Latest news with #FranDrescher
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean Astin To Run For SAG-AFTRA President
The Lord of the Rings actor Sean Astin is seeking to replace SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in the upcoming union election. Astin has submitted a bid to lead the 160,000-member organization, Deadline confirmed Friday. Also on his ticket are Michelle Hurd for secretary-treasurer, Joely Fisher for president of the Los Angeles Local Board, Lisa Ann Walter for first vice president of the Local Board, and David Jolliffe to return for second vice president. More from Deadline SAG-AFTRA Overwhelmingly Approves Video Game Agreement, Marking Official End To Nearly Yearlong Strike WGA East & West Leave Elon Musk's X Following "Racist And Antisemitic Language" From AI Tool Grok California Lawmakers Pass Amendments To Film & TV Tax Credit Program; Newsom Signs Bill - Update If elected, Astin would follow in the footsteps of his mother Patty Duke, the Valley of the Dolls and The Miracle Worker actress who became the second woman to ever run the then-Screen Actors Guild in 1985. She held the position for three years. Astin has previously served on five separate SAG-AFTRA negotiating committees, including the most recent contract won after a historically long, 118-day strike in 2023. He is also a member of SAG-AFTRA National and LA local boards, and a National convention delegate. So far, the full picture of the race is unclear. Current SAG-AFTRA President Drescher could not be reached for comment on whether she plans to seek another term. Whether Drescher or someone else, the person leading the guild next year will have a herculean task ahead of them as SAG-AFTRA returns to the negotiating table with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which collectively bargains on behalf of the major Hollywood studios. This will be the first contract negotiation cycle after the 2023 strike, regarding an industry that has been hit hard by a global production contraction that has resulted in far less work. There are still some concerns the union is seeking to address, primarily regarding technological advances in artificial intelligence over the past three years. SAG-AFTRA political hopefuls have until 5 p.m. Friday to submit their nominating petitions. A full list of candidates is expected next week. Election ballots will be collected from August 13 to September 12. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news of Astin's bid. Best of Deadline 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
Globe and Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Video-game actors ratify new contract including AI protections, ending strike
Hollywood video-game voice and motion capture actors signed a new contract with video game studios on Wednesday with a focus on artificial intelligence protections, the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, said in a press release, ending a nearly year-long strike. 'AI was the centrepiece of our proposal package,' video-game voice actor and member of the negotiation committee Sarah Elmaleh told Reuters after the new agreement passed. Elmaleh, a voice actor for popular titles like Final Fantasy XV and Call of Duty: Black Ops III, said she knew it was crucial to ensure there was a baseline for how to ethically use AI in the gaming industry. The new protections include consent and disclosure requirements for AI digital replica use and the ability for performers to suspend consent for the generation of new material during a strike. 'This deal achieves important progress around AI protections, and progress is the name of the game,' SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in the guild's statement. Opinion: OpenAI, Scarlett Johansson and artificial-intelligence bootlegging The deal applies to video game studios Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB Games. 'On behalf of the video game producers that are party to the agreement, we are pleased that SAG-AFTRA members have ratified a new Interactive Media Agreement, which delivers historic wage increases, industry-leading A.I. protections, and enhanced health and safety measures for performers,' Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game studios, said in the press release. The new Interactive Media Agreement, which goes into effect immediately, was approved by SAG-AFTRA members by a vote of 95.04 per cent to 4.96 per cent, ratifying the deal and ending the video-game strike, which had been suspended pending ratification. The new contract also offers more performer safety measures, which was a specific concern for motion capture video game performers. 'There are folks who not only give their voices to these characters, but their bodies, and they put their bodies on the line for these characters,' Elmaleh said. Motion capture actors will have medics available during high-risk jobs. Hollywood actors' union SAG-AFTRA strikes deal for advertisers to replicate actors' voices with AI The deal also provides compounded increases in performer pay at a rate of 15.17 per cent upon ratification plus additional three-per-cent increases in November 2025, November 2026 and November 2027. The work stoppage of video game voice actors and motion-capture performers started following failed contract negotiations focused around AI-related protections for workers, bringing about another work stoppage in Hollywood following the dual writers' and actors' strikes in 2023. The strike brought a larger call to action across Hollywood as people in the industry advocate for a law that can protect them from AI risks. The NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress which would make it illegal to make an AI replica of someone's likeness and voice without their permission, has gained support from the SAG-AFTRA performers union, the Motion Picture Association, The Recording Academy and Disney.
Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
‘We put our bodies on the line': Video game actors win AI protections and pay raises after year-long Hollywood standoff
New contract includes AI consent and disclosure requirements Motion capture actors gain safety measures and medics for high-risk jobs Performers receive 15.17 per cent pay increase, with additional raises through 2027 LOS ANGELES, July 10 — Hollywood video game voice and motion capture actors signed a new contract with video game studios yesterday with a focus on artificial intelligence protections, the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, said in a press release, ending a near year-long strike. 'AI was the centrepiece of our proposal package,' video game voice actor and member of the negotiation committee Sarah Elmaleh told Reuters after the new agreement passed. Elmaleh, a voice actor for popular titles like 'Final Fantasy XV' and 'Call of Duty: Black Ops III,' said she knew it was crucial to ensure there was a baseline for how to ethically use AI in the gaming industry. The new protections include consent and disclosure requirements for AI digital replica use and the ability for performers to suspend consent for the generation of new material during a strike. 'This deal achieves important progress around AI protections, and progress is the name of the game,' SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in the guild's statement. The deal applies to video game studios Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB Games. The new Interactive Media Agreement, which goes into effect immediately, was approved by SAG-AFTRA members by a vote of 95.04 per cent to 4.96 per cent, ratifying the deal and ending the video game strike, which had been suspended pending ratification. The new contract also offers more performer safety measures, which was a specific concern for motion capture video game performers. 'There are folks who not only give their voices to these characters, but their bodies, and they put their bodies on the line for these characters,' Elmaleh said. Motion capture actors will have medics available during high-risk jobs. The deal also provides compounded increases in performer pay at a rate of 15.17 per cent upon ratification plus additional 3 per cent increases in November 2025, November 2026 and November 2027. The work stoppage of video game voice actors and motion-capture performers started following failed contract negotiations focused around AI-related protections for workers, bringing about another work stoppage in Hollywood following the dual writers' and actors' strikes in 2023. The strike brought a larger call to action across Hollywood as people in the industry advocate for a law that can protect them from AI risks. The NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress which would make it illegal to make an AI replica of someone's likeness and voice without their permission, has gained support from the SAG-AFTRA performers union, the Motion Picture Association, The Recording Academy and Disney. — Reuters
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify Interactive Media Agreement After 320-Day Video Game Strike
SAG-AFTRA members have voted to ratify the new interactive media agreement negotiated after an 11-month strike against video game developers and recording companies that were signatory to the contract. The union announced on Wednesday that 95.04% of members voted in favor of ratification. More from TheWrap SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify Interactive Media Agreement After 320-Day Video Game Strike WGA East Leaves Elon Musk's X in Protest of AI Grok's Antisemitic Posts LL Cool J Pulls Out of Philadelphia July 4 Concert in Solidarity With Striking City Workers California Bill Expanding Film and TV Tax Credit Eligibility Passes 'I commend the strong leadership of Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Chair Sarah Elmaleh, who remained steadfast through three years of hard bargaining while facing many challenging headwinds during a challenging negotiation cycle,' SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement. 'This deal achieves important progress around A.I. protections, and progress is the name of the game! My sincere respect goes out to the entire video game performer community and their allies for their solidarity during the strike which provided the necessary leverage to secure this deal's many essential gains.' Unlike SAG-AFTRA's 2023 TV/Theatrical strike, which had a variety of factors that led to the 118-day stoppage, the 320-day IMA strike was spurred solely by artificial intelligence, as the union's bargaining committee did not feel that the companies provided terms that would ensure that performers would have the transparency needed to give their informed consent, if they wished, for companies to make digital replicas of their performances and likeness. As part of the new deal, companies are required to inform performers about all the ways in which AI is planned to be used on their voice, likeness and movements and have their written consent to use the technology. Performers also have the ability to suspend consent of companies to use AI to create replicas of their work during a strike. 'All of us at SAG-AFTRA would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the video game performers and allies who endured a great deal of sacrifice throughout the 11-month strike,' SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in another statement. 'I'd also like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee and its chair, Sarah Elmaleh, who have worked tirelessly for nearly three years in order to achieve these necessary gains and protections alongside our negotiating staff and lead negotiator Ray Rodriguez. Now that the agreement is ratified, video game performers will be able to enjoy meaningful gains and important A.I. protections, which we will continue to build on as uses of this technology settle and evolve.' Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers party to the agreement, added, 'We are pleased that SAG-AFTRA members have ratified a new Interactive Media Agreement, which delivers historic wage increases, industry-leading A.I. protections, and enhanced health and safety measures for performers. We look forward to building on our industry's decades-long partnership with the union and continuing to create groundbreaking entertainment experiences for billions of players worldwide.' Minimum rates will also be established for the use of digital replicas created with union-covered performances. If those performances are created for the purpose of 'real-time generation' — i.e., creating a digital replica-voiced chatbot in a video game — the performer is entitled to at least 7.5x that minimum scale. Developers are also required to send performers that consent to AI usage a report detailing how their replica was used and which calculates their compensation. Due to clauses in the previous IMA that exempted video games developed and released prior to the start of the strike, the impact of the strike on the video game industry wasn't as widely felt as the 2023 TV/film strikes, where all Hollywood production was shut down. But that doesn't mean there wasn't an impact. Riot Games announced this past December that skins in their popular game 'League of Legends' would not come with new voice lines due to the strike. Famed developer Hideo Kojima also noted that his upcoming horror game 'OD,' which he co-wrote with Jordan Peele and stars 'It' actress Sophia Lillis, would be delayed due to the strike. The post SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify Interactive Media Agreement After 320-Day Video Game Strike appeared first on TheWrap.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Industry video game actors pass agreement with studios for AI security
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Hollywood video game voice and motion capture actors signed a new contract with video game studios on Wednesday with a focus on artificial intelligence protections, the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA , said in a press release, ending a near year-long strike."AI was the centerpiece of our proposal package," video game voice actor and member of the negotiation committee Sarah Elmaleh told Reuters after the new agreement a voice actor for popular titles like "Final Fantasy XV" and "Call of Duty: Black Ops III," said she knew it was crucial to ensure there was a baseline for how to ethically use AI in the gaming new protections include consent and disclosure requirements for AI digital replica use and the ability for performers to suspend consent for the generation of new material during a strike."This deal achieves important progress around AI protections, and progress is the name of the game," SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in the guild's deal applies to video game studios Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB new Interactive Media Agreement, which goes into effect immediately, was approved by SAG-AFTRA members by a vote of 95.04% to 4.96%, ratifying the deal and ending the video game strike, which had been suspended pending new contract also offers more performer safety measures, which was a specific concern for motion capture video game performers."There are folks who not only give their voices to these characters, but their bodies, and they put their bodies on the line for these characters," Elmaleh capture actors will have medics available during high-risk deal also provides compounded increases in performer pay at a rate of 15.17% upon ratification plus additional 3% increases in November 2025, November 2026 and November work stoppage of video game voice actors and motion-capture performers started following failed contract negotiations focused around AI-related protections for workers, bringing about another work stoppage in Hollywood following the dual writers' and actors' strikes in strike brought a larger call to action across Hollywood as people in the industry advocate for a law that can protect them from AI NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress which would make it illegal to make an AI replica of someone's likeness and voice without their permission, has gained support from the SAG-AFTRA performers union, the Motion Picture Association, The Recording Academy and Disney.
