One Broke Actress Podcast

Why film, tv, and commercial actors need to care about the video game strike with Zeke Alton & Sarah Elmaleh

Aug 22, 2024

29:56

Another strike? Whattt?? That’s right. Video game actors are standing up to big corporations and taking a stand for all of us. In an industry that makes more than sports and TV profits COMBINED, video game artists are continuously being neglected by one of the most lucrative industries in the country. As key figures in SAG-AFTRA negotiations, actors Zeke Alton and Sarah Elmaleh provide insights into the urgent need for AI protections including the unions main three concerns: consent, compensation, and transparency. They emphasize the risks of working on non-union projects during the strike and outline steps actors can take to protect their careers and their colleagues. I was blown away by the financial magnitude of the video game industry, and we get into why every actor needs to care about what is being fought for here. As a union, one genre’s win is a win for us all. The fight that we are having here will effect commercials, will effect theatrical, will effect film, and will effect us all. If you’ve been wanting to get involved and know more about why we’re striking, this is the episode for you.

Support the SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike here.

00:00 — Understanding the Video Game Strike

01:16 — Why Non-Video Game Actors Should Care

03:22 — Navigating Auditions During the Strike

05:18 — The Importance of Union Solidarity

09:32 — Negotiation Challenges and Pressure Points

13:02 — Artificial Intelligence: The Core Issue

14:12 — Digital Replicas vs Generative AI

16:42 — Union's Approach to AI and Actor Rights

17:19 — Legislation and Actor Protections

18:21 — Importance of Union Communication

22:04 — Video Game Industry Financials