Variety: Negotiators for SAG-AFTRA are seeking a strike authorization from video game voice actors after failed negotiations for a successor deal.
The performers union sent out postcards for the strike vote on Sept. 16 to “affected members” — meaning those who have worked on the Interactive Media Agreement — with a deadline of Oct. 5. The SAG-AFTRA constitution mandates that a strike authorization goes into effect only if backed by at least 75% of those voting.
“After a successful strike authorization vote, we will reach out to the employers and ask them to return to negotiations,” the union said.
3 comments:
The article brings up a really interesting topic, and one that I don’t think gets a lot of attention. SAG-AFTRA and those in the video game based voice acting industry have a right to strike. I think part of the problem here is a lack of respect for voice over actors in video games. Clearly, the terms they are negotiating are being met in other similar industries, including voice over work in animated television and movies. This shows that big media companies are willing to go to those places for other mediums, but not for video game voice actors. This leads me to believe the higher ups of these companies assume voice over actors in video games aren’t as important as those in other mediums. I strongly disagree with that point of view. Video games are an art from like any other, and when creating a world with complex and believable characters, voice acting is incredibly important. I only hope that SAG-AFTRA can settle these negotiations.
I was listening to a story on NPR a couple weeks back that grazed this topic ever so briefly yet very poignantly. Sir Ian McKellen was being interviewed by Terry Gross about general life things and there was a long back and forth about his work on the Lord of the Rings series. Terry brought up the gaming industry and McKellen’s voice work for the videogames associated with the LOTR movie. After a few short exchanges, McKellen mentioned that it behooved the actors from the movies to sign contracts for the gaming voiceovers. If they didn’t do the voice work in the games, someone would be found to mimic their voice and do their mimicked voices in the games. He seemed to be both appalled and accepting of that being the way in which the gaming/movie crossover industry works. Just from that small snippet, I gathered that the voiceover work in the gaming industry is like the Wild West. Few rules and protections for those doing the work, and all the leeway one could desire for those producing at the top. I am more than happy to see that there individual’s fighting for their rights and protections in the gaming industry! More power to them!
I know nothing about video games or voice over work. Having worked on a number of musicals, operas, and plays, I do know the stress that can be put on actors’ voices. In some cases, I’ve seen a sub go on in a dress rehearsal because the lead is on vocal rest. In the case of opera, the night before opening is often dark to give the singers a chance to rest before having to perform. I can empathize with SAG-AFTRA’s view on fair working conditions, etc. for voice over work for video games. I’m not entirely sold on the idea of ‘stunt pay’ and what types of voiceovers this would apply to. With the technology available today to alter voices, I’m not sure how much strain would actually be put on the individual’s voice. What I do think is true, however, is that if a company can figure out a way around union rules and pay - they will.
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