Actors strike 2023: Are voice actors part of SAG-AFTRA?

Today, July 13, 2023, marks a historic day in Hollywood as the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), aka the actors union, has decided to strike. So what does an actors strike mean?

Talents who are a part of the guild cannot film any projects, take part in any press interviews, and cannot promote any of their work on social media. Current or past. With the writers strike now going for more than 70 days and the actors strike set to officially begin tonight at midnight PT, this is the first time in 60 years that both unions are striking at the same time.

Some of the key issues SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) could not agree on include increased pay, residuals for actors’ work that gets replayed especially on streaming services, and the use of AI. Major Hollywood studios want to have the right to use artificial intelligence to clone actors so they can use their likeness in any project without their consent, per NPR. But the union is against this.

With the contract having expired June 30, 2023 and the group trying to negotiate with AMPTP for the last few weeks, the rules go into effect at midnight PT, per SAG-AFTRA in a press conference this afternoon. Picketing will begin tomorrow, July 14. This means that many television and movie productions will be put on pause. So does this also affect voice actors? Are they part of the guild? We’ve got the answer for you below.

Actors strike 2023: Are voice actors part of SAG-AFTRA?

Yes, voice actors are part of SAG-AFTRA. Those who are part of the union which guarantees fair wages, health and retirement contributions, residuals, and additional compensation, per the union’s website. The group covers a wide umbrella of personalities in the industry including around 160,000 film and television actors, voice actors, journalists, radio personalities, internet influencers, singers, fashion models, and other media talents.

How does the actors strike affect voice actors?

Since voice actors are a part of the union, those who are covered by the guild have to abide by the restrictions mentioned above – no promotion of current or former work on social media, no recording of new projects, and no press interviews. However, there are certain projects they can still work on. Some of the ones they are not allowed to do include feature length animated films, trailers, and narration for feature films.

With some productions already shut down due to the writers strike and now the actors won’t be working, Hollywood looks very different. Plus, networks and streaming services are currently relying on their reality TV, soap operas, and animation series as some of these don’t fall under the writers or actors union. But the animated shows that need their voice actors will definitely be affected now.

Stay tuned to Hidden Remote as we bring you updates about the actors strike.