They say the scenes, which they often don't know about in advance, leave them "shaken" and "upset."

Performers working in the games industry have spoken of their distress at being asked to work on explicit content without notice, including a scene featuring a sexual assault.

Sex scenes are common in modern games - and are often made by filming human actors who are then digitised into game characters.

But performers have told the BBC a culture of secrecy around projects - where scripts are often not shared until the last moment - means they frequently do not know in advance that scenes may involve intimate acts.

They describe feeling “shaken” and “upset” after acting them out.

Performing arts union Equity is demanding action from the industry - it has published guides on minimum pay, and working conditions in games, including on intimate or explicit scenes.

  • Jin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    51·
    2 months ago

    Not okay, not letting them know what they are signing up for… it’s like having them do stunts.

    What game does sex scenes? Usually it just fades to black

      • count_dongulus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        2 months ago

        They had a dedicated intimacy coordinator for those scenes who worked with the actors to make sure they were comfortable with it

    • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      2 months ago

      What game does sex scenes? Usually it just fades to black

      Witcher III is the only one I can think of off the top of my head. I vaguely recall Fable 1 doing the fade-to-black thing, but then staying black and playing out some cliche moaning, which is kind of the same thing from the voice actors’s perspective.

      Whole category of dating sims and basically soft-core-porn games, which I’m sure have a high demand for acting out these kinda of scenes.

      • Kaiserschmarrn@feddit.orgEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        Jup… One of the endings involves the protagonist having sex with a cult leader and then >!getting sacrificed as soon as he cums inside her!<.

  • TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    Sec scenes are common in modern games?

    Y’all I’ve been big into Armored Core 6, Stardew Valley and Factorio lately what have you been up to?

    Edit: I’m being flippant, the idea that an actor could have such a thing sprung on them is awful and I hope they get the protections they deserve.

  • Eczpurt@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    Baldurs Gate 3 still getting praise long after release. Serious unicorn in the game industry!

      • dQw4w9WgXcQ@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        Just to be a counterweight: I have ~15 hours in BG3. At some point I just realized it’s not for me. I can’t really put my finger on it, but it just doesn’t strike any nerve for what I enjoy in video games.

        Skyrim, however was my favorite game through the 2010s, with probably north of 500 hours across multiple platforms.

        Maybe it’s something about the pacing and freedom to disregard the story elements.

    • dQw4w9WgXcQ@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      Or:

      Easy. Just share the scripts in a reasonable advance to allow actors either withdraw from the project or brace/prepare themselves for the uncomfortable scenes.

      • SendMePhotos@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        2 months ago

        I don’t. Just saying it’s an alternative option.

        Honestly I’m confused on the issue here because so many people (maybe vocal minority?) show support for sex workers, yet it’s an issue to propose an option to hire them for a non sex role? Am I missing something on the “their body, their choice” thing? Like, if they don’t want to do the job they won’t do it, right? Just seemed like the way to go, idk.

        • fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.ccEnglish
          1·
          2 months ago

          Why suggest sex workers to act a rape scene rather than plumbers or programmers though?

          I suspect you think of escorts as people who will do anything for money.

  • cuchilloc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    13·
    2 months ago

    Bro what’s the point of being an actor if you get offended by playing a role.

    • koper@feddit.nlEnglish
      3·
      2 months ago

      If you genuinely don’t see that as a problem, I’m concerned for the safety of women around you.

      • cuchilloc@lemmy.worldEnglish
        02·
        2 months ago

        Im more concerned that this people did not take the time to read their contracts or have their terms reviewed. Work for people you can trust or get a lawyer.

        • cuchilloc@lemmy.worldEnglish
          01·
          2 months ago
          • time for the surprise sex scene
          • that’s not in my contract
          • then you’re fired
          • then you’ll be hearing from my lawyer

          THE END

    • hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      Most actors don’t like having to have sex with someone they barely know without anyone warning them beforehand or making sure they aren’t abused.

    • Capt. Wolf@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      Ms Jefferies told the BBC she was once asked to act out a scene with a male performer involving a sexual assault with no prior warning. “I turned up and was told what I would be filming would be a graphic rape scene,” she said.

      Imagine taking a role where nobody tells you there’s anything sexual about it and showing up one day and someone’s like “alright time for the rape scene.”

      “The what?“

      “The rape scene, you’re character is going to be raped and we need you to mocap it with this guy. Suit up!"

      Taking a job doesn’t entitle the studio to do whatever they want to you or have you do whatever they want. Standard guild actors will almost always have a nudity and sex clause in their contract. The same doesnt seem to be happening in the gaming industry for VAs and mocap actors, with studios hiding the degree of work behind NDAs to protect their projects and their asses.