SAG-AFTRA Threatens Double Strike Against Film and Gaming Titans

SAG-AFTRA's members, already on strike action against films and TV shows, are now in the process of voting to authorize a separate strike against the video game industry. The guild's leadership claims a double strike, if necessary, is a logical move as both contracts are fighting similar issues. Guild members are advised by SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland to stand in solidarity to send a clear message to employers: exploitation will not be tolerated and fair terms are a requisite for member services.

Since July 14, SAG-AFTRA has been on strike against film and scripted TV productions. Voting to authorize a strike against 10 major video game companies - with whom contracts under the guild’s Interactive Media Agreement (IMA) were signed - began Tuesday of this week. The guild's previous strike against these gaming companies lasted 183 days in 2016-17.

In both the film/TV strike and the prospective gaming strike, key issues are wages and artificial intelligence usage. As part of the Interactive Media Agreement negotiations, the guild is aiming for an 11% wage increase in the first year and a 4% rise in the following two years - a measure they say is necessary for members' wages to keep up with inflation.

The guild stresses that last year the 10 companies signed to their video game contract amassed over $19 billion globally. However, these same employers are echoing the position of film and television industry employers when it comes to wages. In terms of artificial intelligence, the guild leadership highlights the threat of unregulated AI use to performers, particularly in the realm of voiceover work and performance capture. AI protection and informed consent clauses are viewed as vital safeguards against AI's potential misuse.

Safety is another concern raised by the guild in the video game contract. They state that the currently standing IMA lacks including rest periods for on-camera performers and set medics when performing stunts or hazardous work. Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game companies, says that they are negotiating in good faith and hope to reach a fair deal quickly.

Despite almost a year of bargaining for a new video game contract, guild leaders Drescher and Crabtree-Ireland inform members that companies still fail to address their needs. Voting on the strike authorization will end on September 25, and the guild strongly urges members to vote 'Yes' with the belief that without a potential work stoppage, management has little incentive to meet their demands.

Now that's all nice, neat, and knotty.

But let's pause for a moment on the most fascinating - and chilling - point in our digital drama: artificial intelligence. Imagine a future where AI can convincingly replicate a performer's voice, reducing talented artists to mere samples in a software package; a future where it won't just be stunt doubles risking their necks, but also their faces and even their nuances, being used to create characters with no physical actor required. Fun fact: that future is pretty much here.

And that's exactly what our embattled guild is trying to prevent. AI, the tantalizing techno-titan, may be a talk of the town in Silicon Valley, but for the entertainer folks, it's the echo of a menacing uproar, symbolizing job insecurity and exploitation. When we talk about AI revolutionizing industries, we have a habit of forgetting that it's going to directly hit people in a soft spot - their livelihoods.

Similarly, the issue of wages and inflation speak volumes. Companies raking in billions of dollars in revenue, yet there's a refusal to step up the pay grade of those contributing to this profit? That tune sounds unfortunately familiar, and it's high time we change the record.

Of course, only time will tell if the guild's maneuvers will result in victory or defeat. But one thing's for sure, when pixels and paychecks meet at the bargaining table, it's more than just headlines - it's a battle of future horizons, it's about human dignity in the digital age. And as the debate rages on, one has to wonder: in the game of technology versus talent, who will ultimately level up?