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Deirdre Czarina Emeritus

Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 13023 Location: Camp Cooper
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cyclometh King's Row

Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 1051 Location: Olympia, WA
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:11 am Post subject: |
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That's a great article, some very good stuff there. _________________ Corey "Vox Man" Snow
http://voxman.net |
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Bob Bergen CM
Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:31 am Post subject: |
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Really good artical. Voice actors, for the most part, rarely get celebrity recognition, unless by fans. The fan base for many genres of vo is huge. But industry recognition, or celebrity from doing vo, that is rare unless one is already well known.
Many years ago I was not invited to a film I did called Space Jam because, as my agent was told, "premieres are only for talent."
(sigh). What can ya do??!!!
Personally, I'd trade the celebrity in games for residuals. We get nada. I turn down 9 out of 10 game auditions. Most hurt the voice. And it's not worth damaging my voice, or even risk not being able to audition for a national commercial because I'm too horse from voicing a game. There are a handful of game producers I'll never say no to. But residuals are how we make our living. At least 60% of my income is residuals. No way to make a living on session fees. |
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AlannaOBrien Contributor

Joined: 29 Oct 2012 Posts: 40 Location: New York
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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I look forward to the day that voice talent get residuals on games.
It's heartbreaking at times- you see great small gaming companies bought out by bigger ones only to have their game concepts bastardized and manipulated for the sake of making more money. I believe video games are an art form. It hurts everyone involved, voice actors included, when bigger companies forget that. _________________ www.AlannaOBrien.com |
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Scott Pollak The Gates of Troy

Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 1903 Location: Looking out at the San Juan mountains
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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Space Jam!! I loved that movie!! _________________ Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.
www.voicebyscott.com |
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Lee Gordon A Zillion

Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 6864 Location: West Hartford, CT
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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It's all part of the celebrity culture. Sadly, the "talent" Bob referred to would include Kardashians and Hiltons and their ilk because they're famous. The fact that they're famous simply for being famous has little to do with it.
I have noticed that whenever a TV or movie star -- even a lesser known TV actor such as a Jay O. Saunder -- narrates an episode of Nova on PBS or some similar non-fiction program on NatGeo, Science Channel, History Channel, etc., there's a Narrator credit at the beginning of the show. If the narration is by a "lowly" voiceoverist, even someone well known and respected within the profession, such as a Bill Ratner or Dave Fennoy, his or her credit appears only at the end. _________________ Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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heyguido MMD

Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 2507 Location: RDU, the Geek Capitol of the South
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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If at all....
 _________________ Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?" |
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Lee Gordon A Zillion

Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 6864 Location: West Hartford, CT
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 1:48 am Post subject: |
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I have to make a correction on my earlier observation. Tonight's episode of Nova was narrated by Jay O. Saunders and his credit appeared only at the end. When David Ogden Stiers narrates, he does rate an opening credit.
Apparently, having starred on "M*A*S*H" provides sufficient celebrity cred; having been in the cast of "After M*A*S*H" does not. _________________ Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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JoeActor Contributor III

Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 84 Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:14 am Post subject: |
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Bob Bergen wrote: | Personally, I'd trade the celebrity in games for residuals. We get nada. I turn down 9 out of 10 game auditions. Most hurt the voice. And it's not worth damaging my voice, or even risk not being able to audition for a national commercial because I'm too horse from voicing a game. There are a handful of game producers I'll never say no to. But residuals are how we make our living. At least 60% of my income is residuals. No way to make a living on session fees. |
+100 to *that*, Bob... _________________ "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com |
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Bruce Boardmeister

Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 7977 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Lee Gordon wrote: | ... his credit appeared only at the end. When David Ogden Stiers narrates, he does rate an opening credit. |
Credit placement is negotiated by the actor's agent. It may or may not mean more money is involved.
In film and TV big "stars" with smaller roles are often put to the back of the credit roll with an "and" ahead of their names. I guess that's somehow better than getting fifth or sixth billing.
B _________________ VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005
I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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Deirdre Czarina Emeritus

Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 13023 Location: Camp Cooper
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:08 am Post subject: |
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Bob Bergen wrote: | But residuals are how we make our living. At least 60% of my income is residuals. No way to make a living on session fees. |
Residuals may be how YOU make a living, but not me, and not most of us, I think. I've been supporting my family on session fees for 13 years.
Since this kind of work doesn't fit your desired kind of income, this is is the work you SHOULD turn down. Please don't try to change the VG VO model to suit YOUR needs! there are loads of us who need the work just as it is. The only thing that is likely to happen is that all the normal, non-star-driven games will be cast non-union.
Believe me, the studios are NOT going to cave on the issue of "residuals". _________________ DBCooperVO.com
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todd ellis A Zillion

Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 10528 Location: little egypt
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Quote: | No way to make a living on session fees |
hmmm, i've been making a living on session fees for my whole career. sending the kids to private school, paying the house payment and every now & then doing something fun. i know bob & i are in different places, in almost every way, but it DOES work for a lot of us. _________________ "i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?
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Bob Bergen CM
Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 979
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:59 am Post subject: |
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You are so correct! We will not be gettin em for games. We lost that opportunity about 10-13 years ago. The game contract came up for renegotiations not long after the commercial strike. Our negotiation team recommended we ask for a tiny residual from only THE most successful games. 99% of em wouldn't have paid a dime. We had no desire to hurt newer or mama/papa companies. But we wanted the opportunity to dip our toe in the gaming residual pool. And, as they grew and got more successful, we would share in the profits. We even had the backing of celebs who were just starting to record games based on their movies and tv shows. And, many celebs get residuals today!!!
More people are working today than ever before in vo. But fewer are making the kind of living that most working voice actors enjoyed before the Internet. I'm blessed that I got into the business when I did. And I agree, most here do not do the kind of work that pays residuals, P&H, etc. But I'm willing to bet they wouldn't turn any of these benefits down if offered. Jussayin. |
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Deirdre Czarina Emeritus

Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 13023 Location: Camp Cooper
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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I get plenty of P&H!
And the VO for Video Games is a decent part of it.
And narrations, IVR, etc, at high enough rates to qualify for union inclusion.
It's just a different business model, Bob! _________________ DBCooperVO.com
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