Tag Archives: sag aftra

SAG-AFTRA Leaders Head to Capitol Hill to reintroduce the NO FAKES Act

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Today, a press conference was held celebrating the SAG-AFTRA-supported, bi-partisan Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act as it was reintroduced in the Senate. If passed, the bill — sponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn, Chris Coons, Amy Klobuchar, and Thom Tillis — would establish a federal right in voice and likeness to protect against unauthorized use of digital replicas in audiovisual works and sound recordings. 

The legislation goes beyond protecting actors, recording artists, and broadcasters, but also targets deepfakes which can, and have, ruined lives. It protects individuals from harm and also the creative community that rely on their face and voice for their livelihood. With it, individuals can demand platforms to remove illegal voice and image clones. Also, individuals would be able to seek damages from those who intentionally cause harm.

The NO FAKES Act would preserve existing protections at the state level, such as Tennessee’s landmark SAG-AFTRA-supported ELVIS Act and California’s SAG-AFTRA-sponsored AB2602, while providing one strong, consent-based framework for digital replica uses in expressive works nationwide. 

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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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.

SDCC 2023: SAG/AFTRA National Executive Director is joining the AI in Entertainment: The Performer’s Perspective panel

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Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG/AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, will be joining the AI in Entertainment: The Performers’ Perspective panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

AI and machine learning are revolutionizing the world. Entertainment performers must adapt to this groundbreaking technology that can not only replicate their voices and movements but also feed machine learning to create entirely new characters.

With the support of the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA) and SAG/AFTRA, this will be a discussion on how existing legal structures can be used in some areas and how new standards need to be built for performers and producers to collaborate on great products while still protecting individual rights to performance and publicity.

Moderated by Linsay Rousseau (Transformers: War for Cybertron, God of War Ragnarok), panelists include Ashly Burch (Mythic Quest, Horizon Zero Dawn), Cissy Jones (The Owl House, Transformers Earthrise), Zeke Alton (The Calisto Protocol, SAG/AFTRA negotiating member), Tim Friedlander (Record of Ragnarok, Ace Combat 7, president/founder of NAVA) and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland (SAG/AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator).

The panel takes place Saturday, July 22 at 10:30am in Room 29CD.

National Association of Voice Actors

Around the Tubes

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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.

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Actors join Writers on the picket lines as SAG-AFTRA declares a strike

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SAG-AFTRA announced on Thursday that it’s on strike. This is the second time in Hollywood’s history that actors have joined writers on the picket line. This is the first strike by actors since 1980 and the first “double strike” since 1960.

On Thursday, the SAG-AFTRA national board voted unanimously to approve a strike. The recommendation was forwarded by the negotiating committee after talks failed in agreement to a fair contract.

The strike officially began at Midnight Friday with picketing beginning today.

The strike impacts more than work, but also promotion which has some wondering what actors will be able to do at conventions while the strike is in effect. San Diego Comic-Con which takes place July 20 to 23 has already had panel cancellations due to it.

The union’s contract expired midnight Wednesday after being extended through july 12. A month of negotiations resulted in little progress. SAG-AFTRA has focused on the rise of artificial intelligence and streaming and their impact on actors and the industry as a whole.

Both the writers and actors have raised concerns over technology and their impact which has suppressed wages. Simple requests like the sharing of streaming viewership data is being rejected.

Below is what members aren’t allowed to do during the strike:

  • Principal on camera work, such as:
    • Acting
    • Singing
    • Dancing
    • Performing stunts
    • Piloting on-camera aircraft
    • Puppeteering
    • Performance capture or motion capture work;
  • Principal off camera work, such as:
    • ADR/Looping
    • TV Trailers (promos) and Theatrical Trailers
    • Voice Acting
    • Singing
    • Narration, including audio descriptive services except as the services may be covered by another collective bargaining agreement referred in the Notice to
      Members Regarding Non-Struck Work
    • Stunt coordinating and related services
  • Background work
  • Stand-in work
  • Photo and/or body doubles
  • Fittings, wardrobe tests, and makeup tests
  • Rehearsals and camera tests
  • Scanning
  • Interviews and auditions (including via self-tape)
  • Promotion of/publicity services for work under the TV/Theatrical Contracts, such as:
    • Tours
    • Personal appearances
    • Interviews
    • Conventions
    • Fan expos
    • Festivals
    • For your consideration events
    • Panels
    • Premieres/screenings
    • Award shows
    • Junkets
    • Podcast appearances
    • Social media
    • Studio showcases
  • Negotiating and/or entering into and/or consenting to:
    • An agreement to perform covered services in the future
    • Any new agreement related to merchandising connected to a covered project
    • The creation and use of digital replicas, including through the reuse of prior work
  • Performing on a trailer for a struck production or other ancillary content connected to a struck production