Q: Can you tell us the most challenging aspects when directing films like “Cars? ”
John Lasseter: The most challenging part of these films really, is creating the story. At Pixar we always believe the story is without question the most important part of the film. You can make something look as beautiful or as interesting as possible, but if the story is not compelling11, it's not keeping people on the edge of their seat12 waiting to see what happens next.
Q: Some magazine also pointed out that there are lots of animated films on the market. Do you agree?
John: No! This year, there may be from 12 to 16 animated films coming out. How many weekends do we have? In fact, I'm very excited about how many are coming out. The mediums13 being worked with are different. Like hand-drawn animation, puppet14 animation, clay15 animation and computer animation. Seeing the artistic visions of all these different directors and creators, that's what's exciting.
◆Richard Petty on “Cars”
Richard Petty is a seven-time NASCAR16 championship winner. He lends his voice and his driving experience to “Cars”.
Q: What was the first car you ever owned? Richard: The first car I ever owned was a 56 Dodge. My dad had raced it and we took it and made a road car out of it.
Q: Did you give Pixar any advice as to how the story should include NASCAR?
Richard: I didn't get involved in the storyline. When John Lasseter gave me the storyline and asked if I would be interested in doing any voice overs17, I said, “OK, sounds good.”
Q: What do you think this movie is going to do for NASCAR? Could this be an area where you capture kids for the sport?
Richard: The race fans are going to eat it up18. But if you don't know anything about racing you'll go to the movies to see it because you like cars.
Q: The film is a story about a rookie who gets lost in the fame and popularity19 of being a celebrity. Do you see that with the young drivers of today?
Richard: Yeah. What happens is you have somebody who is doing well on a Saturday night in front of 1500 or 2000 people. You go to NASCAR and it's 200,000 people. You're famous overnight. A lot of times it's hard to make that adjustment.
问：你能告诉我们执导像《汽车总动员》这样的电影，最具挑战的地方是什么吗？
约翰·拉塞特：这类电影最大的挑战其实在于构思故事情节。在皮克斯，我们总认为故事情节毫无疑问是电影中最重要的部分。你可以尽可能让某些东西看起来美仑美奂或者生动有趣，但是如果故事情节没有说服力，就无法让观众迫不及待地想要了解下一步会发生什么。
问：有些杂志声称市场上涌现出太多动画电影了，你同意这个观点吗？
约翰：不！今年可能会有12到16部动画电影问世。但是我们有多少个周末呢？事实上，我对会有多少部动画电影问世感到非常兴奋。它们的工作媒介不同。有手绘动画、木偶动画、粘土动画和电脑动画。欣赏所有这些不同导演和创作者呈现的视觉艺术，那才是激动人心的事情。
◆理查德·佩蒂谈《汽车总动员》
理查德·佩蒂先后7次夺得NASCAR锦标赛冠军。他将自己的声音和驾驶经验献给了《汽车总动员》。
问：你拥有的第一部车是什么牌子的？
理查德：我的第一部车是道奇56。我父亲曾用它参加过比赛，我们接手后将它改装成了一辆普通小车。
问：你给皮克斯提出过一些诸如故事情节中如何穿插进NASCAR的建议吗？
理查德：我没有插手故事情节。当约翰·拉塞特将故事情节给我，并问我对配音是否感兴趣时，我脱口而出"好的，这听起来不错。"
问：你认为这部电影对NASCAR会有什么影响呢？你是否会借此机会吸引孩子们加入到赛车运动中来？
理查德：赛车迷们将会对这部电影津津乐道。但是，如果你对赛车一无所知，你也会因为喜欢各种各样的汽车而到电影院去观看的。
问：这部电影讲述的是一个新手在追名逐利中迷失自我的故事。你在当今年轻赛车手身上会看到这样的事吗？
理查德：会的。事实往往是，你周六晚在1500或2000名观众面前表现出色，就能进入NASCAR，然后面对20万观众。你一夜成名。很多时候要适应过来非常难。
1. animated adj. 动画制作的
2. Pixar 皮卡斯公司，成立于1986年。现已成长为一家超过600人的大型动画公司，共赢得13个奥斯卡奖，一次金球奖和一次葛莱美奖。
3. cocky adj. 骄傲的，过于自信的
4. rookie n. 新手
5. radiator n. 暖气装置
6. offbeat adj. 反传统的
7. snazzy adj. 时髦的，漂亮的
8. rusty adj. 生锈的，迟钝的
9. tow truck 拖车
10. trophy n. 战利品，奖品
11. compelling adj. 引人注目的
12. on the edge of one's seat 焦急地等待
13. medium n. 媒介
14. puppet n. 木偶
15. clay [klei] n. 粘土
16. National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing 美国全国汽车比赛协会，于1948年成立于美国南部，是全球最著名的赛车运动之一。
17. voice over 画外音
18. eat up 沉迷于，全盘接受，健谈
19. popularity n. 声望
20. tribute n. 礼物，颂词
21. animator n. 动画绘制者
22. gesture n. 姿势
23. tilt [tilt] v. 使倾斜，使倾向
24. suspension system 悬挂系统
suspension n. 吊，悬挂
25. spring n. 弹簧
26. shock absorber 减震器
27. mechanic n. 机械工，机修工
28. have it 优越，有利
29. headlight n. 前灯
30. windshield n. 挡风玻璃
31. awkward adj. 笨拙的
32. fin [fin] n. 鳍，汽车尾部突起的装饰物
33. buzz v. 作嗡嗡声
34. sarge n. 警官