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The SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers Strick Picket Begins on Thursday

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SAG-Aftra Interactive Media Agreement

SAG-AFTRA members who perform in video games went on strike against all video game companies signed to the Interactive Media Agreement, effective 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 26. The strike was declared during San Diego Comic-Con raising further awareness of the issue.

SAG-AFTRA is striking so that members working in interactive media (video games) can continue earning a living doing the job they love. The members’ work and likenesses are being exploited by artificial intelligence, and video game companies have refused to offer a fair deal that addresses this existential threat. As has been a regular issue, artificial intelligence is the sticking point.

The kick-off picket begins this Thursday, August 1 from 9am to 12pm PT taking place at WB Games Inc., Gate 5 at the Corner of Warner Blvd. and South Avon Street Burbank, CA 91522, with parking on Riverside Drive.

Expected attend are members on strike as well as SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating (IMA) Committee members Sarah Elmaleh (Chair), Zeke Alton, Ashly Burch, Andi Norris and many more; SAG-AFTRA leadership including National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland; and SAG-AFTRA members, labor allies and video game fans.

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San Diego Comic-Con has come and gone! We’ve covered a lot of news but there’s still a lot more we’ve yet to get up on the site. While we work our way through that, here’s some comic news from around the web to start the day.

Kotaku – X-Men Comics Fans At War Over Bonus Pages Hidden Behind QR Codes – Post credit scenes brought to comics. Horrible idea.

Anime News Network – Playing the Long Game – The Story of Slam Dunk in North America – A very interesting read about sports manga.

LA Times – Comic-Con is pop culture’s beating heart. Comics creators made it so – Comics are the heart of it all.

Reuters – Striking video game actors use Comic-Con as platform for a new deal – Smart move.

SAG-AFTRA Members Who Work on Video Games Go on Strike

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SAG-Aftra Interactive Media Agreement

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, acting under the authority delegated by the SAG-AFTRA National Board, and with the unanimous advice and counsel of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee, called a strike of the Interactive Media Agreement, 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.

The convenience bargaining group with whom SAG-AFTRA is negotiating includes Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.

Any game looking to employ SAG-AFTRA talent to perform covered work must sign on to the new Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, the Interim Interactive Media Agreement or the Interim Interactive Localization Agreement. These agreements offer critical A.I. protections for members.

Negotiations began in October 2022 and on Sept. 24, 2023, SAG-AFTRA members approved a video game strike authorization with a 98.32% yes vote. Although agreements have been reached on many issues important to SAG-AFTRA members, the employers refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their A.I. language.

For more information and to search whether a video game is struck, please visit sagaftra.org/videogamestrike.

SAG-AFTRA National Board Unanimously Gives Chief Negotiator the Power to Declare an Immediate Strike of the Interactive Media Agreement if a Deal Cannot be Reached

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SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement

The SAG-AFTRA National Board met this weekend in a scheduled videoconference plenary and voted unanimously to delegate authority to the National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator, with the advice and consent of the National Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee, to call a strike effective at a time and date to be determined by the National Executive Director, Chief Negotiator, and National Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee.

This news doesn’t mean a strike is going to happen or guaranteed, it just means that it’s on the table if negotiations stall. 

If called, the strike shall be over all covered services under the Interactive Media Agreement and all SAG-AFTRA members will cease rendering all services and performing all work covered by the IMA. The strike would impact the video game industry.

Negotiations have been going on for some time and might not be progressing in a positive direction based on this news. The parties are continuing negotiations at this time, but remain far apart on a resolution of necessary terms covering critical A.I. protections for video game performers. 

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Punisher #1

It was new comic book day yesterday. What’d you all get? What’d you like? Sound off in the comments below. While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

The Hollywood Reporter – STRIKE OVER: Actors Make a Deal With Studios After 118 Days – Good, now let’s see what the deal is.

Reviews

The Beat – Establishing Shot
The Beat – Lonely Castle in the Mirror Vol. 1
Comicbook – Punisher #1
CBR – Punisher #1

Strike! SAG-AFTRA members approve a strike for video game performers

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Writers, actors, and now video game performers, there’s another strike looming when it comes to entertainment. Voice actors and motion capture performers from SAG-AFTRA voted overwhelmingly on Monday to authorize a strike. That could begin Tuesday if negotiations on a new labor contract fails. This would be the third work stoppage in Hollywood this year.

SAG-AFTRA said that 27.47% of eligible voters, 34,687 member, took part. SAG-AFTRA also represents the film and television actors that are currently striking.

The agreement for video game performers expired in November and has been extended on a monthly basis. If negotiations fail, the authorization by members permits the National Board to declare a strike.

Video game companies impacted include:

  • Activision Productions Inc.,
  • Blindlight LLC,
  • Disney Character Voices Inc.,
  • Electronic Arts Productions Inc.,
  • Epic Games, Inc.,
  • Formosa Interactive LLC,
  • Insomniac Games Inc.,
  • Take 2 Productions Inc.,
  • VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and
  • WB Games Inc.

Being negotiated is increased wages to keep up with inflation and the use of artificial intelligence. Video games use “performance capture” and the unregulated use of AI could pose a threat to those performing artists. There is a fight for informed consent and payment for the creation and use of digital replicas and training AI on members’ performances.

Other unions in the video game industry have launched in the last year including Sega workers and Microsoft’s video game testers.

While the strike for actors continues, the Writer’s Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced a tentative agreement that still needs to be voted on. That strike has lasted over 146 days.

SAG-AFTRA sends Video Game Strike Authorization Vote to its Members

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SAG-AFTRA

Actors, and now video game voice and motion capture actors might be next when it comes to striking for better working conditions. The SAG-AFTRA National Board voted unanimously to send a strike authorization vote to its members. The tactic is to help with the union’s forthcoming bargaining dates with video companies including:

  • Activision Productions Inc.,
  • Blindlight LLC,
  • Disney Character Voices Inc.,
  • Electronic Arts Productions Inc.,
  • Epic Games, Inc.,
  • Formosa Interactive LLC,
  • Insomniac Games Inc.,
  • Take 2 Productions Inc.,
  • VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and
  • WB Games Inc.

The current contract has been extended a year beyond the original experation date. Over that time, negotiations haven’t met the terms SAG-AFTRA is seeking for its members. Bargaining will resume on September 26th.

Being negotiated is increased wages to keep up with inflation and the use of artificial intelligence. Video games use “performance capture” and the unregulated use of AI could pose a threat to those performing artists. There is a fight for informed consent and payment for the creation and use of digital replicas and training AI on members’ performances.

When it comes to wage increaes, SAG-AFTRA is looking to get similar increases as it is seeking for peformers in the film and television industry. That includes an 11% retroactive to expiration and 4% increase in the second and third years of the agreement to keep up with inflation.

Also being asked is for on-camera performers to have the same five-minutes-per-hour rest period that off-camera performers receive. Also in negotiations is a medic present when stunts or hazardous work is peformed, just like with film and telvision. It’d also prohibit stunts on self-taped auditions. Also being asked for is for vocal stress protections.

If members vote to authorize a strike, it doesn’t initiate one. It permits the National Board to declare one if the video game companies don’t negotiate fairly.

Voting by members will close on September 25th.

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It’s one of two new comic book days! What are you all excited for? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While we get ready for SDCC, here’s some comic news, really strike news, from around the web to start the day.

Variety – SAG-AFTRA Strike FAQ: How the Rules Apply to Influencers, Journalists, Cosplayers and More – Good to know.

The Beat – What the SAG-AFTRA strike means to Comic-Con…and the rest of the cons – For those wondering.

The Mary Sue – Neil Gaiman Has Good News For Fans Looking to Support the SAG Strike – More strike news.

SAG-AFTRA

DC Daily Gets an NLRB Complaint Over Clip Use

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DC Daily

SAG-AFTRA has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board over the use of clips from television shows and films on DC Daily. The complaint was against the producers of the television shows and films. DC Daily was a web series from Warner Bros. Television that focused on highlighting what was going on in the DC Universe.

The union has asked its member to contact the union if the members have any records of clips that aired or if it impacted them. They’re also looking for the corresponding contract, the clip reused, and the DC Daily episode they aired on.

Submissions need to be made to the union by October 15, 2021.

The show’s videos are still available on the DC Youtube channel in a handy playlist.

(via Deadline)

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We’re rocking New York Comic Con and have tons of interviews already in the can, and also going strong on Twitter (trust us, you should follow). While you await day two to start, here’s some news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

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GamePolitics – SAG-AFTRA Receives Majority Vote To Authorize A Strike – Trouble brewing in video game land.

GamePolitics – Bobby Jindal takes aim at ‘violent media’ – Don’t worry, he’ll be dropping out before the primary.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – Amazing Spider-Man #1

Talking Comics – Doctor Strange #1

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