regarding voice acting . . .

Over at Joystiq, Griffin McElroy wrote about Keith David's growing celebrity in video games. He's probably best known for playing the Arbiter in Halo 2 and Halo 3, but he's also in Mass Effect and a bunch of other extremely popular games.

McElroy takes this condescending, dismissive tone toward Keith David's career, calling him a "B-List" actor, and implying that, because he hadn't worked that often on camera recently, he resorted to voices in video games, where -- hey, backhanded compliment -- he's doing surprisingly well for himself!

"These kinds of jobs are quickly gaining popularity in Hollywood, says Reuters, as voice work provides a much steadier paycheck than that of on-screen roles. We see it as a win-win situation -- down on their luck actors with distinct voices can find a nice amount of celebrity in the gaming realm..."

Wow. This is so profoundly misinformed, and based on such confirmation bias, it's too stupid to be offensive. I've been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time doing voice work, both for video games and for animation, and it is not easy. "Down on their luck actors" don't get to just walk into a studio and wave around their list of long-forgotten on-camera achievements in exchange for a job. You can only get cast in these jobs -- and keep them -- if you have the skills and talent to earn them. It's an incredibly closed community where the gates are jealously guarded by people who work very, very hard to get inside, and once you're there, you have to constantly work your ass off to stay there, because there are so many people working just as hard to take your place.

Here's a shocking truth: a lot of so-called "A-list" celebrities don't have what it takes to succeed in voice acting, because it's an entirely different set of skills, and an entirely different work ethic. It's hard, and it's competitive, and it's not someplace "down on their luck actors with distinct voices" go when they can't go anywhere else. To imply otherwise is an insult to the actors whose voices bring these characters to life. I find that truly offensive.

Comments

[Hal2814]

B-List? The man has a Tony Award!

[TimGundrum]

Damn straight Wil. Guys like Maurice LaMarche, Billy West, Frank Welker, and Rob Paulson are immensely more talented than most of todays big name actors.

[JChampion]

You are certainly right. Here in Chicago, the voice-talent market is incredibly tough to crack, but you meet those actors who, every now and then, can buy a house from getting one commercial VO gig or stay solvent from video game work. Then they can go back and do the work (stage or otherwise) that they find most satisfying. So would McElroy have the same attitude about a writer who blogs or a videographer who puts materials on the web instead of on TV? Work is work.

[David Knighton]

Keith David is a damn fine actor...very intense, probably type-cast a bit more than he'd like, but excellent still. Who else could have pulled off, "How did you get the bean on TOP of the frank???"

[Giladani]

Wil--someday you should think about doing a behind the scenes on your work with Legion. I've always been interested in what it takes to do that work, find the right voice for the character and so on.

[Xaqtly]

I love voice acting, and I've always wanted to do it, secretly. I've never had the talent or anything else to ever get started with it though. I've always been a fan of your voice work on the Teen Titans though, and in true geek fashion whenever Aqualad said something I was all like "Woo! I read that guy's blog!"

Despite not knowing how it really works on the inside, I've never felt like voice acting was an "alternative job for actors down on their luck", so I was glad to see your take on it. I've always had a lot of respect for people who do it well, and it always seemed obvious to me how difficult it is to do it well.

[David Knighton]

Just another thought...this whole "clique-ish" attitude that some actors seem to take is really ridiculous. Movie actors who won't do television and such. Speaking from a fan's perspective, I don't view a film actor as someone who has done much better than someone who has been a life-long television or stage actor. I appreciate talent and love of the craft regardless of where I see it. Case-in-point, Jerry Orbach. He didn't spend a tremendous amount of time on film projects, but was best known for his work on Law & Order and broadway. I personally consider him one of the finest actors I've ever seen, and his body of work speaks for itself.

[Jabbertrack]

I did voice-over work for 2 years on and off. I was always a goofy kid with many voices (only child) and I made a goal one day to be on the radio within a year.

I did indeed accomplish that goal by meeting the right people and making a demo tape.

Turns out there is decent money in it... but it's not steady work AT ALL and I realized I'm not the type of person who can't count on $XXX per month even if it means talking for a living.

Kinda stupid I know... and my family says I'm insane for not continuing.

Also? Yea I heard about the union voice actors being the gatekeepers and how hard it was to bust into a union town and I just didn't want the hassle.

[GenXer]

Seems like perhaps the author of that article struck a nerve?

As someone who's not involved in either acting or voice acting industries, this article didn't strike me as particularly condescending or mean-spirited. The author seems to suggest that some screen actors who are no longer acting as much as they once did have applied their talents to voice acting for games. The tone of the article, to a reader who is not a part of the industry, is simply not offensive. It doesn't suggest that the voice actors lack talent - in fact quite the contrary, using phrases such as "everyone's favorite" and "of Top Gun and Starship Troopers fame" show appreciation for the actors' accomplishments.

As for the "down on their luck actors" comment, I don't see anywhere in that statement that implicates a lack of talent, only a lack of available acting jobs for those actors.

[Animeraider]

Am I missing something? Keith David is one hell of a hard working actor, and has appeared in an awful lot of films. I count 13 for 2008 releases alone. To me, that's a steadily working actor.

[Max Exter]

Thank you, Wil! Voice actors get so little recognition these days it's almost laughable. And Keith David is one of the best out there. He can take a role, and the moment he speaks you'll know that it's him, but the moment he speaks again, you'll be into the character, whomever it is.

I first recall hearing him in Disney's Gargoyles, which was an excellent cartoon, particularly considering that it was made by Disney. (Now I think about it, Wil, how come you never provided a voice for that show? Or did you? It seems like every other major Trek actor did a cameo there somewhere.)

[Wil]

Also? Yea I heard about the union voice actors being the gatekeepers and how hard it was to bust into a union town and I just didn't want the hassle.

I didn't mean to imply that the union actors are trying to keep anyone out, because that's not the case.

It's just an incredibly competitive field, and the people who make hiring decisions prefer to work with people they already know can handle the unique challenges posed by voice acting, which creates a sort of walled city.

Seems like perhaps the author of that article struck a nerve?

Damn right he did. I've been both things (down on my luck actor and voice actor) and the implication that voice work is second-tier work is profoundly insulting and offensive to me on both counts.

[arasirsul]

a lot of so-called "A-list" celebrities don't have what it takes to succeed in voice acting

An example, for those who don't believe: There was a time when Richard Dean Anderson was a huge name; everyone loved him in MacGyver. And then we all loved him again in Stargate SG1.

Let's just say Fallout, which was a spectacular game in just about every respect, wasn't exactly his best performance...

[ShempLugosi]

I've always had a fetish for cartoon voices. Paul Frees, June Foray, Daws Butler, Don Messick - these are my heroes. Currently am in love with the voice of Jonny Test! Do you know or have you worked with Cameron Clarke? Another hero for many reasons. Would love to hear more about your own voice work, Wil. Love you on Legion, didn't know you did Teen Titans, will have to check it out!

[jbay]

I prefer to work with actors who do voice work, even if just as an occasional sideline. They know how to speak and enunciate. The other ones? Doesn't seem to be a priority.

[MadLori]

To me, Keith David will forever be the voice of Goliath from "Gargoyles." A truly great cartoon and his voice performance went so far as to making that character compelling and yes, sexy. He was more famous to me as a voice actor than he ever was as a character actor.

[buntz]

The other night I read a mental_floss interview with Laraine Newman (of SNL/Coneheads fame) and she talked a little about voice acting--echoing what you say here and have said before. Besides it being fun as an actor when you're in the studio, it's hard work and tough to get into the club.

"I knew I could do dialects and a lot of things with my voice. So I got a voiceover agent and auditioned for two years before I got any work.

[...]

DI: What advice would you give to someone looking to break into animation voice over?

LN: Well they should start out with the ability to do dialects, characters, and play different ages. If you have those three things, I’d recommend taking a class to learn how to act with your voice, which is an entirely different skill."

The link: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/11883

[Dear Editor]

A pal of mine moved from film/TV to voice acting, and has never looked back. He works a couple of sessions a week, no night shoots, no makeup chair, and he gets to raise his own kids (who think it's way cool to have toys with Dad's voice).

[Celtic Mama]

Keith David is my hero! Of course, because he was the voice of Goliath on Gargoyles. I've professed my love for this show many times because of the Trek stars who did voice work. Jonathan, Marina, Michael, and Brent were on. Wil would have topped it off for me! But, Keith David MADE that show. No one else's voice would have worked for that character.
The people who do this work are not "down on their luck." The good ones are in demand!

[d. burr]

Seems to me you have to be very versatile and very consistent to be a good voice actor...It's not about doing a strange voice at a party...It's about turning your voice into a character...and being able to match that voice scene for scene whenever you are called upon...I have done voice acting in local radio commercials...and i have found that it's not easy to be the same character with the same voice quality take after take...I have the utmost respect for those who have chosen voice acting as a career.

[crow]

Ah, but, Wil, how do you really feel?

I agree 100%. Sitting in at last year's Anime Expo panel for voice acting was a revelation, especially when they let the unwashed masses (no offense, masses, for I am one of you) get up in front of a mic.

[Tym]

I've only done a bit o' voice acting (I was the Goblin Ballonists in Warcraft II), with something like 9 total lines. It still took almost 4 hours to get it right. Of course, I think that the guy recording me wanted a particular harshness in my voice :)

[zizban]

I saw the Simpson actors do some of their characters live--I didn't think it was so difficult before but seeing them onstage--wow!

[Pockafwye]

Patrick Stewart's voice was a wonderful addition to the voice work in Bethesda Softworks' The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I hardly think anyone would call him a "down on his luck actor".

[Robotech_Master]

Hear, hear, Wil.

I've interviewed a number of voice actors over on my Robotech podcast (http://www.terrania.us/liberty), including Chase Masterson from DS9. They've had a lot of stuff to say about voice acting, and it really does require a lot of craft.