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2014/06/10 18:59:06
Subject: American Federation of Musicians Fines Union Member.
Videogame composer Austin Wintory has been charged by the American Federation of Musicians with violating musicians-union rules for recording a game score in Texas.
Wintory faces a maximum $50,000 fine and possible expulsion from the union. He was first notified in January, even before the release of the Viking-themed fantasy game “The Banner Saga,” but decided to go public because he believes he’s been unfairly targeted.
The dust-up between Wintory and the union comes at a time when musicians are increasingly angry about the AFM’s failure to keep vidgame score recording in L.A. by focusing on a contract that has been rejected by major game publishers. AFM Local 47 VP John Acosta declined to comment about the case as an “internal union matter.”
Wintory concedes that he recorded “The Banner Saga” with the Dallas Wind Symphony in July 2013, most of which was conducted by Wind Symphony music director Jerry Junkin. Texas is a right-to-work state, meaning even union musicians can’t be stopped from working under non-union auspices.
Wintory conducted a few cues for publicity purposes, and one of those photos accompanied a story about the score in a Jan. 3 New York Times article about the composer, whose “Journey” had just become the first videogame to receive a Grammy nomination for music.
“I was in Texas as a composer and music producer, which I did not believe were in violation of AFM bylaws, since those tasks are not covered or represented by the AFM,” Wintory said.
He points out he has been an active supporter of recording with union musicians in Los Angeles. He insisted on recording his “Captain Abu Raed” film score with AFM musicians in 2007, and he recorded the first iPad game, “Horn,” under union auspices in the summer of 2012 before the union instituted a more restrictive game contract that game publishers refuse to sign.
The composer initially attempted to record “Banner Saga” with L.A. musicians but found that the revised union contract made it twice as expensive as recording in London as well as adding conditions regarding soundtrack albums and extra fees related to future uses of the music.
Composer and frequent AFM critic Michael W. Barry, who founded and moderates the 3,000-member “Hollywood Film, Television and Interactive Scoring Community” Facebook page and who has scored the popular “League of Legends” game, confirms that no publisher has used the most recent game contract since the AFM drafted it in December 2012.
“The terms are nowhere near what the industry wants,” Barry says, noting that game companies insist on owning all of the intellectual property, including music, that goes into their games. The previous AFM game contract, dating from 2007, was “very producer-friendly,” he said, and a handful of games “grandfathered” under that contract continue to be scored in L.A.
Wintory is just one of many composers who record non-union but, according to several game composers contacted by Variety, he is believed to be the first to be charged with violating AFM rules. Game composers frequently go to Seattle (a non-AFM city), London or Nashville (whose AFM musicians are, as in Texas, allowed to record non-union because Tennessee is a right-to-work state).
Although Acosta declined to comment for this story, he wrote in a recent issue of the Local 47 publication Overture that “the lack of market share for the AFM in video games has reached a point of crisis” and admitted that “the limited work we were doing before has all but vanished into non-union productions.
“We need to begin serious conversations with the videogame companies that want to record AFM, and craft deals that protect musicians but will be acceptable to the employers. Unless we act fast, it will be game over for us,” Acosta wrote.
Wintory believes that he has “plainly demonstrated that I am interested in the health of the community, a community that’s not intimidated and threatened by its own union. There are a huge number of composers and musicians who make the majority of their living from the game industry, and I can only assume they’re all next on the chopping block.”
Ironically, Wintory will conduct his music from “The Banner Saga” Wednesday night at L.A’s Nokia Theatre as part of the latest “Video Games Live” concert — an event presumably staged under a union contract.
Local 47 is holding a special meeting Thursday night to discuss musicians’ dissatisfaction with the growing number of game and film scores being recorded away from L.A. as a result of current union contracts.
So basically none of the union members got to vote on the contract and got any say on it.
Kind of despicable if I say so myself.
On a side note this guy did the music for Journey. So he is an exceptionally talented individual. Kind of sad that we do not have brilliant composers writing music for games.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/06/11 20:11:24
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
2014/06/11 04:25:18
Subject: Re:American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios
If you are good enough, you probably don't need the Union.
Seems like he's got a good gig. Keep it up man
Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines
Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.
As a drummer, musicians can be elitist bastards. I reckon it's exactly that, Asherian.
Veteran Sergeant wrote:If 40K has Future Rifles, and Future Tanks, and Future Artillery, and Future Airplanes and Future Grenades and Future Bombs, then contextually Future Swords seem somewhat questionable to use, since it means crossing Future Open Space to get Future Shot At.
Polonius wrote:I categorically reject any statement that there is such a thing as too much boob.
Coolyo294 wrote:Short answer: No.
Long answer: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
2014/06/11 14:04:15
Subject: Re:American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
4oursword wrote: As a drummer, musicians can be elitist bastards. I reckon it's exactly that, Asherian.
So can writers, and baseball players, but I don't see anyone standing up and saying the Screen Writers union or the baseball union are anything but blood sucking swirling pools of idiocy.
Wintory conducted a few cues for publicity purposes, and one of those photos accompanied a story about the score in a Jan. 3 New York Times article about the composer, whose “Journey” had just become the first videogame to receive a Grammy nomination for music.
Baba Yetu thinks that's really cool and all, but...
For thirteen years I had a dog with fur the darkest black. For thirteen years he was my friend, oh how I want him back.
2014/06/11 15:02:03
Subject: American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
Wintory conducted a few cues for publicity purposes, and one of those photos accompanied a story about the score in a Jan. 3 New York Times article about the composer, whose “Journey” had just become the first videogame to receive a Grammy nomination for music.
Baba Yetu thinks that's really cool and all, but...
Well. Eh People are dumb.
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
2014/06/11 15:28:20
Subject: American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
4oursword wrote: As a drummer, musicians can be elitist bastards. I reckon it's exactly that, Asherian.
So can writers, and baseball players, but I don't see anyone standing up and saying the Screen Writers union or the baseball union are anything but blood sucking swirling pools of idiocy.
Well we aren't talking about them right now
Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines
Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.
But when the thread starts out with a lie in the title it's a good sign that there is no point even debating anything.
Wait what? What lie?
This lie:
American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
They are blocking him from doing work in video games.
No, they are not.
That is not lie, that is what is happening.
It is a lie, because that is not what is happening.
I'm not going to spoon feed your own article to you, but if you can't comprehend what your own sources say then maybe you shouldn't be posting about it.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/06/11 19:01:36
2014/06/11 19:08:26
Subject: American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
But when the thread starts out with a lie in the title it's a good sign that there is no point even debating anything.
Wait what? What lie?
This lie:
American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
They are blocking him from doing work in video games.
No, they are not.
That is not lie, that is what is happening.
It is a lie, because that is not what is happening.
I'm not going to spoon feed your own article to you, but if you can't comprehend what your own sources say then maybe you shouldn't be posting about it.
Are you sure you haven't watched the video? WATCH THE VIDEO. Because clearly you have not, you have only read the article which is half of what I have posted. It is a continutation of the entire story. It is a part of it.
The American Federation Blocks all union member from producing music for video games.
Check it out before you make the comment and accuse me of lying.
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
2014/06/11 19:29:33
Subject: American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
d-usa wrote: Seriously. Quit being dishonest and you might have something worth talking about.
But then over half the posters in OT would stop posting!
Prestor Jon wrote: Because children don't have any legal rights until they're adults. A minor is the responsiblity of the parent and has no legal rights except through his/her legal guardian or parent.
2014/06/11 19:50:16
Subject: American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
d-usa wrote: 40 seconds in and the lie in the title is obvious. The article itself also makes it clear that the title is a lie.
Seriously. Quit being dishonest and you might have something worth talking about.
doesn't mean you can be rude and be elitist. You could of been nicer and ethical about it. Not a jerk about it. You could literally say. Hey just to tell you there is something wrong in your title, the information is not covered in the video, it is a little bit different it is an easy mistake.
Instead of you know outright saying. "Oh your liar! SCREW YOU."
Its called be tolerant, I make mistakes. If you refuse to be kind to others that is your problem. Obey Rule #1.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/06/11 19:50:29
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
2014/06/11 19:55:52
Subject: American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
d-usa wrote: 40 seconds in and the lie in the title is obvious. The article itself also makes it clear that the title is a lie.
Seriously. Quit being dishonest and you might have something worth talking about.
doesn't mean you can be rude and be elitist. You could of been nicer and ethical about it. Not a jerk about it. You could literally say. Hey just to tell you there is something wrong in your title, the information is not covered in the video, it is a little bit different it is an easy mistake.
The information is in the video. The video makes it clear that your title is wrong. The article makes it clear that your title is wrong. It is easy to post a factual title if you either watched the video or read the article. Something I would expect of a poster that starts a thread about that particular video and article.
Instead of you know outright saying. "Oh your liar! SCREW YOU."
Instead of, you know, outright posting a thread title that is a lie that says "Screw you, here is my agenda".
Its called be tolerant, I make mistakes. If you refuse to be kind to others that is your problem. Obey Rule #1.
It's only a mistake if you admit that the union doesn't actually block union members from composing for video games.
If you continue to insist that they do block members from composing for video games then you are either lying or not understanding your own sources.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/06/11 19:56:23
2014/06/11 19:58:31
Subject: American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
d-usa wrote: 40 seconds in and the lie in the title is obvious. The article itself also makes it clear that the title is a lie.
Seriously. Quit being dishonest and you might have something worth talking about.
doesn't mean you can be rude and be elitist. You could of been nicer and ethical about it. Not a jerk about it. You could literally say. Hey just to tell you there is something wrong in your title, the information is not covered in the video, it is a little bit different it is an easy mistake.
The information is in the video. The video makes it clear that your title is wrong. The article makes it clear that your title is wrong. It is easy to post a factual title if you either watched the video or read the article. Something I would expect of a poster that starts a thread about that particular video and article.
Instead of you know outright saying. "Oh your liar! SCREW YOU."
Instead of, you know, outright posting a thread title that is a lie that says "Screw you, here is my agenda".
Its called be tolerant, I make mistakes. If you refuse to be kind to others that is your problem. Obey Rule #1.
It's only a mistake if you admit that the union doesn't actually block union members from composing for video games.
If you continue to insist that they do block members from composing for video games then you are either lying or not understanding your own sources.
Yes because I AM LYING Purposeful,
I made a mistake. *sigh*
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
2014/06/11 20:05:40
Subject: American Federation of Musicians blocks Union Members from composing for video games
Easy E wrote: Great, I'm glad you admitted it. Go change your topic title or talk to a MOD to help you. The yellow triangle of friendship is your friend.
funny thing. I Did.
But anyway I think everyone should go ontopic. If a title disturbed you that much. I would hate to see the other OT topics.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/06/11 20:14:15
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
2014/06/11 20:15:54
Subject: American Federation of Musicians Fines Union Member.
Great. Now that we know that the union is actually not keeping him (or any other composers) from working on video games we can talk about the actual issues in this case.
1) He was fined for hiring non-union labor. Not for composing video game music.
I don't really have an issue with that. He knows what the union rules are and he agreed to them when he joined the union. Nothing prevents him from recording video game scores, he just has to use union labor (ie: guys like himself).
2) He complains that union labor is more expensive than non-union labor
Again, a non issue. That's the point of being union labor. Better working conditions for all, including the guy who decided that benefiting from the union is okay but that doesn't mean other union members who are in the same union as him should benefit from it.
3) The contract is crap and companies don't want to use it. Not just because of costs, but also because the IP language doesn't keep up with modern times.
And here is the legitimate complaint. If the union inks a contract that is crap and doesn't benefit members because no company wants to use it, then the members need to use their collective powers to change that instead of deciding to screw over their other union members and record with non-union labor.
Easy E wrote: Great, I'm glad you admitted it. Go change your topic title or talk to a MOD to help you. The yellow triangle of friendship is your friend.
funny thing. I Did.
But anyway I think everyone should go ontopic. If a title disturbed you that much. I would hate to see the other OT topics.
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2014/06/11 20:40:25
Subject: American Federation of Musicians Fines Union Member.
d-usa wrote: Great. Now that we know that the union is actually not keeping him (or any other composers) from working on video games we can talk about the actual issues in this case.
1) He was fined for hiring non-union labor. Not for composing video game music.
I don't really have an issue with that. He knows what the union rules are and he agreed to them when he joined the union. Nothing prevents him from recording video game scores, he just has to use union labor (ie: guys like himself).
2) He complains that union labor is more expensive than non-union labor
Again, a non issue. That's the point of being union labor. Better working conditions for all, including the guy who decided that benefiting from the union is okay but that doesn't mean other union members who are in the same union as him should benefit from it.
3) The contract is crap and companies don't want to use it. Not just because of costs, but also because the IP language doesn't keep up with modern times.
And here is the legitimate complaint. If the union inks a contract that is crap and doesn't benefit members because no company wants to use it, then the members need to use their collective powers to change that instead of deciding to screw over their other union members and record with non-union labor.
