Wednesday, September 06, 2023
SAG-AFTRA Unanimously Authorizes Vote for Possible Video Game Actors Strike
The Mary Sue: Just in time for Labor Day weekend, the National Board of SAG-AFTRA announced a unanimous decision to send a strike authorization vote to its members for actors working in video games. In a press release made on Friday, the Screen Actors Guild outlined why a separate strike against 10 major video game companies is necessary after their existing Interactive Media Agreement expired nearly a year ago
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Video game acting is not the first, or even one of the following, thoughts that come to mind when thinking of SAG-AFTRA members and jobs, but they are so important to a video game experience. The voice actors in a game really help create the world you become immersed in and truly do tell a story. I didn’t ever think about image-capturing and that they would be needed for that. I am curious about the amount of negotiations that happened before the strike was approved. Obviously approving a strike does hold bargaining power for the SAG members, but I see strikes as a last resort when all negotiations have truly been denied. Seeing more and more strikes, although necessary, makes me worry that strikes will be less effective in negotiating with greedy corporations in the future. I think it’s ridiculous that actors still don’t receive residuals from video games. I hope that negotiations work out and there isn’t another strike.
The unanimous authorization of a possible strike by SAG-AFTRA, in response to the issues surrounding video game actors and the unchecked use of AI, highlights a crucial battle in the entertainment industry. At its core, this conflict reflects the tension between corporate interests seeking cost-cutting measures through unregulated AI and the livelihoods of dedicated union members. I am particularly curious about the extensive negotiations that preceded this authorization. Strikes are typically considered a last resort, employed when all other avenues for dialogue and compromise have been exhausted. While they can be powerful tools to safeguard workers' rights, they also come at a significant cost to the members themselves, who may endure financial hardships during the strike's duration. Ultimately, I hope that these negotiations lead to a resolution that benefits both parties. The entertainment industry thrives when there is a balance between corporate interests and the welfare of its workers. Strikes should be seen as a means to a fair and equitable end, and it is my sincere hope that the current situation can be resolved without resorting to such a drastic measure. It underscores the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration to ensure the well-being of all stakeholders in the industry.
I am very surprised that I never considered the impact of actors performing roles in video games, especially since I have tried to keep up-to-date on the ongoing strikes in Hollywood. While AI in Hollywood (Or anywhere in the film industry) would require actors to get their faces scanned, it is so much different in video games because they already use motion capture and facial scanning technology. That's a very scary consideration, because if companies saved the facial scanning files, they could reuse and actor's likeness as much as they wanted so long as they snuck that into a contract somewhere, which probably wouldn't be very hard. I can understand why AI generations of actors might need to be made in certain cases for video games, but just like the film industry, it is a very fine line that companies need to be restricted by. I think that video game actors, whether they be voice acting or Mo-Cap doubles, are an easier target to non-consensual AI generation than most film industry actors just because the job requires them to be hooked up to all of that technology. There definitely need to be lines drawn in the sand on where artificial rendering is okay and not, and I think a strike could help prevent any companies that have or are thinking about taking advantage of those actors.
SAG-AFTRA's National Board has unanimously authorized a vote for a potential strike by video game actors and performers. A seemingly common occurrence in our industry currently which I think is exactly what we need right now. The entertainment industry is wildly unbalanced which makes it impossible for almost everyone to get an in. From what it sounds like the union is currently negotiating the terms of its “Interactive Media Agreement” with video game companies, and is seeking better wages and protections against the use of AI that could harm the livelihoods of voice and performance capture artists. A totally valid fear as AI continues to improve to borderline terrifying results. They are also advocating for benefits such as rest periods, medical support for stunts, and vocal stress protections. If the strike authorization vote is successful, the union will have the ability to declare a strike if negotiations with the companies are not deemed fair. Another one to add to the bucket, maybe we should just pay people and not robots.
Post a Comment