Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/716514
SAGAFTRA.org | Summer 2016 | SAG-AFTRA 31 pathologist Linda Dominguez-Gasson have documented that the vocal stress from video games is causing medical problems that include vocal nodules, cysts, polyps and vocal cord hemorrhaging. In some cases, long-term effects can lead to career-ending alteration of vocal quality or even vocal cord paralysis. In late May, SAG-AFTRA requested a meeting with California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health to discuss the issue. At the same time, the union reached out to members, asking them to report abuses they may have experienced, and SAG-AFTRA is working to build a strong case. Fighting vocal stress is just one of the many ways that SAG-AFTRA is taking action to protect its members. SAG-AFTRA is also working hard to ensure projects are signed to the correct SAG-AFTRA agreements. For example, a producer might attempt to sign the New Media Agreement when the program is really intended for television distribution. In that case, staff would ensure the program was transferred to the correct department prior to signing. Further, when the union finds out a program signed to the New Media Agreement has initially exhibited in a traditional market, it files the appropriate step-up claim and may have the program re- sign to the appropriate SAG-AFTRA agreement. Another example of the way the union is fighting for members is the investigation it launched into ad agency Grey Global, a SAG-AFTRA signatory, in April. After Grey Global was unresponsive to formal requests for information and documentation concerning its possible connection to a company known as Townhouse (aka Townhouse 23) for the production of an NFL commercial, SAG-AFTRA filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Grey. Further, the union believed Grey Global, through Townhouse, was possibly producing non-union commercials for Hasbro. Given the scope of the investigation, members were asked to provide any information they had regarding the situation. After all the actions undertaken as a part of this investigation, Grey finally agreed to meet and provide the requested information. Looking out for members also means making sure they get paid for the work they do. SAG-AFTRA recently concluded a successful effort to secure payment for members after a production house declared bankruptcy. In May, the union announced that all residuals related to the Relativity bankruptcy from July 31, 2015, through April 14, 2016, will be paid in full, and members should see their money this summer. The other good news is that the reorganized Relativity will be responsible for residuals due after that date and into the future. Across all categories in which members work, SAG-AFTRA remains ready to respond to members' concerns and stays constantly vigilant to ensure that contract provisions are upheld. "We take violations of our contracts very seriously and we will not stand by while our members' rights are trampled," said National Executive Director David White. "Protecting members is what we're here for." David P. White National Executive Director SCREEN ACTORS GUILD – AMERICAN 5757 Wilshire Boulevard, Hassan Adan, Regional Manager Cal/OSHA 750 Royal Oaks Drive, Suite 104 Monrovia, CA 91016 May 25, 2016 RE: Creating vocal safety standards in video game recording sessions Dear Mr. Hassan Adan, We are writing to you on behalf of Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists regarding an ongoing safety issue for voiceover actors who do unsafe, vocally stressful recording sessions in video games. Based on the concerns of some of our 160,000 members, which include actors and voiceover performers, we are requesting a thorough investigation of industry practices. Over the years, as the video game industry has incorporated more dialogue into its titles, voiceover actors are being asked to perform vocal sounds that go way beyond a safe pitch zone. Increasing numbers of voiceover actors are reporting that they are experiencing both short-term and/or long-term damage to their vocal cords, due to the intensity of the vocal demands put on to them by the employers. For up to four hours, actors are asked to perform not just voices, but noises, death screams, creature voices, combat yelling and other sounds, with so much force and explosive vibration, that they are causing internal damage to their vocal cords. Warren Line Jr., MD, Otolaryngologist, and Linda Dominguez-Gasson, MCD, CCC-SLP speech- language pathologist, who interface with actors who experience vocal stress, have documented that the vocal stress from video games is causing medical problems that include vocal nodules, cysts, polyps and, in some cases, cord hemorrhaging. Medical treatments may require short-to- long-term rest, medications, surgery, and speech-language therapy to remediate the injury. Long-term effects can lead to career-ending alteration of vocal quality or vocal cord paralysis. The speech-language pathologists at Nancy Sedat & Associates say it is possible that just one session that is too vocally demanding could cause damage to an actor's vocal cords, possibly enough to need surgery and/or voice therapy. David P. White National Executive Director SCREEN ACTORS GUILD – AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TELEVISION AND RADIO ARTISTS 5757 Wilshire Boulevard, 7 th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036-3600 * T/323 549-6555 * F/323 549-6605 david.white@sagaftra.org * SAGAFTRA.org Hassan Adan, Regional Manager Cal/OSHA 750 Royal Oaks Drive, Suite 104 Monrovia, CA 91016 May 25, 2016 RE: Creating vocal safety standards in video game recording sessions Dear Mr. Hassan Adan, We are writing to you on behalf of Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists regarding an ongoing safety issue for voiceover actors who do unsafe, vocally stressful recording sessions in video games. Based on the concerns of some of our 160,000 members, which include actors and voiceover performers, we are requesting a thorough investigation of industry practices. Over the years, as the video game industry has incorporated more dialogue into its titles, voiceover actors are being asked to perform vocal sounds that go way beyond a safe pitch zone. Increasing numbers of voiceover actors are reporting that they are experiencing both short-term and/or long-term damage to their vocal cords, due to the intensity of the vocal demands put on to them by the employers. For up to four hours, actors are asked to perform not just voices, but noises, death screams, creature voices, combat yelling and other sounds, with so much force and explosive vibration, that they are causing internal damage to their vocal cords. Warren Line Jr., MD, Otolaryngologist, and Linda Dominguez-Gasson, MCD, CCC-SLP speech- language pathologist, who interface with actors who experience vocal stress, have documented that the vocal stress from video games is causing medical problems that include vocal nodules, cysts, polyps and, in some cases, cord hemorrhaging. Medical treatments may require short-to- long-term rest, medications, surgery, and speech-language therapy to remediate the injury. Long-term effects can lead to career-ending alteration of vocal quality or vocal cord paralysis. The speech-language pathologists at Nancy Sedat & Associates say it is possible that just one session that is too vocally demanding could cause damage to an actor's vocal cords, possibly enough to need surgery and/or voice therapy. In May, SAG-AFTRA filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against signatory ad agency Grey Global. Later that month, National Executive Director David White issued a request to Cal/ OSHA to investigate vocal stress among SAG-AFTRA performers.