Will Hollywood be rocked by another strike this summer?

July 12, 2024

Published: July 12, 2024

Photo by SAG Instagram

Will Hollywood be rocked by another strike this summer?

By Movieguide® Contributor

For over a year and a half, SAG-AFTRA negotiators have been working to protect video game actors from artificial intelligence. And while important protections have already been achieved, the lack of cooperation from major studios could lead to a strike.

“(AI) is the biggest obstacle to reaching agreement,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, executive director of SAG-AFTRA. “The fundamental problem right now is the unwillingness of this bargaining group to provide all of our members with an equal level of protection from the dangers of AI.”

Similar to the writers’ and actors’ strike last year, SAG-AFTRA’s video game members are not fundamentally against AI; they just want control over how their data is used in connection with AI. The underlying fear is that studios will train AI on their past and current work, which would jeopardize their future job security.

“Our concern is that all this work is being fed into the mills that are pushing us out,” said Sarah Elmaleh, chair of the interactive negotiating committee. “You don’t have to call us back, you don’t have to be informed about what they have created with your material.”

While negotiators have succeeded in securing adequate protection for voice artists, other members of the union, such as stunt workers and motion capture artists, have not yet received the same level of respect from major studios.

This has led to numerous side deals where many indie developers have agreed to more comprehensive contracts while the major studios hold back. Because of this, future strikes would only affect the major studios that are still holding back, while the studios that have already signed a contract would be able to continue operating unaffected.

While union members are remaining patient to avoid disrupting operations and a drop in production like last year in Hollywood, tensions appear to be rising as the possibility of a strike grows.

Movieguide® previously reported:

As the future of AI in the entertainment industry continues to be explored, SAG-AFTRA signs a deal with AI voiceover company Replica Studios to set the terms for the use of the technology in video games.

Months after the strike ended, video game actors continue to fight for job security in their sector of the industry. Despite winning the right to strike over three months ago, video game actors have waited, hoping they can reach an agreement without disrupting their work schedule.

SAG-AFTRA has now presented studios with terms and conditions for creating AI-generated voiceovers that protect the actors used to create artificial voices. The terms also define requirements for the secure storage of digital assets.

The deal “enables Replica to engage SAG-AFTRA members under a fair, ethical agreement to securely create and license a digital replica of their voice. Licensed voices can be used in video game development and other interactive media projects from pre-production through final release,” SAG-AFTRA said.