SAG-AFTRA, the union representing voice actors, has announced the ratification of new three-year contracts for voice actors working on animated TV shows. These deals address concerns raised during last year’s 118-day actors’ strike, particularly regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) that many actors fear will replace their jobs.
While the new animation contracts do not prohibit the use of AI, they do establish measures to protect the voices of actors. The contracts stipulate that actors’ voices cannot be recreated without their explicit permission. One notable difference between the animation and live-action agreements is the inclusion of language in the animation contract that specifies voice actors must be human beings.
“We’ve got it in writing,” the union stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. “‘Voice actors’ includes ONLY humans in the new TV Animation Agreements!” The absence of this definition in the TV/Theatrical agreement was a point of contention during the ratification process, with some arguing that defining actors as human would not effectively safeguard against AI misuse.
The animation agreements also include provisions for consent and compensation when using “digital replicas” to recreate an actor’s voice. Studios are allowed to train AI models on past performances to create a synthetic voice, as long as it does not sound like a specific voice actor or character. The studios must obtain consent from the actor if they intend to use their name in a prompt to create a synthetic voice. Additionally, the union must be notified whenever a synthetic voice is created, and actors may still be entitled to payment for their contribution, even if the end result does not sound like them.
The contracts also follow the pattern set by the TV/Theatrical agreement in terms of scale wages, with 7% increases retroactive to July 1, followed by increases of 4% and 3.5% in the subsequent years of the contract. The animation agreements also include a “success bonus” for the most-watched shows on streaming platforms.
With an impressive support of 95.5%, significantly higher than the approval for the TV/Theatrical deal in December, the animation contracts have been ratified. These agreements ensure that voice actors are protected in the evolving landscape of animation, where AI is increasingly utilized.
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