Getting To Know “Alvin and the Chipmunks”

“Alvin and the Chipmunks” are back—starring on the big screen in an entertaining story which charts their evolution from cheeky animals to international singing superstars. Fans of the musical trio will remember the songs and TV shows which have become American classics, while new audiences will be delighted by the originality and humor of their engaging personalities.

Created in the 50s by the late Ross Bagdasarian Sr. when he stumbled on the unique sound (experimenting with the playback on a song), he went on to produce hit records and the fictional trio enjoyed fame on TV too. Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and his wife Janice Karman have kept the franchise alive and are producing the new movie—starring Jason Lee—for Twentieth Century Fox.      

The movie focuses on Dave Seville’s (Jason Lee) first encounter with the Chipmunks and their evolving relationship. Seville is an aspiring songwriter, stuck in a job he can’t stand and together with The Chipmunks he finds a new lease of life as they team up to write and perform. As The Chipmunks find themselves on the path to stardom, they encounter obstacles and high drama. 

Q: When your father died, why did you revive Alvin and the Chipmunks?

Ross: I was just getting out of law school and my dad had unfortunately passed away at 52 years old.  I didn’t want The Chipmunks to pass away prematurely with him.

Q: Why chipmunks specifically?

Ross:  He was trying to decide whether they’d be chipmunks or antelopes or flying saucers or whatever and one day he was driving his car through Yosemite National Park and a tiny little chipmunk jumped out onto the road. He was amused by the audacity of that little tiny thing standing in the way to block him and his huge vehicle from moving along the road. The names came from record executives that my dad knew – Alvin, Simon and Theodore.  The song came out in 1958 and became the fastest selling song in the history of music at that time. Four and a half million records were sold in seven weeks.

Q: The huge success of The Chipmunks must have changed everything for your dad and the family?

Ross: It did. Before Chipmunks, we had just $200.00 to our name. And when I say our name, I mean my dad, my mum and the three children with a mortgage to pay. My dad, being an incredibly crazy, funny, ‘take a chance’ kind of guy, took $190.00 of the $200.00 and spent it on the latest state of the art tape recorder that allowed him to switch speeds.  The Chipmunks changed our lives because we suddenly had money and got a swimming pool which was great because it was really hot where we lived.  So, I loved The Chipmunks for that swimming pool - apart from everything else.

Q: Can you explain who The Chipmunks are and what they are like? 

Ross: Alvin has a lot of bravado and dives in, he is impetuous. Simon is the studious one with glasses who’s got that kind of dry wit. He’s incredibly logical. If he were in Star Trek, he’d be Spock. Theodore, of course is the gullible, naive, baby of the family that’s the most in need of love and support. Alvin is not just the leader, he is also incredibly emotional. He has the most phenomenal highs when he feels that life couldn’t be better.

Q: Your father also played the part of David Seville and then you voiced him. How did you cast Jason? 

Ross: Well, first of all, we went for the best looking person we could find. If I was going have someone play ‘me’, it had to be a handsome guy, (laughs) and Jason really encapsulates all of those key characteristics of David Seville. He’s warm. He’s likeable. He’s funny. He interacts with The Chipmunks so wonderfully. And you believe him. And he also has that rare ability that Tom Hanks embodies. And so Dave can be mean to The Chipmunks, he can be angry at them — they’re wrecking his life early on in the movie. But when he is angry, you don’t hold it against him.  We were so lucky to get him. 

Q: Finally, is this movie a dream come true for you?

Ross: Yes, you know, honestly, it is a dream come true. It began 10 years ago, and The Chipmunks will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year.  It’s a real testimony to the phenomenon that my dad created almost 50 years ago. We’re also sprinkling some of my dad’s memory and personality throughout the movies, including his Grammys. Incidentally, the number of David Seville’s house in the film is 1958, which was the year that The Chipmunks were created. So for us, it’s like having that link to the real history of The Chipmunks.  And that’s important to us.

‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ opens in Philippine theaters nationwide this January 2008 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.