Video Game actors strike looming
#1
DVD Talk God
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Video Game actors strike looming
http://deadline.com/2016/10/sag-aftr...ar-1201840042/
This is a pretty big deal. It will almost certainly halt production of any future video games that require voice actors and usage of their likeness.
SAG-AFTRA has rejected the video game industry’s “final offer” for a new contract, setting the stage for a strike beginning Friday at midnight PT. A federal mediator who’d been brought into the talks yesterday failed to bring the two sides close enough to make a deal. The main sticking point is residuals.
The companies’ final offer included a 9% pay hike — effective immediately if the union’s membership ratifies the pact by December 1 — and up to $950 in “additional compensation” on top of a performers regular pay depending on how many sessions were worked on each game.
“The union has demanded a contingency fee based upon number of games sold or subscribers,” said Scott Witlin, the companies’ chief negotiator. “Instead of that, we are offering to immediately reward the hard work of performers through this accelerated raise and additional compensation package.”
“We had hoped this would be successful,” he said, “but union leadership left mediation without providing a counteroffer. We urged union leaders to put the package to a vote of their membership, but union leaders refused.”
SAG-AFTRA’s board of directors voted unanimously Sunday to strike the video game companies if a deal isn’t reached by midnight Friday night.
The companies’ final offer included a 9% pay hike — effective immediately if the union’s membership ratifies the pact by December 1 — and up to $950 in “additional compensation” on top of a performers regular pay depending on how many sessions were worked on each game.
“The union has demanded a contingency fee based upon number of games sold or subscribers,” said Scott Witlin, the companies’ chief negotiator. “Instead of that, we are offering to immediately reward the hard work of performers through this accelerated raise and additional compensation package.”
“We had hoped this would be successful,” he said, “but union leadership left mediation without providing a counteroffer. We urged union leaders to put the package to a vote of their membership, but union leaders refused.”
SAG-AFTRA’s board of directors voted unanimously Sunday to strike the video game companies if a deal isn’t reached by midnight Friday night.
This is a pretty big deal. It will almost certainly halt production of any future video games that require voice actors and usage of their likeness.
#2
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
You cannot work under any titles that went into production after February 17, 2015 for the following employers: Activision Publishing Inc.; Blindlight, LLC; Corps of Discovery Films; Disney Character Voices, Inc.; Electronic Arts Productions, Inc.; Formosa Interactive, Inc.; Insomniac Games, Inc.; Interactive Associates, Inc.; Take 2 Interactive Software; VoiceWorks Productions, Inc.; and WB Games, Inc.
Definitely a big deal, though.
#4
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
I raise you:
#5
DVD Talk God
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
http://deadline.com/2016/10/sag-aftr...ke-1201840333/
SAG-AFTRA is officially on strike against the video game producers as of today.
SAG-AFTRA is officially on strike against the video game producers as of today.
#6
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Video Game actors strike looming
They have a case, but we'll see what happens. I do hope they reach an agreement.
Also...if any video game producer needs a voice actor, I am available. Just saying.
Also...if any video game producer needs a voice actor, I am available. Just saying.
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#8
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
It's affecting games that have already been released/completed?
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#13
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
It's also a tiny list of games. Is there more than one video game actor's union?
#15
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
I wonder if it's an old and/or incomplete list. Not many unreleased major games at all on it.
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#19
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
http://deadline.com/2017/02/sag-aftr...is-1201901161/
Actors video Game strike has now reached 105 days. 2nd longest in SAG history.
Actors video Game strike has now reached 105 days. 2nd longest in SAG history.
Residuals remain the key issue in the strike, which began October 21. The guild wants to give the game companies the option of paying an upfront bonus to performers or paying backend residuals on successful games. The companies, however, steadfastly have refused to include any residuals formula in the collective bargaining agreement.
“We are not going to stop until we have a fair contract for our members,” David White, the union’s national executive director, told the crowd today. And then, addressing what he called a $100 billion industry, he said, “We are demanding that you pay secondary compensation now.”
“We are not going to stop until we have a fair contract for our members,” David White, the union’s national executive director, told the crowd today. And then, addressing what he called a $100 billion industry, he said, “We are demanding that you pay secondary compensation now.”
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Video Game actors strike looming
"Secondary compensation." LOL. I know alot of people in SAG AFTRA and they are steadfast on this being a "right" of their professions.
#21
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Video Game actors strike looming
Because videogame performance is leasing your likeness to an asset that has a one-time revenue stream for a publisher. TV shows and movies have a life cycle that is licensed in a way that revenue constantly streams in via advertising. TV / Film actors should get residuals from that. If videogames followed that model I could support this strike but that industry doesn't work that way.
#23
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
How is Injustice 2 coming out on time if it's listed as an affected game?
#24
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Video Game actors strike looming
I don't necessarily see an issue with them wanting secondary compensation, unless i'm misunderstanding the quoted article. The way video game sales can trickle on (for instance something like GTAV) i'm not surprised voice actors would want bonuses based on game sales opposed to a flat rate for whatever lines they record.
Not saying they deserve it or not, just that I can see the argument.
Not saying they deserve it or not, just that I can see the argument.
#25
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Re: Video Game actors strike looming
Tentative agreement reached. No royalties.
SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Agreement to End Video Game Strike
LOS ANGELES (September 25, 2017) – SAG-AFTRA has reached an agreement to end the strike against 11 video game companies that has been waged since October 21, 2016.
The terms of the tentative agreement, which was reached early Saturday morning, include a new bonus structure that provides an additional payment to performers. The bonus payment, which is due no later than the release date of the game, is based on the number of sessions worked on each game, beginning with a $75 payment on the first session and totaling $2,100 after 10 sessions worked.
“This is an important advance in this critical industry space. We secured a number of gains including for the first time, a secondary payment structure which was one of the members' key concerns,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. "The courage of our members and their fortitude these many months has been admirable and I salute them. We are always stronger together."
Keythe Farley, chair of the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Negotiating Committee, said the strike delivered key victories for member performers in the video game community.
“The bonus payments we have now are significantly larger now than what we had 11 months ago. And the existence of additional payments beyond your session fee is in the video game world for good, both in our high-budget and independent promulgated agreements,” said Farley. “Those are the victories that this strike has brought us.”
Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez, who was the lead negotiator on the new contract, said that the deal includes significant improvements in the area of transparency.
“The new transparency provisions will enhance the bargaining power of our members’ representatives by requiring the companies to disclose the code name of project, its genre, whether the game is based on previously published intellectual property and whether the performer is reprising a prior role,” said Rodriguez. “Members are also protected by the disclosure of whether they will be required to use unusual terminology, profanity or racial slurs, whether there will be content of a sexual or violent nature and whether stunts will be required.”
The deal also contains an employer commitment to continue working with SAG-AFTRA on the issue of vocal stress during the term of the agreement. Moreover, the agreement does not include several proposals sought by management, including a provision that would have fined performers for being late or distracted at session, another that would have required agents to submit performers for low-paying “atmospheric voice” sessions or face fines, and a possible revocation of their union franchise, and another that would have allowed employers to use their permanent staff to do covered work outside of the collective bargaining agreement.
The contract will next be reviewed by the SAG-AFTRA National Board at its October meeting.
LOS ANGELES (September 25, 2017) – SAG-AFTRA has reached an agreement to end the strike against 11 video game companies that has been waged since October 21, 2016.
The terms of the tentative agreement, which was reached early Saturday morning, include a new bonus structure that provides an additional payment to performers. The bonus payment, which is due no later than the release date of the game, is based on the number of sessions worked on each game, beginning with a $75 payment on the first session and totaling $2,100 after 10 sessions worked.
“This is an important advance in this critical industry space. We secured a number of gains including for the first time, a secondary payment structure which was one of the members' key concerns,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. "The courage of our members and their fortitude these many months has been admirable and I salute them. We are always stronger together."
Keythe Farley, chair of the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Negotiating Committee, said the strike delivered key victories for member performers in the video game community.
“The bonus payments we have now are significantly larger now than what we had 11 months ago. And the existence of additional payments beyond your session fee is in the video game world for good, both in our high-budget and independent promulgated agreements,” said Farley. “Those are the victories that this strike has brought us.”
Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez, who was the lead negotiator on the new contract, said that the deal includes significant improvements in the area of transparency.
“The new transparency provisions will enhance the bargaining power of our members’ representatives by requiring the companies to disclose the code name of project, its genre, whether the game is based on previously published intellectual property and whether the performer is reprising a prior role,” said Rodriguez. “Members are also protected by the disclosure of whether they will be required to use unusual terminology, profanity or racial slurs, whether there will be content of a sexual or violent nature and whether stunts will be required.”
The deal also contains an employer commitment to continue working with SAG-AFTRA on the issue of vocal stress during the term of the agreement. Moreover, the agreement does not include several proposals sought by management, including a provision that would have fined performers for being late or distracted at session, another that would have required agents to submit performers for low-paying “atmospheric voice” sessions or face fines, and a possible revocation of their union franchise, and another that would have allowed employers to use their permanent staff to do covered work outside of the collective bargaining agreement.
The contract will next be reviewed by the SAG-AFTRA National Board at its October meeting.