Are you game? Your help needed to improve Video Games agreements
The entertainment industry is experiencing huge change at unprecedented speed. The era of communication dominated by a handful of terrestrial channels and radio stations has already become a distant memory. We now have hundreds of channels increasingly accessible on an ever growing array of platforms. Audiences can now watch programmes anywhere, any time on satellite, cable, Freeview, mobile phones, Video on Demand (VoD), download to own or rent and on the internet – to name just a few of the available alternatives to traditional terrestrial broadcasting. And audiences are taking to these new platforms in ever increasing numbers.
Equity has made huge strides in facing the challenges arising from new media commissions for example Productions made primarily for the new technologies including internet, mobiles, Video on Demand (VoD) and computer games (PS2/PS3/PSP/Xbox/Nintendo, etc.).
“Computer games” is a general term covering most interactive games played on personal computers, mobile devices, or dedicated games consoles such as Nintendo DS or Playstation.
What the industry is worth
The games industry is now worth more worldwide than the film industry. It is a massive, global industry, encompassing everything from games that are played without internet connection on personal computers, mobile devices or games consoles, to the internet-based MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online games, such as World of Warcraft) that can involve thousands of players worldwide. No longer is the preserve of teenagers, there even games and websites specifically aimed at the under-tens, such as Club Penguin and Webkinz. For Equity members, this burgeoning field provides an array of opportunities in several different areas including directing, voiceover and motion capture. Motion capture is a relatively new field for actors, involving the digital capture of an actor’s movements to aid game animators in creating realistic characters.
What has Equity acheived so far?
A high number of performers have benefited from Equity’s guidelines on minimum fees and usage fees for voice-over and Motion capture work.
The era of stability has passed, the new media environment is rapidly changing and therefore the terms of the agreements and guidelines will require constant scrutiny and review to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of our members. Equity has established a Future Media and Technologies Working Party, drawn from experienced members with knowledge of these new fields along with a closer working relationship with our sister Unions in the US, Canada and Australia to ensure that the agreements negotiated and the guidelines and information provided by Equity are relevant and of the highest quality. It is an exciting time to be a member of Equity as the Union faces the challenges that new technologies are bringing and members can play their part in ensuring that Equity remains the united voice of professional performers in the United Kingdom in developing the agreements, guidelines and information needed as we enter this challenging era.
What you can do to help
Equity is attempting to improve and update all of its agreements/guidelines whilst the games industry is a technologically advanced industry it is not immune to the relentless advances in technology and the manner in which the consumer accesses games.
To better inform Equity’s negotiators of your needs and aspirations for any future agreements and guidelines please take few moments to complete the Video Games Industry questionnaire by following the link below.
If you have any questions relating to the questionnaire or Equity in general please contact Alexandra Moreau amoreau@equity.org.uk
Site Navigation: