Actors Unions may strike video game makers

[Kolzig]

Hollywood's two principal actors' unions, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), have entered a critical phase of their negotiations with the major producers of video games with odds of a strike regarded as even, Daily Variety reported.

Complicating matters, the trade paper observed, is the fact that video game publishers have created no umbrella organization comparable to the Association of Motion Picture & Television Producers to represent them with the unions. It said that one medium-sized publisher wasn't even aware that such talks were going on and appeared "nonplussed" by the possibility of a strike, saying that his company uses mostly non-union talent.

A strike would most affect the industry with regard to the use of big names. From Clint Eastwood to Vin Diesel to Heather Graham and even Marlon Brando in EA's "Godfather" adaptation, A-list talent is turning from a rarity to a must-have in the Video game world. SAG is increasingly hungry for residuals to be part of a mix, because when a game hits, it can hit big -- bigger than the heftiest studio blockbuster, in some cases.

The current contract is expiring on Friday, that's today.

Too bad that Variety isn't free.

[netmonkey]

Are actors going so stand in fron of the offices of companies like EA with signs that say mean things about video game companies?

[Salka]

Christopher Walken says: HONK IF YOU LIKE COOKIES!!!

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Hollywood's two principal actors' unions, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), have entered a critical phase of their negotiations with the major producers of video games with odds of a strike regarded as even, Daily Variety reported.

Complicating matters, the trade paper observed, is the fact that video game publishers have created no umbrella organization comparable to the Association of Motion Picture & Television Producers to represent them with the unions. It said that one medium-sized publisher wasn't even aware that such talks were going on and appeared "nonplussed" by the possibility of a strike, saying that his company uses mostly non-union talent.

A strike would most affect the industry with regard to the use of big names. From Clint Eastwood to Vin Diesel to Heather Graham and even Marlon Brando in EA's "Godfather" adaptation, A-list talent is turning from a rarity to a must-have in the Video game world. SAG is increasingly hungry for residuals to be part of a mix, because when a game hits, it can hit big -- bigger than the heftiest studio blockbuster, in some cases,

This is good for the games industry. It's forcing it to finally grow the fuck up. We need more of these kinds of uprisings. First the whole stink over EA's slavedriving of its employees, now this. Things can only get better in the long run.

[Kolzig]

"Representatives of Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and a group of video game publishers have agreed to extend the current interactive agreements to May 13, 2005. Discussions on successor interactive agreements are continuing.

A press blackout remains in effect."