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Post by jesmith on Sept 14, 2012 14:16:32 GMT
Source: www.tssznews.com/2012/09/09/report-drummond-re-auditioned-for-sonic-va-during-generations-development/ Alleges Union Affiliation Cost Him the Role
An interview published by The Gaming Liberty with former Sonic voice artist Ryan Drummond has received a lot of attention from Sonic fans this weekend, and no wonder: Drummond alleges in the interview he nearly returned to the role in time for Sonic Generations.
The sixteen year veteran of video game VAs was questioned about returning to the Sonic role. It turns out Drummond all but won the job when, in his words, a re-casting was underway to replace Jason Griffith and company during development of Sonic Generations. (Officially, the change-over to Roger Craig Smith et al. occurred in 2010, before Sonic Colors was released.) However, Drummond alleged Sega reneged on the deal when he wouldn’t leave his talent union. We’ve emboldened the most striking remarks below:
There was a glimmer of hope a while back when Generations was being cast. Sega asked me to come to LA and “re-audition” for the role of Sonic because they were doing the same thing to Jason and that cast that they did to us years before. So I went and they were very pleased to have me back and they actually said they were going to have me back and it was going to be this great reunion. Then when the actual offer came to my agent, it was a complete joke. They asked me to leave my union (which is how I make a living), do all kinds of work for no compensation, etc. It was a real slap in the face. I really don’t see it ever happening. Sega is a huge corporation with zillions of dollars and they don’t see any need to change the way they do things. There’s a lot more detail I can’t go into because of legal reasons, but let’s just say that I wish I’d been voicing Sonic all this time, I would return in a heartbeat, but if Sega ever decides to hire me again the devil’s making sno-cones.
That perspective can be corroborated by a member of the community. Scener XD375, who foretold of the casting change two years ago, cites in a post on the SSMB a Sega insider who claimed the American staff were happy to bring Drummond back, only to get caught up in corporate bemoaning about Drummond’s union status, with the mothership in Japan getting involved. Again, the most important information has been emboldened:
Everything Ryan says is true, and SEGA’s douchery and heartlessness extend way beyond even what he said in the interview. Ryan rocked the auditions – he won the role over even Roger.
[....]
SEGA told Ryan they were glad to have him back and that he got the job. Then he was kicked off the role again later on because he wouldn’t quit his union. Ryan’s first new games would have been Sonic Colors and Sonic Free Riders, but even All-Stars Racing was still in development when all of this went down.
[....]
SEGA is paying Roger practically nothing (“coffee and donuts money”) to voice Sonic.
SEGA had meetings about Ryan’s union status. They spent enough money to cover at least sixteen games of Ryan Drummond acting just on airfare, hotels, and food for the executives from Japan to take part in these meetings.
Given Sega’s current financial state, it’s not surprising the company would want to save a buck wherever possible. But the return of Drummond, considered by plenty in the community to be the best and most beloved of all the Sonic VAs to date, could have been a better business decision, and encouraged fans who picked up on Sonic during the Adventure era but were scared away during the Shadow and Sonic 2006 era to give the series a second look. Speaking of sound business decisions, there will now always be the question of whether Sega would have better spent its money actually bringing Drummond’s back versus debating his return, in light of these new details being released.
Personally while it would have been nice to get Drummond back it was better for him financially to turn down the role than quit his union. |
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Post by madhair60 on Sept 14, 2012 15:41:38 GMT
Man, I'm glad he didn't. He was awful.
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Post by Beeth on Sept 14, 2012 16:43:26 GMT
Drummond, considered by plenty in the community to be the best and most beloved of all the Sonic VAs to date Not Urkel, then. Interesting. Still, subjective opinions on Drummond's performance aside, on the one hand I think it shouldn't be rocket science to pay a guy a bit of money to perform a few lines. On the other, I'm suspicious that I'm more or less in the dark about this "union" they refer to, would help if the article shed some light on what that is and why it might prevent Sega from offering Drummond the role because it reads like the writers of the article are withholding some details to make it look as much like a dick move on the part of Sega as possible. End of the day, I'm indifferent in regards to who they cast, whether it be Ryan Drummond, Roger Smith or Vic Banana or what have you. Long as it isn't an outstandingly horrible performance, which it never has been (for the title character at least), I'm not fussed. |
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Post by L. T. Dangerous on Sept 14, 2012 17:37:26 GMT
SEGA is paying Roger practically nothing (“coffee and donuts money”) to voice Sonic. And maybe he's okay with that? Maybe he gets a lot more money for voicing Chris Redfield who, let's face it, is one of the three most popular Resident Evil characters so can afford to take a lower-paid role? Maybe he's just happy getting his name out there in a way no other role in the industry can? Drummond was pretty poo, though. Both his successors have been enormous improvements and the current voice cast is just super. |
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Post by Juliett. Bravo. Alfa. on Sept 14, 2012 18:13:45 GMT
I didn't mind Drummond. Prefered him over Sonic X man but Ezio is doing such a nice job atm.
What makes me laugh is that he is saying Sega are rich. Ask Platinum Games how rich they are Mr Drummond.
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Post by Matt on Sept 14, 2012 20:40:54 GMT
Drummond, considered by plenty in the community to be the best and most beloved of all the Sonic VAs to date Not Urkel, then. Interesting. Still, subjective opinions on Drummond's performance aside, on the one hand I think it shouldn't be rocket science to pay a guy a bit of money to perform a few lines. On the other, I'm suspicious that I'm more or less in the dark about this "union" they refer to, would help if the article shed some light on what that is and why it might prevent Sega from offering Drummond the role because it reads like the writers of the article are withholding some details to make it look as much like a dick move on the part of Sega as possible. This is TSSZ news were talking about the most bias sonic site out there, just agh, its the daily star of the Sonic fan community. |
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Post by Arch on Sept 14, 2012 21:41:22 GMT
I really liked Jason Griffith. I even liked Drummond until Heroes and parts of SA2. Smith? He's a grower.
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Post by The Shad on Sept 14, 2012 21:45:27 GMT
On the other, I'm suspicious that I'm more or less in the dark about this "union" they refer to, would help if the article shed some light on what that is and why it might prevent Sega from offering Drummond the role because it reads like the writers of the article are withholding some details to make it look as much like a dick move on the part of Sega as possible. Remember Turtles Forever? None of the original Turtle vas could take part because 4Kids was non-union. MLP is non-union, too. If you're in the union, you cannot take part in an non-union sanctioned production and vice-versa. With the screenactors union/guild there're ways around it, mainly in the area of voice acting, I'm guessing the va union is stricter. |
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Post by Balls on Sept 15, 2012 19:30:36 GMT
Drummond was awful.
Griffith was a good actor but his voice wasn't quite right.
Smith is obviously the best they've ever had.
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Post by ShayMay on Sept 15, 2012 19:39:09 GMT
Drummond was crap but endearing. He obviously had a lot of enthusiasm for the job, but he just couldn't emote.
Griffith did that 4Kids thing of adding emphasis to every word he could, making it sound forced and artificial. Objectively, he's definitely better than Drummond, but he always came off as quite insincere.
Smith is the best Sonic's ever sounded, and is helped, of course, by an actual competent script.
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Post by Charles on Sept 16, 2012 0:00:25 GMT
Remember Turtles Forever? None of the original Turtle vas could take part because 4Kids was non-union. MLP is non-union, too. If you're in the union, you cannot take part in an non-union sanctioned production and vice-versa. I know 4Kids isn't, but didn't know about MLP - is that true? Some of the VAs do telly in Canada and I'd assume they'd have to be a member of some union for that. EDIT: re Drummond, he was a pretty mediocre Sonic but it's a bit grubby if Sega was that bothered by union membership. Do union actors really cost that much more? |
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Post by L. T. Dangerous on Sept 16, 2012 7:44:54 GMT
Maybe they don't cost that much more but surely any amount more is a waste of money when, ultimately, they're going to get the same end result?
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Post by Nam on Sept 16, 2012 8:27:55 GMT
I recall reading somewhere that when the Eggman actor died, the current one, Pollock, stepped up and said he'd step in to replace him. I'm just guessing that, since there's apparently a rule where union members can't work on non-union shows, and vice versa, I'm guessing it was easier to just recast everyone with the Sonic X cast, declaring Sonic games non-union, forcing Drummond and the likes out of the job. If that's true, then this rule would've meant that, if Drummond had returned, all the rest of the cast would need to be replaced. It was effectively either "recast the whole cast with union actors", or "get Drummond to leave the union", or the option they went with "don't use Drummond".
Personally I've nothing against Smith. I think he's doing a great job as Sonic, and really don't get why the fandom seems to have a stiffy for Drummond. Even ignoring Sega's early VA production values, Drummond always sounded too relaxed for a character who's often meant to be facing tough enemies and whatnot. I'm sure he's a good VA, and with a good script and whatnot could do a fine job as certain characters, but Sonic is not one he ever did well. IMO even Griffith did a better job than Drummond as Sonic.
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Post by The Shad on Sept 16, 2012 9:27:53 GMT
I know 4Kids isn't, but didn't know about MLP - is that true? Some of the VAs do telly in Canada and I'd assume they'd have to be a member of some union for that. My mistake. I read on Grey Delisle's twitter it was, then Tara Strong chimed in that it was just a Canadian production, which I missed and just picked up when I was looking for the initial tweet. Anyway, enough on horses, Drummond had a good voice for it, but a terrible actor. Also the guy who did Knuckles was a lot better than Dan Green. |
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Post by Mambo's Here! Look Busy! on Sept 16, 2012 10:10:12 GMT
I was under the impression the whole "lets used the 4Kids cast now" was just so the characters had the same voices across the games and TV series?  Drummond, considered by plenty in the community to be the best and most beloved of all the Sonic VAs to date Not Urkel, then. Interesting. I will always read Archie Sonic with Jaleel White's voice in my head...  |
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Post by Balls on Sept 17, 2012 0:33:13 GMT
I recall reading somewhere that when the Eggman actor died, the current one, Pollock, stepped up and said he'd step in to replace him. I'm just guessing that, since there's apparently a rule where union members can't work on non-union shows, and vice versa, I'm guessing it was easier to just recast everyone with the Sonic X cast, declaring Sonic games non-union, forcing Drummond and the likes out of the job. If that's true, then this rule would've meant that, if Drummond had returned, all the rest of the cast would need to be replaced.
However, when they changed the cast again for Colours onwards, Pollock was the only voice that remained unchanged. It's almost as if they suddenly developed a sense of quality control and realised that Pollock is the best voice for Robotman. |
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Post by Nam on Sept 17, 2012 8:05:47 GMT
Kinda my point. I'm just guessing, but the Sonic Adventure cast was union, then it went to the non-union cast for Shadow, then Sega decided to get talent, but stayed non-union, so Pollock stayed.
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Post by Juliett. Bravo. Alfa. on Sept 17, 2012 8:17:32 GMT
Pollock said he had to re audition for the role.
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Post by Arch on Sept 17, 2012 10:17:31 GMT
Also the guy who did Knuckles was a lot better than Dan Green. See, he was another one that started excellently but tailed off by the time Heroes came about. His original, deep voice sounded like a much better match than the bumbling Knuckles Green came out with. Then again, it matched the script, so it's not his fault. He still is a great VA. |
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Post by Balls on Sept 17, 2012 10:21:58 GMT
As much as I like to bash Drummond, I do remember something in his defense.
I recall an interview in which he mentioned he wasn't informed of the scene, the story or given footage to work with at all. He was just given some lines and told what emotion he should be conveying and that was it for SA2. Apparently it was very sloppily done and Sega were hard to work with.
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Post by ShayMay on Sept 17, 2012 11:23:24 GMT
See, he was another one that started excellently but tailed off by the time Heroes came about. His original, deep voice sounded like a much better match than the bumbling Knuckles Green came out with. Then again, it matched the script, so it's not his fault. He still is a great VA. I'm fairly sure it was a different actor between SA1 and SA2/Heroes, although I could be wrong. |
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Post by L. T. Dangerous on Sept 17, 2012 12:48:17 GMT
I think we can all agree, though, that Tails had the worst voice of all until Generations.
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Post by Arch on Sept 17, 2012 15:27:49 GMT
See, he was another one that started excellently but tailed off by the time Heroes came about. His original, deep voice sounded like a much better match than the bumbling Knuckles Green came out with. Then again, it matched the script, so it's not his fault. He still is a great VA. I'm fairly sure it was a different actor between SA1 and SA2/Heroes, although I could be wrong. Oh yeah, you're right. Huh. That explains it, then. |
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Post by Charles on Sept 19, 2012 18:17:58 GMT
Anyway, enough on horses, Drummond had a good voice for it, but a terrible actor. Also the guy who did Knuckles was a lot better than Dan Green. I started to play the SAs on the Japanese language setting because oh god the English VAs. Except Big, I always play him on English setting because it's funnier. |
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Post by Beeth on Sept 21, 2012 9:57:52 GMT
As of Generations, I'm playing all Sonic games, wherever possible, with German voices.
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