Digital Domain & Vancouver

A few years ago before this blog started, the narrative presented by many in the media about the VFX industry was that it was suffering the same fate as companies that were outsourcing all the work to cheap labor locations like India and China.

At the time I didn’t really see that. What I did see was that VFX work was instead going to expensive locations like Vancouver and London. How could that be possible I thought. London for example has the highest office rents in the world. So I decided to start this blog to write about the main reason VFX goes to these locations: Subsidies.

More VFX Pros Go Unpaid In Montreal Screwjob

I’ve been on hiatus from the blog but my goodness there has been so much to talk about.

Thankfully many of you have been driving the conversation. One of those people is Dave Rand who came out of nowhere fighting to get him and his colleagues at Meteor Studios in Montreal paid after the company closed 5 years ago.

Since then I’ve posted about other instances where Montreal VFX pros were left unpaid. In 2010 there was Fake Studios. Then there was Lumiere. At the same time, Discovery Communications CEO which was sending work to Montreal facilities was making out like a bandit.

Well now there is news that New Breed in Montreal isn’t paying their artists according to VFX Solidarity’s page:

Just heard some disturbing news last night from a friend in Montreal. Seems New Breed has bounced the last two paychecks to its artists. So that’s 4 weeks no pay. They’ve considered a class action but the higher ups at New Breed don’t seem to concerned since the artists really seem to exhausted to follow through. Since I’m not Canadian nor is my friend, does anyone from our Canadian peers know what options they may have to fight this or know any good lawyers in the Montreal area?

Animation Fraud In India

Last year I posted about exploitation of workers at Prime Focus in India. Well now things are starting to snowball with demonstrations and a Facebook page dedicated to exposing expensive VFX and Animation training institutes in India.

I’ve said often that I believe the amount of work going to cheap labor locations like India is overstated.

Below is a statement from the Facebook page:

Ray Harryhausen – Inspiring The Inspirational

VFX Pioneer Ray Harryhausen passed today at age 92. For a blog that focuses on raising the awareness of so many unknown VFX professionals, its rare to write about specific pioneers in the industry. However if you ask almost anyone in the industry, many will tell you how he influenced them to create movie magic. Mr. Harryhausen stands in his own light by inspiring the inspirational.

Soldier On.

Dear Disney

Dear Disney,

I wanted to commend your company after it was revealed in the NY Times that you will not continue to do business with vendors that don’t adhere to certain labor standards after a series of terrible events in Bangladesh.

However, I believe there is more that we can do. For the last few years I’ve written this blog on the visual effects industry and the bad labor practices of many vendors you utilize to create many of your blockbuster films. Let me make it clear that while many of these practices will never come close to what happened in Bangladesh, the events there serve as a catalyst to improve conditions for all workers at the vendors and subsidiaries you work with.

European Commission Investigates Games Subsidies

I know I haven’t been blogging much and I’m sorry. So many things I want to talk about!

The BBC mentions the VFX Soldier blog as the European Commission opens an investigation into the UK’s attempt to subsidize the gaming industry. Once again, this blog has become a presence in arguing against the race to the bottom:

Commission doubts whether:

• aid is necessary to stimulate the production of such video games;
• limiting expenditure for the tax relief to goods or services ‘used or consumed’ in the UK would not be discriminatory;
• offering this type of aid would not fuel a subsidy race between Member States; and
• the proposed cultural test ensures that the aid supports only games with cultural content without leading to undue distortions of competition.

BECTU VFX Meeting Today

BECTU has been looking to organize the VFX industry in the UK. Over 600 people have confirmed to attend the event:

Regent Hall 275 Oxford St
W1C 2DJ
London United Kingdom
Wednesday, 3 April 2013 from 19:00 to 21:30

You can reserve a ticket for the event here:

http://vfxforum.eventbrite.co.uk/

There is a Facebook event page here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/136542529847110/151684668332896/

You can find more info about what BECTU offers here:

http://www.bectu.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/VFX/blog/2013/03/25/69

https://twitter.com/VFXUnionUK