Video Game Union Performers Call for AI Protections at Disney Picket: “This Is Not Something We Can Wait For”

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, witnessing the ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game performers’ strike feels like a grim deja vu. I remember the 2023 actors’ strike vividly, and it seems history is repeating itself in a digital realm.

The sight brought a familiar feeling: a row of artists bearing SAG-AFTRA banners, rotating endlessly, all while being scorched by the intense Burbank midsummer sunlight.

Having worked as a film and television actor for over two decades, I’ve seen my fair share of labor disputes and union struggles. The 2023 actors’ strike, where we called on studios to address our concerns about compensation in the streaming era and AI protections, was one that left a lasting impact on me and many others.

On Thursday, SAG-AFTRA held their second protest, which followed a strike they initiated against video game companies on July 25th. The performers initially gathered outside Warner Bros. Games on August 1st, and then moved about 1.6 kilometers away to picket in front of Disney’s building two weeks later. Currently, SAG-AFTRA is also on strike against Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Insomniac Games, and several other companies as well.

According to the union’s national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, our members understand that if this contract lacks adequate AI protections, their ability to earn a living in this business could be threatened throughout the duration of this contract. This issue is not something that can be postponed.

Signs reading “Game over” and “Time to destroy AI” were visible during the Disney protest. Sarah Elmaleh (God of War Ragnarok, Halo Infinite), the head of the union’s negotiation committee for this agreement, stated, “We went into these negotiations understanding that this matter is crucial and we couldn’t accept a deal without it.” She further explained that when the strike was initiated, “We believed we had exhausted all possible means” to reach an agreement.

In their recent negotiations, SAG-AFTRA’s representatives stated that video game companies only agreed to limited but potentially insufficient AI proposals during their final formal meeting. These proposals, if implemented, could have left stunt and movement performers at significant risk. However, a representative for the video game industry has retorted that their proposal addresses SAG-AFTRA’s concerns directly and provides robust AI protections. This includes obtaining consent and fair compensation for all performers under the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA), a provision they claim is among the strongest in the entertainment industry.

Despite SAG-AFTRA’s objection, there haven’t been any significant breakthroughs in negotiations between union representatives and the companies since the work stoppage commenced on July 26. Informal discussions have taken place, but so far, they haven’t led to resolving the deadlock yet.

On Thursdays demonstration, an atmosphere of enthusiasm and casualness prevailed, filled with music echoing loud and a drummer keeping the rhythm for the protesters along Olive Ave. Not only SAG-AFTRA actors were present, but also union members from the American Federation of Musicians, IATSE (crew union) and the Writers Guild of America. Burbank City Council member Konstantine Anthony, who is a SAG-AFTRA member himself, and Adam Conover, a board member of the Writers Guild of America West, were among the crowd.

That easy vibe belied the high stakes that performers talked about in conversation. Stunt and motion capture performer Jasiri Booker (Spider-Man 2) called the possibilities represented by AI “scary.” He said, “If we are just giving [companies] an unprecedented amount of our data, and not just any data, really good data, they can use our movement to create new performances over and over and over again … It could potentially spell the end of this industry for human beings working in it, at least.” Booker was hoping that the strike ends with the union “setting some sort of standard, or at least getting a foot in the door to continue these conversations.”

As a game enthusiast and aspiring motion-capture artist like Seth Allyn Austin (known for his work in ‘The Last of Us’ parts one and two), I can personally relate to the impact video games had on shaping my career aspirations. I was captivated as a kid, watching the agile movements of characters in games such as ‘Mortal Kombat’, ‘Spider-Man’, and ‘Super Mario’. Now, I strive to inspire the next wave of game performers with my own work. It’s disheartening to think that my profession could be replaced by generative AI, mimicking performances based on data I might have contributed to its training. It’s not just cost-effective; it feels like a slap in the face. Moreover, it seems to rob future performers of the thrill and creativity that comes with crafting characters in video games.

Performers affiliated with SAG-AFTRA can continue working in video game production as long as companies opt for either the Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement or the Interim Interactive Media Agreement offered by the union, which contain the terms regarding AI that the union is aiming to establish with prominent firms.

During the Thursday protest, a spontaneous dance erupted as rapper V.I.C.’s “Wobble” filled the air through the speakers. Addressing the crowd, Crabtree-Ireland stated, “Evidently, the enthusiasm and dedication among our members are unwavering. We’re not lacking in either passion or commitment. We will persistently fight this battle until we secure the necessary protections within the video game contract.”

Regarding his hopes for how the community might recall the 2024 SAG-AFTRA video game strike in years to come: “I’d like us to remember it as being brief,” he expressed.

2024-08-16 01:25

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