in mind next time I am working with a photographer I played another famous character related to the band My Chemical Romance and I often thought of continuing him also.
Could you tell us about your future plans and works? Do you have any projects going on right now?
Yes, I am in an upcoming project with Angela Sarafyan from Twilight: Breaking Dawn and a short film directed by Amiee Graham. Otherwise all of my current and recent projects have been lifestyle and brand modeling for clients like Mini Cooper, Harley Davidson, Oceana Hotels.
Would you like to send a message for us fans of Leon and fans of Jamisin?
Yes I am glad to have played a small part in the Biohazard/RE legend and welcome any opportunity to portray Leon Kennedy again. I will gladly grow out my hair and dye it blond.
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