VFX Artist Protest Hollywood

I also feel bad for those VFX artists and workers, and Hollywood hasn't done anything to acknowledge or compensate those people who made it possible for the industry to generate billions on a yearly basis. It's a sad reality, and I hope eventually the Hollywood community will recognize their own mistake and do something about it.

 

i am guessing it is only the less known ones i am sure ilm,weta,sony image works are fine

 

Yeah but there is a huge amount of work being done at the smaller effects houses, even on films where WETA and ILM are involved.

 

I have a friend who is in practical effects for these major blockbuster movies who this whole thing is rubbing the wrong way. So it's more complicated than any of us know. Something more is at play here than this black and white view.

 

I don't exactly understand the issue here. It's apparent that The Oscars interrupted what was about to become a soapbox moment by Bill Westenhofer about the state of the industry, and a particular company, and in my mind, that's a type of demonstration that is completely inappropriate for a ceremony like The Oscars.

Obviously, Rhythm and Hues was unable to compete with some of the other effects studios, but what's the larger issue here? Because effects artists are being kind of vague about what's going on, much like writers were somewhat before the writer's strike.

Because if it's "Not everyone gets equal recognition and opportunities in Hollywood", that's kind of a tired story.

I don't think anyone doubts that special effects are important to film. And effects artists acting like no one in the business thinks that is important is kind of silly.

 

have any info from him?

 

OMG...it was right there and we didn't even see it. Nobody saw it and it was right there!

Did you notice that Sam Jack at the Oscars completely skipped over dialog, honoring the VFX artists, which prompted fellow Avengers Ruffalo and Downey to correct Jackson. Then Jackson was overly abrasive about it.

Watch the clip at 3:18

What a *****e:

[YT]3oZSsFa4LBo[/YT]

 

Seriously, I never noticed how rude Jackson was. I just don't know IF it was the producers who only told Jackson to hurry along, or what, because I don't see the correlation between his motivations for this 'banter and the VFX crew. I thought it was just awkward improv at first..but I don't think Sam has an agenda but he handled it poorly and p*ssed off RDJ.

 

i think this was part of the act.

 

did you watch it though? I really think Jackson was told by the producers to move it along but he handled it oddly.

 

it would be awesome if the crumbling of the VFX system resulted in a resurgence of SFX...but unfortunately i dont think thats the case.

 

i agree with you Motown on some examples. with sets. i would like bigger sets and not greenscreen 1 meter away from an actors face.

but where would you use practical effects for fantasy characters or animals?

 

None that I can easily understand, so I can't really summarize it. But it's bringing about a practical effects team versus visual effects team sort of thing somehow. I should say he's been involved with making the big practical effects type of effects for films, including superhero films and so on. It just seems really divided. Like while it's a thing and there's sympathy for those who are getting laid off, there's also a sense of people taking this beyond what it actually is. Part of it is how some people are acting as though visual effects make or break a film or are the key importance while ignoring all of the other work and practical work being done which is rubbing the practical guys the wrong way.

For background information people here might not know which I know from my own experience (with top studio walls) -- Hollywood businesses like EVERY business is still suffering because of the economy. So part of it is probably because of that as well and not some "big statement" against visual effects. Companies are letting go of big time producers they've had contract with for years. Everyone everywhere is getting laid off as well. From my view, I think studio heads just see this as the easiest and best way to go. Hollywood isn't thriving as some people seem to think, it's suffering as well. Shooting abroad is done because of saving money in this economy, for example, not just because they want to. I've seen A LOT of things driven by surviving today's economy and as said -- this was at a BIG company you wouldn't expect to be having problems.

Fantasy characters -- we've had that before VFX came about, Star Wars comes to mind. Animals, you've got me.

 

Unless you're one of the actors, a director and at the most maybe a screenwriter of the thing, the average joe doesn't give a ****.

 

True. But most of our jobs, I'm a writer, is to be as invisible as possible. So invisibility is actually the mission. People shouldn't really notice. The best compliment you can give an effects guy is you can't tell what is real and what is made up. Basically, I don't think it's that people don't notice- it's the whole job thing- but I think the one thing that people in the industry are having trouble with is those who are acting like they only have it bad while it's rocky across the board and for everyone right now.

 

Is it possible they cut the guy off because he was running long?

 

That's probably it. And most likely it. I've never seen anyone looked down upon in Hollywood, yet have always seen the family atmosphere. But it is something that can be used as ammunition in it. When, as said, everyone including HUGE producers are being consequently "fired" due to this economy. As said, with major lay offs- it's the same reason every company has lay offs.

 

You act as if the entirety of Rick Baker's career doesn't exist.

 

Some goofiness from the web.

 

I think this is potentially a case of angry effects artists making more of this than it is.

Companies go out of business, and people get laid off all the time. Sometimes it happens because companies are tightening up their belts. It doesn't mean there's a vendetta in any industry against a certain type of job.

 

i meant characters and animals that were used in close ups with dialoge and emotions. with Baker you needed a big compromise. i love all those effects but it had limitations.

 

How many people who aren't film buffs think about the writers? The directors? Hell, even the actors? They just want to be entertained. You can also apply that to any career outside of Hollywood.

I don't know the situation with the effects artists, because even though they are protesting, they're being kind of vague about what the actual issues are. And until I see evidence that they're legitimately being treated in an unfair or downright illegal manner, I can't bring myself to see their plight.

 

You'd be surprised how many old people don't know what a green screen is.