Wednesday, August 10, 2022

How Companies Are Abusing VFX Artists

If you are a fan of special effects (VFX)-laden movies, you should read this article about how big movie companies are abusing VFX artists and the consequences that it has for movies.

I've heard quite a bit over the years about how digital gaming companies have turned into sweatshops forcing their developers to work ridiculous and dangerous hours to finish games. It seems that the same pattern is happening with the companies that produce the special effects for movies, especially the films produced by Marvel. 

“[Marvel] is the worst example of a lot of the problems in the industry,” said Sam. “It would be one thing if sometimes it was really bad, sometimes it wasn’t… But with Marvel, it seems like every single time it’s the same thing. So, one, they tend to be as bad as you’re going to get and they’re consistently that bad.”

Hector recalled that during the last Marvel project he worked on, “from my very first day on the project, up until we delivered the shots, we were working overtime and weekends. It was just months of literally being nailed to my desk.” He laughed as he said this, almost like he hated to admit it.

“Even up until the last week or so they still weren’t sure what they wanted this gigantic set piece to look like. We were still doing concept art.” Hector said. Concept art is supposed to be the first thing you nail down before you start working on the pieces that will eventually be composited together to make up the shot. “And various parts of this sequence had already gone through the entire pipeline. You’ve got lighting renders, effects simulations, matte paintings, and animation.” All of this, ready to go, and Marvel still hasn’t approved concept art.

It's a sad situation and I don't know what will change it, short of government intervention. 

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