2023-09-03 08:23:00
The actors and screenwriters strike in Hollywood has been one of the most controversial and problematic issues in the entertainment industry this year, as the strike does not have a forecast closure and this has caused major film studios to decide to rearrange their calendars releases to try to coincide with the end of the strike and allow actors to get back to work and publicize on the projects they are scheduled to play.
Bearing in mind that the video game industry also needs actors to perform motion capture and dubbing in many projects, SAG-AFTRA, the union of North American actors, announced this week an authorization for the strike to also extend to video games, after reaching an impasse in talks with the likes of Activision and Take-Two over salaries and AI protection.
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25 Jul
SAG-AFTRA is seeking an 11% salary increase for video game artists, which is the same as it is seeking for those working under film and television contracts. The union also wants protections against AI, which it says poses a threat to art and artists’ livelihoods, but unfortunately, studios seem unwilling to meet the demands, which has taken the strike to new heights.
Companies in talks include Activision, Disney, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions and WB Games.
SAG-AFTRA has a separate agreement with video game publishers, which was recently extended through November 2024, to allow negotiations to continue.
Once again, we are faced with greed and employer disrespect. Once again, artificial intelligence is putting our members at risk of reducing their job opportunities. And, once again, SAG-AFTRA is facing tyranny on behalf of its members.
The voice and performance capture artists who bring video game characters to life deserve a contract that reflects the value they bring to the multi-billion dollar gaming industry.
Voice and performance capture AI is already among the most advanced uses of AI: the threat is here and it’s real. Without contractual protections, employers ask artists to unknowingly participate in the extinction of their arts and livelihoods.
The strike vote will be held between the 5th and 25th of September.
In a statement to the BBC, Audrey Cooling, a spokeswoman for the video game companies involved in the talks, said all sides were looking for a “fair contract” that reflected the work of the artists. “We are negotiating in good faith and hope to reach a mutually beneficial agreement as soon as possible,” she said.
As we can see, AI remains one of the main impasses in the negotiations, with the union fearing how much it could affect the future of the industry by replacing the work of real actors.
For now, we can only wait for the vote to unfold to find out if the strike will actually be enacted and how it will affect the development of the games.
Do you think the strike will end this year?
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