Expert: Roland Parliament - 3/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Roland,

How is it determined how much voice over actors are paid? Whether it be for a television series or a motion picture? And what about voice-actors who dub foreign language films? For example, if a voice-actor has a few credits to his/her name and is not publicy known, whether it be for television episodes or for a movie how is it determine how much they are paid? Is it per line? Per hour? Per page of script? And are voice-over fees always rounded to the nearest '5' or '0'? Is there a rule of thumb how much money of a animated movie's budget should be for the voice-acting salaries? Like how much would a voice-actor get paid to dub a Japanese language film into English for a character? How does one become a voice actor?

thanks for your info,

Blaine Betts

ANSWER: Hi Blaine,

It varies from country to country, particularly between the U.S. and Canada.

If you are dubbing a foreign language film or series in Canada, the rate is really cheap. You get approximately $140 for the first hour and $40 an hour for each successive hour, regardless of how many characters you play. And it's also a worldwide buyout in perpetuity. Pretty crappy, huh?

I understand things are better in the U.S., but I can't quote you exact figures.

Yes there are different rates for TV and film, but there is a big difference in rates depending on if you are dubbing or doing an original production. You'd have to be more specific before I could quote you an actual pay scale.

How does one become a voice actor? Well, most people train as actors in theater schools or in programs such as I teach in Acting For Film & Television in Toronto and Welland. Some people are just lucky - they have a natural aptitude for the craft and they meet somebody at the right place at the right time who can help them launch their career. There isn't really any guaranteed path.

But I can tell you this - it was never my intention to become a voice actor or teacher. It all just happened to me through my various experiences in music, advertising and personal meetings. If you just open yourself to possibilities and never deny any experience, wonderful things can happen. I can't promise that they will, but that's been my experience.

I hope this helps, and good luck with your personal path.

Regards,

Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hello Roland,


thanks for responding. For a movie like 'Nightmare Before Christmas' how would the pay scale be determined for a voice actor voicing one character that's not a primary character. For example, the mayor of Halloweentown. For a 75-minute animated movie is there an average of how long it takes for a voice actor to record the lines of one main character?

thanks for your info,

Blaine Betts

Answer
Blaine.

Sorry it's taken awhile for me to answer this, but my father passed away recently and I've been rather busy.

I don't know the movie "Nightmare Before Christmas" so I don't have a reference. Pay scales would be determined by which country the film was recorded in and they vary wildly.
For a 75-minute movie a voice actor could record his/her lines in anywhere from 3-12 hours, depending on the nit-picking of the director, or the actor's difficulty in maintaining an accent or a character voice.

Regards,

Roland