Actors demand action over 'disgusting' explicit video game scenes
Actors demand action over 'disgusting' explicit video game scenes
They say the scenes, which they often don't know about in advance, leave them "shaken" and "upset."
This whole article sounds prudish. There's nothing particularly wrong with there being nc-17 or M rated voice acted scenes in appropriately rated games. If you don't want to act them out, then simply don't. You have a union to back you up. That being said, these sort of scenes definitely need to be negotiated and talked about long before minutes before acting it out. I fully agree with such a sentiment.
69You should read the article. It’s not just voice actors. Mocap performers, wearing fitted Lycra suits, have to act out graphic scenes without prior notice so the scripts can remain confidential until the day of the shoot.
Ms Jefferies told the BBC she was once asked to act out a scene with a male performer involving a sexual assault with no prior warning.
"I turned up and was told what I would be filming would be a graphic rape scene," she said.
115Ah. Yeah. That's a problem. If I went into work one day and my client said "now, pretend to rape and hurt this woman" I think I'd be uncomfortable too. I wonder if they even know the subject matter going in, even if the scripts are confidential. At the very least, a trigger warning.
47Ad hoc rate just quadrupled
9
There's nothing particularly wrong with there being nc-17 or M rated voice acted scenes in appropriately rated games
Nobody's arguing that. This is about the right to informed consent, not censorship.
If you don't want to act them out, then simply don't. You have a union to back you up
That's not always the case in the moment.
That being said, these sort of scenes definitely need to be negotiated and talked about long before minutes before acting it out. I fully agree with such a sentiment
...so you actually agree with what they're trying to do but still felt like misrepresenting it for a few sentences before saying so?
Weird choice, but at least you reached the right conclusion at the end 🤷
29Misrepresenting? Please elaborate how I'm doing such a thing, there are two issues here: the subject of the scenes, and the not being told about the subject.
I have my two cents on each subject, you can agree or disagree with what I say, but saying I was Misrepresenting anything is flat out lying about my comment.
-2
I agree, 100% there is nothing wrong with mature content in games as long as there is consent by all parties involved.
14The article is not about mature content in games. It’s about people in mocap suits being told to act out graphic scenes without prior notice, because the scripts are kept confidential until the day of shooting.
44
This whole article sounds prudish
Do you mean the title? You didn't read the article. They just want to make sure the process is right and that the actors know that they are going to act in sexual scenes in advance.
9Obviously you either didn't read the article or don't care about actors being forced to enact sexual assault scenes. I'd rather think it's the first, because from your response I'd assume that you simply don't care about the actors' well-being and just want your fap material.
Please pay more attention the next time, and at least pretend that you care. This is about informing the actors and getting their consent.
And don't come with that crap about unions; in the game industry unions are practically non existent.
So read the article, twice if necessary; you might learn a thing or two.
-5I don't understand the logic. Why would you choose this path? Disclosing the nature of the scenes during hiring would only attract exactly the people who are already comfortable with performing the content.
The only reason to hide it would be to attach more popular names to your title, but think that through. So you've trapped your talent, and sprung a spicy scene on them last minute, now what?
They'll:
a) flat out refuse
b) maybe sue you
c) give an uncomfortable, lackluster performance
d) happen to be cool with it and also give a good performance
D is both the only really good outcome, and by far the least probable, 10% chance tops.
C isn't great, but at least their name is on the box, and they do the other parts well. I'd say about 40% probability.
A means more complications any way you slice it, either editing scenes or hiring additional talent, probably about 30%, .
B is about 15%, leaving 5% for the lizardmen.
If the content is that crucial to the product, find a performer who is willing and able to do it well.
Edit: To clarify, not only is throwing adult scenes at performers last minute unethical, it's also stupid.
-6So your fine with traumatizing individuals who arent ready for such work???
No, that's uncomfortably stupid. They can be told a generic summary of what they will be doing. "There will be a scene involving SA, in the script. You will have to be okay with this in order to voice on this project. "
Also, please God, what the hell is that formatting. You list a, b, c, d then go on to expand D, C, A, B. My formatting sucks but yours almost sent me in a dyslexic rage.
Worst of all I don't even know if your for this or against it. I may be stupid but it feel like you said both, the first paragraph and last paragraph seem to contradict each other.
-10
Yeah not giving notice is very shitty of the studios. If they can tell PEGI/ESRB that games will have "Sexual Themes" and publishers at pitch stage for what rating they're aiming for, then I don't know why they can't tell the performers.
40Not a great headline, as it makes it sound like the "action" being called for might be prohibiting such scenes, when it is actually just a reasonable desire to be informed in advance of whether a scene will involve things like simulated sexual violence, etc.
34I do agree that motion capture and voice actors should be given a heads-up about the scene they are about to shoot. Nobody should be asked on the spot to 'perform' a disturbing or explicit scene without first at least being able to make mental preparations! It would certainly help to have some more ladies assisting in the capture to make it less awkward for a woman acting/voicing such a scene.
26This reminds me of the torture scene in GTAV. Extremely graphic and intense and left an impression on me (especially at it regards government torture if 'terrorests', but don't let me spoil it, it's so deeply unsettling even for GTA).
In that case I'd presume the actors knew who they were portraying at least (psychopath Trevor) but I'm curious what even that was like. It's well acted out, after all, and those actors deserve as much respect as anyone else in the industry.
10Post-Weinstein movie studios are more conscientious and are looking to have an intimacy coordinator on set. It would make sense that this kind of cautiob should extend to the game industry, incuding porn video production and adult game production.
As per all other labor disputes, every labor victory has to be won in each separate industry since workers are not actually reapected in any of them.
8Honestly, some of the gaming community these days Is filled with the most revolting, incel cesspool I've ever seen. Look at zenless Zone Zero created by Hoyo, who also created Genshin impact. It's filled with characters that look like they are 12 years old, highly sexualized and half naked, with jiggly boob and butt physics, feet pictures, the official community on Reddit that is run by Hoyo itself is bombarded with half naked pictures of these young girls. It's truly disturbing. The way these gamers defend it is even more disturbing. They say things like “It's fictional so it doesn't matter if she looks like a child.” like what??? Bro
7Wtf is this logic? "Some pervy games exist, therefore the gaming community these days is the most revolting, incel cesspool I've ever seen". You know, lots of gamers also don't play Genshin Impact because it looks gross and dumb (myself among them)
You might as well say "CSAM exists, therefore everyone in the world is a filthy degenerate pedo incel"
1Point was, gaming community has never historically been filled with so many pervy people coming out of the woodwork saying grotesque things about characters that look like they are 12 years old like they are now. That stuff usually stayed on 4chan and other niches. Now, you have AAA studios developing games with so many thirst trap elements in them that it's honestly disturbing. Activision Blizzard had to completely remove paintings and pictures of women from the game as a response to sexual abuse allegations within their own company. That's a billion dollar company owned by Microsoft. More people aren't taking a stand on this because they're clearly enjoying the oversaturation of heavily sexualized video games nowadays. That's pretty disturbing and that kind of stuff should never be mainstream because mainstream games are supposed to appeal to an audience of all ages, and makes it easier to get access to that kind of stuff for everyone which creates its own problems
0
I think this is one of those things that's more fun to comment on when you don't really know what you're talking about. We should have separate threads for people who actually read the article.
7Yes, but it takes two to hold a conversation.
1
It's the same as the movie business, pay attention to the sort of entertainment your employer makes. If you get a script for, "The Human Centipede" then READ IT, imagine how your scenes are going to play out, and decide if your dignity and self-respect are worth it.
5The article says they don't get the info in advance. Disclosure: My quote is not related to this argument.
"I turned up and was told what I would be filming would be a graphic rape scene," she said.
"This act could be watched for as long or as little time as the player wanted through a window, and then a player would be able to shoot this character in the head.
Sounds terrible.
9If you get a script
Did you read the article though?
5
That all seems very reasonable to request.
3That shit just doesn’t belong in video games- period. There’s no good purpose to it. It never adds to the game at all… it’s fucking pointless.
-79In your opinion, do not speak for everyone else, plenty do enjoy a good sex scene. I bet you don't say shit about the violence, blood and gore in video games.
The only disgusting part here is the lack of consent and communication to the performers as per the article.
Go clutch your pearls elsewhere
53Hard disagree. But that's okay, we're allowed to like different kinds of games. Yours isn't any more objective than mine though. If you don't like that kind of thing, just don't play those kinds of games. It's not a threat to you if others enjoy them.
34Insane take. Are stories not allowed to explore SA now? That's silencing of women's (and many men's) experience in a way that it could actually be heard and understood.
30Dumb take border lining on censorship
16- borderlining
-16
I don't think you understand that it's not for porn sake, these aren't all hot coffee scenes and such. It sounds like actors had to rape and harm people for dramatic effect, like you'd see on TV (e.g. Game of Thrones comes to mind). While it's not really my cup of tea either, I think it can certainly amp up the tension and suspense. Far from pointless.
The problem in this case is a matter of disclosure; Video Game companies are not used to walking the same thin line with actors as TV and Movie producers (who still haven't fully grasped it either but have gotten better, e.g. having consent coaches on staff and such).
11"Art should not represent themes of sexual assault" Wtf are you on
10