tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post5266405276056310183..comments2024-03-22T23:14:47.686-07:00Comments on Effects Corner: Bad Visual Effects Business PracticesScott Squireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-48632990510402386002013-03-12T07:22:42.518-07:002013-03-12T07:22:42.518-07:00I am very happy to have stumbled upon this site of...I am very happy to have stumbled upon this site of yours. The wealth of information here is amazing. It will take me a while to read through it all. <br />Thanks for sharing your opinion and insight into this amazing industry. <br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Conrad conchanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05655064867178540002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-31295711617280716882013-02-18T13:45:14.097-08:002013-02-18T13:45:14.097-08:00You've given the subject the sensitivity it re...You've given the subject the sensitivity it requires. Thank you. The bidding system is not the best approach, but it is the only one Hollywood wants, because it means a cheaper deal for them in the end. It sucks for the studios, though. So much for nurturing relationships.<br />I recognized a lot of what you wrote about. Over Christmas I read some old Dilbert books and told my husband they nunayobidnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06564314912360508013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-88594822551081484042013-02-12T17:40:14.065-08:002013-02-12T17:40:14.065-08:00Even still:
The disparity in rates among artists ...Even still:<br /><br />The disparity in rates among artists doing relatively similar tasks is a problem. If artist A is far more experienced than artist B, that's one thing in that artist A can produce more (in theory). However, i have seen many instances in which an artist has worked at a VFX house that pays a LOT and has, therefore, established a much higher pay rate than an artist who has Lisa McNamaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-30569823813105363462013-02-12T14:52:40.650-08:002013-02-12T14:52:40.650-08:00One counter to balancing the pay is that many supe...One counter to balancing the pay is that many supervisors, producers and management are likely classified as 'exempt' from overtime. They're giving a flat rate. Given the crazy hours it wasn't that unusual for an artist to be making as much or more than the supervisors, producers, etc. when each worked the same hours.Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-51352507691079685772013-02-12T13:15:53.858-08:002013-02-12T13:15:53.858-08:00Yes, Scott S...i agree that it's not solely on...Yes, Scott S...i agree that it's not solely on the studios to change. It is true that the VFX management and artists will also have to exercise control in the matter. <br /><br />I have been a big supporter of the union. In an industry that goes largely unregulated, the union certainly provides a terrific service. I know, however, that many artists have been suspicious of and resistant to theLisa McNamaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-61560446103991341052013-02-12T12:55:45.536-08:002013-02-12T12:55:45.536-08:00"The presumption/prejudice I have is that the..."The presumption/prejudice I have is that the whole thing is fuelled by romantic feelings on the part of the investors and workers ..."<br /><br />See my latest post <a href="http://effectscorner.blogspot.com/2013/02/oh-mess-were-in.html" rel="nofollow">Oh the mess we're in!</a><br />Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-69249058815124667862013-02-12T12:53:09.814-08:002013-02-12T12:53:09.814-08:00Scott Ross - You're right, this is only part o...Scott Ross - You're right, this is only part of it. This wasn't meant to be exhausted list but to cover some of the more obvious issues. You're welcome to add more.Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-49131915567179099392013-02-12T12:51:34.893-08:002013-02-12T12:51:34.893-08:00Hi Lisa, Thanks for the comment.
I don't thin...Hi Lisa, Thanks for the comment.<br /><br />I don't think the studios will change. At this point most American companies have become myopic of squeezing every penny out. The studios will simply say their bosses require even more savings (and they themselves will be reward when they provide the savings on someone else's back) The bosses will simply say we have to do it for the investors orScott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-1285628772519704682013-02-12T11:58:14.108-08:002013-02-12T11:58:14.108-08:00And that's just the half of it! Great post......And that's just the half of it! Great post...Scott. There's truly a whole other range of problems regarding artist issues, financial/capital issues and owner issues. But, a great effort on your part.... thanks.Scott Rosshttp://www.scottaross.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-54624603409251906152013-02-12T11:52:56.905-08:002013-02-12T11:52:56.905-08:00Scott, as always, your analytic mind covers the br...Scott, as always, your analytic mind covers the broad spectrum of problems rampant in the industry. It's something i've encountered time after time, to the point where i don't know if i can ever, in good conscience, recruit for a VFX or feature animation studio again.<br /><br />What will fix the problems? I think it will have to come from the film production studios themselves. They Lisa McNamaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-48090681687568842532013-02-09T10:32:05.012-08:002013-02-09T10:32:05.012-08:00Bingo. Outsourcing will continue regardless of uni...Bingo. Outsourcing will continue regardless of union. People will always find a reason to fear change, even if its for the betterScott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-84525270394583093092013-02-09T08:57:34.902-08:002013-02-09T08:57:34.902-08:00Thank you for this post! I did not know about your...Thank you for this post! I did not know about your blog before, but I will be signing up for the RSS feed.<br /><br /><b><i>Why not unionize? Why are the VFX artists allowing this to happen. Dose everyone in the industry devalue themselves that much that they wont stand up?</i></b><br /><br />Many artists fear a union will upset the status quo and make things worse. As long as the majority of Celshaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06835531857425033524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-71550955980781268512013-02-09T08:41:25.670-08:002013-02-09T08:41:25.670-08:00Yes, from a true investor standpoint the vfx indus...Yes, from a true investor standpoint the vfx industry is a no go. There's too many vfx companies and market distortions (subsidies, funding by single individuals, etc). The free market usually creates a balance but this is all out of balance. I've been working on a post regarding this.Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-83216868296280972912013-02-09T03:30:30.256-08:002013-02-09T03:30:30.256-08:00Superb stuff. And very much of it applies to manag...Superb stuff. And very much of it applies to management in general! Something I am wondering about is how many VFX companies actually make money - and if there exists a vfx company that actually gives a good return on investment - strictly $.<br /><br />The presumption/prejudice I have is that the whole thing is fuelled by romantic feelings on the part of the investors and workers (both of which Truls O. Johansenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18021771651929598280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-18603455320009402052013-02-08T17:54:01.060-08:002013-02-08T17:54:01.060-08:00Great post Scott. So much good advice in there. Fo...Great post Scott. So much good advice in there. For artists who are interested in joining a union there is info and representation cards at www.vfxunion.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-72972098446746991892013-02-08T17:00:44.021-08:002013-02-08T17:00:44.021-08:00>certification for vfx studios
Don't rule ...>certification for vfx studios<br /><br />Don't rule this out.Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-75679917552760733832013-02-08T11:09:26.368-08:002013-02-08T11:09:26.368-08:00Great reading Scott, thanks for sharing your exper...Great reading Scott, thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge. The situation of VFX in US seems to be going in the same direction we are going in Brazil nowadays. <br /><br />Thanks!Gustavo Bragahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00981683688427518652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-3206053080841796622013-02-08T04:25:21.724-08:002013-02-08T04:25:21.724-08:00Thanks Scott,
Reading this, I wonder if the indust...Thanks Scott,<br />Reading this, I wonder if the industry would benefit from a sort of independent ISO certification for vfx studios...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05568977387194436493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-47383765670889522962013-02-08T02:50:48.498-08:002013-02-08T02:50:48.498-08:00Thanks for sharing your experiences Scott. This is...Thanks for sharing your experiences Scott. This is valuable information.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15853752438925119743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-70012603833177285542013-02-08T00:37:52.494-08:002013-02-08T00:37:52.494-08:00A blurry Xerox, (a print out), of the following, w...A blurry Xerox, (a print out), of the following, was permanently scotch taped to a column in the midle of a huge loft rented by an animation studio I worked at decades ago:<br /><br />"You see, the film studio of today is really the palace of the sixteenth century. There one sees what Shakespeare saw: the absolute power of the tyrant, the courtiers, the flatterers, the jesters, the cunninglyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-46645316136909233442013-02-07T20:35:25.873-08:002013-02-07T20:35:25.873-08:00Wow. EPIC post, Scott.
It's such a complete...Wow. EPIC post, Scott. <br /><br />It's such a complete list, I don't think there's anything to add. Although I'm sure I or somebody else will soon find a new bad business decision to make!<br /><br />The list is so complete, I doubt anyone could find a single company that hasn't done at least 10 of these things in the past (or any given) year.<br /><br />etmthreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10532069867091506250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-41180851798675580852013-02-07T20:07:48.290-08:002013-02-07T20:07:48.290-08:00The bidding model hails from the construction indu...The bidding model hails from the construction industry and is meant to come with a fixed blueprint. <br /><br />Any other use of it is a fool's game and eventually ends up with one party in the business relationship and having all the leverage..<br /><br />That's why they dropped it on the movie set. Camera teams were like, "you did not tell us you'd be doing 100 takes". SoDavid Randhttp://www.daverand.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-5056523321062470452013-02-07T18:43:40.404-08:002013-02-07T18:43:40.404-08:00Hey thanks Scott, for this blog. I found this out ...Hey thanks Scott, for this blog. I found this out by googling: "I want to be a VFX producer." It was in the first page.<br /><br />Background on me:<br />I've been freelancing for 2 years as a 3D artist. Aspiring to be a VFX Supervisor or some for of TD.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anyways, I got into this blog by being curious as to how can I inform myself more about the CG industry.<brAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-36004820203417246632013-02-07T13:28:06.531-08:002013-02-07T13:28:06.531-08:00I'm in school for film at the moment and what ...I'm in school for film at the moment and what I'm reading here is DON'T CHOOSE VFX AS A CAREER. Every job will have it's down side but it seems that VFX has the worst of it which surprises me since the the film industry would be lost without VFX. Why not unionize? Why are the VFX artists allowing this to happen. Dose everyone in the industry devalue themselves that much that they Gilbert BoChuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14495508211605956879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-79434778698065174162013-02-07T09:33:22.576-08:002013-02-07T09:33:22.576-08:00>I feel that many of the harsh realities and da...>I feel that many of the harsh realities and dangers of working in FX were glossed over or left untouched.<br /><br />I've tried to cover some of those realities on this blog but many young people still aren't interested. <br /><br />Visual effects has always been a freelance job. Same with just about all jobs in the film industry. <br /><br />And I do think all schools should provide Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.com