There Are No Visual Effects Without People
My son is a burgeoning visual effects artist, but it’s increasingly clear it’s not a tenable way to make a living.
From George Lucas back in 2015:
“Anybody who says they make money in post-production is lying. Anybody who says they make money in visual effects is lying,” he said.
The disrespect for the trade is rampant.
Also see: www.independent.co.uk/arts-ente…
Then there’s the abuse.
18 hour days. No weekends. No lives.
I hope these Marvel VFX artists remember Scott Ross, Daniel Lay (AKA VFX Soldier), and Rhythm & Hues, Life of Pi’s main visual effects vendor, who announced their closure as they accepted their Oscar (and were played off by the orchestra).
The 2013 Oscars
Life After Pi
Also see:
In short, there’s no gene for the human spirit, and there are no visual effects without people.
Addendum - 2023 Aug 15 Todd Vaziri recently made an appearance on Corridor Crew’s VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGi. If you’re a Star Wars or Star Trek fan with even a passing interest in visual effects, this is a must-watch.
There’s something hopeful/inspiring about seeing Niko and Wren just hanging out with Todd while he takes them on a gently guided tour of some one-in-a-million, famous shots while they all genuinely enjoy the labor of love that goes into each one. Also, Todd going out of his way to name fellow artists punctuates the point: No people? No visual effects.
Addendum - 2023 Aug 20 Hollywood’s Greatest Trick by Ali Rizvi and Sohail Al-Jamea for McClatchy is a must-see on the visual effects business. 25 minutes, but you’ll watch it more than once.
Miraculously, it’s still available online at no charge by The Fresno Bee:
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/nation-world/national/article134277069.html/video-embed
The one detail that struck me on this viewing? The ad hoc fresh air exchanger in the middle of a room made for 8-10 artists. Gross.