Voicing Political or Other VOs that conflict with your values

[speechlady]

I differentiate 'opinions' from 'values and beliefs'. I read the initial question as "values and beliefs" which connect with the fundamental ideas and principles I have about how to live a good life...not merely opinions. Opinions can be changed by persuasive arguments and new evidence or experience. Core values, beliefs and principles transcend time and space, and help us to navigate through our lives. I voted that I'd refuse a spot that conflicts with my core values, because those types of jobs would make me most unhappy with myself. I have no problem with voicing a spot for a client who has different opinions on a subject, or for a product I haven't tried before (after all I'm not giving it a personal public endorsement, I'm voicing a character, and the viewers/listeners know this) but I will not change my own core values or support a message that promotes ideas that conflict severely with my own personal operating system (eg ads for the KKK and such). With regards to telemarketing scripts, I have mixed feelings. Like Lee, I hate getting them and find it hard to believe that they are, nevertheless, effective enough to generate income for the marketers and their clients...so I tend to delete those scripts, but who knows - one day I may come across one that's innocuous enough or that resonates with me, and I might go for it. But in such an instance, it's opinion, not core values/beliefs that are in play.

[Julie Williams]

FOr me, it's not a matter of who knows it's me... whether or not they recognize my voice... (I'm not exactly Porky Pig! I'm just Julie!) I mean, maybe, since I work for two Christian radio networks that would be an issue... but personally... I can't in good conscience voice something that conflicts iwth my values.

Yes, I am a voice actor. And I don't ask every client about all of his beliefs... but I, like Connie T, have found myself in an awkward position... I showed up for an audition in San Antonio a few years back... and found out it was for a porn program. Fortunately, it was an audition. I feared the "you'll never work in this town again" response...like COnnie got... but I just left and called my agent on the way home. I told her to put "adult content" on the list of jobs I won't do. And I prayed the whole time that they'd hate me and not want to hire me...so it was a mute point!

I do a lot of political ads...and for assemblymen (Alaska) etc. I don't ask about values. I don't ask about party. But I do have limits that come up. Fortunately, I have not received any mud slinging ads.

Lee, I smiled at your post... I way overbid for jobs that would have my voice calling out for telemarketing! So I don't usually get them. I just hate receiving them so I don't really want to do them.

[Jodi Krangle]

Originally Posted by DBHavens

I have an interesting internal mechanism that helps me decide if I should voice a project -- if I can read it without a) laughing hysterically or b) throwing up.

Awesome, Diane. :) Yeah ... I have to say, and I'm fairly new at this, that as long as I can actually get *through* the read and not do either of the two above, I'm usually ok with voicing it. But then, as others have pointed out, no one would recognize my voice on the air at this point. Yes, to a certain extent, I like to be able to stand by what I voice. And there are some things I just couldn't stomach voicing.

But here's another example: When I was putting my demos together with SuchAVoice.com (I don't have the final results of that on my site yet, so the demo there right now isn't the one I did with them), a lot of political copy was sent my way to consider doing for the demo. I turned it all down - not because it was offensive in any way - but because, being a Canadian, I just didn't feel that a political campaign in the States would actually *want* me to voice anything for them. I kind of thought it would a little pointless to include it. And discussing VERY obvious political or religious beliefs in copy makes me slightly uncomfortable. (I do say VERY. Because if it's mild or subtle, I wouldn't have a problem with it.)

In a sense, yes - doing this is voice *acting* and no, I don't need to be personally affiliated or believe in something entirely to do it (it's my job to make something sound enticing and/or interesting, even if I've never done it, used it, experienced it, whatever, before)... but I like to be proud of the work I do. So my litmus test? If I was ok with putting up the spot as a demo on my website, I'd be ok to voice it.

I guess that puts me in the "definitely maybe" category.

Oh - there is something I DO draw the line at though. I DON'T do auditions/jobs for telemarketing firms. (I'm SO with you there, Julie!) Those pre-recorded messages telling you that you qualify for great savings with your credit cards? Or telling you that you've won a cruise if you'll just come to this day-long seminar ... Nope. I see a lot of them pop up on Voices.com and I have to say that those are the type of ads that kind of make me a little ill. I hate GETTING those phone calls. The last thing I'd want to do is be associated with them. That's a personal matter for me though. I truly HATE spam/telemarketing. Bleh. If I *wanted* your product, I'd seek it out myself thanks. Due to having about 10 different emails on my songwriting website since 1995, I get an OUTRAGEOUS amount of spam in a day (and I have a Spamcop Webmail account to help me deal with it all). I'm certainly not going to contribute to that mess in a vocal way.

Interesting question, Julie! Thanks for asking this. Other folks' perspectives on this has been really fascinating to read.

[Colin Campbell]

Does anyone know if a voice talent can ever be held responsible for the misdeeds of a client. (Scams... etc.) My gut says no but I'd like a perspective from someone who may be more knowledgable than me in the ways of the law.

[jsgilbert]

Well Colin maybe Rob, the voice-overs.com legal columnist can give you an in depth answer to this, but the long and the short of it as I uderstand it is that in this highly litigious society of ours, pretty much anybody can be sued at anythime for almost anything. Being right or wrong is of little consequence when you're being slammed by legal professionals who know all too well howto play the game and you find that the "cost of mounting a defense" is going to run $25,000 or more. (not to mention the missed work, grief and anxiety)

Ahhhh America, the Land of the Free and the home of the brave. In fact it is often considered good practice to round up everyone even remotely involved and list them all as co's on a lawsuit.

This is one of the reasons that Rob and many others suggest that almost anyone in business can benefit from being a subchapter S corp. Certainly one should make sure that they always have a paper trail and secure various agreements and contracts as needed. And always consult with licensed professionals who commit themselves to this type of work.

[Claired]

I think we can voice things that go against our beliefs as long as we don't feel offended by it and that it doesn't offend our families and clients.
For example, I am not religious but I have voiced several adverts for the Church of England. I don't see the problem with it because they were funny ads and were definitely not offensive.
But I would not voice any adult/x rated content because I work for FisherPrice and Disney regularly and I wouldn't want to offend them.
I would however turn down political ads for parties I dislike and I would turn down anything that looks illegal.
Apart from that, I'd probably voice anything. And I feel I am keeping my integrity.

[Bob Bergen]

Gotta do what's right for you.

Just keep in mind that once it's out there it's out there. No turning back. As for politics, we never REALLY know the candidates. The person you love and have no problem endorsing gets arrested for "whatever." For me it's safer to just not do anything political. I also won't do any ads for medications. Our country is one of the only in the world that advertises perscription drugs on TV. I can't in good conscience promote a product that might turn out to have terrible side effects. And lets face it, that may not come out for years. Better to be safe and not do any of em.

Folks need to see the big picture. There will always be another gig. But we only have one set of ethics.

[Claired]

Originally Posted by Bob Bergen

I also won't do any ads for medications. Our country is one of the only in the world that advertises perscription drugs on TV. I can't in good conscience promote a product that might turn out to have terrible side effects.

I hadn't thought of that, and I totally agree with you.

[jsgilbert]

Prescription drugs??? Let's talk health care in genral. while we're at it, considering the great problems with obesity in this nation, doing any ads for food products and restuarants might kill people. Also automobile emmissions destroying the atmosphere, and cell phones seem to be connected to everything from bi-polar disorder to cancer. Let's not forget that pork which comes from pigs can contain trichinosis and that cartoons in general are protested vehemently by many teacher and parent organizations. Cosmetics causing cancer. Beer - well you know the problems with alcoholism and so many products coming from third world countries where we have no idea how the labor force might have been abused.

I'm thinking that to make our nation safe, and to let him sleep soundly at night, Bob Bergen should probably refrain from doing any more voiceovers.

[JoeActor]

JS: speaking of prescriptions, have you taken yours lately?
(just kidding...)

I for one am not voicing anything that has large rocks, slick surfaces, or pointy objects.

Ok, kidding aside - it's a personal choice, people. Do what's right for you.

Flashing back to the Sixties,
Joe J Thomas
Joe J. Thomas Acting Portfolio