Category: ves

“I had employees to care about. I never wanted to let them down”

http://www.fastcompany.com/3008885/one-companys-secret-to-thriving-in-a-crumbling-industry

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/ilm-considering-opening-london-office-star-wars-work-exclusive-88566

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/04/29/177203/uk-passes-instagram-act

“The UK govt passed the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act which effectively makes so-called ‘orphaned’ content posted on social media sites public domain. Corporations now only need to have made a “diligent search” to find the owner of the content before use. From the article: ‘The Act contains changes to UK copyright law which permit the commercial exploitation of images where information identifying the owner is missing, so-called “orphan works”, by placing the work into what’s known as “extended collective licensing” schemes. Since most digital images on the internet today are orphans – the metadata is missing or has been stripped by a large organization – millions of photographs and illustrations are swept into such schemes.’”

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/ilm-to-pact-with-chinas-base-fx-1200383782/

In my experience, a 40 hour work week is a benchmark of the most effective teams.  They have work-life balance.  They have buffer to respond to opportunity and to deal with crunches.

http://motionographer.com/2011/10/12/worklife-the-40-hour-work-week/

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http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/union-seeks-organize-uk-vfx-433035

http://kotaku.com/disney-shuts-down-lucasarts-468473749

It has been just over one month since our industry reached what I called a “tipping point,” which intensified on the heels of the Oscars.  In an effort to be responsive to a beleaguered community and sincerely offer our leadership, we issued an open letter calling for increased subsidies in California and a public VFX Congress. In the days and weeks since then, visibility on the changing visual effects industry has increased dramatically.  And during that time, we have received a good deal of feedback on our suggestions – both positive and negative.

Given what we have learned, I want to underscore a few important points:

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http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/vfx-at-a-crossroads

http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/vfx-crossroads

http://www.vfxunion.info/

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/03/18/visual-effects-rhythm-and-hues-life-of-pi/

The buzz around the state of the visual effects industry reached a fever pitch this winter when prominent effects house Rhythm & Hues filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-February.

The movement has spurred supporters to change their Facebook and Twitter profile photos to a green box, representing the green screen that would appear in movies were it not for VFX.

http://variety.com/2013/more/news/lawyers-to-laid-off-digital-domain-freelancers-pay-us-or-well-sue-1200194391/

http://www.facebook.com/VfxSolidarityIntl/posts/355240404584531

VFX Solidarity International

http://www.tribecafilm.com/tribecaonline/future-of-film/Why-is-Everyone-in-Your-Feed-Turning-Their-Profile-Picture-Green.html#.US-dTc_1Q02

http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/ves-advocates-for-more-vfx-subsidies/#more-3400

The VES sent a call to action for VFX subsidies in California:

First, we call upon Governor Brown and the State Legislature to immediately expand its tax incentive program for the entertainment industry and to include a focused approach concentrated on the visual effects and post production sectors of the industry.

I disagree with this idea and I’m very disappointed.

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http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/an-open-letter-to-ang-lee/

Dear Mr. Lee, When asked about the bankruptcy of Rhythm + Hues, the visual effects house largely responsible for making your film “life of Pi” as incredible as it was, you said: “I would like it to be cheaper and not a tough business [for VFX vendors].

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http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/rhythm-hues-chapter-11/

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118066034/

http://www.deadline.com/2013/02/oscar-nominated-vfx-rhythm-and-hues-filing-bankruptcy/

http://vfxlaw2012.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/organizational-skills/

At one point in my career I was a Visual Effects Producer, and am a current member of the PGA.  Is it possible that I am responsible for some companies having gone out of business because I squeezed them too hard on prices?  Yes.  Is it possible artists lost their job because of the decisions I made?  Yes.  Is it indeed possible that the visual effects industry finds itself in dire straits with nowhere to turn?  Yes.

How do we fix it, and more to the point, can it be fixed?

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http://edit.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-buy-lucasfilm-405-billion-384448

http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn-20121009-1106-business_with_rod_oram-048.mp3