No strike, but no residual payments for voice actors eitherThe Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have been at odds with major video game publishers over payment voice actors receive for lending their talents to video games.?Both unions have argued that the publishers have not been providing a fair cut of video game profits for voice actors in light of the growth in revenue the video game industry has seen over past few years.
The unions urged publishers to adopt residual payment plans for actors, which they explain are the norm everywhere else in the entertainment industry.?Publishers have refused to do so, and?so the unions threatened a voice actor strike since May pending majority approval from their members.
However, now it appears the strike will not happen after all.?Both the unions and game publishers yesterday have reached a tentative agreement (pending final approval) where the publishers over the next three and a half years will increase the salaries provided in voice actor contracts by 36 percent, as well as provide increases in benefit contributions and greater protections.
As you might've guessed from this resolution, neither side got what they really wanted (royalties for the actors on the one hand,?status quo for the publishers on the other).?However, the storm cloud surrounding the use of recognized voice talent from both Hollywood and anime circles in games has lifted, at least for now.?Will the increased pay voice actors?receive pass down to the consumer in the form of increased game prices?
Article Link: CNET News.com
