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[NPR] Voice Actors Strike Against Video Game Companies

11K views 363 replies 72 participants last post by  claes 
#1 ·
"If you're a video game aficionado of sorts, or even if you simply missed the memo entirely, it's no secret that actress Jennifer Hale has an extensive resume within the gaming industry.

She's played the roles of Sarah Palmer in Halo 5: Guardians, Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3, and a quantum physicist in BioShock Infinite: Burial At Sea. But more imperatively, Hale is a member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA. (SAG-AFTRA is also the union that represents many of NPR's editorial staff.)"

"But SAG-AFTRA says voice actors don't receive residuals for their gaming work. Instead, they receive a fixed rate, which is typically about $825 for a standard four-hour vocal session."

SOURCE

$206.25 an hour for a four hour session. My heart is bleeding for these poor abused union members. Fortunately, they can be replaced by almost anybody who can speak.
 
#2 ·
I wish them luck.

When you work in enough large corporations, you get first hand knowledge of how they try to screw over everyone they can... they try do it with a smile.
 
#4 ·
This must be the most inflammatory thread OP I've seen in a long time.

It's not like those "who can speak" have ruined plenty of games with their piss poor voice acting. You can ruin it even by hiring a celebrity to do a professional work they're not ready for.

Also, keep hating unions. It's not like you're enslaved already.
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Imouto View Post

This must be the most inflammatory thread OP I've seen in a long time.

It's not like those "who can speak" have ruined plenty of games with their piss poor voice acting. You can ruin it even by hiring a celebrity to do a professional work they're not ready for.

Also, keep hating unions. It's not like you're enslaved already.
nobody hates unions, but in my opinion this guys don't have anything to complain about considering the paid of other jobs
 
#8 ·
Always find it laughable when people say voice actors can be easily replaceable. Why are you sitting around, when you can easily earn $200 for "speaking into a mic"?

Games like Warhammer would definitely lose some of their luster without the fantastic voice acting.
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Imouto View Post

This must be the most inflammatory thread OP I've seen in a long time.

It's not like those "who can speak" have ruined plenty of games with their piss poor voice acting. You can ruin it even by hiring a celebrity to do a professional work they're not ready for.

Also, keep hating unions. It's not like you're enslaved already.
I agree with you completely, I am also inflamed that these overpaid prima donas are going on strike. And if you consider this hating on unions, please.
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Imouto View Post

This must be the most inflammatory thread OP I've seen in a long time.

It's not like those "who can speak" have ruined plenty of games with their piss poor voice acting. You can ruin it even by hiring a celebrity to do a professional work they're not ready for.

Also, keep hating unions. It's not like you're enslaved already.
He seems to have also conveniently skipped over the part where voice actors go without work for months at a time due to throat damage.
I get it, $800 for four hours of work seems like a lot, but that's not taking into consideration how often they get work out of a year, I don't think it would add up to a good yearly salary, especially when it's so easy for your 'trade tool' to become out of order.

He's also forgetting that the residuals they're asking for are standard for voice actors in any other medium.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragneel View Post

He seems to have also conveniently skipped over the part where voice actors go without work for months at a time due to throat damage.
I get it, $800 for four hours of work seems like a lot, but that's not taking into consideration how often they get work out of a year, I don't think it would add up to a good yearly salary, especially when it's so easy for your 'trade tool' to become out of order.
I saw the part about voice damage, just didn't believe it. When you consider professonal singers, yeah, I would believe them
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by essanbee View Post

I saw the part about voice damage, just didn't believe it. When you consider professonal singers, yeah, I would believe them
Professional singers do damage their voice, a lot.. difference being in pay, they can often afford a high standard of care. Again, same problem, they can't sing every day just like a voice actor couldn't do their job every day or else risk permanent damage. Singers will go weeks without talking at all to keep their throat in tact, so now imagine as a voice actor being paid $800 every 1-2 weeks, because that's more realistically what they're being paid, they certainly aren't working 8 hours a day, then imagine how much of that is lost on expensive surgery every so often due to America's absurd health care and surgery costs.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragneel View Post

Professional singers do damage their voice, a lot.. difference being in pay, they can often afford a high standard of care. Again, same problem, they can't sing every day just like a voice actor couldn't do their job every day or else risk permanent damage.
Tens of thousands of people make their living with their voice. Radio announcers, TV personalities, etc... How many of them do you hear about losing their living regularly due to overuse. I think it is BS. I know several people who never shut up and they never lose their voice. I am sure some do, due to extenuating circumstances, sore throat, etc... Singers are truly stressing the voice, most others, I don't think so.

There are also many pro singers who do not have a high pay, great insurance, or a high standard of care. Ever been to Nashville?
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by essanbee View Post

Tens of thousands of people make their living with their voice. Radio announcers, TV personalities, etc... How many of them do you hear about losing their living regularly due to overuse. I think it is BS. I know several people who never shut up and they never lose their voice. I am sure some do, due to extenuating circumstances, sore throat, etc... Singers are truly stressing the voice, most others, I don't think so.
Those people aren't regularly changing their voice. Voice acting is extremely different to speaking normally. Try it, right now... raise your pitch and tone and talk like a witch for 20+ minutes, and see how sore and hoarse your throat gets.

Radio announcers, TV personalities etc also have the same protections the voice actors are asking for so...
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by essanbee View Post

Tens of thousands of people make their living with their voice. Radio announcers, TV personalities, etc... How many of them do you hear about losing their living regularly due to overuse. I think it is BS. I know several people who never shut up and they never lose their voice. I am sure some do, due to extenuating circumstances, sore throat, etc... Singers are truly stressing the voice, most others, I don't think so.

There are also many pro singers who do not have a high pay, great insurance, or a high standard of care. Ever been to Nashville?
Yes, because voice acting is exactly the same as just speaking normally, amirite?
rolleyes.gif
 
#17 ·
When was the last time you heard a 20 minute monologue in a PC game?
 
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#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragneel View Post

Those people aren't regularly changing their voice. Voice acting is extremely different to speaking normally. Try it, right now... raise your pitch and tone and talk like a witch for 20+ minutes, and see how sore and hoarse your throat gets.

Radio announcers, TV personalities etc also have the same protections the voice actors are asking for so...
That's exactly what singing is... When I speak I'm a baritone, yet when I was in a choir I was a tenor, and that was just a hobby. Even amateur/indie singers are going to be changing pitch constantly, especially to ranges they're not comfortable, while singing.
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by geoxile View Post

That's exactly what singing is... When I speak I'm a baritone, yet when I was in a choir I was a tenor, and that was just a hobby. Even amateur singers are going to be changing pitch constantly, especially to ranges they're not comfortable, while singing.
I know that, I sing. That's why I can empathize with the voice actors. I've damaged my own throat more than a few times trying to sing in ranges I clearly can't reach.
 
#22 ·
I still don't see how it is any different from people all over the world singing multiple shows a day. A lot of voice acting is normal speaking, not all high pitched witches.
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Imouto View Post

"They can't make money out of it because I don't consider it a real job"

"Damn people with talent"

"Everyone can do it but somehow I don't"
I have no problems with them making money out of it. The problems i have is with them trying to squeeze more bucks out of innocent corporations with their strike.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by essanbee View Post

"If you're a video game aficionado of sorts, or even if you simply missed the memo entirely, it's no secret that actress Jennifer Hale has an extensive resume within the gaming industry.

She's played the roles of Sarah Palmer in Halo 5: Guardians, Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3, and a quantum physicist in BioShock Infinite: Burial At Sea. But more imperatively, Hale is a member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA. (SAG-AFTRA is also the union that represents many of NPR's editorial staff.)"

"But SAG-AFTRA says voice actors don't receive residuals for their gaming work. Instead, they receive a fixed rate, which is typically about $825 for a standard four-hour vocal session."

SOURCE

$206.25 an hour for a four hour session. My heart is bleeding for these poor abused union members. Fortunately, they can be replaced by almost anybody who can speak.
LOL

Or they could simply meet in a studio in England and do the work for % and Residual.
 
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