Friday, September 20, 2024
HomeEntertainmentActors vote to authorize walkout against video game makers

Actors vote to authorize walkout against video game makers

Published on

spot_img



LOS ANGELES — Striking actors have voted to expand their walkout to include the lucrative video game market, a step that could put new pressure on Hollywood studios to make a deal with the performers who provide voices and stunts for games.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists announced the move late Monday, saying that 98% of its members voted to go on strike against video game companies if ongoing negotiations are not successful. The announcement came ahead of more talks planned for Tuesday.

Acting in video games can include a variety of roles, from voice performances to motion capture work as well as stunts. Video game actors went on strike in 2016 in a work stoppage that lasted nearly a year.

Some of the same issues are at play in the video game negotiations as in the broader actors strike that has shut down Hollywood for months, including wages, safety measures and protections on the use of artificial intelligence. The companies involved include gaming giants Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take 2 Productions as well as Disney and Warner Bros.′ video game divisions.

“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.

The threat of a video game strike emerged as Hollywood writers were on the verge of getting back to work after months on the picket lines.

A new spirit of optimism animated actors who were picketing Tuesday for the first time since writers reached their tentative deal Sunday night.

See also  Gregg Wallace and the celebrities who have overshared their daily routines

“For a hot second, I really thought that this was going to go on until next year,” said Marissa Cuevas, an actor who has appeared on the TV series “Kung Fu” and “The Big Bang Theory.” “Knowing that at least one of us has gotten a good deal gives a lot of hope that we will also get a good deal.”

Writers’ picket lines have been suspended, but they were encouraged to walk in solidarity with actors, and many were on the lines Tuesday, including “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, who picketed alongside friend and “ER” actor Noah Wyle as he has throughout the strikes.

“We would never have had the leverage we had if SAG had not gone out,” Weiner said. “They were very brave to do it.”

Crucial steps remain for the writers, who technically remain on strike, and for other workers awaiting a return to production of new shows.

The next phase comes Tuesday, when the governing boards of the two branches of the Writers Guild of America are expected to vote on the tentative agreement reached by union negotiators with Hollywood studios.

Following approval from the union’s boards — which is likely — comes a vote from the writers themselves, although the timing is uncertain.

“I very much feel like we’ll vote in favor of it,” Writers Guild member Kyra Jones said. “I trust that the negotiating committee did not settle for a bad deal. That would have made no sense to do this far in.”

The guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios, streaming services and production companies in the negotiations, were still finalizing contract language Monday.

See also  Till Lindemann: Police drop investigation of Rammstein star

That could prompt a delay of the voting and has kept union leaders from sharing with writers the details of what nearly five months of striking and hardship earned them. The leaders have promised to hold a series of meetings later this week to share the terms of the deal regarding pay, show staffing and artificial intelligence.

The guild’s leaders told them only that the agreement is “exceptional,” with gains for every member. A successful yes vote from the membership will finally, officially, bring the strike to an end.

Among the unions on strike, the studio alliance has chosen to negotiate only with the writers so far, and has made no overtures yet toward restarting talks with SAG-AFTRA. That will presumably change soon.

SAG-AFTRA leaders have said they will look closely at the writers’ agreement, which includes many of the same issues, but it will not effect their demands.

Associated Press video journalists Leslie Ambriz and Krysta Fauria in Los Angeles contributed to this report.



Source link

Latest articles

Padres continue playoff push against historically bad White Sox – San Diego Union-Tribune

On their way to the postseason, a destination that is practically inevitable now,...

Man charged with murder in shooting death of Long Beach student

article Troy Lamar Fox, 34, was charged with the murder...

Sublime Biopic Casts KJ Apa as Bradley Nowell

The band's original members, Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, are producing the film,...

Guide to Repositioning Cruises — and 5 to Book Now

As I stepped off the pier and onto my ship in Ushuaia,...

More like this

Padres continue playoff push against historically bad White Sox – San Diego Union-Tribune

On their way to the postseason, a destination that is practically inevitable now,...

Man charged with murder in shooting death of Long Beach student

article Troy Lamar Fox, 34, was charged with the murder...

Sublime Biopic Casts KJ Apa as Bradley Nowell

The band's original members, Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, are producing the film,...