Hindsight's 20/20: Niko voice-over upset over lack of GTA IV royalties

The raging commercial success (nearing a half billion) of Grand Theft Auto IV is bittersweet, says the voice behind Niko Bellic, because behind the scenes video game talent doesn't see royalties like movies and music stars.

Michael Hollick was paid $100k over 15 months for voicing Niko Bellic

Michael Hollick was paid $100k over 15 months for voicing Niko Bellic (NY Times)

"I'm incredibly thankful to Rockstar for the opportunity to be in this game when I was just a nobody," said Michael Hollick, who received $100,000 for 15 months of voice-over work, according to the New York Times.

"But it's tough, when you see Grand Theft Auto IV out there as the biggest thing going right now, when they're making hundreds of millions of dollars, and we don't see any of it. I don't blame Rockstar. I blame our union for not having the agreements in place to protect the creative people who drive the sales of these games."

Unlike movies and music, the Screen Actor's Guild doesn't have policies in place to guarantee residual pay above and behind the work-for-hire rate, which Hollick knowingly agreed to before Grand Theft Auto IV became the biggest thing in 2008 since sliced bread.

Though Hollick asserts, "it's the human performances within [games] that people really connect to," others, like entertainment lawyer Ezra J. Doner, say "the conception of the creative director" drives game sales, not behind the scenes acting talent.

"The actor whose appearance or voice is used [in video games] is more analogous to a studio musicians [who] don't get residuals on the sales of the CD," says Doner. "It's not like the star quality of Tom Cruise that's getting people to buy a video game."

THE VERDICT by Blake Snow Blake Snow's Avatar While I can sympathize with Hollick, would he be upset with his $100,000 if GTA IV flopped? Ah the two-edged sword of fixed compensation...

Comments [84]

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Se7entySe7en

I think Hollick did a fantastic job bringing the voice of Niko Bellic to life. I think he deserves a piece of something. Like he said, they need to get the unions behind them.

JDizzleNO1

fine you're not happy with 100,000 how many struggling people in the world could use that to catch up on their life??? asshole

JDizzleNO1

what i meant in my previous comment is that if you're not happy with your pay then give that to one of the millions of families struggling to make ends meet....if not shut the hell up and go to work

FragMnTagM

Agree and disagree at the same time. I wish to hell that someone would pay me 100,000 for talking for 15 months, and working on the best game to come out in the open world genre. On the other hand this game is doing really really well and he could be given a little more dough. If it were me though, I would be content with earning that amount of money.

checkyoself

JDizzleNO1 Posted at: 05/21/08 at 11:47 AM PST what i meant in my previous comment is that if you're not happy with your pay then give that to one of the millions of families struggling to make ends meet....if not shut the hell up and go to work
who said he wasn't happy with it? you have a severe mental retardation if that is how you interpreted it as such. he is simply saying it is disappointing that the union doesn't residuals for performances when the product generates continual revenue, like movies or commercials do for actors and voice actors. if your feeble brain can't understand complex scenarios, you should probably stay away from the conversation.

checkyoself

Toneman Posted at: 05/21/08 at 11:53 AM PST You signed the paper... too bad!
is he complaining about the contract? no. he is discussing the business environment. big difference. by your logic, nothing should eve change because everyone should simply be happy with what is. that's ludicrous.

checkyoself

FragMnTagM Posted at: 05/21/08 at 11:53 AM PST If it were me though, I would be content with earning that amount of money.
a lot of people would be content making the amount of money you probably do at work, does that mean you should never ask for a raise if you believe your job performance deserves it just because someone else deems it would be enough for them? again, another stupid comment.

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