US NATIONAL UNIONS
The majority of professional talent in Los Angeles are members of US national unions. Voiceover artists generally belong to SAG and AFTRA, which deal with TV/Radio Commercials (on and off camera) and Cinema Advertising.
One advantage in dealing through SAG and AFTRA is that they provide a contract to which the membership must adhere to. This is designed to greatly diminish the potential of the talent "re-negotiating compensation after the fact”.
In addition, these union contracts spell out the rates, terms and conditions exactly, therefore eliminating unwanted surprises.
TV COMMERCIALS - OFF CAMERA USE IN FOREIGN TERRITORIES
SAG and AFTRA have provisions for TV Commercial off camera use in South Africa and all other territories which are defined as foreign (outside the US/Canada).
The foreign territories defined by SAG and AFTRA are UK, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World. South Africa falls under Rest of World.
The Flighting Period for SAG and AFTRA foreign use (off camera TV Commercial) is 21 months. This is a 75% increase over the South African ACA contract.
RADIO COMMERCIALS - USE IN FOREIGN TERRITORIES
AFTRA has a provision for foreign Radio Commercial use throughout the entire world (outside the US/Canada).
The Flighting Period for AFTRA foreign use (Radio Commercial) is 18 months. This is a 50% increase over the South African ACA contract.
CINEMA ADVERTISING - USE IN FOREIGN TERRITORIES
SAG and AFTRA have provisions for Cinema Advertising (also referred to as Theatrical use) in South Africa and all other territories which are defined as foreign (outside the US/Canada). Please note that this does not apply to movie trailers which adhere to different rates, terms and conditions.
The foreign territories defined by SAG and AFTRA are UK, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World. South Africa falls under Rest of World.
The Flighting Period for SAG and AFTRA foreign use (Theatrical) is either 30 days or 21 months. The Usage fee varies depending on which option is selected.
VO ARTISTS CLASSIFICATIONS
LA voiceover artists break down into categories of Rank and File talent, Senior/Elite talent and Film/TV Celebrities. Rank and File talent (the vast majority) typically works for SAG and AFTRA scale rates. Senior/Elite talent and Film/TV Celebrities’ rates are usually negotiable. Talent Agents have stated that it's not always about the money. Oftentimes worthy causes, interesting projects, new markets, etc are considered.
LOS ANGELES TALENT POOL OF VOICEOVER ARTISTS
Many of the available LA voiceover artists are connected with the acting profession. Therefore, it’s no surprise that sheer numbers of available voiceover talent is considerably higher than in any other region. VO talent in the greater Los Angeles area numbers in the tens of thousands. However, there are roughly 5,000 truly established VO Artists.
Many of the Actor/VO Artists have the ability to adapt their voices in unique ways such as mimicking, character voices, realistic dialects and much more. In addition, most international languages are available. The selected VO Artists featured in the Individual Resumes link demonstrate the incredible range, scope and diversity of this unique talent pool.
TALENT AGENCIES/AUDITIONS
Most professional LA voiceover talent is represented by a talent agency. Typically, these agencies receive a 10% commission, which is part of the base cost. However, they also offer complimentary services. One such service is to provide an in-house demo room from which their talent roster can record free auditions.
Here’s how this works:
The agency creative team would send a script, brief and other materials relevant to the voiceover artist’s audition via email or FTP.
The voiceover talent records a pilot read, from which the creative team and client can make an assessment.
There is often a booth operator/producer available to assist during the audition.
Typically, time is allotted for just one or two takes with minimal or no direction.
When all recordings are finished, the pilot reads are sent to the agency creative team via email or FTP.
MORE ON AUDITIONS
Most Rank and File talent will comply with the SAG/AFTRA provision for free auditions. Senior/Elite talent and Film/TV Celebrities may elect not to audition since they are considered to be a “known entity”.
Many of the Senior/Elite talent have demo rooms in their homes for convenience and a faster response time when they consent to auditions.
When the auditioning process is finished, the final recordings should be held in a commercial environment for these key reasons:
Expert recording engineers are always present
There is a comprehensive and versatile range of professional gear
The talent can focus solely on the performance, free of technical and operational issues, which ensures a better end product
Multiple backup systems are in place. If a problem should arise, there is a quick and viable alternative to preserve the session
VOICE CASTING/ANOTHER OPTION FOR AUDITIONS
If the creative team is in a high pressure situation and short on time, they might consider a service referred to as Voice Casting. Buzzy's Recording has a division that has offered this for years. The real value of Voice Casting is to save time and allow more targeted talent options.
Voiceover artists from all LA based talent agencies are considered. The Voice Casting process focuses on lining up the most appropriate talent for a particular project, and encompasses all professional talent agencies.
Other key advantages include:
1) A phone patch or ISDN / IP link can be arranged so that the creative team can interactively produce the audition. This is typically not offered by the talent agencies’ in-house demo rooms.
2) Consecutive auditions with talent from multiple talent agencies can be scheduled into a single session. Within the space of 1-2 hours, a wide selection of only the most appropriate talent is interactively auditioned by the creative team. The creative team can spend more time with each voiceover artist than is typically allotted for.
The only costs for this very effective and time saving process is the required studio services at Buzzy’s Recording.
PAYMENT TO TALENT
A registered signatory is required to handle all payments to SAG and AFTRA Union members. Buzzy's Recording has been a SAG/AFTRA signatory for years. The fee for SAG and AFTRA signatory/payroll services is 20% of the base talent cost.
SAG/AFTRA MEMBER BENEFITS
SAG and AFTRA charge a fee 14.8% which is part of the base cost. This payment is for the talent’s Health & Welfare and Retirement funds.
TOTAL COSTS/THE FORMULA - OFF CAMERA TV COMMERCIALS
1) Select the desired territory
The cost (per spot) per territory is as follows:
UK - $1,279
Europe - $852
Japan - $426
Asia/Pacific - $426
Rest of World (includes South Africa) - $426
2) Add the Performance/Session fee (a one-time charge regardless of the amount of usage) - $426
3) Add the Talent Agency’s commission (10%), Union Health & Welfare and Retirement (14.8%) – 24.8% total
You now have the base cost. Add to this subtotal:
Union Signatory services – 20%
You now have the total cost
TOTAL COSTS/THE FORMULA - RADIO COMMERCIALS
1) There are no divisions of foreign territories for Radio Commercial usage.
A one-time charge enables unlimited use of a single radio spot throughout the entire world, excluding US/Canada - $495
2) Add the Performance/Session fee (a one-time charge) - $249
3) Add the Talent Agency’s commission (10%), Union Health & Welfare and Retirement (14.8%) – 24.8% total
You now have the base cost. Add to this subtotal:
Union Signatory services – 20%
You now have the total cost
TOTAL COSTS/THE FORMULA – THEATRICAL USE (CINEMA ADS) 30 DAY OPTION
1) There are no divisions of foreign territories for Theatrical (Cinema Ad) usage. A one-time charge enables unlimited use of a single cinema ad throughout the entire world, excluding US/Canada for 30 days - $426
2) Add the Performance/Session fee (a one-time charge regardless of the amount of usage) - $426
3) Add the Talent Agency’s commission (10%), Union Health & Welfare and Retirement (14.8%) – 24.8% total
You now have the base cost. Add to this subtotal:
Union Signatory services – 20%
You now have the total cost
TOTAL COSTS/THE FORMULA – THEATRICAL USE (CINEMA ADS) 21 MONTH OPTION
1) There are no divisions of foreign territories for Theatrical (Cinema Ad) usage. A one-time charge enables unlimited use of a single cinema ad throughout the entire world, excluding US/Canada for 21 months - $682
2) Add the Performance/Session fee (a one-time charge regardless of the amount of usage) - $426
3) Add the Talent Agency’s commission (10%), Union Health & Welfare and Retirement (14.8%) – 24.8% total
You now have the base cost. Add to this subtotal:
Union Signatory services – 20%
You now have the total cost
NEW USE
If a TV/Radio Commercial or Theatrical Use becomes modified (cutdown) it is considered to be new use. When this occurs, the Usage costs are doubled. New use does not increase the Performance/Session fee.
MULTIPLE USE
If the session includes recording of separate TV and Radio commercials, both the radio and television Performance/Session fees must be paid to the talent ($426/TV, plus $249/Radio). They are considered separate contracts.
