Canadian-US actor Keanu Reeves announces the new video game "Cyberpunk 2077" at the Microsoft Xbox press event ahead of the E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles on June 9, 2019.
Hollywood actors on strike have decided to target the lucrative video game industry. This move might increase the pressure on the gaming studios to reach an agreement with the performers who supply the voices and stunts for the platforms.
The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) made the announcement late on Monday night, September 25, indicating that 98% of their members decided to go on strike against video game firms if continuing negotiations were unsuccessful.
Strike for Video Game Performers
Acting in video games may range from providing a vocal performance to doing motion capture or stunts. In 2016, voice actors in video games staged a strike that lasted for over a year, according to AP News.
Wages, safety measures, and limitations on using artificial intelligence (AI) are all on the table in the video game discussions, just as they were in the larger actor strike that shut down Hollywood for months. Video game industry heavyweights Activision, Electronic Arts (EA), Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Take 2 Productions, and the video game divisions of Disney and Warner Bros. are among the firms engaged.
Fran Drescher, president of the SAG-AFTRA, issued a statement calling the video game industry to "stop playing games" and "get serious" about negotiating a new deal.
Also Read: Hollywood Strike Nears Conclusion After Writers Reach Tentative Deal with Studios: Reports
Hollywood Screenwriters, Actors Strike to End Soon
When Hollywood screenwriters and actors were finally on the brink of returning to their duties after months on strike, the possibility of a video game strike began to gain traction.
The writers, who are still officially on strike, and the other employees waiting to develop new productions have some important measures to take. The next step will occur on Tuesday, September 26, when the executive boards of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) will vote on the provisional deal agreed by union negotiators with Hollywood studios.
Writers will vote on the proposal when it has been approved by the union's boards (which is probable), but when this will happen is unknown.
On Monday, the two sides in the contract talks, the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP, representing studios, streaming services, and production businesses), were still ironing out the kinks.
This has prevented union officials from discussing the fruits of their almost five months of striking and struggling with the media, which might cause a delay in the vote. The leaders have committed to convene a series of meetings later this week to discuss the parameters of the agreement, including compensation, show staffing, and the use of AI.
According to the guild's officials, The striking members were informed that the deal was "exceptional" and that everyone would benefit from it. With a majority vote in favor, the strike might be called off for good.
