Bayonetta 3 Thread
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I wonder how much she was paid for the first two? Like was $4,000 just what they agreed to in contract way back when? If they do any sequels, you'll be paid X amount, sign here.
Your guess is as good as mine, but I have a feeling it was a little more than $4000 for the previous games.
The two general things I've seen that say theres probably more to it. One, they went out and hired someone even more expensive to replace her, if it was simple cost-cutting (on the behalf of Nintendo or not), they would've gotten someone cheaper.
Also Japan apparently has some customs where they don't like to openly admit drama is a reason to fire someone, so they just give them low offers to let the partnership end without embarrassing anyone.
Also Japan apparently has some customs where they don't like to openly admit drama is a reason to fire someone, so they just give them low offers to let the partnership end without embarrassing anyone.
I'm not convinced Platinum isn't at least partly responsible for this whole mess. Nintendo hasn't said anything yet but Kamiya is out there calling the actress a liar, basically assuming control over the matter. He quit Twitter too but I guess he came back already. Dude's famously kind of an asshole.
Im guessing like a lot of things, its somewhere in the middle. Maybe they did low-ball her, but maybe it wasn't $4000 or maybe some options weren't acceptable, or maybe she's notoriously difficult to work with, or maybe during auditions since its been almost 10 years since the last Bayonetta, her voice has aged and doesn't sound as convincing as some of the other candidates.
I heard natural voice and it's very similar to Bayo's, so Helena still got it.
To me it sounds they wanted Jennifer Hale from the get-go so they low-balled Taylor as an easy way of getting rid of her.
Also I don't think Japan in general gives a shit about who voices who in the 'gaijin dub' of their games. Look at what happened with the Silent HIll 2-3 HD remake or MGS5. But they're keeping Atsuko Tanaka, the VA who's voiced Bayonetta in Japan since the first game.
As usual I'm basically with Sterling on this stuff- instinct is to side with the employee and be viciously suspicious toward the corporation. But also, no, I'm not "boycotting."
I feel, like many, that there is more going on than we know. I'm sure corporate f***ery is part of it we just don't know all of it.
If I were to guess though- after all, we're on the internet- it's that Taylor was trying to negotiate with Platinum to get more than what was agreed because what was agreed was crap. Platinum didn't want to set a precedent where employees could do that, and "offered" her 4k as a legal way to force her to submit or GTFO. They gambled- likely correctly- that the voice acting is the least important part of the game and can get by without her.
Sterling is talking about how iconic that voice performance is and while he's right, I'm gonna project my own feelings and say that on the list of reasons I'm gonna play this game- combat, art, visuals, comedy-porn vibes, setting, challenge- "voice acting" is gonna be very low or absent.
So, yeah, they low-balled her and got a named actor as particular f*** you. It's not about the cost, it's about maintaining control and teaching a lesson to employees. The part that I am guessing Taylor leaves out is the negotiations that led up to this 4k offer (though I admit I didn't watch all her videos just what is being reported).
I feel, like many, that there is more going on than we know. I'm sure corporate f***ery is part of it we just don't know all of it.
If I were to guess though- after all, we're on the internet- it's that Taylor was trying to negotiate with Platinum to get more than what was agreed because what was agreed was crap. Platinum didn't want to set a precedent where employees could do that, and "offered" her 4k as a legal way to force her to submit or GTFO. They gambled- likely correctly- that the voice acting is the least important part of the game and can get by without her.
Sterling is talking about how iconic that voice performance is and while he's right, I'm gonna project my own feelings and say that on the list of reasons I'm gonna play this game- combat, art, visuals, comedy-porn vibes, setting, challenge- "voice acting" is gonna be very low or absent.
So, yeah, they low-balled her and got a named actor as particular f*** you. It's not about the cost, it's about maintaining control and teaching a lesson to employees. The part that I am guessing Taylor leaves out is the negotiations that led up to this 4k offer (though I admit I didn't watch all her videos just what is being reported).
Yet Taylor and everybody else put their heart and soul into their work even when they knew they were doing something cheesy. Bayonetta 2 has some serious moments at work and honestly it wouldn't be the same without her. I know Hale sounds fine and is almost exactly alike, but some parts of it aren't going to be the same knowing this now. While gameplay and style art are more important, I still rather have the original voice actor. I'm not boycotting the game, as I've already paid off the pre-order, and I been looking forward just to use. I'll still enjoy the game, but I will be more than happy to call out Nintendo and the voice acting union that didn't bother to help her nor many others in similar predicaments.
Sterling mentioned this in the video. It usually boils down to the union not negotiating and fighting better contract deals nor defending its employees well. There are too many talented people that get crapped off and not being legit or official actors and just "voice actors". It's an industry problem at large.
There does indeed seem to be more going on than what Taylor is claiming.
www.videogameschronicle.com
Sources dispute Bayonetta voice actor’s claims over pay offer | VGC
The former star behind the Platinum action series ignited a debate over fair pay this weekend…
www.videogameschronicle.com
Curious
"Hey, I know we offered you something that you turned down, and we have since replaced you, but do you want to come back anyway?"
Sounds like Platinum is chatting shit here.
This sounds a lot like a normal "he said, she said" scenario, except for one thing that really strikes be as being bizarre on Platinum's part. If negotiations fell through to rehire the VA back for the full role, why on earth would you approach that person again, for a smaller cameo role?
"Hey, I know we offered you something that you turned down, and we have since replaced you, but do you want to come back anyway?"
Sounds like Platinum is chatting shit here.
Why does that make them seem more guilty though? That's something done all the time where actors that previously played the role return in a different one in a new film. If they saw their initial offer as reasonable and bridges were not burned yet then making another offer for a different role as a "good will" gesture seems entirely possible.
You're right that this kind of thing has happened multiple times in the past, but this normally happens when there is no expectation for the cast to reprise their old roles - like in a reboot, spin-off, prequel, etc.
That is not the case here. There was the expectation from pretty much everyone that the she would reprise her role. She wanted to come back. Platinum wanted the her to come back. They were in negotiations to try to make this happen.
But the negotiations fell apart, she obviously went away *very* unhappy with the outcome, and then Platinum recast her role. They did not part ways on amicable terms.
So to then go back to her, and offer her to play a cameo role in a game where she should have had the leading role, but they replaced her because of a disagreement on how much her work is worth... you say that this was a "good will gesture" - frankly, I would see this as an insult.
I mean, what would they have even had her say?
If the role had to be recast because of scheduling issues, or some other circumstance outside of everyone's control, then fair enough, a cameo role would have been cute, but in this scenario, it is just really weird.
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At this point, I am just going to play the game and enjoy on its own merits. I am so sick of these shits of half-truths and partial information. If the industry can't learn to be straight with people, then they can fuck off as usual.
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Maybe the cameo offer was the $4000 paycheck Taylor was ultimately referring to (it's more money for one session than getting paid $15000 for five sessions).
Either way, if Platinum's defense is that they offered her a measly 15k before hiring one of the most expensive, prolific VAs in the planet, that's pretty shitty of them.
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It's sounding like she might have had pretty unreasonable demands. Like wanting a 6 figure payment and residuals for what amounted to 5 4 hour work days.
Bayonetta 3 Voice Acting Controversy: Law, Legality, & NDAs Explained
We explain the law, legality, and NDAs that surround the Bayonetta 3 voice acting controversy, Hellena Taylor, Jennifer Hale, & Platinum.
www.escapistmagazine.com
I guarantee a lot of bigger names than Hellena Taylor have made much more money for fewer work hours.It's sounding like she might have had pretty unreasonable demands. Like wanting a 6 figure payment and residuals for what amounted to 5 4 hour work days.
Bayonetta 3 Voice Acting Controversy: Law, Legality, & NDAs Explained
We explain the law, legality, and NDAs that surround the Bayonetta 3 voice acting controversy, Hellena Taylor, Jennifer Hale, & Platinum.
And what's the bigger sleight here, wanting a decent paycheck for voicing a character you've been exclusively playing for 13 years or being offered a measly $4000 to do it, just so you'll scram and somebody else will get the decent paycheck?