Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1325752
20 SAG-AFTRA | Winter 2021 | sagaftra.org S AG-AFTRA and some of the industry's largest video game employers have agreed to a two-year extension of the 2017 Interactive Media Agreement that provides a boost to wages and health and retirement contributions for voiceover and performance capture performers. The extension took effect Nov. 8, 2020, and extends to Nov. 7, 2022. "We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the employers. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entertainment industry, but work on video games, much of which can be done remotely, has continued. This extension allows members to keep working and have some certainty during an uncertain time," said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. Under the extension, which was agreed to earlier in 2020, wages will increase 3% per year and health and retirement contributions will increase 0.5%. The nine employers that are party to the agreement are Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc. and WB Games Inc. The Interactive Media Agreement Standing Committee, chaired by voice actor Keythe Farley, unanimously approved the contract extension, and it was subsequently unanimously approved by the Executive Committee, acting on behalf of the National Board. SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez served as lead negotiator. "Rather than enter full-scale negotiations, the committee proposed extending the 2017 agreement. The compensation increases and benefit enhancements allow us to sustain the growth in earnings for members," said Rodriguez. Video Game Contract to Continue Until 2022, Includes Pay Increases Labor Innovation & Technology Summit Goes Virtual Mark your calendars for SAG-AFTRA's 3rd Annual Labor Innovation & Technology Summit to be held virtually on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 in partnership with the AFL-CIO. This full-day event is free and open to the public. Follow us on social media or visit sagaftra.org/labortechsummit2021 for updates and details. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris takes part in a demonstration of volumetric video at the Mobile Motion Mocap studios in Glendale, California. Prez Captured in Motion for Upcoming Tech Summit S AG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris visited the Mobile Motion Mocap studios in Glendale, California, on Nov. 6. The studio specializes in performance capture and virtual reality for games, concerts, live shows and more. As part of her walkthrough of the facility, Carteris spoke to the studio's head, Irfan Merchant, and had the opportunity to learn about its technology. Toward the end of the visit, she was captured on volumetric video, an emerging technology that goes beyond 360-degree photos to give more depth and space to captured images. The video is set to be part of a demonstration to be showcased at the Jan. 21 Labor Innovation & Technology Summit, an annual event where labor union leaders and subject-matter experts discuss how emerging technologies shape today's workforce. SAVE THE DATE