Latest news with #ScreenActorsGuild-AmericanFederationofTelevisionandRadioArtists'
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Video game actors are voting on a new contract. Here's what it means for AI in gaming
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An 11-month strike by video game performers could formally end this week if members ratify a deal that delivers pay raises, control over their likenesses and artificial intelligence protections. The agreement feels 'like diamond amounts of pressure suddenly lifted,' said Sarah Elmaleh, a voice actor and chair of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' interactive branch negotiating committee. Union members have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific to vote on ratifying the tentative agreement. Voice and body performers for video games raised concerns that unregulated use of AI could displace them and threaten their artistic autonomy. 'It's obviously far from resolved,' Elmaleh said. 'But the idea that that we're in a zone where we might have concluded this feels like a lightening and a relief.' AI concerns are especially dire in the video game industry, where human performers infuse characters with distinctive movements, shrieks, falls and plot-twisting dialogue. 'I hope and I believe that our members, when they look back on this, will say all of the sacrifices and difficulty we put ourselves through to achieve this agreement will ultimately be worth it because we do have the key elements that we need to feel confident and moving forward in this business,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator. Here's a look at the contract currently up for vote, and what it means for the future of the video game industry. How did the current strike play out? Video game performers went on strike last July following nearly two years of failed negotiations with major game studios, as both sides remained split over generative AI regulations. More than 160 games signed interim agreements accepting AI provisions SAG-AFTRA was seeking, the union said, which allowed some work to continue. The video game industry is a massive global industry, generating an estimated $187 billion in 2024, according to game market forecaster Newzoo. 'OD,' and 'Physint' were two games delayed due to the strike during the filming and casting stage, video game developer Hideo Kojima wrote in December. Riot Games, a video game developer, announced that same month that some new skins in 'League of Legends' would have to use existing voice-overs, since new content couldn't be recorded by striking actors. Skins are cosmetic items that can change the visual appearance of a player and is sometimes equipped with new voice-overs and unique recorded lines. The proposed contract 'builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union' to deliver 'historic wage increases' and 'industry-leading AI provisions,' wrote Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers involved in the deal. 'We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world,' Cooling wrote. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists. The agreement was ratified with 90% support, with 10% of members voting. The proposed contract secures an increase in performer compensation of just over 15% upon ratification and an additional 3% increase each year of the three-year contract. How would AI use change in video games? AI concerns have taken center stage as industries across various sectors attempt to keep up with the fast-evolving technology. It's a fight that Hollywood writers and actors undertook during the historic film and TV strikes that forced the industry to a stop in 2023. 'In the last few years, it's become obvious that we are at an inflection point where rules of the road have to be set for AI, and if they aren't, the consequences are potentially very serious,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'I think that really made this negotiation extra important for all of us.' SAG-AFTRA leaders have billed the issues behind the labor dispute — and AI in particular — as an existential crisis for performers. Game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses, they say, could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. The proposed contract delineates clear restrictions on when and how video game companies can create digital replicas, which use AI to generate new performances that weren't recorded by an actor. Employers must obtain written permission from a performer to create a digital replica — consent which must be granted during the performer's lifetime and is valid after death unless otherwise limited, the contract states. The time spent creating a digital replica will be compensated as the same amount of work time it would have required for a new performance. The agreement also requires the employer to provide the performer with a usage report that details how the replica was used and calculates the expected compensation. Elmaleh, who has been voice acting since 2010 and had to turn down projects throughout the strike, said securing these gains required voice actors bring vulnerability and openness to the bargaining table. 'We talked a lot about the personal, the way it affects our displacement as workers and just the sustainability of our careers,' Elmaleh said. 'Our work involves your inner child. It's being very vulnerable, it's being playful.' What's next for the video game industry? The tentative agreement centers on consent, compensation and transparency, which union leaders say are key elements needed for the industry to keep progressing. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. As the contract is considered by union members, Elmaleh and Crabtree-Ireland said further work needs to be done to ensure the provisions are as broad as necessary. 'Even though there's a deal that's been made now, and we've locked in a lot of really crucial protections and guardrails, the things that we haven't been able to achieve yet, we're going to be continuing to fight for them,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'Every time these contracts expire is our chance to improve upon them.' Elmaleh said she hopes both the video game companies and performers can soon work collaboratively to develop guidelines on AI as the technology evolves — a process she said should start well the proposed contract would expire in October 2028. Leading negotiations has felt like a full-time job for Elmaleh, who took on the role in a volunteer capacity. As the efforts die down, she said she anxiously anticipates returning to video game acting in a landscape that is safer for performers. Voice acting 'is core to who I am. It's why I fought so hard for this. I wouldn't do this if I didn't love what I do so much. I think it's so special and worthy of protection,' she said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Striking video game actors are voting on a new contract. Here's what it means for AI in gaming
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An 11-month strike by video game performers could formally end this week if members ratify a deal that delivers pay raises, control over their likenesses and artificial intelligence protections. The agreement feels 'like diamond amounts of pressure suddenly lifted,' said Sarah Elmaleh, a voice actor and chair of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' interactive branch negotiating committee. Union members have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific to vote on ratifying the tentative agreement. Voice and body performers for video games raised concerns that unregulated use of AI could displace them and threaten their artistic autonomy. 'It's obviously far from resolved,' Elmaleh said. 'But the idea that that we're in a zone where we might have concluded this feels like a lightening and a relief.' AI concerns are especially dire in the video game industry, where human performers infuse characters with distinctive movements, shrieks, falls and plot-twisting dialogue. 'I hope and I believe that our members, when they look back on this, will say all of the sacrifices and difficulty we put ourselves through to achieve this agreement will ultimately be worth it because we do have the key elements that we need to feel confident and moving forward in this business,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator. Here's a look at the contract currently up for vote, and what it means for the future of the video game industry. How did the current strike play out? Video game performers went on strike last July following nearly two years of failed negotiations with major game studios, as both sides remained split over generative AI regulations. More than 160 games signed interim agreements accepting AI provisions SAG-AFTRA was seeking, the union said, which allowed some work to continue. The video game industry is a massive global industry, generating an estimated $187 billion in 2024, according to game market forecaster Newzoo. 'OD,' and 'Physint' were two games delayed due to the strike during the filming and casting stage, video game developer Hideo Kojima wrote in December. Riot Games, a video game developer, announced that same month that some new skins in 'League of Legends' would have to use existing voice-overs, since new content couldn't be recorded by striking actors. Skins are cosmetic items that can change the visual appearance of a player and is sometimes equipped with new voice-overs and unique recorded lines. The proposed contract "builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union" to deliver 'historic wage increases' and 'industry-leading AI provisions," wrote Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers involved in the deal. 'We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world,' Cooling wrote. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists. The agreement was ratified with 90% support, with 10% of members voting. The proposed contract secures an increase in performer compensation of just over 15% upon ratification and an additional 3% increase each year of the three-year contract. How would AI use change in video games? AI concerns have taken center stage as industries across various sectors attempt to keep up with the fast-evolving technology. It's a fight that Hollywood writers and actors undertook during the historic film and TV strikes that forced the industry to a stop in 2023. 'In the last few years, it's become obvious that we are at an inflection point where rules of the road have to be set for AI, and if they aren't, the consequences are potentially very serious,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'I think that really made this negotiation extra important for all of us.' SAG-AFTRA leaders have billed the issues behind the labor dispute — and AI in particular — as an existential crisis for performers. Game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses, they say, could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. The proposed contract delineates clear restrictions on when and how video game companies can create digital replicas, which use AI to generate new performances that weren't recorded by an actor. Employers must obtain written permission from a performer to create a digital replica — consent which must be granted during the performer's lifetime and is valid after death unless otherwise limited, the contract states. The time spent creating a digital replica will be compensated as the same amount of work time it would have required for a new performance. The agreement also requires the employer to provide the performer with a usage report that details how the replica was used and calculates the expected compensation. Elmaleh, who has been voice acting since 2010 and had to turn down projects throughout the strike, said securing these gains required voice actors bring vulnerability and openness to the bargaining table. 'We talked a lot about the personal, the way it affects our displacement as workers and just the sustainability of our careers,' Elmaleh said. 'Our work involves your inner child. It's being very vulnerable, it's being playful.' What's next for the video game industry? The tentative agreement centers on consent, compensation and transparency, which union leaders say are key elements needed for the industry to keep progressing. As the contract is considered by union members, Elmaleh and Crabtree-Ireland said further work needs to be done to ensure the provisions are as broad as necessary. 'Even though there's a deal that's been made now, and we've locked in a lot of really crucial protections and guardrails, the things that we haven't been able to achieve yet, we're going to be continuing to fight for them,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'Every time these contracts expire is our chance to improve upon them.' Elmaleh said she hopes both the video game companies and performers can soon work collaboratively to develop guidelines on AI as the technology evolves — a process she said should start well the proposed contract would expire in October 2028. Leading negotiations has felt like a full-time job for Elmaleh, who took on the role in a volunteer capacity. As the efforts die down, she said she anxiously anticipates returning to video game acting in a landscape that is safer for performers. Voice acting 'is core to who I am. It's why I fought so hard for this. I wouldn't do this if I didn't love what I do so much. I think it's so special and worthy of protection,' she said. Itzel Luna, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SAG-AFTRA reaffirms 'unwavering commitment' to DEI as Hollywood studios scale back
SAG-AFTRA is sticking with diversity, equity and inclusion, even as major forces in Hollywood distance themselves from such measures. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' national board adopted a resolution on Saturday that made clear the union is doubling down on its DEI efforts. "[D]iversity, equity, and inclusion are not only moral imperatives but also crucial to the creative and economic vitality of our industry, ensuring that stories told on screen resonate with and reflect the lived experiences of all audiences," the resolution stated. "[S]ystemic barriers to full and fair inclusion, equal employment opportunity, and accessibility persist, requiring continued vigilance and advocacy to ensure that progress is maintained and accelerated." The SAG-AFTRA board acknowledged that "substantial work" still needs to be done in order for people from all paths of life to feel "equitably represented both in front of and behind the camera." Read more: In Trump's second term, Hollywood sweeps DEI efforts under the rug In 2020, amid repeated calls for racial justice, studios and entertainment companies committed to donating millions of dollars to civil rights and anti-racist organizations, established in-house talent development programs to nurture underrepresented creatives, and instituted new requirements for diverse hiring and inclusive business practices. Saturday's resolution stated that the union reaffirmed its "unwavering commitment to equal employment opportunity, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as fundamental to the mission of our union and the future of our industry." It added that it longed to continue holding the entertainment industry accountable to abiding by contractual obligations that ensure DEI initiatives are met. According to its website, SAG-AFTRA "represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals." Read more: Hollywood's DEI commitments were slipping even before Trump. Now they're vanishing fast SAG-AFTRA's mission to "reflect the richness and depth of the American Scene in all its infinite diversity in infinite combinations," comes at a time when other major players in the Hollywood studio system have gone in the other direction. The reversals and restructuring of Hollywood's DEI programs came after President Trump issued an executive order in January that tasked the U.S. attorney general with going after private-sector DEI programs that, according to the president, constitute illegal discrimination based on race and sex. Soon after the mandate, the Federal Communications Commission launched an inquiry into NBCUniversal owner Comcast Corp. to 'root out' DEI-based initiatives. In February, Walt Disney Co. announced it would be shifting its internal DEI policies by replacing a "diversity and inclusion" performance factor for executive compensation planning with a 'talent strategies' standard. This move signaled a shift from when the company combated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after it raised objections to Florida's anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation. Recently, Disney removed a trans athlete storyline from its Pixar animated series 'Win or Lose,' saying at the time that 'many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.' Warner Bros. Discovery stepped into the DEI waters by announcing it would rebrand its DEI initiatives as just "inclusion." Paramount Global reacted by dropping staffing goals related to gender, race, ethnicity and sex. This move away from DEI programs is not one specific to the Hollywood machine. Retail stores such such as Target, Walmart and Lowe's have pledged that they will either end or cut back on diversity initiatives, many of which were put into place just a few years ago. Major tech companies, including Meta (Facebook's parent company), Google and Amazon, are also scaling back on DEI. The Times' Company Town senior editor Ryan Faughnder and staff writer Samantha Masunaga contributed to this report. Read more: Trump opens investigations at three California colleges alleging DEI-based discrimination Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
SAG-AFTRA reaffirms ‘unwavering commitment' to DEI as Hollywood studios scale back
SAG-AFTRA is sticking with diversity, equity and inclusion, even as major forces in Hollywood distance themselves from such measures. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' national board adopted a resolution on Saturday that made clear the union is doubling down on its DEI efforts. '[D]iversity, equity, and inclusion are not only moral imperatives but also crucial to the creative and economic vitality of our industry, ensuring that stories told on screen resonate with and reflect the lived experiences of all audiences,' the resolution stated. '[S]ystemic barriers to full and fair inclusion, equal employment opportunity, and accessibility persist, requiring continued vigilance and advocacy to ensure that progress is maintained and accelerated.' The SAG-AFTRA board acknowledged that 'substantial work' still needs to be done in order for people from all paths of life to feel 'equitably represented both in front of and behind the camera.' In 2020, amid repeated calls for racial justice, studios and entertainment companies committed to donating millions of dollars to civil rights and anti-racist organizations, established in-house talent development programs to nurture underrepresented creatives, and instituted new requirements for diverse hiring and inclusive business practices. Saturday's resolution stated that the union reaffirmed its 'unwavering commitment to equal employment opportunity, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as fundamental to the mission of our union and the future of our industry.' It added that it longed to continue holding the entertainment industry accountable to abiding by contractual obligations that ensure DEI initiatives are met. According to its website, SAG-AFTRA 'represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals.' SAG-AFTRA's mission to 'reflect the richness and depth of the American Scene in all its infinite diversity in infinite combinations,' comes at a time when other major players in the Hollywood studio system have gone in the other direction. The reversals and restructuring of Hollywood's DEI programs came after President Trump issued an executive order in January that tasked the U.S. attorney general with going after private-sector DEI programs that, according to the president, constitute illegal discrimination based on race and sex. Soon after the mandate, the Federal Communications Commission launched an inquiry into NBCUniversal owner Comcast Corp. to 'root out' DEI-based initiatives. In February, Walt Disney Co. announced it would be shifting its internal DEI policies by replacing a 'diversity and inclusion' performance factor for executive compensation planning with a 'talent strategies' standard. This move signaled a shift from when the company combated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after it raised objections to Florida's anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation. Recently, Disney removed a trans athlete storyline from its Pixar animated series 'Win or Lose,' saying at the time that 'many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.' Warner Bros. Discovery stepped into the DEI waters by announcing it would rebrand its DEI initiatives as just 'inclusion.' Paramount Global reacted by dropping staffing goals related to gender, race, ethnicity and sex. This move away from DEI programs is not one specific to the Hollywood machine. Retail stores such such as Target, Walmart and Lowe's have pledged that they will either end or cut back on diversity initiatives, many of which were put into place just a few years ago. Major tech companies, including Meta (Facebook's parent company), Google and Amazon, are also scaling back on DEI. The Times' Company Town senior editor Ryan Faughnder and staff writer Samantha Masunaga contributed to this report.
