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Actors' Unions Extend Commercials Pact; Will Study New Media Compensation

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 9, 2006 - 1:11pm.
Los Angeles - The Hollywood actors' unions announced that they have agreed on a two-year extension of contracts that determine how they are paid for commercials, including those appearing on the Internet and other digital media.
tags: Video | Marketing | Advertising | Law | TV | Career | Unions | Compensation | Actors | Commercials |

Square Enix Signs Hollywood Actors to Lend Voices to "Kingdom Hearts II"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2006 - 3:12am.
Los Angeles - Japanese video game publisher Square Enix said on Thursday that it has signed actors including Haley Joel Osment, Mena Suvari, James Woods, Zach Braff and Rachel Leigh Cook to provide voice talent for its "Kingdom Hearts II" title for PlayStation 2. The title incorporates Disney characters from properties including "The Lion King," "Tron," "The Little Mermaid" and "Chicken Little" into a game environment designed by Square Enix. The sequel in the series that has shipped over 7.5 million units worldwide is slated for release in North America on March 28.
tags: Square Enix | Kingdom Hearts II | Sign | Actors | Hollywood | Lend Voice |

SAG Union Actors Reject Video Game Contract Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 22, 2005 - 8:53am.
Los Angeles -- The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), a trade union representing Hollywood's actors, has announced that its members have voted to reject the contract agreement recently reached between the union's negotiating committee and video game publishers. The deal avoided a potential strike among actors who lend their voices and likenesses to video games. Video game publishers rejected actors' demands to earn residuals for their performances, based on video game sales, although the agreement did provide a pay hike and improved benefits. "The video game market has grown to be enormously profitable, and our members have played a tremendous role in generating those profits," said SAG national executive director Greg Hessinger. "While the tentative agreement reached included several key gains, the Guild's National Executive Committee has made the final determination that this proposal was not enough. We will now explore our options." While SAG members voted to reject the contract, the agreement was approved by another major actors' union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Many voice-over actors belong to both unions, so the SAG contract breakdown is not expected to have a major impact on game production.
tags: Deals | Video Game | Actors | SAG | Contracts |

Actors' Unions Avoid Strike, Reach Deal With Video Game Publishers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 9, 2005 - 10:23am.
Los Angeles -- Averting a potential strike by actors who lend their voices to video games, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have announced a contract settlement with video game publishers, that increases actors' pay for video game appearances, but stops short of providing them "residual" payments. The new 3.5-year agreement was reached on Wednesday, after SAG and AFRTA members failed to vote in large enough numbers to authorize a strike. The settlement includes a 36% increase in minimum actor pay over the term, with a 25% raise to be implemented immediately, in addition to increased benefits for actors. Video game publishers had argued that residual payments, which are the standard in TV and movies and pay actors a cut of all sales, are not warranted for video games. "Our members clearly support the inclusion of residuals in our Interactive contracts," said SAG president Melissa Gilbert. "However, with great reluctance, our negotiating committee concluded that it is in the interests of the members who work these contracts to make this deal." AFTRA national president John Connolly concurred: "We are proud that this deal significantly enhances wages and increases benefits for performers in interactive games. While we did not get all that we want...and deserve… this contract is another important step in building artists' power in this growing sector of the media industry."
tags: Deals | Video Game | Actors | Avoid Strike |