Video game voice actors may be going on strike
Reports and Twitter activity are suggesting that several prominent video game voice actors may go on strike to protest for better conditions and pay.
SAG-AFTRA, the union for actors, is currently considering a strike action to resolve current complaints about how voice actors are treated and dealt with in the video game industry.
Members of the union are seeking better back-end bonus rates, with a proposal that bonuses trigger every 2 million sales, to protect smaller publishers. There are also calls for stunt coordinators and stunt pay, as more and more voice acting performances require motion capture.
More information about the strike is available on the SAG-AFTRA website.
Numerous prominent voice actors within the industry have been tweeting using the hashtags #PerformanceMatters and #iAmOnBoard2015 in solidarity with the strike action.
I love voice acting in video games, but our employers don't seem to think #PerformanceMatters, so I voted YES to strike. #iamonboard2015
— Wil Wheaton (@wilw) September 22, 2015
Standing by fellow actors and friends. #PerformanceMatters. If you'd like actors who work on videogames to be treated well, you should too.
— Elias Toufexis (@EliasToufexis) September 22, 2015
voted YES bc
#performancematters
#Iamonboard2015 pic.twitter.com/RxsdD1S1Zj
— Jennifer Hale (@jhaletweets) September 22, 2015
Dear actors & gamers! Do you think #PerformanceMatters in video games? We do! Retweet if you agree. #iAmOnBoard2015 pic.twitter.com/VywFk4EcEw
— Gideon Emery (@gideonemery) September 22, 2015
Voice acting in video games requires a special skill set that producers don't seem to appreciate…#iAmOnBoard2015
— Sean Schemmel (@SeanSchemmel) September 22, 2015
Gonna share some of my fav fan tweets proving #PerformanceMatters pic.twitter.com/HPLmNGqYh2
— tara strong (@tarastrong) September 22, 2015
75% of voting members would need to approve the strike for it to go ahead. We will have more on this if the strike goes ahead.
Thanks, Game Informer.