Hellena Taylor claims that it was an insulting offer, not scheduling, that prevented her return and is asking fans to boycott Bayonetta 3. She adds that fans should instead donate the money to a charity they would’ve otherwise spent on the game. The actress shared details over the weekend on her Twitter page regarding why she couldn’t accept the return offer. She said in a series of video messages that the franchise had made over $450 million, not including merchandising, but the offer to her was a flat rate of $4000 which she felt does not begin to compensate for the time in developing her skills and dedication to the role.
“As an actor I trained for a total of seven and a half years – three years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts with voice coach Barbara Berkery, and four and a half years with the legendary Larry Moss in Los Angeles.
Friends, Worldlings, Bayonutters. Hear ye!#PlatinumGames #Nintendo #Bayonetta #Bayonetta3 #Bayonutters #Boycott #NintendoEurope #NintendoAmerica #NintendoJapan pic.twitter.com/h9lwiX2bBt
— Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) October 15, 2022
“And what did they think this was worth? What did they offer to pay me? The final offer to do the whole game – as a buyout, flat rate – was four thousand US dollars,” Taylor alleges.
Part 3#PlatinumGames #Nintendo #Bayonetta #Bayonetta3 #Bayonutters #Boycott #NintendoEurope #NintendoAmerica #NintendoJapan pic.twitter.com/4ii7hBpCxo
— Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) October 15, 2022
Bayonetta 3 Director Yusuke Miyata said in a recent interview that it was “overlapping issues” that prevented Hellena Taylor from returning which then led to them holding auditions for the part and choosing Jennifer Hale. Meanwhile, Hellena said that she was required to re-audition for the part and which then led to an insulting offer. She said she wrote to Platinum Games President Hideki Kamiya asking to be paid what she’s worth and while she was given praise the reply offered her $4000. She’s also said that claims of her being busy were untrue and she had nothing but an open schedule with which to reprise the role. However, in light of her claims, perhaps there’s more to the story and an insulting, or immoral offer might not be the only detail with the recasting.
Fans have been largely supportive but VGC reached out to Platinum Games for comment and President Hideki Kamiya responded while also adding a warning. Hellena Taylor has already admitted that her video messages are breaking a non-disclosure agreement but anxiety from being out of work, suicidal thoughts, and depression, over the “immoral offer” drove her to post the video messages.
Sad and deplorable about the attitude of untruth. That’s what all I can tell now.
— 神谷英樹 Hideki Kamiya (@PG_kamiya) October 15, 2022
By the way, BEWARE OF MY RULES.
Hellena went on to add that she wants to support other actresses in the field but she does feel betrayed after having put so much into developing the character. Fans are largely showing support for Hellena on both Twitter pages. Consequently, some are being blocked on Hideki’s simply for commenting on the use of all-caps, and others for asking if the two could seek a resolution, while even more for bringing up past posts where he’s stated he blocks foreign language posts, including English, as they lure “insects”. Bayonetta 3 is set to be released as an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch on October 28.
Discussion (4 replies)
Join Discussion →Good for her and shame on the producers for trying to skimp on the voice talent. I've no intention of playing this... not that I did before.
I'd have to hear both sides of the story before I could draw any conclusions.
What's to say she didn't demand something ridiculous? I'm not saying she did, I'm just saying I don't know.
The entire airing of dirty laundry is a bit cringey too -- I mean, if it deserves to be publicly shamed, ok (and if we take what she is claiming in the article at face value - maybe? I don't know what the going rate for voice acting is or how much time it involves - if it's a few hours for $4k, that isn't bad... if that's weeks of sitting in a sound booth, that is pretty low), but it just looks like a business deal that did not connect on the surface, and one side is very bitter about it.
The justification seemed to be - the franchise made a lot of money, they can pay more. And maybe they can afford to pay more. However, you should get paid for the work you do and value you add. Just because the franchise or company made a lot of money doesn't necessarily make you entitled to it. I would admit that a reoccurring actress as a voice has some value to it, and I have no idea how much time, training, or effort is involved in being a voice actor - so I don't know if that's a fair offering or not. I suspect it's low, but I don't know if it's low enough to go out and try to throw dirt on the company or not. They obviously found someone they could work with, and this isn't coming out until now, just a couple weeks before it's set to release.
Same. And while she did a fantastic job as the main character in the previous two games (and I was disappointed when I first heard she would not be returning), her word alone is not gonna stop me from buying the game. The price of the game will be what stops me from buying the game. Might have to bust out emulation for this one.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sources-dispute-bayonetta-voice-actors-claims-over-pay-offer/[/URL]
Some parts of the other side:
After reading that, it's plausible to believe there was a $4,000 figure involved. According to the "sources", that figure was per studio session, which averages about 4 hours per, and that there were to be between 4 and 5 sessions scheduled for voicing.
If that's true, that clocks in around $1,000 / hr for work. Not that shabby. Again, if it's to be believed.