Blindlight
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Interactive entertainment |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Website | Blindlight |
Blindlight is a Los Angeles-based company providing Hollywood production services to the videogame industry.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Formed in 2000 by Lev Chapelsky, Dawn Hershey, Matt Case and Rich Dickerson, four managers from Icebox.com, “an ambitious, ahead-of-its-time website producing original animation.” Blindlight’s goal was to apply the talents and process knowledge from Hollywood’s film and television industries to the burgeoning videogame industry.[1] The company’s initial service disciplines included casting and voice production, celebrity acquisition, story and scriptwriting, music production, motion capture and sound design.
With the technological advances brought about by the advent of the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox, capabilities for delivering richer multimedia experiences through videogames took a leap forward in 2001, instigating the need for contributions from traditional Hollywood resources (actors, writers, composers, etc.). Up until this point most games were still being written and voiced by computer artists and software “programmers around the office."[2] Blindlight sought to elevate the filmic aspects of videogames by developing ways for game producers to take advantage of the distributed freelance specialists that comprise the modern-day Hollywood production model.[3]
In December 2003, the company moved its headquarters to its current location on the Sunset Strip. In 2004, Blindlight opened an office in Tokyo, Japan. Blindlight’s filmography on IMDb lists more game credits for voice production than any other company[4] and according to a GDC profile on the company, “its client list has grown to include 19 of the top 20 game publishers.”[5] Blindlight’s voicework has earned industry awards including Best Dialog of the Year[6] and Best Performance by a Human Male.[7]
Blindlight’s operational model is primarily virtual and distributed. While its contractors are sourced mostly from traditional Hollywood industries, Blindlight operates exclusively as a service provider to videogame companies.
[edit] Industry Contributions
Blindlight’s contributions to the videogame industry include:
- Blindlight was an early company to advocate using professional Hollywood actors in games. This started a shift in videogame voice-over production that effectively moved the discipline to Los Angeles, CA.[8][9]
- Blindlight has drafted and brokered over 500 deals for the use of celebrity voices in games.[10][11][12] In 2006, Blindlight signed all Star Trek captains to one game, marking the only time all five have participated together on a single project.[13] In 2009, the blogosphere buzzed when word got out that Blindlight had made an offer to former President Bill Clinton to play the President role in Fallout 3.[14][15]
- Blindlight has participated in negotiations with the SAG and AFTRA actors unions over the Interactive Media Agreement.[16][17] In 2005, Blindlight assisted in averting a strike and preserving the game industry’s access to professional actors.[18][19]
- In gamewriting, Blindlight borrowed best practices from the television industry to create an outsourced team-based model for improving the narrative elements in games. This opened new doors for game producers to tap underutilized Hollywood writing talent at affordable costs, and a new source of work for Hollywood writers.[20]
Unlike the standardized production of other Hollywood shops, Blindlight serves videogame companies exclusively and all of Blindllight's projects are scaled and customized for the particular needs of each client. The most discriminating producers in the world continually rely on Blindlight for contributions to some of the industry’s most distinguished game franchises.
[edit] References
- ^ Strike, Joe (27 April 2006). "Secret Lives of VO Actors". Animation World Magazine. http://www.awn.com/articles/people/secret-videogames-lives-vo-actors/page/1,1. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ Gnatek, Tim (4 November 2005). "Giving Voice to Videogames". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/technology/circuits/04voic.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&position. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ Marlowe, Chris (5 November 2004). "Rodgers Takes Shine to Halo 2". Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000706709. Retrieved 2010-02-02.[dead link]
- ^ Blindlight at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ "GDC Game Writers Summit". http://www.gdconline.com/conference/writers.html. Retrieved 2010-02-16.[dead link]
- ^ "5th Annual GANG Awards". GANG (Game Audio Network Guild). 2007-03-08. http://www.audiogang.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=160&Itemid=189. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ Surette, Tim (2006-12-09). "Oblivion nabs Spike TV tops honors". GameSpot. http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/theelderscrollsivoblivion/news.html?sid=6162929. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ Gaudiosi, John (2004-01-23). "More Than Just Catchphrases". Gaming Industry News. http://guterman.com/gin3.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ Gaudiosi, John (2002-10-28). "H'wood stars into vid game act". GamePro. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1749519. Retrieved 2010-02-16.[dead link]
- ^ Wiltshire, Alex (May 20, 2009). "Interview: Lev Chapelsky". Edge. http://www.next-gen.biz/features/interview-lev-chapelsky. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ Chalk, Andy (22 May 2009). "Voice Actors: Show Them the Money". Escapist Magazine. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91894-Hollywood-Voice-Actors-Show-Them-the-Money. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ Powers, Kemp (31 January 2008). "Videogames Give Actors Second Chance". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/01/31/us-videogames-rlife-idUSWRI14206320080131. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ "All Five Star Trek Captains to Voice Bethesda Softworks Video Game". Business Wire. 2006-08-14. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/All+Five+STAR+TREK%28R%29+Captains+to+Voice+Bethesda+Softworks+Video+Game...-a0149450263. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ Ashcraft, Brian (2009-05-22). "Bill Clinton Asked to Voice Fallout 3". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5266627/bill-clinton-was-asked-to-voice-fallout-3. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ Duerte, Dylan (2009-05-23). "Bill Clinton Turned Down Fallout 3 Role". Rip Ten. http://www.ripten.com/2009/05/23/bill-clinton-turned-down-fallout-3-role/. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ Snider, Mike (6 June 2006). "Voice actors to vote on strike". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2005-06-06-voice-actors-strike_x.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ Yi, Matthew (5 May 2005). "Actors voice their dissent: Screen Guild calls for better pay for videogame work". USA Today. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/25/BUGE7CU50G1.DTL. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ Brodesser, Ben and Fritz, Claude (2005-06-08). "Gamers at peace: Rates rise for thesps, but no residuals". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117924153?refCatId=1009. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ Morris, Chris (2009-05-22). "Bill Clinton in Fallout 3? Not so fast...". Variety. http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/current_affairs/. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ Snow, Allen (2004-09-16). "Blindlight's Lev Chapelsky". GameDaily. http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/blindlights-lev-chapelsky/. Retrieved 2010-02-16.[dead link]
