Video game voice artists Crispin Freeman and Sarah Elmaleh join the discussion about the acceleration of AI technology and how the union is protecting its members.
Look to your peers, look to your mentors. Take comfort and take strength in what they’re advocating for, because you also deserve that for yourself … We are blessed with this instrument that is the union that has legal protections and power beyond what any individual actor can achieve. And so, I think, if you are on a path toward becoming union, you will benefit from that. We invite you in to enjoy the greater strength and ability to navigate this very scary space … There’s work everyone can do as long as we’re communicating with each other.
Sarah Elmaleh
Actor, Director & Consultant
With generative AI tools becoming more widely available, concerns abound over the implication this technology has for those who create art — especially when it comes to performers whose livelihoods depend on their voices, likenesses and identities. Where is this technology taking us? And how can actors and the union ensure the industry remains respectful and understanding of the unique contributions of humans? The main issues that must be addressed include consent, compensation, potential loss of work and collaboration.
In this episode of the podcast, a replay of a livestream panel conversation, we examine how SAG-AFTRA members can safely engage in this technology while ensuring they’re not being exploited. Hosts SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President Ben Whitehair and National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland join guests Crispin Freeman and Sarah Elmaleh, who have lent their voices to some of the most popular video games. SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriquez also joins the discussion to address the intellectual property issues at play. The conversation may also be viewed as a livestream on SAG-AFTRA’s YouTube channel.
Freeman and Elmaleh explore the concerns of fellow performers and why it’s so important for AI to be a mandatory subject of bargaining. What legal protections do and don’t exist? Learn about the ramifications for pre-union performers, as well as what SAG-AFTRA will be advocating for in upcoming negotiations.
Visit the SAG-AFTRA podcast page at sagaftra.org to hear other podcast episodes. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or TuneIn to listen to your favorite episodes on the go.
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