Video game actors are on strike. Here’s what that means
8 months ago

Video game actors are on strike. Here’s what that means

LA Times  

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, center, and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, left, the union’s national executive director and chief negotiator, picket outside Netflix in Los Angeles. Union leaders took the step after they could not reach an agreement on artificial intelligence terms while bargaining for a new contract with the top video game companies, including Activision, Electronic Arts, Insomniac and Blindlight. “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement Thursday. The union has been in contract negotiations with the video game companies since 2022, and the Interactive Media Agreement expired that November. Production is expensive and on a tight schedule, a reality that doesn’t give video game companies a lot of margin to “sit this out,” said Joost van Dreunen, an adjunct assistant professor at NYU Stern School of Business and author of “One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games.” For instance, companies can’t afford to miss out on the all-important holiday spending season.

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History of this topic

Hollywood unions are facing an uphill battle against Trump, AI and the slowdown
4 months ago

Hollywood unions are facing an uphill battle against Trump, AI and the slowdown

LA Times  

More than a year after overlapping strikes by Hollywood writers and actors that rattled the entertainment industry, many technicians and craftspeople who operate outside of the spotlight are pressing their own demands for a better deal. “Clearly there’s going to be less protections for workers and less regulatory oversight for business practices going forward,” said David Smith, professor of economics …

SAG-AFTRA, video game companies resuming negotiations as actors’ strike continues
5 months, 2 weeks ago

SAG-AFTRA, video game companies resuming negotiations as actors’ strike continues

LA Times  

Striking video game actors walk the picket line in August outside the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. Performers union SAG-AFTRA and the major gaming companies are returning to the bargaining table for the first time since video game actors went on strike in July. Roughly 2,600 performers doing voice-over and motion-capture work in the video game industry have been on …

Video game actors’ union calls for strike against ‘League of Legends’
6 months ago

Video game actors’ union calls for strike against ‘League of Legends’

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — “League of Legends” is caught in the middle of a dispute between Hollywood’s actors union and an audio company that provides voiceover services for the blockbuster online multiplayer game. The union said when Formosa learned it could not cancel the game, the company “secretly transferred the game to a shell company and sent out casting notices for …

SAG-AFTRA calls strike against ‘League of Legends,’ the latest move in video game actors’ battle
6 months ago

SAG-AFTRA calls strike against ‘League of Legends,’ the latest move in video game actors’ battle

LA Times  

SAG-AFTRA has added “League of Legends” to its list of struck video games. SAG-AFTRA has added “League of Legends” to its list of struck video games in an effort to punish audio company Formosa Interactive for allegedly violating terms of the ongoing strike by video game actors. The union — which condemned Formosa’s alleged actions as “an appalling attempt to …

Lionsgate’s New Deal Is a Test of Hollywood’s Relationship With AI
55 years, 2 months ago

Lionsgate’s New Deal Is a Test of Hollywood’s Relationship With AI

Wired  

It’s hard not to feel the ripple effect when big shifts happen. One such shift came Wednesday when Lionsgate—the studio responsible for the John Wick, Hunger Games, and Twilight franchises—announced it had teamed up with artificial intelligence firm Runway for a “first-of-its-kind partnership” that would give the AI firm access to the studio’s archives in order to create a custom …

Video game performers reach agreement with 80 video games on AI terms
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Video game performers reach agreement with 80 video games on AI terms

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy After striking for over a …

Video game actors’ strike: SAG-AFTRA says 80 games have agreed to its AI terms
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Video game actors’ strike: SAG-AFTRA says 80 games have agreed to its AI terms

LA Times  

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced Thursday that the makers of 80 video games have agreed to the union’s proposed AI terms as the video game performers’ strike rages on. “The sheer volume of companies that have signed SAG-AFTRA agreements demonstrates how reasonable those protections are,” Sarah Elmaleh, chair of SAG-AFTRA’s video game negotiating committee, …

Video game performers protest unregulated AI use at Warner Bros. Studios
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Video game performers protest unregulated AI use at Warner Bros. Studios

The Hindu  

More than 300 video game performers and Hollywood actors picketed in front of the Warner Bros. Studios building on Thursday to protest against what they call an unwillingness from top gaming companies to protect union voice actors and motion capture workers equally against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence. The unregulated use of AI, the union says, poses “an equal …

Video game performers are on strike — and it keeps coming back to AI : Consider This from NPR : NPR
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Video game performers are on strike — and it keeps coming back to AI : Consider This from NPR : NPR

NPR  

Video game performers are on strike — and AI is the sticking point Enlarge this image toggle caption James Mastromarino/Square Enix James Mastromarino/Square Enix If you're not entrenched in the world of video games, you might not realize how much real actors have to do with modern gaming. Cote says performers are seeking things like clearer safety and protection measures …

Video game performers protest unregulated AI use at Warner Bros. Studios
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Video game performers protest unregulated AI use at Warner Bros. Studios

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — More than 300 video game performers and Hollywood actors picketed in front of the Warner Bros. Studios building on Thursday to protest against what they call an unwillingness from top gaming companies to protect union voice actors and motion capture workers equally against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence. The unregulated use of AI, the union says, …

Striking video game actors hit picket lines over AI: ‘The human element is irreplaceable’
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Striking video game actors hit picket lines over AI: ‘The human element is irreplaceable’

LA Times  

It was déjà vu in Burbank on Thursday as hundreds of striking video game actors carried picket signs and marched outside the Warner Bros. studio lot roughly a year after their film and TV colleagues did the same. “As long as AI is used as a tool and not a replacement, that’s fine,” said Chris Jai Alex, a striking video …

Video games: The SAG-AFTRA strike shows how A.I. is threatening the whole industry.
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Video games: The SAG-AFTRA strike shows how A.I. is threatening the whole industry.

Slate  

Video game workers—whatever their job, employer, or status—have clearly had enough. They quickly earned recognition from parent company Microsoft, marking the first wall-to-wall effort to succeed at any of the Big Tech firm’s gaming studios. By Friday, gaming performers and voice actors represented by the Screen Actors Guild began a strike, affecting operations across 10 major gaming studios including Epic …

SAG-AFTRA goes on strike against the video game industry
8 months ago

SAG-AFTRA goes on strike against the video game industry

The Hindu  

Hollywood's video game performers announced they would go on strike, throwing part of the entertainment industry into another work stoppage after talks for a new contract with major game studios broke down over artificial intelligence protections. Effective July 26 at 12:01 a.m. Today's vote to strike comes after more than a year and a half of negotiations without a deal.#VideoGameStrike#LevelUpTheContract#SagAftraStronghttps://t.co/8InNdB05k8 …

After more than a year of negotiations, SAG-AFTRA video game performers are on strike
8 months ago

After more than a year of negotiations, SAG-AFTRA video game performers are on strike

NPR  

After more than a year of negotiations, SAG-AFTRA video game performers are on strike Union actors and performers in SAG-AFTRA declared a strike against video game firms over artificial intelligence. MANDALIT DEL BARCO, BYLINE: As of midnight, union voiceover actors, stunt performers and those whose motions are captured digitally stopped working for the major video game companies. DEL BARCO: Norris …

Video Game Performers Are Going on Strike Over AI
55 years, 2 months ago

Video Game Performers Are Going on Strike Over AI

Wired  

Actors in the video game industry are going on strike. On Thursday, the union representing voice and motion-capture performers announced they would be walking off the job after talks with major video game companies broke down over concerns regarding AI protections. “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our …

Video game actors are now on strike. Here’s why
8 months ago

Video game actors are now on strike. Here’s why

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s video game performers went on strike Friday after negotiations with game industry giants that began more than a year and a half ago came to a halt over artificial intelligence protections. The union says the unregulated use of AI poses “an equal or even greater threat” to performers in the video game industry than it does …

Video game performers will go on strike over artificial intelligence concerns
8 months ago

Video game performers will go on strike over artificial intelligence concerns

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s video game performers announced they would go on strike Thursday, throwing part of the entertainment industry into another work stoppage after talks for a new contract with major game studios broke down over artificial intelligence protections. A spokesperson for the video game producers, Audrey Cooling, said the studios offered AI protections, but SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee said …

Video game performers call strike against gaming companies
8 months ago

Video game performers call strike against gaming companies

NPR  

Video game performers call strike against gaming companies toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Actors and performers in the union SAG-AFTRA have declared a strike against video game companies. in video game development has become a central issue in negotiations: “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. Sponsor Message SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan …

Video game actors are going on strike after contract talks fail over AI terms
8 months ago

Video game actors are going on strike after contract talks fail over AI terms

LA Times  

Video game performers are going on strike for the second time in a decade. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator of performers union SAG-AFTRA, called a strike Thursday on behalf of thousands of video game actors covered by the Interactive Media Agreement. The Interactive Media Agreement — a contract covering roughly 2,600 performers who do voice-over and motion-capture …

Video game performers move closer to strike as SAG-AFTRA negotiations stall over AI
8 months, 1 week ago

Video game performers move closer to strike as SAG-AFTRA negotiations stall over AI

LA Times  

Video game actors are inching closer to a walkout as performers union SAG-AFTRA and the top video game companies struggle to reach a deal on contract terms related to artificial intelligence. The contract expired in November 2022 and covers about 2,600 performers doing voice and motion-capture work in the video game industry. Time is running out for the companies to …

Hollywood’s video game actors want to avoid a strike. The sticking point in their talks? AI
9 months ago

Hollywood’s video game actors want to avoid a strike. The sticking point in their talks? AI

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — For more than a year and a half, leaders of Hollywood’s actors union have been negotiating with video game companies over a new contract that covers the performers who bring their titles to life. “The fundamental issue is, at this moment, an unwillingness by this bargaining group to provide an equal level of protection from the dangers …

Performers criticise ‘complete disregard’ over AI complaints following Sag-Aftra deal
1 year, 3 months ago

Performers criticise ‘complete disregard’ over AI complaints following Sag-Aftra deal

The Independent  

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On Tuesday, Sag-Aftra, the US’s biggest union of actors and screen performers, announced its members …

SAG-AFTRA Hollywood actors formally end four month strike: Ratify three-year contract after industrial action brought Tinseltown to its knees
1 year, 3 months ago

SAG-AFTRA Hollywood actors formally end four month strike: Ratify three-year contract after industrial action brought Tinseltown to its knees

Daily Mail  

Hollywood´s actors have voted to ratify the deal with studios that ended their strike after nearly four months, bringing an official finish to the labor strife that shook the entertainment industry for most of 2023. The approval of the three-year contract from the members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced Tuesday night by union …

What’s in the SAG-AFTRA deal? Here’s what the union has to say, including about AI terms
1 year, 4 months ago

What’s in the SAG-AFTRA deal? Here’s what the union has to say, including about AI terms

LA Times  

SAG-AFTRA has released a summary of its tentative agreement with the Hollywood studios. The employer also must get the performer’s permission to use the replica, “unless the photography or sound track remains substantially as scripted, performed and/or recorded.” The employer must pay the performer for the amount of days they would have been required to perform scenes featuring their digital …

Sag-Afra: What happens now the actors’ strike is over?
1 year, 4 months ago

Sag-Afra: What happens now the actors’ strike is over?

The Independent  

Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In an interview with Variety this week, Christopher Nolan – whose …

The Hollywood strikes are over. Here’s when you could see your favorite stars and shows return
1 year, 4 months ago

The Hollywood strikes are over. Here’s when you could see your favorite stars and shows return

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Missed your favorite actors? The union says the deal is worth more than $1 billion and they’ve “achieved a deal of extraordinary scope” that includes compensation increases, consent protections for use of artificial intelligence and actors’ likenesses and includes a new “streaming participation bonus.” SAG-AFTRA captain Mary M. Flynn rallies fellow striking actors on a picket line …

The actors strike is over as union reaches tentative agreement with studios
1 year, 4 months ago

The actors strike is over as union reaches tentative agreement with studios

The Independent  

Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation …

Hollywood Actors Strike Ends With a Deal That Will Impact AI and Streaming for Decades
55 years, 2 months ago

Hollywood Actors Strike Ends With a Deal That Will Impact AI and Streaming for Decades

Wired  

After 118 days on the picket lines, the longest such strike in Hollywood’s history, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has reached a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Both sides were mum about the terms of the deal Wednesday night, but it comes following a long struggle over the use of …

Actors strike ends: Studios reach tentative agreement with SAG-AFTRA after a painful 118 days on the picket line
1 year, 4 months ago

Actors strike ends: Studios reach tentative agreement with SAG-AFTRA after a painful 118 days on the picket line

Daily Mail  

The Hollywood actors' strike which threatened to throw the studios into chaos may finally be over after 118 days, it was confirmed this evening. The deal still needs to be ratified by union members but would bring to an end a summer of industrial action which also saw Hollywood writers strike for nearly five months. Strikes began on July 14 …

Hollywood Executives Reach Deal With Actors After Nearly 4 Months On Strike
1 year, 4 months ago

Hollywood Executives Reach Deal With Actors After Nearly 4 Months On Strike

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Hollywood executives reached a tentative agreement with hundreds of thousands of film and TV actors on Wednesday, finally bringing to an end a seismic period of dual strikes in the entertainment industry. The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said members of the union’s negotiating committee approved the tentative deal in a …

The actors strike is over – tentative deal reached with Hollywood studios
1 year, 4 months ago

The actors strike is over – tentative deal reached with Hollywood studios

Salon  

SAG-AFTRA has officially reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract with film and TV studios, thus ending the longest actors strike in Hollywood history. The agreement includes major pay increases — which are significantly higher than the increases received by the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America, Variety reported — along with first-ever protections …

Actors strike | Hollywood studios make offer to SAG-AFTRA, hoping to end 113-day strike
1 year, 4 months ago

Actors strike | Hollywood studios make offer to SAG-AFTRA, hoping to end 113-day strike

The Hindu  

Hollywood's major studios made an offer to Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists on Friday that they hope will end the 113-day actors strike, reported Variety. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers had earlier warned the actors union that if a settlement was not struck by the end of this week, the networks would be …

SAG-AFTRA strike negotiations suspended as studios ‘offer less than before strike began’
1 year, 5 months ago

SAG-AFTRA strike negotiations suspended as studios ‘offer less than before strike began’

The Independent  

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On 2 October, for the first time since the strike began on 14 July, the …

From Idris Elba to Jodie Comer: Why A-listers are no longer embarrassed to star in video games
1 year, 5 months ago

From Idris Elba to Jodie Comer: Why A-listers are no longer embarrassed to star in video games

The Independent  

Idris Elba has seen the future, and it’s full of pixels. Burt Reynolds was in sub-GTA gangster caper Saints Row, Phil Collins performed “In the Air Tonight” in GTA: Vice City Stories, Martin Sheen appeared in Mass Effect 2, Friends actor Matthew Perry graced Fallout: New Vegas, Frozen’s Kristen Bell was in Assassin’s Creed as mentor Lucy, Willem Dafoe appeared …

SAG-AFTRA and studios to meet for a second day in talks to resolve actors’ strike
1 year, 5 months ago

SAG-AFTRA and studios to meet for a second day in talks to resolve actors’ strike

LA Times  

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, white cap front, and the union’s national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, left, greet picketers at Netflix in Los Angeles on July 14. But we’d rather be going back to work like everyone else.” In a joint statement Monday evening, SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which negotiates on behalf …

Hollywood Strike | Actors to resume negotiations with studios next week, as protracted writers’ strike ends
1 year, 6 months ago

Hollywood Strike | Actors to resume negotiations with studios next week, as protracted writers’ strike ends

The Hindu  

With the Hollywood writers strike over, actors will now get a shot at cutting their own deal with studios and streaming services. By mid-morning, the hosts of NBC's “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers”, ABC's “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on CBS had announced they'd also return, all by …

Screenwriters secured a new deal for AI. For actors, the fight could be even harder
1 year, 6 months ago

Screenwriters secured a new deal for AI. For actors, the fight could be even harder

LA Times  

Members of the Writers Guild of America, joined by members of SAG-AFTRA, come together to picket in front of Paramount Studios in July. According to a summary document from the WGA, the contract — which still needs to be ratified by the union’s members — would let writers choose to use AI when performing writing services, with the studio’s permission. …

The Hollywood writers strike is over after guild leaders approve contract with studios
1 year, 6 months ago

The Hollywood writers strike is over after guild leaders approve contract with studios

The Hindu  

Hollywood's writers strike was declared over after nearly five months Tuesday night when board members from their union approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing the industry at least partly back from a historic halt in production. After Tuesday's board votes, the contracts were released for the first time to the writers, who had not yet been given any details …

The Hollywood writers strike is over after guild leaders approve contract with studios
1 year, 6 months ago

The Hollywood writers strike is over after guild leaders approve contract with studios

Firstpost  

The writers still have to vote to ratify the contract themselves in early October, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process, the guild told members in an email Hollywood’s writers strike was declared over after nearly five months Tuesday night when board members from their union approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing the industry …

Hollywood video game actors vote to strike if talks fail
1 year, 6 months ago

Hollywood video game actors vote to strike if talks fail

The Independent  

Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games …

The Hollywood writers strike is over after guild leaders approve contract with studios
1 year, 6 months ago

The Hollywood writers strike is over after guild leaders approve contract with studios

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood’s writers strike was declared over after nearly five months Tuesday night when board members from their union approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing the industry at least partly back from a historic halt in production. After Tuesday’s board votes, the contracts were released for the first time to the writers, who had not yet been …

The Writers Strike Will Soon Be Over
1 year, 6 months ago

The Writers Strike Will Soon Be Over

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Nearly five months after thousands of film and TV writers went on strike over more equitable pay and working conditions in the streaming era, effectively shutting down the entertainment industry, Hollywood studio and streaming executives at long last have reached a tentative deal with the Writers Guild of America, East and West. In an email to members …

SAG-AFTRA members vote to authorize strike against video game companies
1 year, 6 months ago

SAG-AFTRA members vote to authorize strike against video game companies

LA Times  

SAG-AFTRA members voted overwhelmingly in favor of giving their leaders authority to strike against video game companies if they can’t reach a deal over a new contract, the union announced Monday. “After five rounds of bargaining, it has become abundantly clear that the video game companies aren’t willing to meaningfully engage on the critical issues: compensation undercut by inflation, unregulated …

5 things to know about a potential strike against video game companies
1 year, 6 months ago

5 things to know about a potential strike against video game companies

LA Times  

Actor, comedian and video game voice actor Erik Passoja, who has had his likeness used in ways other than what he acted in, is concerned about AI. SAG-AFTRA’s last contract with the video game companies, negotiated in 2017, did not address key issues like AI — a key concern in the current dual Hollywood strikes, where film and TV actors …

SAG-AFTRA set for a second strike against video game companies
1 year, 6 months ago

SAG-AFTRA set for a second strike against video game companies

The Hindu  

SAG-AFTRA is set to seek authorisation for a second strike against big video game companies. Talks on new video game contract have reached a stalemate, said the union, adding that strike authorization vote is needed as leverage to win wage increases and protection from artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA is demanding a 11 per cent retroactive increase in rates for video game …

How the Hollywood strike is impacting the production of movies and TV series
1 year, 7 months ago

How the Hollywood strike is impacting the production of movies and TV series

The Hindu  

Published : Aug 19, 2023 16:23 IST - 6 MINS READ The strike by Hollywood actors and screenwriters may have halted production by the major studios, but filming of few projects is ongoing. But these exceptions come with conditions: any independent project wanting approval from SAG-AFTRA to continue production during the strike must commit to fulfilling the union’s terms. Effects …

Opinion: Actors are striking because we’ve long been in crisis. It’s not just streaming or AI
1 year, 8 months ago

Opinion: Actors are striking because we’ve long been in crisis. It’s not just streaming or AI

LA Times  

SAG-AFTRA members picket outside of Amazon Studios in Culver City on July 14, the first day of the union’s strike. As I searched for the irony in her face, all I could think of was how I’d spent my childhood on stages, lived in a crowded hostel to study Lee Strasberg’s “The Method” at 16 before finally moving to New …

Why Hollywood writers and actors are going on strike
1 year, 8 months ago

Why Hollywood writers and actors are going on strike

The Independent  

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Joe Plummer, the president of Wavelength, agrees: “There's …

Hollywood Strike: Studios say they offered actors $1 billion in gains before strike
1 year, 8 months ago

Hollywood Strike: Studios say they offered actors $1 billion in gains before strike

The Hindu  

Major film and television studios offered Hollywood actors more than $1 billion in higher compensation and enhanced benefits before the SAG-AFTRA union called a strike last week, a group that represents media companies said on Monday. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which negotiates on behalf of Netflix Inc, Walt Disney Co, Warner Bros Discovery and others, said …

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