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Post by cbdroege on Aug 11, 2017 6:17:57 GMT -8
If asked to read for a part or a work that contains things you don't agree with or don't believe in, would you reject them?
Like, say you were asked to read an audiobook that used fake science to back up positions that you know or feel are not true or to give advice that you think would be bad for people. Do you still take the job? What about a commercial for a product that you know is a scam? A character who is hateful towards a group you care about or who perpetuates stereotypes? Where do you draw the line on what is allowed to be part of your personal brand? and do you still do the work under a pseudonym, or do you just reject it outright?
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Post by Rebekah Amber Clark on Aug 11, 2017 6:57:18 GMT -8
Fake science to back up positions I don't agree with -- no, not if it is a non-fiction work. I would not take the job.
Commercials for scams -- no. If I know it to be a scam I would not take the job.
Character who is hateful to a group I care about or racist, etc. -- I would, and have, played a racist character because it was fiction and the character was, frankly, the bad guy. Likewise, a character who was dismissive towards people on welfare, who *wasn't* the bad guy, but even the hero needs flaws and that is not a reflection on my beliefs.
Character who perpetuates stereotypes -- I'm guessing you mean something like where the character themselves is a caricature, and the way they are presented themselves is offensive? No. I would not take that role.
If I would not take a job because it violates my morals under my real name, I would not do it under a pseudonym. To me, a pseudonym is for separating your brand to your target audience (for example, hard core porn under one name, children's educational mobile games under another). Reason #1, in today's world online, people WILL know who all your aliases are and if you are ashamed of something, people WILL know it's you. Reason #2, if I object to something, I object to it. Even if I used a pseudonym it would still be me and I would still know about it.
Everyone's line is drawn in a different place in the sand and it's rarely a straight line, so they crisscross with each other's a lot. My limits: 1. I will not voice in any project with "on-screen" (or described) sex, rape, or graphic nudity. 2. I will voice in projects containing, but will not *personally* record graphic violence above around a PG-13. 3. I will not use slurs including racial slurs such as the N-word, but will ALSO not use slurs against other groups such as "moron," (even if the word is not directed at those who are developmentally disabled and used only as a "joke"), "spazz," etc. (This is of course limited by my knowledge of slurs but I do my best and research if not sure.) 4. I will not take non-fiction work that advertises an idea I'm opposed to (Ponzi schemes, flat earth theory, or opposing religious views, for example).
I try to balance this by not being picky on genre or project type, to allow me a wider choice of projects to go for.
BTW, I have been told in the past (I'm paraphrasing here) "our project meets your requirements but because you HAVE requirements, we're not going to cast you". This, I feel, is an unhealthy view of voice actors as slaves, prostitutes, or machines, who should be willing to do anything and everything demanded of us without complaint for a price or for free. I take my limitations seriously and don't let myself get pushed around; but I strip those limitations down to the bare essentials, down to ONLY what it is worth losing work over for me.
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Post by benedict on Aug 11, 2017 9:36:34 GMT -8
At the risk of writing a "me, too!" post, a lot of my answers line up with Razzle's. I look at it this way: By associating your name with the thing, you're adding your weight behind it. Fake science? Absolutely not. I work in a scientific field, so that would simultaneously erode my own credibility while lending credibility to a false idea. Commercials for scams? Same thing. Wil Wheaton wrote a nice piece years ago about doing ads for products he wouldn't use. (He doesn't.)
Stereotypes? I'd have to see it. If the stereotype is being used as a gag or for slapstick, I'd have a hard time with it. If the stereotype winds up being deconstructed as part of the plot, that would be a lot more interesting. Unfortunately I get the feeling that not enough screen writers are aware they're writing stereotypes to really do anything about it. But that's a whole 'nuther topic.
Offensive characters? Yes, I would, for the reasons Razzle mentioned. (Though I have yet to be cast in a fiction piece. >sigh<) The whole job of fiction is to convince the reader or viewer to become emotionally invested in a character and then proceed to torture the character as much as possible while we explore their journey, watch them change, and watch them effect change around them. This requires antagonists. Sometimes it's inhuman (Old Man and the Sea), sometimes it's other people. Sometimes the people in question aren't what we think they are (Blade Runner), and sometimes they're just plain nasty human beings (Django Unchained).
Speaking of which, I read that Leonardo DiCaprio had a really hard time playing Calvin Candie in Django Unchained, and that at one point he just plain couldn't deliver his lines. Samuel L. Jackson took him aside and reminded him it's just a character, just a role. (And yes, I'm paraphrasing a great deal.)
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Post by Lady Stardust ★ on Aug 15, 2017 1:12:29 GMT -8
In general, I see it as just my voice and not "me myself" being used to promote or portray something, so...I'm usually pretty open with what I'll do.
In terms of extremely controversial material, it depends how it's handled. For instance, if a character is being racist as part of the story BUT it is portrayed as a negative thing and not glorifying or making a joke out of racism...it'd be uncomfortable, but I wouldn't necessarily turn it down. (Sometimes these issues need to be brought up in fiction work that addresses it as part of an overall message - see "Get Out", for example.) If a character was sexually assaulted as part of their backstory and had to act out that scene...again, it'd be uncomfortable, but it's just portraying a character and story, and villains are villains for a reason. (Again, anything that glorified racism, sexual assault, pedophilia, etc would be outright rejected.)
I would not do anything that openly blasphemes or mocks my spiritual beliefs. I would not do anything that promoted animal abuse (...although, why WOULD you promote animal abuse, anyway?) I don't have issues with swearing or violence; if you want to do AAA videogames (which I do someday) those elements are pretty common. I'd be okay with doing political ads that didn't align with my own political views, as long as they weren't being used to promote hateful messages.
I'm pretty okay with most sexual content. Not outright porn, but considering how many anime and JRPGs I've worked on that were absolutely full of fanservice (I was just announced for a show called Testament of Sister New Devil...look it up if you dare, but not at work!) I'm pretty unfazed by it at this point because again, it's just my voice. I'd assume it feels much different for on-camera actors!
I support the right of everyone to make their own decisions as to their comfort levels. I'm just personally pretty open in the sense that "it's a job, and narrating a story or playing a role doesn't mean I always have to agree with the message."
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Post by cbdroege on Aug 15, 2017 7:45:46 GMT -8
The job that prompted me wondering how others think and handle this situation was an audiobook of really bad advice based on bad science. It was a relationship advice book for men that was a whole bunch of anti-feminist garbage. Lots of 'take control' and 'be alpha' type crap, which is completely counter to my personality and my beliefs. I had considered doing the project under a pseudonym (I already have a pseudonym I use for erotic audiobooks) but ultimately, despite the rather high pay they were offering, I declined the contract. But it made me wonder how others deal with these types of projects, as I assumed the methods for dealing with it would be a wide spectrum, and lots of people would draw lines in very different places.
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Post by Kyotosomo on Aug 15, 2017 10:47:12 GMT -8
I likely wouldn't but not gonna lie; I'm sure if you offered me a large enough sum of money I would lol (unless it was something career ruining like something by a hate group).
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Post by Lady Stardust ★ on Aug 16, 2017 1:42:03 GMT -8
The job that prompted me wondering how others think and handle this situation was an audiobook of really bad advice based on bad science. It was a relationship advice book for men that was a whole bunch of anti-feminist garbage. Lots of 'take control' and 'be alpha' type crap, which is completely counter to my personality and my beliefs. I had considered doing the project under a pseudonym (I already have a pseudonym I use for erotic audiobooks) but ultimately, despite the rather high pay they were offering, I declined the contract. But it made me wonder how others deal with these types of projects, as I assumed the methods for dealing with it would be a wide spectrum, and lots of people would draw lines in very different places. Ugh, yeah I can see how that would be off-putting. I don't blame you for turning it down.
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