No AI Vader!

May 19, 2025 5:40 PM

Proud of my guild today.

This is a good move:

“We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas and welcome the use of new technologies to allow new generations to share in the enjoyment of those legacies and renowned roles. However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader's iconic rhythm and tone in video games.
Fortnite's signatory company, Llama Productions, chose to replace the work of human performers with A.l. technology. Unfortunately, they did so without providing any notice of their intent to do this and without bargaining with us over appropriate terms. As such, we have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB against Llama Productions.”

video_games

darth_vader

movies

star_wars

artificial_intelligence

What is there to be proud of? SAG-AFTRA has no part in this? The man is dead. He is a FORMER member of SAG-AFTRA. His estate has control that he himself approved and signed his rights over before he died. Why should SAG-AFTRA be provided notice or bargained with?

2 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 4

Looks like you skimmed when you should have read. The use of AI to clone eliminates a huge portion of voice work that is based on sound-alikes or practiced replication of existing voices. Plus if they don't stand up and push back against every attempt to use AI to replace and undercut their members they will lose the war, as it were

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

Didn't Disney announce a James Earl Jones voice-model with AI? Something something something called Respeecher... or something.

2 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Yes, after he signed a deal to allow Disney to use his voice for an AI. This is a use of AI that is fully consensual. I can't find anything objectionable about this.

2 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

If that's the case then it's fine. Course that always makes me think of what kind of fucked up shit Disney did to make him agree to it or if it was actually willingly. Can't fucking trust that fucking megacorp.

2 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

The deal was confidential, but I assume they drove a truckload of money to his house. He’s James Earl Jones, he probably had the best lawyers and negotiators that money can buy. I don’t get the problem.

2 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

I would think JEJ probably loved the idea of not having to go to a recording studio every time Disney wanted to retcon something ridiculous.

2 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Who owns the bargaining rights to the James Earl Jones voice as Darth Vader? Gods this timeline has some ridiculous shit going on. Do original content actors have to stipulate post-humous rights normally or is this still uncommon?

2 months ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

I'm pretty sure JEJ signed a deal to allow his voice to be used for Vader after his death.

2 months ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

Just a smart thing to do since Vader has become so incredibly iconic.

2 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Kicking myself for not seeking a similar deal with the late great Gilbert Gottfried. I'm pretty sure I could have gotten it for $250 and a case of bottled water

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0