After declaring a strike of video game voice actors this past Thursday, acting guild SAG-AFTRA commenced with their first picket, marching outside the Electronic Arts offices in Playa Vista, CA. About an hour later, the collective group of video game companies and production houses negotiating with SAG-AFTRA held a press conference to discuss the union's demands. Destructoid spent time speaking with both sides of the conflict in the hopes of trying to figure out how this strike came to be, and what needs to happen in order for it to end.
To directly quote my previous article on the negotiation, SAG-AFTRA is "looking for guaranteed stunt coordinators at motion capture sessions, hazard pay and shorter shifts for intense recording sessions, information about the project once the voice actor has been booked, and a choice between higher upfront payments or post-release royalties based on sales."
The union held the party line during the picket, balancing their concerns between respect and money. "You don't pay, they can't play!" and "Battle cry! On strike! Creature noises! On Strike! Death screams! On strike!" were two frequent chants busted out at the picket line. Their refrain of "LA is a union town!" was accurate -- even if you don't have any experience in the union-dominated film industry, you could clearly see members from both the local Teamster's and Musician's union backing up the SAG protestors.
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