I turned down a job offer today to voice a cartoon series. That really hurt. I had already done the first couple of episodes as a promotional tool for the client and, now that there was serious interest from investors, they were ready to go ahead with the series. I was really looking forward to doing this job, too. Too bad the studio is refusing to pay the actors fairly. When the client found out that the studio couldn’t get me to agree to do the job they contacted me directly. This is what I wrote to them:

Yes, I spoke with the studio this morning. They had previously sent an email stating the job details and the proposed pay which all looked absolutely correct and in line with the Catalan dubbing actors’ convenio. I was very happy to see that the project was going ahead! But in our telephone conversation, the studio mentioned how they were not willing to pay any of the actors via nomina nor would they give them the alta/baja in seguridad social, and they would instead require all of the actors to send facturas in order to be paid. I pointed out how this was in direct conflict with the stipulations laid out in the convenio and they agreed and were well aware of what the proper procedure was but insisted that this was how they as a studio worked. I was disappointed in their response and told them that I could not possibly undercut my fellow professional actors. As much as I’d love to work on this project, with you, and with the studio, sending facturas for dubbing work is not something that professional dubbing actors should be forced to do simply so that the studios can save a bit of money on their end. I was able to make an exception for the ‘maquetas’ that we did together in the past but this no longer looks like a promotional “one-off” job that could be considered as publicity instead of dubbing. I feel very strongly about this as do all of the other professional dubbing actors whom I respect. I hope that the studio agrees to adhere to the convenio so that we may be able to work together in the future. I’m sorry that this has happened and I urge you to speak with the studio in an attempt to get them to do the right thing.

I have since spoken with the other two actors who were approached to voice the series and they feel the same way. Now let’s see if the studio decides to do the right thing or if they troll the bottom of the barrel to find a desperate actor willing to sell their principles.