AI stealing our voices! Video Games or Game Over? | SAG AFTRA (new strike)

Hello friends!

Just logged in to quickly share this. As we know, another saga of strikes and Ai legislations and meanwhile, yes, we will survive. Industry fairness is possible;)

Aside of my personal experiments with some of the Ai programs, I am in a middle of figuring out my stuff with the help of Sag Aftra and my dear friend Derek from Megatrax who has pointed it out to me, otherwise I might have probably not even noticed, yet this topic I will cover later after it's done, and meanwhile I'm keeping my eyes on what's happening in our ever delayed and ever disturbed industry.

Video game performers are stuck in a grind. A.I. is stealing voices, and companies are hoarding profits. 

Wether you are in pre, production, or post production or both, you know what it is. Not planning to remain a 'Negative Nancy' in this chat, but very soon our industry will not look anything like it used to. That is fine, but what is not fine is contracts and exploit of artists. I do not not know how many of you that are reading this are also taking online sponsorships from time to time, but be aware that without proper contract, your image and likeness, creative dna or whichever component can be manipulated with artificial intelligence later on so it's about that time to include that boring agreement in all you do.  Speaking of video games, well, this huge industry that is expending and if you watched a movie "Player 1, 2 3 " then you know what's coming (Metaverse, Web 3 etc), so may that help you understand why your identity protection as an individual and working professional is crucial. Also, when it comes to branching out, there will be many new arias to branch out so it's good to stay updated on what's happening.

I'm going to share links that are super useful so check it out and sign that petition so that the contracts get finished asap and another milestone in this industry WW3 gets some order, or may Zack turn all of us into emojis ready for the web3, I'm cool with that, just keep our contracts under control, otherwise I bet majority of us would not mind if some emoji of us spend additional hours and hours on set, in studio etc. with the proper contracts. 

 

IMPORTANT  LINKS:

 Petition to Protect Voices from A.I. Theft: Click Here

View Strike Order - Click Here

Tiered Budget Interactive Media Agreement download: Click Here

The Interactive Media Agreements: Click Here

Interim Agreement: Producer's guide: Click Here

If you want union protections on a game you're working on:: Click Here

Social Media toolkit assets:  Click Here

With the exception of games signed to the Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement or an  Interim Interactive Media Agreement, the strike applies to all video game companies signed to the Interactive Media Agreement, regardless of whether or not they are members of the convenience bargaining group. That group consists of Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc. and WB Games Inc.

The  decision to strike comes after more than 18 months of negotiations in which the video game companies refused to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their A.I. language.

On July 20, 2024, the National Board delegated authority to the National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator, with advice and counsel of the National Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee, to call a strike of all covered services under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Interactive Media Agreement, Interactive Localization Agreement, and Interactive Low Budget Agreement (hereafter, together “the IMA”). On July 25, 2024, the National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator, with the unanimous advice and counsel of the National IMA Committee, exercised that authority and instructs all SAG-AFTRA members to cease rendering all services and performing all work covered by the IMA, effective at 12:01 a.m. July 26, 2024. Certain interactive programs, however, are not struck, and therefore not within the scope of this Strike Order.

These include interactive programs approved for an Interim Interactive Media Agreement or Interim Interactive Localization Agreement, or signed to a Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement that are not struck and members are encouraged to work these programs during the strike. To find out the status of a program, and whether it is within the scope of this Strike Order, go to sagaftra.org/videogamestrike and enter the Production ID and/or Code Name into the search function. Any questions regarding this strike order, including whether a particular program is struck, may be directed to videogamestrike@sagaftra.org.

Except for interactive programs identified as non-struck at sagaftra.org/videogamestrike, ALL SAG-AFTRA MEMBERS SHALL CEASE RENDERING ALL SERVICES AND PERFORMING ALL WORK COVERED BY THE IMA (which includes work for video games and related promotional programs and trailers), including, but not limited to:

● Acting

● Singing

● Dancing

● Performing stunts and related services

● Performance capture or motion capture work

● ADR/looping

● Voice acting, including performing sound-alike voice services

● Stand-in work

● Rehearsals and camera tests

● Auditions (including via self-tape) and generals

● Authorizing the use of your voice or likeness (which includes integration or reuse of work already performed)

● Promotional programs and trailers for struck games

● Performing on “downloadable content (DLC),” season passes, character drops, special events, and all other ancillary content connected to a struck game ● 

● **Promotion of/publicity services for a struck game in which you have been engaged as a SAG-AFTRA performer, such as:

○ Interviews

○ Social media

○ Fan expos

○ Festivals

○ Panels

○ Launch parties

○ Reveals

○ Award shows

○ Junkets

○ Podcast appearances

○ Personal appearances that are sponsored by and/or relating to specific struck games

○ Cast appearances or signings sponsored by and/or relating to specific struck games

○ Convention panels sponsored by and/or relating to specific struck games ○

**Given the close proximity of the calling of the strike with San Diego Comic-Con (“SDCC”), the foregoing rules relating to promotion and publicity services do not apply to promotion and publicity services provided at SDCC.

● Negotiating and/or entering into and/or consenting to:

○ An agreement to perform covered services in the future

○ The creation and use of digital replicas, including through the reuse of prior work To ensure compliance with the rule to withhold all covered services, members who are also employed in non-performing capacities should consult with SAG-AFTRA by emailing videogamestrike@sagaftra.org.

 

To the extent prohibited under applicable law, SAG-AFTRA will not discipline members for purely non-covered work done in other non-performing capacities. In addition to the withholding of all covered services, the following rules shall apply for the duration of the strike:

1. Members must not cross SAG-AFTRA picket lines to perform covered services for struck games within the scope of the strike order.

2. Members will not be subject to discipline for performing covered services for certain Interactive Programs that are not struck but are produced by struck companies; go to sagaftra.org/videogamestrike to identify whether a program falls into this category..

a. However, although you will not be subject to discipline, members may still choose to stand in solidarity with your fellow members by refusing to cross a picket line even for these games.

An Employer is contractually prohibited from discriminating against you for this choice. b. If you are engaged under a daily contract, you can show solidarity with your union members by not signing new contracts for the listed Interactive Programs.

3. Members must instruct their agent and/or other representatives to discontinue conducting negotiations on their behalf for covered services.

4. Members must inform SAG-AFTRA of all strikebreaking activity by emailing videogamestrike@sagaftra.org.

5. Members are also bound by any rules or interpretations set forth in the FAQs relating to this Strike Notice and Order.

FAQs are available at www.sagaftra.org/videogamestrike.

NOTICE TO NON-MEMBERS: SAG-AFTRA's National Board takes seriously any action undermining the effectiveness of a strike, especially a non-member performing covered work during a strike. SAG-AFTRA's Constitution provides that " The National Board has discretion to deny membership to any applicant if, in its judgment, their admission to membership would not be in the best interests of the union." Performing covered work for struck games jeopardizes your future membership in the union.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO MEMBERS: As always, our members are bound by Global Rule One, which states that “No member shall render any services or make an agreement to perform services for any employer who has not executed a basic minimum agreement with the union, which is in full force and effect, in any jurisdiction in which there is a SAG-AFTRA national collective bargaining agreement in place.

This provision applies worldwide.” In addition, any member that disregards this strike order shall be subject to discipline consistent with the SAG-AFTRA Constitution and the SAG-AFTRA Membership Rules, including but not limited to Rule 1(A), which provides, “No member shall render any services, or make an agreement to perform services, for any employer against whom the union is conducting a strike, nor shall any member otherwise violate any strike order of the union.”

Ok, that's it, soon I'll share some updates on my Youtube when it comes to my personal project, can't wait! cross fingers

..and stay strong!!

xo

@natashakeymusic

p.s Took a little digital detox break from social media, but I have read every DM xo , love ya'll!!! be back soon with some stuff;)