Current:Home > MyStriking Hollywood actors vote to authorize new walkout against video game makers -FinanceMind
Striking Hollywood actors vote to authorize new walkout against video game makers
View
Date:2025-04-12 19:24:22
LOS ANGELES — Striking actors have voted to expand their walkout to include the lucrative video game market, a step that could put new pressure on Hollywood studios to make a deal with the performers who provide voices and stunts for games.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists announced the move late Monday, saying that 98% of its members voted to go on strike against video game companies if ongoing negotiations are not successful. The announcement came ahead of more talks planned for Tuesday.
Acting in video games can include a variety of roles, from voice performances to motion capture work as well as stunts. Video game actors went on strike in 2016 in a work stoppage that lasted nearly a year.
Some of the same issues are at play in the video game negotiations as in the broader actors strike that has shut down Hollywood for months, including wages, safety measures and protections on the use of artificial intelligence. The companies involved include gaming giants Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take 2 Productions as well as Disney and Warner Bros.' video game divisions.
"It's time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract," SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.
More:Every Hollywood awards show, major movie postponed by writers' and actors' strikes
Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for video game producers, said they are "continuing to negotiate in good faith" and have reached tentative agreements on more than half of the proposals on the table.
So far this year, U.S. consumers have spent $34.9 billion on video games, consoles and accessories, according to market research group Circana.
The threat of a video game strike emerged as Hollywood writers were on the verge of getting back to work after months on the picket lines.
A new spirit of optimism animated actors who were picketing Tuesday for the first time since writers reached their tentative deal Sunday night.
More:Hollywood writers and studios reach tentative agreement to end historic 146-day strike
"For a hot second, I really thought that this was going to go on until next year," said Marissa Cuevas, an actor who has appeared on the TV series "Kung Fu" and "The Big Bang Theory." "Knowing that at least one of us has gotten a good deal gives a lot of hope that we will also get a good deal."
Writers' picket lines have been suspended, but they were encouraged to walk in solidarity with actors, and many were on the lines Tuesday, including "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner, who picketed alongside friend and "ER" actor Noah Wyle as he has throughout the strikes.
"We would never have had the leverage we had if SAG had not gone out," Weiner said. "They were very brave to do it."
Crucial steps remain for the writers, who technically remain on strike, and for other workers awaiting a return to production of new shows.
The next phase comes Tuesday, when the governing boards of the two branches of the Writers Guild of America are expected to vote on the tentative agreement reached by union negotiators with Hollywood studios.
Following approval from the union's boards — which is likely — comes a vote from the writers themselves, although the timing is uncertain.
"I very much feel like we'll vote in favor of it," Writers Guild member Kyra Jones said. "I trust that the negotiating committee did not settle for a bad deal. That would have made no sense to do this far in."
The guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios, streaming services and production companies in the negotiations, were still finalizing contract language Monday.
More:Drew Barrymore to return amid writer's strike. Which other daytime talk shows will follow?
That could prompt a delay of the voting and has kept union leaders from sharing with writers the details of what nearly five months of striking and hardship earned them. The leaders have promised to hold a series of meetings later this week to share the terms of the deal regarding pay, show staffing and artificial intelligence.
The guild's leaders told them only that the agreement is "exceptional," with gains for every member. A successful yes vote from the membership will finally, officially, bring the strike to an end.
Among the unions on strike, the studio alliance has chosen to negotiate only with the writers so far, and has made no overtures yet toward restarting talks with SAG-AFTRA. That will presumably change soon.
SAG-AFTRA leaders have said they will look closely at the writers' agreement, which includes many of the same issues, but it will not effect their demands.
More:Why the Hollywood strikes are not over even after screenwriters and studios reach agreement
Contrbuting: Leslie Ambriz, Krysta Fauria, The Associated Press
veryGood! (4249)
Related
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Democratic mayors renew pleas for federal help and coordination with Texas over migrant crisis
- Travis Barker Gives Kids Alabama and Landon These $140,000 Gifts for Christmas
- Fantasy football rankings for Week 17: Healthy QBs hold keys to championship quest
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Almcoin Trading Center: Why is Inscription So Popular?
- Over 50 French stars defend Gérard Depardieu with essay amid sexual misconduct claims
- Barbra Streisand says she's embracing sexuality with age: 'I'm too old to care'
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Jury deadlocks in trial of Alabama man accused of 1988 killing of 11-year-old Massachusetts girl
Ranking
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Utah Couple Dies in Car Crash While Driving to Share Pregnancy News With Family
- Flag football gives female players sense of community, scholarship options and soon shot at Olympics
- Shakira’s hometown unveils a giant statue of the beloved Colombian pop star
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Amazon Prime Video will start showing ads in January. Will you have to pay more?
- Mississippi health department says some medical marijuana products are being retested for safety
- Amazon Prime Video will start showing ads in January. Will you have to pay more?
Recommendation
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Amazon Prime Video will start showing ads in January. Will you have to pay more?
Flag football gives female players sense of community, scholarship options and soon shot at Olympics
House where 4 University of Idaho students were killed is set to be demolished
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
Prominent Republican Georgia lawmaker Barry Fleming appointed to judgeship
Gaston Glock, the Austrian developer of the Glock handgun, dies at 94
Michigan Supreme Court rejects bid to keep Trump off 2024 primary ballot