SAG-AFTRA's Duncan Crabtree-Ireland on How Consumers Can Support Video Game Actors Strike as It Nears 250-Day Mark
The video game companies' bargaining committee (which represents Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB Games) presented an updated counter proposal of the Interactive Media Agreement to the actors union on March 26, which 'directly addresses several issues the union has identified as important components of a deal,' a source close to negotiations told Variety.
More from Variety
SAG-AFTRA Affirms Support for DEI as Studios Back Away
SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers Hold Picket Outside WB Games as Strike Continues: 'We Are Still Fighting'
Colman Domingo, Pamela Anderson, Zoe Saldaña Among This Year's SAG Awards Presenters (EXCLUSIVE)
The SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee, which has consistently expressed that protections against generative AI for performers is their top priority, is currently reviewing the new proposal.
'We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15% for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor's performance in other games,' a spokesperson for the major gaming companies involved in the negotiations said in a statement Monday. 'We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal.'
On Friday, SAG-AFTRA announced the creation of the Student Interactive Waiver Agreement and the Game Jam Waiver Agreement, which the union says 'provide video game developers at every stage of their careers the opportunity to work with union performers, even as the video game strike continues.'
Prior to these new movements, Variety spoke with SAG-AFTRA national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland on March 20 during the 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC) about the possibility of a boycott, should progress continue to be stalled, and what he wants to see from consumers who are looking to support the actors in the strike.
'It's definitely a tool that's still in our toolbox,' Crabtree-Ireland said of the union's option to call for a formal boycott. 'Because we are actively having conversations, both formally and informally, with the industry, it's not a tool we have chosen to deploy yet — but we absolutely are willing to deploy it if the circumstances demand, and we absolutely have not ruled out doing that if necessary. But I'm hopeful that we'll be able to find the path to an agreement without having to pull that trigger, but it is definitely still something that we have at our disposal if and when our committee decides it's time to use it.'
The strike began in July 2024, following an inability for SAG-AFTRA and the video game companies' bargaining committee to reach a deal for a new Interactive Media Agreement. They were able to find common ground on 24 items in a 25-item proposal, the ongoing sticking point being issues with generative AI.
While his team is at work negotiating towards a resolution, Crabtree-Ireland has recommendations for members of the gaming community who want to back their cause from the outside.
'I think consumers definitely can support the strike by, first of all, just sharing their disappointment with the companies through social media channels, through customer service channels, just communicating either directly to the companies or publicly through social media that they support our members and what we're fighting for,' the SAG-AFTRA chief said.
Crabtree-Ireland notes that SAG-AFTRA released 'a lengthy document with all of the proposals related to the strike, all the AI proposals from both sides, so that everyone can see for themselves exactly what the disputes are — and that this is not a case that some of the companies have tried to hint at in their public statements, of us rejecting perfectly great offers that they've put across the table, or them being sensitive to what we really need.'
In those documents, Crabtree-Ireland says the union has laid out 'in very clear detail why the things the companies have offered have these massive loopholes that they could drive a truck through to take away our performers', our members' confidence that they won't be competing against their own digital replicas for work in the future.'
'So I think that the general public can just inform themselves, inform their friends, and help speak to their community and to the companies about the fact that they stand with us and just want companies to do the right thing so that everyone can get back to work,' he adds.
Best of Variety
What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Darren Aronofsky Tried to Stoke Rivalry Between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis On ‘Black Swan' Set: ‘Was All in Good Fun'
'Black Swan' returns to theaters on Aug. 21 and 24, playing in Imax for the first time to celebrate fifteen years since the psychological thriller first hit cinemas. Director Darren Aronofsky recently reunited with stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis to reflect on the film's milestone anniversary for Vogue, and their discussion revealed that the director had tried and failed to stoke rivalry between the two stars to reflect their on-screen feud. 'My take is that I was trying to be a sneaky director and make them argue,' admitted Aronofsky, 'Mila and Natalie both realized very quickly what I was doing and made fun of me, so it quickly became a joke that we all understood. They're both very clever and were instantly privy to whatever trick I was playing.' More from Variety 'Black Swan' Getting 15th Anniversary Imax Re-Release 2025 Made in NY Awards to Honor Darren Aronofsky, Michelle Buteau, Tracy Morgan and Thomas J. O'Donnell (EXCLUSIVE) 'Fountain of Youth' Review: John Krasinski and Natalie Portman Bicker Their Way to Immortality Aronofsky's method was meant to help the actors get into character, as both play ballerinas in the film, competing for top billing in a prestigious production of 'Swan Lake.' The on-screen contention between the two devolves into a fever dream of violence, deception and abuse— both mental and physical. Behind the scenes, however, Portman and Kunis were too professional and supportive of one another to give in to Aronofsky's tactics. 'I remember being separated from Mila and that we weren't in the same space a lot when we weren't shooting,' Portman recalled, but when the director would try bating her with comments about Kunis' talent and commitment, she responded, 'She's so fucking talented and I love her so much and I'm happy she's doing a great job!' Kunis faced similar situations. She said, 'Darren would tell me, 'Nat is working really, really hard. She's not even taking Saturdays and Sundays off.' Then I would text Nat and she'd be like, '…No, I'm not?' I think that's how we figured out what Darren was up to, but it was all in good fun.' Nevertheless, both actors reflected fondly on their experience working with Aronofsky. ''Black Swan' was the first time I felt like I had a mind meld with a director, where each of us always knew exactly what to say. Every time we talked it felt like he gave me a little key that unlocked a scene for me,' said Portman. Kunis added that when journalists would ask her about Aronofsky's intensity on set, she'd respond, ''He's actually a really kind, lovely guy who took us to see 'Twilight' one time because we had the day off.' And journalists were always so disappointed that he wasn't some tortured soul who treated us like garbage.' Their collaboration paid off, as 'Black Swan' earned $329.4 million at the worldwide box office. Portman took home her first Academy Award for her performance and the film garnered four additional nominations— including best picture and best director for Aronofsky. Portman summed it up well when reflecting on her first time watching the film, calling it 'shocking and exhilarating in a really wonderful way.' Audiences will be able to relive that shock and wonder in Imax next weekend, and Aronofsky's next film, 'Caught Stealing,' will hit theaters Aug. 29. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Andy Cohen Says Huda Mustafa's Confrontation With Chelley Bissainthe And Olandria Carthen At The ‘Love Island USA' Reunion Was 'Dramatic'
Andy Cohen is teasing some drama that went down at the Love Island USA Season 7 reunion. On Wednesday night's (Aug. 13) episode of Watch What Happens Live, Cohen welcomed Season 7 winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, as well as runner-ups Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe to the Bravo Clubhouse — just one day after he and Ariana Madix co-hosted the highly anticipated reunion, which is airing on Peacock on Aug. 25. While he didn't give too much away about the reunion, Cohen did reveal that Carthen and Chelley Bissainthe came face-to-face with Huda Mustafa for the first time since they left the villa last month. 'I thought it was interesting that you and Chelley saw Huda for the first time since you left the villa, I think,' Cohen said to Carthen. 'That was pretty dramatic.' There have been a lot of rumors swirling about Mustafa's friendships with the other girls since leaving the villa. While Mustafa is still close with Espinal, some fans noticed that Carthen and Bissainthe both unfollowed her on Instagram after she claimed she felt 'bullied' in several interviews. 'I was trying to navigate the sisterhood thing while doing challenges. Everyone's telling me 'it's just a challenge,'' she told Variety in a July interview. 'People are kissing other people outside of challenges, and everyone's OK with it. I'm doing challenges, and they're giving me side-eye looks and making faces at me.' 'I felt like I was bullied in there 1000%. I felt like I was bullied in the villa,' she continued. 'I'd mentioned this so many times, and we never talked about it. Now out of the villa, I wasn't crazy. I was right about being bullied.' Mustafa was likely referring to the heart rate challenge, during which the Islanders had to perform provocative dances on one another to raise their heart rates. The North Carolina native came under fire for the way she seductively danced on Ace Greene, who was in a couple with Bissainthe. There were even rumors that Mustafa sat on Greene's face in a cut-out moment, which will we find out at the reunion, according to Cohen. 'We showed the extended version of the heart rate challenge, which was revelatory to the group,' he said. 'So, you can look forward to that on the Love Island reunion.' Watch What Happens Live airs Sunday through Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Joe Pantoliano May Finally Get HBO, Thanks to ‘The Last of Us' Creator Craig Mazin: ‘They Never Gave It to Me When I Did The Sopranos!'
It's Not TV, so maybe that's why Joey Pants can't get his HBO? 'The Last of Us' Season 2 guest star Joe Pantoliano had previously told Variety he doesn't subscribe to the pay cabler, which is why he wasn't familiar with the series when he was approached to pay the role of Eugene. As of this weekend, he still doesn't have an HBO subscription — but now 'The Last of Us' creator Craig Mazin plans to do something about it. 'I say ignorance is bliss. I don't have HBO. I hope nobody from HBO is here,' quipped Pantoliano, speaking during 'The Last of Us' panel at the Television Academy's Televerse festival on Saturday. HBO organized the panel, so of course they were there! More from Variety Kristen Bell on Why Audiences Swoon Over That First 'Nobody Wants This' Kiss: 'Comfort Can Be Incredibly Passionate' 'The Last of Us' Star Bella Ramsey on If They're In Season 3, Neil Druckmann's Departure and Making Emmy History 'The Last of Us' Video Game Scripts to Be Released in New Book From Creator Naughty Dog, Dark Horse (EXCLUSIVE) It was unclear if Mazin had heard this anecdote before, but he appeared to be incredulous at the news: 'You don't have HBO?! We can get you HBO!' Responded Pantoliano: 'I've been sulking for the last 25 years because they never gave it to me when I did 'The Sopranos'!' Pantoliano, of course, played Ralph 'Ralphie' Cifaretto in Seasons 3 and 4 of 'The Sopranos' until, well, he runs afoul of Tony. 'You're saying they wouldn't give Ralphie HBO?' Mazin said on stage. 'That's fucked up!' 'The Last of Us' executive producer — and video game creator — Neil Druckmann had another solution for Pantoliano, who admitted that he also never played the game: 'We're gonna get you a PlayStation before you get HBO.' Pantoliano appears in the Season 2, Episode 6 flashback episode, where viewers learn what created a rift between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Pantoliano's character Eugene is the husband to town psychologist Gail (Catherine O'Hara). While on Ellie's first patrol, she and Joel find whoEugene, who's just been bitten by an infected and will succumb to the cordyceps fungus shortly. He begs Joel and Ellie to take him to the outer walls so he can have a last moment with Gail. Joel says no, but Ellie convinces Joel to break the rules to bring him back. But when Ellie goes off to retrieve her and Joel's horses, Joel — who had promised not to shoot Eugene — does so anyway. 'So Greg and Neil, we had a phone conversation, and they sent me two of the scripts, and then I read my scenes, and I remember thinking that there was more to this character and much more of a challenge for an actor than the last 20 years I've been in show business,' Pantoliano said. 'There was so much there to to test me. And then, the simple stuff of 'who am I? Where and I?' What spoke to me the most is the human element of like, 'this could happen toanyone.' It's happening every day. People die, and see their life in a blink of an eye. I woke up, I had coffee with my wife, I went on patrol and then I got bit, and I know I have to die. I have a last request. And so it was very emotional. But I gotta say, Neil [Druckmann] beat the shit out of me, and he knew what he wanted.' Added Druckmann, who directed that episode: 'Joey was so fun to work with, because as long as we had ideas, we kept exploring and digging and finding. And it was such a joy to find the character in the moment. Because initially, the way it was written, there was some comic relief lines in there that were just excised in the moment. It didn't work the way you were playing it.' As for what's to come in Season 3 as Kaitlyn Dever (who plays Abby) moves into more of a lead role, Dever said that 'we're getting to the real core of Abby in this season, and really giving her some context. Because in the game, she does sort of appear, and you don't know who she is, where she's coming from, why she killed Joel. I feel like we're really getting to the core of the why, and her grief is what fuels that rage. I have not been told with what we're doing for Season 3… I'm just so grateful to be a part of such a beautiful show. I've been such a fan of the game for so long. I played it twice all the way through with my dad. He's a big fan girl over this game. So I'm just grateful to get to continue that journey for Abby and dig even deeper to twhat drives her and just how broken she is. Maybe she's not all that different from the other human beings in the show.' Hinted Mazin: 'Knowing that I've got this pillar in Kaitlyn that is going to anchor this cast, and knowing that I can turn again to [production designer] Don [MacAulay] to build this physical world around us, and it is going to be quite ambitious. We've had meetings already, he knows, and [VFX producer] Alex [Wang] is going to extend those beyond and there's creature work. If you play the game, you know there's something coming. We've done a lot of talk about basements, that's all I'll say.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
