Opinion: Has Voice Acting become Ageist?

“I’m an actor! Why do I suddenly have to also be an engineer?” This is a common complaint from most working pros, particularly those in major markets that had traditionally done voice-over auditions in person. But here we are on the other side of Covid, and this issue persists. There’s a ton wrong with it, and I’m going to break it down here (and expand on it via my website).

There are many accomplished actors who are of an age that simply didn’t grow up with tech. For them, getting a script at 6 PM and being told it’s due at 9 AM the next day is a real challenge.

The first thing I want to talk about is ageism in voice acting. It may be an unintentional consequence of the Covid holdover spec “must have a home studio with Source Connect,”which I have personally removed from my casting. That’s part of a larger conversation that I will also introduce.

There are many accomplished actors who are of an age that simply didn’t grow up with tech. For them, getting a script at 6 PM and being told it’s due at 9 AM the next day is a real challenge. While I’ve helped thousands of actors get used to recording from home, not all of them take to it equally. I’ve encountered many older but talented actors who simply can’t grasp the tech. So I ask the question: has voice casting and voice acting become (inadvertently) ageist?

I personally know great actors who are giving up trying to do VO because the demands and technical asks from casting directors are simply too challenging for them, which is a shame. These include lifelong SAG-AFTRA members who feel abandoned by their union, which hasn’t addressed this issue as far as I can tell. Kudos to the casting directors and ad agencies that recognize this concern and work around it. If there is an actor I want to hear from but they’re struggling, I’ll often have them record in any way they can and make sure my clients are aware to only pay attention to the performance, as they will come to the studio for the booking. Voice acting shouldn’t introduce the level of stress and panic it does.

I think agents and managers also need to get on board with this as well, since I’ve personally encountered some that are a part of the problem and not the solution. More soon!