tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post7543799943662116842..comments2024-03-22T23:14:47.686-07:00Comments on Effects Corner: VFX companies continue to fallScott Squireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-13602268542228685822010-11-16T18:15:12.201-08:002010-11-16T18:15:12.201-08:00First, I'm not requesting additional taxes. I&...First, I'm not requesting additional taxes. I'm listing the impact of incentives and getting work.<br />There's pros and cons to applying taxes in different ways for different purposes. In osme cases relatively small investments can make big payoffsm, just as in any business.<br /><br />Second, I'd be curious to see where you got those numbers from. We've lost more jobs thanScott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-81808126738252272142010-11-16T17:07:17.443-08:002010-11-16T17:07:17.443-08:00Hi Scott,
I look forward to reading your next pos...Hi Scott,<br /><br />I look forward to reading your next post.<br /><br />I have read the various posts here and appreciate the differing points of view on this issue.<br /><br />However, I believe instituting yet another tax on companies creates more reason for the business to leave the state. We can not force companies to do business here in CA and adding additional taxes will not help remedyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-81350093949997630082010-11-10T09:33:46.467-08:002010-11-10T09:33:46.467-08:00I've actually been working on a piece on start...I've actually been working on a piece on starting a vfx company. Hopefully will post in the next couple of weeks.Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-33914435499094585552010-11-09T03:11:02.968-08:002010-11-09T03:11:02.968-08:00Hi, I'm a vfx artist working in London. Things...Hi, I'm a vfx artist working in London. Things are quite busy over here and companies are hiring massively. Having said that, the government have decided to put a cap on the number of visas on foreign nationals outside of the EU. We're lacking skilled and experienced people in the UK.<br /><br />Warner Bros have also bought Leavesden Studios for $100M and are keen on expanding their Svennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-68220024093825438702010-08-20T21:44:34.537-07:002010-08-20T21:44:34.537-07:00Instead of trying to get the California state legi...Instead of trying to get the California state legislature to create some sort of competitive film/vfx production subsidy (which is HIGHLY unlikely given the current budget problems in this state - the state is issuing IOU's to some people! http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/02/news/economy/California_IOUs/?postversion=2009070218) we should be talking about a dollar for dollar TAX on the actual Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06303886790572042099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-38114319250021441802010-04-23T22:10:42.928-07:002010-04-23T22:10:42.928-07:00Scott, great article!
I own and operate a small b...Scott, great article!<br /><br />I own and operate a small boutique facility in N. Hollywood for the last several years and have been a freelancer in the industry for more than fifteen. Things are as bad as I have ever seen.<br /><br />The main issues I believe at play here are:<br /><br />1) lack of CA legislature to provide competitive tax incentives to CA Film/VFX production.<br />- Canada isMIchael Kaelinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-67314634229466967992010-03-30T15:52:19.546-07:002010-03-30T15:52:19.546-07:00Another aspect of the whole IMD closure which real...Another aspect of the whole IMD closure which really stinks, is that Disney is reportedly still moving forward to make "Yellow Submarine 3D". They just don't want to make it at their own facility. I agree with many comments here - they're being very premature, and throwing away millions of dollars to shut it down, which reeks of spiteful politics from the new regime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-25240345663931778832010-03-21T04:33:42.672-07:002010-03-21T04:33:42.672-07:00The real problem here is outsourcing. How can stu...The real problem here is outsourcing. How can studios throw that many jobs overseas and not expect it to impact things over here?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-69927191258920788592010-03-18T16:25:34.254-07:002010-03-18T16:25:34.254-07:00The simple answer to VFX cries is to expand the se...The simple answer to VFX cries is to expand the service base. Offer live action filming as a base service or incorporate the request into the Production aspect.<br /><br />Now, I can't tell you how to do that, but it's the right direction to start in.<br /><br />Live action or plates can save a lot of computer efforts if effectively managed. <br /><br />Perhaps the VFX houses need more Winston Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-64043149770798404072010-03-18T13:58:19.484-07:002010-03-18T13:58:19.484-07:00Yes! There is "Bring you Kids to Work Day&quo...Yes! There is "Bring you Kids to Work Day" there should be "Shadow a VFX Artist for a Day". Then they'll really know :)Eve Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018223101792737013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-53622017038961969132010-03-18T13:49:51.048-07:002010-03-18T13:49:51.048-07:00This was a producer? Sound like a great T-shirt s...This was a producer? Sound like a great T-shirt slogan.Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-16210682776848817932010-03-18T13:29:24.169-07:002010-03-18T13:29:24.169-07:00"The last thing the studios want to hear from..."The last thing the studios want to hear from are VFX people."<br /><br />In my experience that's mostly because they genuinely believe that the people doing the actual VFX work are just mindless drones. They aren't deliberately doing it, it's usually that they simply don't know any better.<br />Without meaning to I once reduced a Producer to tears by asking them if Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-22980915423830448382010-03-18T11:38:18.298-07:002010-03-18T11:38:18.298-07:00The last thing the studios want to hear from are V...The last thing the studios want to hear from are VFX people.Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-69586325319811626732010-03-18T11:32:37.895-07:002010-03-18T11:32:37.895-07:00I'm not sure what to make of Disney. Didn'...I'm not sure what to make of Disney. Didn't Weta Digital produce their latest animated studio logo, the one we see at the beginning of films such as Alice in Wonderland, etc.? Yet Disney had already a digital animation department (prior to acquiring Pixar).<br /><br />Don't get me started on Warner Bros. VFX. Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! was their only product (IIRC) and then theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-34106531301651710172010-03-18T08:50:43.344-07:002010-03-18T08:50:43.344-07:00Thanks for the insightful article, Scott. My supp...Thanks for the insightful article, Scott. My support goes out to all effected by these closures and they should know that their creative talents will land them the next gig.<br /><br />As a technology provider to the VFX industry, I constantly see the big budget, VFX laden projects reinventing the wheel. <br /><br />It's great when they innovate and advance technology forward, but it is deanwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556070054556238289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-47536541320343302632010-03-17T23:07:26.675-07:002010-03-17T23:07:26.675-07:00I disagree with Anonymous. IMD does VERY different...I disagree with Anonymous. IMD does VERY different stuff from Pixar and Disney Feature Animation. IMD was doing character animation (usually HUMAN characters) driven by motion capture. Neither of the other entities did that kind of work. I think that as a studio they're doing themselves a disservice by cutting themselves out of a whole market share of films that will utilize synthespians.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12877773882786241461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-12585293813822184022010-03-17T22:25:00.155-07:002010-03-17T22:25:00.155-07:00I don't think it takes very much to really kno...I don't think it takes very much to really know why Disney closed IMD. Pixar. Disney Feature Animation. Why would they want 3 entities producing similar content on the books? Vfx facilities need more leverage with the production studios, otherwise, the abuse will continue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-71864087398283324722010-03-17T17:55:12.432-07:002010-03-17T17:55:12.432-07:00I agree with everything you said Scott.
I didn&#...I agree with everything you said Scott. <br /><br />I didn't make the connection to The Secret Lab, but you're right. Same exact thing. <br /><br />The IMD thing sucks. So many people uprooted their lives to help start/build that company only to have the rug pulled out from under them. <br /><br />I thought when Lassiter and company took over Disney, things would be different. No such Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12877773882786241461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-1029317344394113832010-03-16T22:16:13.294-07:002010-03-16T22:16:13.294-07:00Well now's the time to step forward and help i...Well now's the time to step forward and help in whatever manner you feel will be useful. There have been a lot of discussions lately regarding VFX unions and trade organizations. The VES is certainly trying to help raise the respect level of VFX artists. I recommend anyone with a stake in this to be involved to help make it better. There have been a number of people volunteering for the VESScott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-3012128477454966222010-03-16T21:21:51.418-07:002010-03-16T21:21:51.418-07:00"Oh, and when you do speak up about these iss..."Oh, and when you do speak up about these issue in this industry.. you are immediately shot down by your peers. No real tangible support on the ground, when you really need it."<br /><br />That is the truth!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-17837868240834859262010-03-16T17:26:40.047-07:002010-03-16T17:26:40.047-07:00I'm not surprised. Self respect is sadly lacki...I'm not surprised. Self respect is sadly lacking in most vfx companies/artists. We got into this industry because it was oh so cool.. blame Star Wars..<br /><br />The studios know this and exploit it. Most vfx houses are told to jump and they ask, 'how high'? This continues down the chain to vfx artists who are likewise exploited by the vfx houses.<br /><br />Vfx houses know there Wayne Haaghttp://www.ankaris.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-4714954370133712512010-03-16T16:01:48.507-07:002010-03-16T16:01:48.507-07:00Hey guys!
Scott,
Thanks for bringing light to thi...Hey guys!<br />Scott, <br />Thanks for bringing light to this issue. I ran a VFX Major for the Art Institute in Philadelphia. Those students loved their work and were always enthusiastic about creating. It's a shame to see this industry be effected by the economy. Especially since this industry is driving ticket sales in the box office. I too was a VFX artist before I became an educator. Eve Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018223101792737013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-43148069613430656442010-03-16T14:22:30.231-07:002010-03-16T14:22:30.231-07:00Visual Effects Online Town Hall
Registration is o...Visual Effects Online Town Hall <br />Registration is open - totally free!<br />Monday March 29th<br />Amazing panel http://vfxtownhall.eventbrite.com<br /><br />Hope to see you there! (virtually, of course)Matt Wallinhttp://mattwallin.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-54733005328094960572010-03-16T14:06:37.431-07:002010-03-16T14:06:37.431-07:00An absolutely accurate assessment, unfortunately. ...An absolutely accurate assessment, unfortunately. I've run 11:11 for nearly ten years now and our last 18 months have been our worse. Doesn't help that Illusion Arts and Digital FilmWorks were a couple of our good clients and they are gone.<br /><br />I don't expect to keep the doors open much longer, at least as a "VFX Company." Time for a new business model (or a new Roger Nallhttp://www.1111mw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-66669283085406686582010-03-16T14:04:16.529-07:002010-03-16T14:04:16.529-07:00I think William Goldman had the last word on this ...I think William Goldman had the last word on this phenomenon: "Nobody knows anything" (refering to Hollywood).smolinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378926138238095753noreply@blogger.com