No one is claiming that. And for that even to be relevant, you would need to be claiming that no trans actor has ever been employed. That there are no working trans actors anywhere.So, in the history of film/TV/video games, there has never been a trans actor who has been the most qualified for the job?
How many trans roles are there? How large is our sample size?But we aren't talking about population numbers in general. We're talking about a group of actors auditioning for a trans role. Are the trans actors auditioning for a trans role ALWAYS vastly outnumbered by cis people? I'd guess no. Of course, that's if trans people are even ALLOWED to audition. All too often the casting sheet for a trans role will specify that they only want (for example) cis men to audition for a trans female role. What then? How do you know the cis actor who is cast was the 'best' for the role, when trans actors weren't even allowed to audition?
No one is claiming that. And for that even to be relevant, you would need to be claiming that no trans actor has ever been employed. That there are no working trans actors anywhere.
I didn't notice you claiming that.
I admit, I was being hyperbolic, but there are a total of 51 people (not counting porn actors/actresses) in the transgender actors category on Wiki, and not all of them are even trans (such as Francis Leon). There is still a clear imbalance here.
Is there? Run the numbers and check. Don't forget to account for differences in timing (don't compare acrosss eras), that actors in some regions would be reluctant to reveal such a thing, and any other confounding factors that occur to you.I admit, I was being hyperbolic, but there are a total of 51 people (not counting porn actors/actresses) in the transgender actors category on Wiki, and not all of them are even trans (such as Francis Leon). There is still a clear imbalance here.
I'd like to point out that to audition for a voice role you send in a resume and a demo. Then, a script is sent to you, you record the audition tape and send it back to the studio. THEN you are hired. There's no face to face in any of that, so unless your resume states that you are trans, the people hiring have no clue whether or not that is the case. So hiring trans people preferentially for trans roles would be difficult as whether or not they know you as trans depends entirely on whether you tell them in advance.
There are a couple really good reasons for excluding information about sexuality/race/etc off an acting resume, namely because it often limits your role potential, an actor's job is not to match the director's image of a character (or in this case a voice), but to plant an image of that actor as that character in their heads. Yes people need to 'fit' a role to a certain degree, but more often than not it is presenting a firm, honest, and well-choice making character rather than trying to read a director's brain. The only exception to this is if you fly in the face of the dialogue (which is not being honest anyway) or fly in the face of the mindset of the character (which an actor is sometimes provided with). In voice work, this is most likely even more prominent as the casting director might not even see your headshot.
And from an actor's standpoint, I think that it always should come down to skills. There's a good reason why so many television shows, plays and the like are up to changing the gender, background and name of a character now a days, it comes to all actors making efforts to make an impression of a character. Any actor can do it, and every actor should in order to get a job. I think preferential casting of any sort is a mistake, as all it does is build resentment, and limit opportunities. One act of preferential casting can and often will lead to others and doing so means that voice acting becomes less about acting and more about who you are outside of it. And that would lead to a lot of great acts being lost in the process.
If we want more trans actors we should start by encouraging the arts in a profound way right out of high school. We need to change our mentality about how a profession in the arts is not an actual profession. The large demographic of white actors has to do with support, something as a brown, queer person, I have never had. Treat the arts seriously, provide more support for struggling actors, and the demographics will get better, otherwise all you're doing is supporting the idea that acting is about physical qualities, which it should never be.
TL;DR Acting requires so much more skills than physical appearance. Real work goes into training both voice and body into an acting machine, and all parts should be open to all actors provided they show the aptitude and dedication to provide a meaningful performance whatever their chosen medium.
Signed,
Struggling Theatre Actor.
Is there? Run the numbers and check. Don't forget to account for differences in timing (don't compare acrosss eras), that actors in some regions would be reluctant to reveal such a thing, and any other confounding factors that occur to you.
I don't have the time or resources to do this. There is no real data - I'm making do with what is available to me.
It's a complicated issue, and one that is not well served by simplistic assumptions about distribution. Do trans people even enter the profession at the same rate as cis people?
Seeing as trans people have higher mortality and poverty rates than cis people, I'd say no, because they simply aren't given that option in the first place.
I'd like to point out that to audition for a voice role you send in a resume and a demo. Then, a script is sent to you, you record the audition tape and send it back to the studio. THEN you are hired. There's no face to face in any of that, so unless your resume states that you are trans, the people hiring have no clue whether or not that is the case. So hiring trans people preferentially for trans roles would be difficult as whether or not they know you as trans depends entirely on whether you tell them in advance.
So they don't mention what gender the character they're casting for is? Because if they did, I'd expect that more cis people of the same gender as that particular trans character would audition than cis people of the gender that character was assigned at birth.
EDIT: I would like to say that I do agree that giving marginalized people access to the same resources and support as privileged people is paramount, but it's a multifaceted issue, imo.
So they don't mention what gender the character they're casting for is? Because if they did, I'd expect that more cis people of the same gender as that particular trans character would audition than cis people of the gender that character was assigned at birth.
EDIT: I would like to say that I do agree that giving marginalized people access to the same resources and support as privileged people is paramount, but it's a multifaceted issue, imo.
My friends who voice often find that you do not send in a demo for a particular character. You sen in a demo with multiple tracks (bout 30 seconds each) to developer's casting director, and the casting director send YOU the character/script. So it depends entirely on what you sound like. That has nothing to do with cis/trans or even what sex is written (if it is) on your resume. A few friends of mine leave that off. Voice demos are non-specific in that way, more of a 'general submission', it's highly possible that a director might look for specific voices, but in that possibility, s/he'd contact the agent of the actor directly, meaning that, again, it's up to the casting director.
As for who a casting director would pick, for, say, a trans woman, either a higher 'male' voice or a lower 'female' voice, or any one of those at all, I suppose that's up to the director him/herself, and possibly the writer. Maevaris is a woman for example, but they may not even look for a specific female/male voice and may be more interested in raspiness, voice texture (smooth/gravelly), etc. (Totally a side note but despite contracting a serious case of male, I always wanted to voice Maevaris since I first read her. I can imagine her voice in my head and stuff, absolutely love that character).
EDIT: My friends could, of course, be speaking out of their asses, but in theatre (my domain), I can tell you that if you make enough of an impression in an audition, any audition, but don't fit their idea of the role you auditioned for, they'll likely look to other roles to hire you in. Come to think of it, casting is never limited to what specific role you actually auditioned for in my experience.
Modifié par Lieutenant Kurin, 03 août 2014 - 09:25 .
My friends who voice often find that you do not send in a demo for a particular character. You sen in a demo with multiple tracks (bout 30 seconds each) to developer's casting director, and the casting director send YOU the character/script. So it depends entirely on what you sound like. That has nothing to do with cis/trans or even what sex is written (if it is) on your resume. A few friends of mine leave that off. Voice demos are non-specific in that way, more of a 'general submission', it's highly possible that a director might look for specific voices, but in that possibility, s/he'd contact the agent of the actor directly, meaning that, again, it's up to the casting director.
It would be interesting if there's something like the old Belt of Femininity/Masculinity from Baldur's Gate, but treated with seriousness rather than as a joke.
Even though I love how bitter and rageful Leliana seems to have become from the sweet but deadly bard she was, I will bitchslap her across Thedas if she does something I don't approve of or condone.
On another note, is it just me who is fascinated by the way she says the word 'first' in that line: 'I will die first'? It's aural delight! Like a serpent was speaking.
Yeaaah, it's probably not best for younger folks. Luckily even without watching the show, Laverne Cox is getting so much media attention these days that I imagine trans kids are still being made aware of her.
It does bring up a good point tho-- that making media with trans (and LGB) content specifically for young people is super important. Because there are young kids that ID as all those things and if the only media with LGBT themes available is adult-rated, then they're missing out on seeing that representation.
If there was a show directed at younger people with LGBT elements it would likely get taken off the air or the LGBT bits would be edited out thanks to the amount of probable complaints that it was "teaching kids to be gay" 
Only in 'MuricaIf there was a show directed at younger people with LGBT elements it would likely get taken off the air or the LGBT bits would be edited out thanks to the amount of probable complaints that it was "teaching kids to be gay"
Only in 'Murica
Only in 'Murica
Wonder if Alix will be doing other VO in the game besides one of the leads? She appears to have a wide range.
Probably not. She's going to have to spend a lots of time in that recording-booth just to voice that Inquisitor.
Probably not. She's going to have to spend a lots of time in that recording-booth just to voice that Inquisitor.
The male voice actor did the Black Emporium guy in DA2, and Meer does the Vorcha and stuff in ME. So it's not impossible.
I think doing a fun role can be a break from saying "I should go" 50 times
If there was a show directed at younger people with LGBT elements it would likely get taken off the air or the LGBT bits would be edited out thanks to the amount of probable complaints that it was "teaching kids to be gay"
Sadly true. On the plus side, I feel like things are getting better in print media-- we're seeing more and more LGBT kids in YA literature, and comics are making a lot of great strides with LGBT representation for youth. TV, film, and games are behind the times, it's true, but hopefully they'll catch up sooner rather than later.
Even though I love how bitter and rageful Leliana seems to have become from the sweet but deadly bard she was, I will bitchslap her across Thedas if she does something I don't approve of or condone.
On another note, is it just me who is fascinated by the way she says the word 'first' in that line: 'I will die first'? It's aural delight! Like a serpent was speaking.
I love the way Leliana says that line! It's so raw yet smooth at the same time, can't wait to just listen to her talk. Her voice/accent has crystalized into perfection since the last games.
Yes you can. You can ask a great many questions of a great many people. But the actual asking just isn't presented on screen.
Do you need everu detail of your character's personality to appear on screen? Is he only happy when you can see him smiling?
He obviously isn't mute, because the other characters respond to the dialogue you select for him.
Because everyone apart from the protagonist in Skyrim & DA:O are voiced, I don't feel like they are talking, I feel like they are telepathically transmitting their thoughts.
If everyone was silent then I was agree with you but were only the protagonist is silent it doesn't feel to me like they are talking.
This one doesn't bother me, because I don’t typically care who gives the speech. Speeches are given for the benefit of the audience, not the speaker, and I'm indifferent to the audience.
To me these speeches are given to get me and my NPC army all riled up to kill darkspawn, reapers etc. In DA:O I spent Anora's/Alister's entire speech wishing it were over, in ME Shepard's helped me feel like these were my men I was leading into battle and it really got me fired up.
The great thing about the silent protagonist and full-text dialogue options is that the writers don't need to foresee your character design. With no voice, I can choose to have the line delivered differently, thus expressing the uncertainty I desire. And with full-text, I'm never going to have my character say something I didn't explicitly choose for her to say.
So you can imagine their uncertainty but its not depicted in the game in anyway, no facial experience to help show that uncertainty, no reaction from the other voiced characters.
You've imaged yourself as an uncertain leader but all the companions are reacting to you like you know what you are doing.
I find that disconnect distracting.
Sadly true. On the plus side, I feel like things are getting better in print media-- we're seeing more and more LGBT kids in YA literature, and comics are making a lot of great strides with LGBT representation for youth. TV, film, and games are behind the times, it's true, but hopefully they'll catch up sooner rather than later.
Now that you mention it, there's been an increase in LGBT characters in comics over the past decade. There was even a transgender character in fairly popular comic series back in the late 90's. The current Ultimate Spider-man is either gay or bi... haven't really been keeping up with that, so I'm not sure which... Anyway, the point is that comics, a medium usually associated with and marketed to, young people, have begun to embrace this part of society. The list of prominent comic book characters who are LGBT is actually getting kind of long, and it's happening fast. It's only a matter of time before this extends to other forms of media as well.
Now that you mention it, there's been an increase in LGBT characters in comics over the past decade. There was even a transgender character in fairly popular comic series back in the late 90's. The current Ultimate Spider-man is either gay or bi... haven't really been keeping up with that, so I'm not sure which... Anyway, the point is that comics, a medium usually associated with and marketed to, young people, have begun to embrace this part of society. The list of prominent comic book characters who are LGBT is actually getting kind of long, and it's happening fast. It's only a matter of time before this extends to other forms of media as well.
And if you go outside the mainstream, to indie comics and publishers that aren't Marvel or DC, comics are even MORE full of awesome female and queer characters (and creators!). It's why comics is my favorite medium at the moment. 
I'm crossing my fingers that games (and the others) catch up quick!
The current Ultimate Spider-man is either gay or bi... haven't really been keeping up with that, so I'm not sure which...
To the best of my knowledge (and google-fu) Miles Morales isn't gay or bi, but these days there are quite a few superheroes that are. Just off the top of my head: Hulkling and Wiccan from Young Avengers, Karolina Dean and Xavin from Runaways, Batwoman, Renee Montoya, plus Anole, Karma, Rictor and Shatterstar from the various X-books. I remember when I first got into comics back in the '90s and it was pretty much just Northstar, and Marvel hadn't even officially admitted that Mystique was bi. Apollo and the Midnighter were so controversial when they were first introduced that it took months for some people to accept that yes, they were in fact a gay couple in a popular superhero book.
To the best of my knowledge (and google-fu) Miles Morales isn't gay or bi, but these days there are quite a few superheroes that are. Just off the top of my head: Hulkling and Wiccan from Young Avengers, Karolina Dean and Xavin from Runaways, Batwoman, Renee Montoya, plus Anole, Karma, Rictor and Shatterstar from the various X-books. I remember when I first got into comics back in the '90s and it was pretty much just Northstar, and Marvel hadn't even officially admitted that Mystique was bi. Apollo and the Midnighter were so controversial when they were first introduced that it took months for some people to accept that yes, they were in fact a gay couple in a popular superhero book.
Are you serious? I admit I never really followed the new Ultimate Spider-man, but I never imagined that this was just rumor... my mistake.
In any case, that list is a whole lot longer than it looked in the 90's. I'd toss Lightning Lass, Shrinking Violet, Element Lad, and Sean/Shvaugn Erin from Legion of Super-Heroes on there as well... possibly Dawnstar, but I could be wrong about her. The others I'm positive about. That's pretty much why I think that other parts of the entertainment industry will get there pretty quickly... Bioware is already at the forefront in terms of video games, and eventually we'll start to see such things become a part of television (the big one) as well.
edit: Obsidian also did a great job with multiple gay, lesbian, and bi characters in Fallout New Vegas... all of whom were handled in a mature way. (also, I seem to have veered off-topic, so I'm changing part of this post...)
Hulkling and Wiccan from Young Avengers
Not even just Hulkling and Wiccan! David Alleyne is bi (and black), America Chavez is a Latina lesbian, Loki is... some kind of queer, Noh-Varr is similarly undefined ("I was aboard an exploratory vessel, after all. Exploratory does have multiple meanings.")...
Hell, the second series ends with the following dialogue:
Kate: Wait -- hold up! Am I the only person on the team who's straight?
Chavez: Princess. I've seen the way you look at me. You're not that straight.
I love Young Avengers so much, you have no idea. ヽ(；▽；)ノ
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