Blindlight Explained

Blindlight, LLC
Type:	Subsidiary
Industry:	Video games
Hq Location City:	Los Angeles
Hq Location Country:	US
Parent:	Keywords Studios (2018–present)

Blindlight, LLC is a Los Angeles-based company providing Hollywood production services to the video game industry. Notable properties the company has contributed to include the Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Guild Wars, Splinter Cell, Tomb Raider, Destiny, and Halo series. It was acquired by Keywords Studios in June 2018.^[1]

Background

Formed in 2000 by four managers from Icebox.com, Blindlight sought to apply the talents and expertise from Hollywood's film and television industries to the video game industry.^[2] The company's initial service disciplines included casting and voice production, celebrity acquisition, story and scriptwriting, music production, motion capture and sound design. While its contractors are sourced mostly from traditional Hollywood industries, Blindlight operates exclusively as a service provider to videogame companies.

Before technological advances brought about the advent of the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox in 2001, many games were written and voiced by computer artists and "programmers around the office."^[3] The newfound potential for delivering richer multimedia experiences through videogames instigated the need for contributions from traditional Hollywood resources such as actors, writers, and composers. 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.^[4]

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.

In July 2024, voice actors, motion capture employees and other people employed by Blindlight who were Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) members would begin a labor strike over concerns about A.I.^[5]

Industry contributions

Blindlight's filmography on IMDb lists more game credits for voice production than any other company,^[6] and according to a GDC profile on the company, "its client list has grown to include 19 of the top 20 game publishers."^[7] Blindlight's voicework has earned industry awards including Best Dialog of the Year,^[8] Best Performance by a Human Male,^[9] and Performance of the Year.^[10] The company is known for producing the voicework on such prominent games as , which won an AIAS award for Outstanding Achievement in Story and Game of the Year,^[11] and Dishonored, which was recognized by BAFTA as the Best Game of 2012.^[12]

Other notable achievements 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.^{[13] [14]}
• Blindlight has drafted and brokered over 500 deals for the use of celebrity voices in games.^{[15] [16] [17]} In 2006, Blindlight signed all Star Trek captains to one game, marking the only time all five have participated together on a single project.^[18] 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.^{[19] [20]}
• Blindlight has participated in negotiations with the SAG and AFTRA actors unions over the Interactive Media Agreement.^{[21] [22]} In 2005, Blindlight assisted in averting a strike and preserving the game industry's access to professional actors.^{[23] [24]}
• 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.^[25]
• Blindlight brought ex-Beatle Paul McCartney on board to create and produce original music for the score of Bungie's cornerstone franchise, Destiny.^[26]
• Blindlight created an original mobile app for William Shatner^[27] that was rated as the best celebrity app in the markplace by both Buzzfeed,^[28] and Gizmodo.^[29]

External links

• Blindlight Official Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Reddan . Fiona . Keywords Studios acquires US company for up to $10m . 2023-07-31 . The Irish Times . en . 2020-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201218010349/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/keywords-studios-acquires-us-company-for-up-to-10m-1.3526453 . live .
2. News: Joe . Strike . Secret Lives of VO Actors . . 27 April 2006 . 2010-02-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110612005102/http://www.awn.com/articles/people/secret-videogames-lives-vo-actors/page/1%2C1 . 2011-06-12 .
3. News: Tim . Gnatek . Giving Voice to Videogames . New York Times . 4 November 2005 . 2010-02-02 . 2013-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005013858/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/technology/circuits/04voic.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&position . live .
4. News: Chris . Marlowe . Rodgers Takes Shine to Halo 2 . . 5 November 2004 . 2010-02-02 .
5. News: Video game actors are on strike. Here’s what that means. Samantha. Masunga. Christi. Carras. Los Angeles Times. July 27, 2024. July 27, 2024.
6. https://www.imdb.com/company/co0117290/ Blindlight
7. Web site: GDC Game Writers Summit. 2010-02-16.
8. Web site: 5th Annual GANG Awards. GANG (Game Audio Network Guild). 2007-03-08. 2010-02-16. 2009-07-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20090727202359/http://www.audiogang.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=160&Itemid=189. live.
9. Web site: Oblivion nabs Spike TV tops honors. GameSpot. Surette, Tim. 2006-12-09. 2010-02-16. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070325175137/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/theelderscrollsivoblivion/news.html?sid=6162929. 2007-03-25.
10. News: Golden Joysticks 2015: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt wins five gaming awards. BBC News. 30 October 2015. 2015-11-09. 2015-10-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20151030180040/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34679591/golden-joysticks-2015-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-wins-five-gaming-awards. live.
11. Web site: Skyrim snags another best of show gong at 15th annual AIAS awards | Joystiq . 2012-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121010110958/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/skyrim-snags-another-best-of-show-award-at-15th-annual-aias-awar/ . 2012-10-10 . dead .
12. Web site: 2013 Games Best Game | BAFTA Awards. 2013-10-01. 2015-05-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20150501073153/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2013/games/best-game. live.
13. Web site: More Than Just Catchphrases. Gaming Industry News. Gaudiosi, John. 2004-01-23. 2010-02-16. 2010-03-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20100327005946/http://guterman.com/gin3.pdf. live.
14. Web site: H'wood stars into vid game act. GamePro. Gaudiosi, John. 2002-10-28. 2010-02-16.
15. News: Alex . Wiltshire . Interview: Lev Chapelsky . https://archive.today/20120904173823/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/interview-lev-chapelsky . dead . September 4, 2012 . . May 20, 2009 . 2010-02-02 .
16. News: Andy . Chalk . Voice Actors: Show Them the Money . . 22 May 2009 . 2010-02-02 . 2018-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116110235/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91894-Hollywood-Voice-Actors-Show-Them-the-Money . dead .
17. News: Kemp . Powers . Videogames Give Actors Second Chance . Reuters . 31 January 2008 . 2010-02-02 . 2015-01-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150129133123/http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/01/31/us-videogames-rlife-idUSWRI14206320080131 . live .
18. Web site: All Five Star Trek Captains to Voice Bethesda Softworks Video Game. Business Wire. 2006-08-14. 2010-02-16. 2012-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20121017214332/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/All+Five+STAR+TREK(R)+Captains+to+Voice+Bethesda+Softworks+Video+Game...-a0149450263. live.
19. Web site: Bill Clinton Asked to Voice Fallout 3. Kotaku. Ashcraft, Brian. 2009-05-22. 2010-02-16. 2009-07-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20090722025829/http://kotaku.com/5266627/bill-clinton-was-asked-to-voice-fallout-3. live.
20. Web site: Bill Clinton Turned Down Fallout 3 Role. Rip Ten. Duerte, Dylan. 2009-05-23. 2010-02-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20090803061147/http://www.ripten.com/2009/05/23/bill-clinton-turned-down-fallout-3-role/. 2009-08-03. dead.
21. News: Mike . Snider . Voice actors to vote on strike . . 6 June 2006 . 2010-02-02 . 2011-06-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604011648/http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2005-06-06-voice-actors-strike_x.htm . live .
22. News: Matthew . Yi . Actors voice their dissent: Screen Guild calls for better pay for videogame work . . 5 May 2005 . 2010-02-02 . 2007-10-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071015161018/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/25/BUGE7CU50G1.DTL . live .
23. Web site: Gamers at peace: Rates rise for thesps, but no residuals. Variety. Brodesser, Ben. Fritz, Claude. amp. 2005-06-08. 2010-02-16. 2011-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20110418181417/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117924153?refCatId=1009. live.
24. Web site: Bill Clinton in Fallout 3? Not so fast... . . Morris, Chris . 2009-05-22 . 2010-02-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100131032952/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/current_affairs/ . 2010-01-31 .
25. Web site: Blindlight's Lev Chapelsky. GameDaily. Snow, Allen. 2004-09-16. 2010-02-16.
26. Web site: Bungie. The Seattle Times. 2015-11-09. 2016-01-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20160130075742/http://blogs.seattletimes.com/brierdudley/topic/bungie-2/. live.
27. News: Shatoetry: The Official William Shatner iPhone App Is Here. Time. 2015-11-09. Olivia B.. Waxman. 2016-01-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20160130075741/http://techland.time.com/2012/11/07/shatoetry-the-official-william-shatner-iphone-app-is-here/. live.
28. Web site: The Definitive Ranking Of Celebrity Apps. BuzzFeed. 2015-11-09. 2015-10-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20151009072333/http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicaprobus/the-definitive-ranking-of-celebrity-apps. live.
29. Web site: The Best and Worst Celebrity Apps. Gizmodo. 2015-11-09. en-US. 2015-10-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20151012040438/http://gizmodo.com/the-best-and-worst-celebrity-apps-1645731423. live.