Hollywood Writers Union Ends Strike, Actors Expand Walkout to Video Game Market
After nearly five months of striking, the Hollywood writers union has finally declared an end to their labor dispute. The contract agreement with studios was approved by the governing boards of the Writers Guild of America’s eastern and western branches. The writers will still need to vote to ratify the contract themselves, but in the meantime, they are now free to work as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
While the writers are celebrating the resolution of their strike, Hollywood actors have decided to expand their own walkout to include the video game market. This move puts additional pressure on studios to reach a deal with actors who provide voices and stunts for games. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced that 98% of its members voted in favor of striking against video game companies if negotiations fail. Talks are scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
Acting in video games encompasses various roles, including voice performances, motion capture work, and stunts. This is not the first time video game actors have gone on strike. In 2016, they participated in a nearly year-long work stoppage. The issues at stake in the video game negotiations mirror those of the broader actors’ strike, including wages, safety measures, and protections related to the use of artificial intelligence. Companies involved in the negotiations are gaming giants such as Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take 2 Productions, Disney, and Warner Bros. video game divisions.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher emphasized the need for video game companies to take the negotiations seriously and reach an agreement. On the other side, Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for video game producers, stated that they are negotiating in good faith and have already reached tentative agreements on more than half of the proposals.
As the writers return to work, the studios, streaming services, and producers have yet to restart talks with SAG-AFTRA. However, given the similarities in the issues raised by the writers’ agreement, SAG-AFTRA leaders have expressed their intention to closely examine the deal. It remains to be seen how this will influence their demands.
The threat of a video game strike emerges just as the Hollywood writers’ strike is coming to an end. With the significant amount of money consumers spend on video games, reaching an agreement becomes crucial for all parties involved.
In conclusion, while the Hollywood writers’ union has put an end to their strike, the actors have expanded their walkout to the video game market. The resolution of the writers’ strike brings hope to the actors that they too will achieve a favorable deal. As negotiations continue, the focus now shifts to the video game industry and the demands actors have raised. The outcome of these negotiations will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the future of the entertainment industry.
