‘Disrespectful to the Craft:’ Actors Say They’re Being Asked to Sign Away Their Voice to AI

This sounds like a great start for a plot for a couple episodes of Law and Order and other mystery shoes

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d37za/voice-actors-sign-away-rights-to-artificial-intelligence

In article <5bc33011-cf1b-46a9-9677-969fbc32df13n@googlegroups.com>,
m syadoz <syadoz1@gmail.com> wrote:

> 'Disrespectful to the Craft:' Actors Say They're Being Asked to Sign Away
> Their Voice to AI
>
> This sounds like a great start for a plot for a couple episodes of Law and
> Order and other mystery shoes
>
> https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d37za/voice-actors-sign-away-rights-to-artifi
> cial-intelligence

James Earl Jones signed away the rights to his "voice likeness" to
Disney (for a presumed truckload of cash) so they can continue to voice
Darth Vader long after he passes away.

On Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 8:20:40 PM UTC-6, BTR1701 wrote:
> In article <5bc33011-cf1b-46a9...@googlegroups.com>,
> m syadoz <sya...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > 'Disrespectful to the Craft:' Actors Say They're Being Asked to Sign Away
> > Their Voice to AI
> >
> > This sounds like a great start for a plot for a couple episodes of Law and
> > Order and other mystery shoes
> >
> > https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d37za/voice-actors-sign-away-rights-to-artifi
> > cial-intelligence
> James Earl Jones signed away the rights to his "voice likeness" to
> Disney (for a presumed truckload of cash) so they can continue to voice
> Darth Vader long after he passes away.

Good point

I had forgotten about that

Data shows he is 92, so at this point it was probably a great economic financial move for him

It may affect his heirs so why should he care

Younger actors tho may find that in their dotage that they have signed away an income stream they wish they hadn’t

In article <atropos-597379.18212814022023@news.giganews.com>,
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:

> In article <5bc33011-cf1b-46a9-9677-969fbc32df13n@googlegroups.com>,
> m syadoz <syadoz1@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > 'Disrespectful to the Craft:' Actors Say They're Being Asked to Sign Away
> > Their Voice to AI
> >
> > This sounds like a great start for a plot for a couple episodes of Law and
> > Order and other mystery shoes
> >
> > https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d37za/voice-actors-sign-away-rights-
> > to-artificial-intelligence
>
> James Earl Jones signed away the rights to his "voice likeness" to
> Disney (for a presumed truckload of cash) so they can continue to voice
> Darth Vader long after he passes away.

I think if you look long and hard enough you can always find someone
with a voice similar to famous actors. Look how many times Morgan
Freeman's voice has been "ripped off," usually to his dismay. IIRC he
even tried to sue someone over it one time.

BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
> In article <5bc33011-cf1b-46a9-9677-969fbc32df13n@googlegroups.com>,
> m syadoz <syadoz1@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 'Disrespectful to the Craft:' Actors Say They're Being Asked to Sign Away
>> Their Voice to AI
>>
>> This sounds like a great start for a plot for a couple episodes of Law and
>> Order and other mystery shoes
>>
>> https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d37za/voice-actors-sign-away-rights-to-artifi
>> cial-intelligence
>
> James Earl Jones signed away the rights to his "voice likeness" to
> Disney (for a presumed truckload of cash) so they can continue to voice
> Darth Vader long after he passes away.
>

They should just get Ving Rhames. Everybody thinks it’s James Earl Jones
doing the Arby’s commercials anyway.

--
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

In article
<1969307921.698130327.197738.anim8rfsk-cox.net@news.easynews.com>,
anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:

> BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
> > In article <5bc33011-cf1b-46a9-9677-969fbc32df13n@googlegroups.com>,
> > m syadoz <syadoz1@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> 'Disrespectful to the Craft:' Actors Say They're Being Asked to Sign Away
> >> Their Voice to AI
> >>
> >> This sounds like a great start for a plot for a couple episodes of Law
> >> and Order and other mystery shoes
> >>
> >> https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d37za/voice-actors-sign-away-rights-
> >> to-artificial-intelligence
> >
> > James Earl Jones signed away the rights to his "voice likeness" to
> > Disney (for a presumed truckload of cash) so they can continue to voice
> > Darth Vader long after he passes away.
> >
>
> They should just get Ving Rhames. Everybody thinks it’s James Earl Jones
> doing the Arby’s commercials anyway.

That guy who voices the Home Depot commercials sounds uncannily like
Josh Lucas but I don't know what big marketing advantage that would
provide.

Also is that former Saturday Night Live member Cecily Strong in the
Verizon commercials? That's been bugging the hell out of me.

In article
<super70s-E46A1E.06505515022023@reader01.eternal-september.org>,
super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:

> Also is that former Saturday Night Live member Cecily Strong in the
> Verizon commercials? That's been bugging the hell out of me.

That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus in
the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein. Cecily is
a little unrecognizable because she's had some amazing plastic work.)

Re the spot, I always enjoy looking for the office window of the
asshole who threw me out of FU. (It's second from the left at the main
entrance to that castle-like building.) Years later, the asshole got a
load on and fell down a flight of stairs in his residence, which was
enough to kill him. (Yes, he had a multi-story residence. Those
Jesuits treat each other really well.)

I finally did get my B.A., but not there.

A Friend wrote:
>super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:

>>Also is that former Saturday Night Live member Cecily Strong in the
>>Verizon commercials? That's been bugging the hell out of me.

>That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus in
>the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein. Cecily is
>a little unrecognizable because she's had some amazing plastic work.)

I didn't realize that was Paul Giamatti. I thought it was just some
unknown. Why the hell would they hire him given the full beard? It's
a lousy advertising campaign.

>. . .

Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:
> A Friend wrote:
>> super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:
>
>>> Also is that former Saturday Night Live member Cecily Strong in the
>>> Verizon commercials? That's been bugging the hell out of me.
>
>> That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus in
>> the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein. Cecily is
>> a little unrecognizable because she's had some amazing plastic work.)
>
> I didn't realize that was Paul Giamatti. I thought it was just some
> unknown. Why the hell would they hire him given the full beard? It's
> a lousy advertising campaign.
>
>> . . .
>

At least you can’t tell he’s supposed to be Einstein, so they have to
explain it to you.

--
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

In article <tsirh8$2tlsl$3@dont-email.me>, Adam H. Kerman
<ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

> A Friend wrote:
> >super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:
>
> >>Also is that former Saturday Night Live member Cecily Strong in the
> >>Verizon commercials? That's been bugging the hell out of me.
>
> >That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus in
> >the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein. Cecily is
> >a little unrecognizable because she's had some amazing plastic work.)
>
> I didn't realize that was Paul Giamatti. I thought it was just some
> unknown. Why the hell would they hire him given the full beard? It's
> a lousy advertising campaign.

The beard's there because, although Giamatti is of course supposed to
be Einstein, someone owns Einstein's image rights.

There's an ongoing effort at FU to sell the campus as a location for
commercials and films. The problem is that the campus a little out of
the way.

This thread about commuting to FU is making me realize (again) how glad
I am that I don't have to do that anymore.

A Friend wrote:
>Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:
>>A Friend wrote:
>>>super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:

>>>>Also is that former Saturday Night Live member Cecily Strong in the
>>>>Verizon commercials? That's been bugging the hell out of me.

>>>That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus in
>>>the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein. Cecily is
>>>a little unrecognizable because she's had some amazing plastic work.)

>>I didn't realize that was Paul Giamatti. I thought it was just some
>>unknown. Why the hell would they hire him given the full beard? It's
>>a lousy advertising campaign.

>The beard's there because, although Giamatti is of course supposed to
>be Einstein, someone owns Einstein's image rights.

I wasn't even thinking about image rights. I was thinking about
Giamatti's image. If the viewer doesn't recognize him, he's a lousy
spokesman for the commercial, given the fee he's getting. That's why I
thought it was an unknown actor.

>. . .

In article <tsj3tc$2uilk$1@dont-email.me>,
"Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

> A Friend wrote:
> >Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:
> >>A Friend wrote:
> >>>super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:
>
> >>>>Also is that former Saturday Night Live member Cecily Strong in the
> >>>>Verizon commercials? That's been bugging the hell out of me.
>
> >>>That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus in
> >>>the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein. Cecily is
> >>>a little unrecognizable because she's had some amazing plastic work.)
>
> >>I didn't realize that was Paul Giamatti. I thought it was just some
> >>unknown. Why the hell would they hire him given the full beard? It's
> >>a lousy advertising campaign.
>
> >The beard's there because, although Giamatti is of course supposed to
> >be Einstein, someone owns Einstein's image rights.
>
> I wasn't even thinking about image rights. I was thinking about
> Giamatti's image. If the viewer doesn't recognize him, he's a lousy
> spokesman for the commercial, given the fee he's getting. That's why I
> thought it was an unknown actor.

I didn't know that was him either until I heard it much later, I think
it was in some SNL joke (interesting they didn't go after Cecily but
him).

It's amusing when they shell out millions to some celebrity to be a
spokesman and a lot of people have no idea who the hell they are.

I think Kate McKinnon was in a commercial for either Verizon or T-Mobile
for a while and it took me a while to recognize her too. Guess when you
get an endorsement deal worth millions you're on easy street and don't
have to worry about the weekly grind of SNL.

In article
<super70s-C78B95.15513015022023@reader01.eternal-september.org>,
super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:

> It's amusing when they shell out millions to some celebrity to be a
> spokesman and a lot of people have no idea who the hell they are.

This happens to me all the time when it's a football player. I don't
know who any of them are, unless they get notorious for reasons
unrelated to football.

On Wed, 15 Feb 2023 15:51:30 -0600, super70s
<super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:

>In article <tsj3tc$2uilk$1@dont-email.me>,
> "Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:
>
>> A Friend wrote:
>> >Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:
>> >>A Friend wrote:
>> >>>super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:
>>
>> >>>>Also is that former Saturday Night Live member Cecily Strong in the
>> >>>>Verizon commercials? That's been bugging the hell out of me.
>>
>> >>>That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus in
>> >>>the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein. Cecily is
>> >>>a little unrecognizable because she's had some amazing plastic work.)
>>
>> >>I didn't realize that was Paul Giamatti. I thought it was just some
>> >>unknown. Why the hell would they hire him given the full beard? It's
>> >>a lousy advertising campaign.
>>
>> >The beard's there because, although Giamatti is of course supposed to
>> >be Einstein, someone owns Einstein's image rights.
>>
>> I wasn't even thinking about image rights. I was thinking about
>> Giamatti's image. If the viewer doesn't recognize him, he's a lousy
>> spokesman for the commercial, given the fee he's getting. That's why I
>> thought it was an unknown actor.
>
>I didn't know that was him either until I heard it much later, I think
>it was in some SNL joke (interesting they didn't go after Cecily but
>him).
>
>It's amusing when they shell out millions to some celebrity to be a
>spokesman and a lot of people have no idea who the hell they are.

I never realized it was Paul Giamatti in those commercials. Looking at
the Christmas commercial it's still hard to tell who is playing
Scrooge. With his portrayal of Einstein it's easier to tell it is him
but I never noticed. Though I can't say I pay close attention to these
commercials. I guess the one good thing with hiring someone like him
is you know they will do a good job, but there have to any number of
other actors that could have done equally well for less money. Which
would have been a reasonable choice since he's not playing himself
unlike with Cecily.

>I think Kate McKinnon was in a commercial for either Verizon or T-Mobile
>for a while and it took me a while to recognize her too. Guess when you
>get an endorsement deal worth millions you're on easy street and don't
>have to worry about the weekly grind of SNL.

She hasn't had to worry about that for quite some time as she's been
in demand for the movies. Being off of SNL just gives her more time to
relax and to be in the movies since most don't have long shooting
periods.

In article <150220231126291236%nope@noway.com>,
A Friend <nope@noway.com> wrote:

> The beard's there because, although Giamatti is of course supposed to
> be Einstein, someone owns Einstein's image rights.

There's a commercial for some over the counter drug that's supposed to
promote memory retention and mental alertness that uses a cartoon
likeness of Einstein, hard to imagine that particular company paid a lot
to use it if anything but they could have.

There's definitely a big business in licensing images of dead
celebrities though, some of them bring in millions per year and not just
the obvious ones like Elvis and Michael Jackson.

> Adam H. Kerman
> > A Friend
> >
> > That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus
> > in the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein.
>
> I didn't realize that was Paul Giamatti. I thought it was just some
> unknown. Why the hell would they hire him given the full beard?
> It's a lousy advertising campaign.

I recognized him and felt a bit embarrassed, as he's a good actor
and I was wondering why he was beclowning himself in this stupid
commercial. Maybe he made some bad investments and needs
the cash?

In article <54ef5289-84cd-495d-a3b4-eb323de36ec3n@googlegroups.com>, Ed
Stasiak <edstasiak1067@gmail.com> wrote:

> > Adam H. Kerman
> > > A Friend
> > >
> > > That's she, in the one they shot on the Fordham University campus
> > > in the Bronx. (It's with Paul Giamatti as, I guess, Einstein.
> >
> > I didn't realize that was Paul Giamatti. I thought it was just some
> > unknown. Why the hell would they hire him given the full beard?
> > It's a lousy advertising campaign.
>
> I recognized him and felt a bit embarrassed, as he's a good actor
> and I was wondering why he was beclowning himself in this stupid
> commercial. Maybe he made some bad investments and needs
> the cash?

It looks like it was a one-day shoot, and he probably got a fee in the
low six figures for it. You can't reasonably say no to that kind of
money.

On 2023-02-15, super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid> wrote:
> I think if you look long and hard enough you can always find someone
> with a voice similar to famous actors.

In the 1960s Gerry Anderson puppet-based show "Captain Scarlet" the lead
character was deliberately voiced by someone who sounded like Cary Grant.

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