Voice Actors Face Low Pay | Washington Post
Dr. David Smith was quoted in the Washington Post
In The Washington Post, Todd C. Frankel writes about voice over actors making a living in the $24-billion
gaming industry. Pepperdine Graziadio Associate Professor of Economics and Associate
Provost for Online Programs David M. Smith, PhD, is quoted in the article, which focuses
on a recent voice actor strike against 11 of the largest video game developers over
bonus pay and safety issues relating to vocal health.
The resulting contract did not include royalty payments for voice actors, but maintains
a flat-fee structure. "The principle of paying union actors residuals is something
they are fundamentally against," Dr. Smith says. "I think they see it as a slippery
slope. If they give an inch on this concept of royalties, it's a first step for others
to ask for them." According to the article, game companies agreed to a 3% raise for
the SAG-AFTRA minimum wage and a sliding upfront bonus schedule based on the number
of sessions, maxing out at $2,100.