ABSTRACT
Voiceover is no exception. From the early days of voiceover, there have been a series of changes and adjustments that have required voice actors to modify and update their business practices. Non-union, freelance work is an excellent way to get started in the business, and there are lots of advertisers and producers who use non-union performers. Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG)-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is the only union that handles voiceover performers in the US The AFTRA handled performers working in electronic media and the SAG handled actors working in film. In 2012, these two unions merged to form SAG-AFTRA. In Canada, voiceover work is handled by the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Artists. In the US, the AFTRA and SAG performer unions came into being in the early days of film, radio, and later, television.
