tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post7906891942645622553..comments2024-03-22T23:14:47.686-07:00Comments on Effects Corner: VES 2.0 feedback requestedScott Squireshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-87394109837874272882011-09-08T17:58:50.528-07:002011-09-08T17:58:50.528-07:00Here's Alba's post broken in 2 to fit in t...Here's Alba's post broken in 2 to fit in the comments area.<br /><br /><br />What are the problems people are facing? You may have some issues I haven’t touched on or you may have a totally different priority.<br /><br />I’m gonna save this for last, so scroll to the bottom of my comment to read my answer.<br /><br /><br />How would you like to see the vfx industry structured?<br /><br />Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-40752283880415603582011-09-08T16:59:06.053-07:002011-09-08T16:59:06.053-07:00hello Scott, here's my hastily written comment...hello Scott, here's my hastily written comment. i squeezed this between a hard day at work and my commute home. which means I'm probably at a bar.Albahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13959362433635588590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-16492312903617878982011-09-08T11:41:31.649-07:002011-09-08T11:41:31.649-07:00Anonymous, facts you nicely presented :
(a) VFX h...Anonymous, facts you nicely presented :<br /><br />(a) VFX houses in LA bid to outsource <br />This is true. Think of all the companies who have opened an office in Vancouver or elsewhere around the globe to get better ROI (tax credits or cheap labor)<br /><br />(b)They don't even try to keep work in the US anymore<br />Yes they do, executives, top rank company officers, etc.<br /><br />(c) Benoit Martelhttp://www.talkmgmt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-35802443828161205912011-09-07T13:21:04.444-07:002011-09-07T13:21:04.444-07:00The real challenge is to come up with a new biddin...The real challenge is to come up with a new bidding structure (and agreement to replace the current flat fee) between the studios and the vendors that define clear boundaries and fixes a scope on the work to be performed to match the reality of a creative, flexible and experimental environment. The assumption that the Scientific management theory can lead the workers to focus more on their own David Adamhttp://www.talkmgmt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-72087515899086562042011-09-06T15:08:39.309-07:002011-09-06T15:08:39.309-07:00According to Wikipedia under Scientific management...According to Wikipedia under Scientific management:<br /><br />"Although scientific management as a distinct theory or school of thought was obsolete by the 1930s, most of its themes are still important parts of industrial engineering and management today. <br />...<br />Taylor observed that some workers were more talented than others, and that even smart ones were often unmotivated. He Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-69610357161555543902011-09-06T14:46:00.392-07:002011-09-06T14:46:00.392-07:00The Media & Entertainment industry has reached...The Media & Entertainment industry has reached the maturity phase and now face different type of new challenges and changes; it's part of the evolution in the economy. This industry is now at the stagnation point. The barrier of entry is at it's all time low, the number of competitors/vendors have exploded during the past years, prices has fallen and the net income of the companies isDavid Adam Morinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13368163549644027479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-89916010876991081762011-08-31T14:24:10.914-07:002011-08-31T14:24:10.914-07:00For those following the too much pay comments I cr...For those following the too much pay comments I created another post.<br /><a href="http://effectscorner.blogspot.com/2011/08/vfx-wages-discussion.html" rel="nofollow">Post related to VFX Wages issue</a>Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-20973173873300337412011-08-27T20:22:09.701-07:002011-08-27T20:22:09.701-07:00Potential large change being investigated. I'm...Potential large change being investigated. I'm not involved in this group.Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-31140101360321852282011-08-27T20:06:17.344-07:002011-08-27T20:06:17.344-07:00Regarding VES offering health care, I looked at it...Regarding VES offering health care, I looked at it when they first announced that and it was A) not guaranteed issue B) more expensive than what I was paying for Cobra or HIPPA. No clue if any of that has changed.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03412425719125401808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-29985978351171433142011-08-27T13:33:35.747-07:002011-08-27T13:33:35.747-07:00To Rolling Red,
I'm the first Anonymous, I...To Rolling Red,<br /><br />I'm the first Anonymous, I'll call myself AnonA. Just toanswer the SAG issue with you, I never said anything about joining SAG, just we need to be in something like SAG and not IATSE.<br /><br />Second, don't start with personal attacks, not cool. I assure you I am not scared of being unemployed. As I mentioned, I'm in a pretty senior position. I AnonAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-21343205900534659032011-08-27T10:33:01.295-07:002011-08-27T10:33:01.295-07:00To the other Anynoymous who's making insane am...To the other Anynoymous who's making insane amounts of money as a senior artist: <br />a) - A major problem with your analysis is that you generalize your own privileged situation to all LA/California. If you're at one extreme of a the Bell Curve - you should ask yourself what's the median and speak to that. I assure you it ain't all that.<br />b) - You are absolutely right thatRolling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14107462912699619543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-30525141999949843082011-08-26T20:31:45.377-07:002011-08-26T20:31:45.377-07:00I work here in Los Angeles in a very senior positi...I work here in Los Angeles in a very senior position, and I concur with the previous anonymous poster...<br /><br />It's not just LA. All of California film production has suffered a great deal from these runaway productions. It has nothing to do with the federal government. There are great incentives in other states. NY was just used for the latest MIB series, and Louisiana keeps poppingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-66656750082076550622011-08-26T18:09:01.569-07:002011-08-26T18:09:01.569-07:00Anonymous, I've read a bit about Hollywood Uni...Anonymous, I've read a bit about Hollywood Unions since it surfaced as a possibility for vfx artists, much good about SAG and much bad about IATSE sadly.That aside, IATSE is the only one stepping forward to organize us. There was a shorted lived bid by IBEW but by AFL-CIO command unions are compelled to collaborate rather than compete, although there certainly were historical incidents in theRolling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14107462912699619543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-16493854860238343442011-08-26T16:01:03.193-07:002011-08-26T16:01:03.193-07:00To Rolling Red,
This is a huge oversimplification...To Rolling Red,<br /><br />This is a huge oversimplification, but SAG not as subdivided as IATSE and has tried to at least tried to have global rules. IATSE is much more fracture and I don't think that's a good thing for our industry, especially since many of the artist work in different roles.<br /><br />Honestly, I don't think either are the answer. They have both been pretty muchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-53862924820347567332011-08-26T08:39:31.119-07:002011-08-26T08:39:31.119-07:00Anonymous, just out of curiosity both IATSE and SA...Anonymous, just out of curiosity both IATSE and SAG are both Hollywood unions. Both are members of AFL-CIO and abide by NLRB. What makes you say that SAG is better than IATSE?Rolling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14107462912699619543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-53436661120164866272011-08-25T13:43:58.173-07:002011-08-25T13:43:58.173-07:00To IA4thefuture,
Traditional animation is NOT thr...To IA4thefuture,<br /><br />Traditional animation is NOT thriving in LA. It's a far cry from what it used to be. Most of it is now outsourced to S. Korea. <br /><br />I get overtime, health, vacation, etc. I've been lucky enough to have been offered a staff position at every company I ever freelanced at. I make a very nice living.<br /><br />I've moved up in rank enough to be Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-92047659699091666812011-08-25T12:10:20.326-07:002011-08-25T12:10:20.326-07:00It's not 100% about costs. If that were the ca...It's not 100% about costs. If that were the case then 100% of the work would already be going to China or whichever country is cheaper this week. There's a quality level (which a number of countries are getting better a)t and there's the communication and perspective, which is problematic on many projects.<br /><br />The various incentives will be changing, maybe sooner than some Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-31897570998883839382011-08-25T10:58:35.584-07:002011-08-25T10:58:35.584-07:00Hey anonymous!! Last time I checked the tradition...Hey anonymous!! Last time I checked the traditional animation industry was booming here in LA. And while Rome burns, and work gets outsourced, you guys continue to fall for the sucker line that your thriving employer can't afford to pay you for time worked, for overtime, and provide you with benefits. meanwhile he picks up his new Maseratti at the dealership. wake up and smell the coffee.IA4thefuturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15902638447096995408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-64949068207935972252011-08-25T10:38:18.420-07:002011-08-25T10:38:18.420-07:00Unionizing in the US is useless at this point. He...Unionizing in the US is useless at this point. Healthcare, pensions? These are the least of our problems right now. There will be no major vfx industry in the US in about 5 years. <br /><br />The vfx industry is follow exactly what happened to the traditional animation studios. It's all getting outsourced. I've been in the industry for over 15 years and I expect to be out of a job Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-70724063709752954822011-08-24T11:26:02.493-07:002011-08-24T11:26:02.493-07:00Speaking for the IA, we continue to seek out some ...Speaking for the IA, we continue to seek out some direction as to the type of organization the rank and file really want? One integrated visual effects organization? An independent guild? Affiliation with several different IATSE locals (matching job-skills) such as camera, editorial, animation, or art directors? We could charter a guild and have it function as a separate entity, benefitting IA4thefuturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15902638447096995408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-1198516983537035072011-08-24T10:51:10.418-07:002011-08-24T10:51:10.418-07:00What VFX + Motion Graphic Design workers need:
Co...What VFX + Motion Graphic Design workers need:<br /><br />Compliance with Federal and State Labor laws regarding:<br />Proper classification as W2 workers <br />Paid Overtime <br /><br />AND<br /><br />Portable Retirement and Health Benefits<br /><br />AND<br /><br />Standardization of credits<br />Use of all work for their portfolio <br /><br />A yearly salary survey<br /><br />An organization Bran DJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11860010134097060041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-19072197293573368032011-08-23T18:09:36.318-07:002011-08-23T18:09:36.318-07:00This is my personal blog. I'm on the board of ...This is my personal blog. I'm on the board of directors of the VES and I'm actually part of the Leadership group trying to come up with solutions. But I can't speak for the VES here about things in the works.<br /><br />1. Actually the VES have been in talks with the IA about all of this. Where it will go I couldn't say. Personally I've met with Jimmy a couple of times, wentScott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-80141510747810918412011-08-23T15:32:45.472-07:002011-08-23T15:32:45.472-07:00Yeah Scott, I appreciate your response - but it po...Yeah Scott, I appreciate your response - but it points to business as usual attitude which I fully expected. <br />1.Posting an IATSE organizing notice on VES site - is the extent of IA-VES collaboration there'll ever be, I get it.<br />2.Facilitating meetings of vfx companies re. Trade Organization - nice and dandy but does not address the needs of vfx workers. Anyone can see that by lookingRolling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14107462912699619543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-87157804852205469252011-08-23T14:12:29.242-07:002011-08-23T14:12:29.242-07:00Thanks for the feedback. The VES posted the origi...Thanks for the feedback. The VES posted the original notice from the IATSE regarding a vfx union. The VES also help to facilitate a few meetings of vfx companies to see about having a trade organization. The VES isn't trying to block the union from organizing nor is it trying to take the place of the union. So far the union has been slow going so the VES has stepped in to do what it can to Scott Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15920073387249178066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15503145.post-85399572623383178082011-08-23T10:01:43.217-07:002011-08-23T10:01:43.217-07:00The vfx industry is plagued by many problems such ...The vfx industry is plagued by many problems such as inadequate business model, top heavy concentration of power over purse strings and creative control, lack of industry standards, the bidding process itself and finally the exploitative attitudes of Hollywood studios and VFX production companies towards their employees.<br /><br />I am a vfx artist and want to comment specifically to VES' Rolling Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14107462912699619543noreply@blogger.com