SAG-AFTRA actors working in games are currently on strike, but there are two contracts studios can sign if they want to keep working with union actors.
The two interim agreements include the generative AI protections that actors are asking to be included in the final contract, and in a recent post SAG-AFTRA just announced that 80 games have signed those agreements.
That’s 80 games that won’t be delayed because of the strike, which shows that there are plenty of developers who are ready to keep working with the rules in place actors and performers are asking for.
“Eighty games have signed SAG-AFTRA’s tiered-budget or interim agreements, proving that the union’s provisions — which include common sense A.I. protections — are fair and achievable,” the blog announcing the news began.
“The union has been on strike against the major game developers since July, and these interim and tiered agreements provide employment opportunities to members during the work stoppage.”
SAG had previously announced that Lightspeed LA as the first studio to sign the interim agreement, so it’s great to see that they’re not alone.
PSU recently caught up with iconic games actor Jennifer Hale at Toronto’s Fan Expo, who confirmed prior to this announcement that there was plenty of work being done under the interim agreements.
She also provided her thoughts on the strike, and where the negotiations are falling apart. She’s seeing the breakdown happen when the lawyers get involved, and that in actuality both sides (SAG-AFTRA and the game studios) are very much aligned.
“It’s mainly falling apart when the spirit of what they’ve decided is handed to lawyers, and they have to codify the new boundaries. And there are loop-holes that are being left in, because a lawyers job is to serve their client, and their client is often companies and large companies,” she said.
You can check out the rest of the interview here.
Source – [SAG-AFTRA]