[RonB]

Very well written...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-stran ... 51922.html

[numerobis]

yes...

maybe someone should write an open letter to Jacques Herzog or Zaha Hadid... the working conditions as architect are quite similar today...

[JDHill]

With the ubiquity of the internet, one would think it might not be difficult for service providers to unionize, and yet avoid the inefficient wastefulness of the traditional union bureaucracy.

[mverta]

Bullcrap. Turn the music off and see how well ANY of these films do.


_MIke

[Bubbaloo]

Bullcrap. Turn the music off and see how well ANY of these films do.


_MIke

I was wondering if you'd get in on this!

[RonB]

mverta...So what is your point here? Turn any single aspect of a movie off and it goes to crap, lighting, foley, sound, FX, editing, acting, etc.
But you stating "bullcrap" tells me you don't agree with the premise of the article, which is a little surprising?
Or is it you have a bone to pick with Lee Stranahan...some people do. I agree with what he said in the article and also thought he said it very well.
It is an old article written and posted in Feb...so no news there.

[Hervé]

I'd say it is up to each artist to negociate the x amount of $ he's getting... some people are good at it so they'll get $$$$$.. some suck at negociating.. and so they'll only get $... voila..

to be a living vfx artist, you got to be a bit businessman... no mama or papa will protect you..

I used to work as crew member for movies, the differences in $$ are very big.. but like in any business in the world...

am I off..?

[Frances]

I'd say it is up to each artist to negociate the x amount of $ he's getting... some people are good at it so they'll get $$$$$.. some suck at negociating.. and so they'll only get $... voila..

to be a living vfx artist, you got to be a bit businessman... no mama or papa will protect you..

Are you speaking of freelancers or of people who are working in VFX houses? Are you against unions in general or just unions for VFX people?

[Hervé]

well freelancers..

no I am not again union, reunion or guilds.. but I am not part of anything.. I think your work has to speak for you.. no..? no union will force me to engage you.. nor to pay a work that I don't estimate good.. but like I said.. if you're good.. you're in.. now how strong you are in negociation is up to you..

what I am against atm ... is too much heat when I work.. so painful...

cheers Frances..

PS, I reckon some low jobs need strong unions.. otherwise these people get peanuts.. but in VFX, you're suppose to be intelligent enough.. if you're not.. then.. well.. no brain, no cash.. mostly..

[Frances]

Cheers Hervé. I think a bigger issue here is the general exploitation of the workers - over-worked and uncompensated for overtime work, plus no legitimate or equitable grievance process. I would venture to guess that the more successful houses do not follow these practices, because they foment a demoralized and unhappy workforce.

[Hervé]

passion is the key to success.. and sure enough, un-happy people are rarely passionate.. so yes, a good taskforce requires money..

I guess you have the good boss that cares about it.. and the guy that is just here to buy the next Porsche.. so this last one will do whatever it takes .. including under-pay people, no estime, .. modern slavery.. again, in life you make choices.. sometimes you realize these were the wrong choices.. so yes.. it's hard.. and there is a fierce competition out there.. we're still lucky.. but 3D is becoming so popular, the situation will go more crazy each new day..

every day they open a new 3D section in a school somewhere in the world..

Pixar & Co. have made millions of babies.. but all these little babies will eat the mother soon.... lol funny enough when you go see a 3D movie, you hear young kids saying.. 3D is cool... I think I'll do that later.."
motto.. we'll adapt..

[mverta]

mverta...So what is your point here? Turn any single aspect of a movie off and it goes to crap, lighting, foley, sound, FX, editing, acting, etc.

Not exactly. Silent films were in black and white with little in the way of visuals, but they weren't silent - there was always someone playing music to the picture. The emotional contribution of the music and the stark visuals were nonetheless powerful enough to launch what is still the most popular form of entertainment, more than 100+ years later. People don't go to sound effects concerts; they don't load up foley on their iPods; the clubs aren't filled with people because of the great light shows. Music is the heart of movies, and having seen no shortage of the "blockbusters" in the last 10 years before they had their music, I can assure you that 99% of them are reduced to nothing more than grown men playing dress-up, making mean faces at the camera and looking like dorks.

_Mike

[Bubbaloo]

But the issue here is about horrid working conditions, puny compensation, and ultimately lack of respect for VFX guys. Are the conditions as bad for a composer too? I really have no idea. Maybe for those just starting out.

[Frances]

Yeah, I'm not sure what the importance of music in movies has to do with exploitation of VFX workers. I actually, I'm certain that it has nothing to do with it.

[Hervé]

vfx or waiter does not make any difference.. It's a personnal situation thing.. Nobody walks on my feet.. but for some people .. vfx or carpenter or waiter or whatever.. it's not the case.. I know.. but as I said.. personnal story..

In jail, it's the same thing..

and in General life.. same thing too... winners and loosers... masters and servants.. period..

....... and in US... I mean... it's really like that.. especially in US.. but other communist countries were not any better.. you see in Ex east block.. if you were dumb or not did not make any difference.. doctor or waiter.. same salary.. but it failed... so voila..

PS, it is like the french people trying to impose a certain amount of french films on french tv.. hey if peopl want to eat us soup.. let them do.. lol