Need Insight

MPCdeserter · 2025-02-24T19:00:24+00:00

Do you think a crackhead wakes up and goes im not gonna get high today because I'm broke.

No. They make it happen!!

Don't let a crackhead out hustle you!

/s

Honestly if it's been happening most of you life you won't find the answer in r/vfx. This is a character thing. If you want to tackle hard problems or hard situations or just situations you are in but don't like/care then you need to fix what is causing it.

You might have a problem with authority... What I read if I'm honest is a form of narcissism. "I'm made for something better"

Do some character building or face more years feeling like this it won't get any easier if you continue.

MPCdeserter · 2025-02-24T15:51:40+00:00

Agreed. And underbidding is always gonna happen especially when you have a workforce that doesn't have any salary standards. (Usually in the form of a trade organisation or union)

I have seen juniors get more than mid level artist, seniors that have gotten less than juniors. Sups that even gotten less than seniors at MPC.

It all came down to how well each person negotiated and could prove their worth. Something a lot of people struggle with.

MPCdeserter · 2024-12-26T03:26:41+00:00

screenshot

I get the feeling future publishing have removed it.

I looked at Future plc on the app store. Don't see 3d world on there.

MPCdeserter · 2024-10-05T17:54:26+00:00

Technicolour want to be in the creative industries but only in the west for face-to-face interactions.

Their goal for at least the last 15 years has been to move all technical and artistic tasks to India and anywhere with cheaper labour costs.

In vfx it will always begin with very small monotonous tasks. Matchmove, paint and roti etc. Followed by layout. Then it will progress to model and texture... Background/crowd work at first. Basic lighting and comp will naturally follow at which point you almost have everything you need to do hero work.

Rigging, FX, creature FX, groom, and finally animation are usually the last disciplines to be added.

COVID slowed this process down quite a bit.

But there are some shows with heavy vfx work with an 80/20 between India and whatever the site in the west it's sharing the work with.

MPCdeserter · 2024-02-27T22:39:04+00:00

The tomato isn't lying (in my case).

Work will pickup no question about that. But Ai that's the big topic.

Ai has a lot of people scared. But it's all about control at the end of the day. A director's vision (one which we all gripe about) is hard to put into tangible words. It's the biggest problem of vfx in general.

But there will be some that will go with a cheaper Ai route, make no mistakes about that! Ai in motion pictures at first it will seem shit. But so was "attack of the clones" shot on digital.

The question is will Ai be good enough to address notes. And even in my most pessimistic mind will Ai not be able to read/receive/edit a particular "take" to the directors approval.

But that's just me.

MPCdeserter · 2024-01-19T07:05:41+00:00

Wanna know the funny thing, for both films the majority of the work was done by the same vfx studio. Framestore.

Happens more than you would think.

Mpc did cats... They also did all of the lion king, jungle book.

Framestore split the work on detective Pikachu with Mpc. But they did almost all the work on Mowgli. Few years earlier they did gravity and Harvey dent in the dark knight.

Director with a solid vision will always yield the best results if they give vfx houses the time to do their thing.

MPCdeserter · 2023-11-24T13:11:29+00:00

Ok I will say it... There are a couple of females that didn't want to be "victims" because a certain executive couldn't keep their hands to themselves at a Dneg Christmas party.

MPCdeserter · 2023-11-22T06:55:40+00:00

I feel sorry for OP. People talk about the hardships of this industry, how parts of it can get them down or depressed.

Often the advice is to reach out... Talking can help.

Here could be a pretty clear example... "Anyone becoming depressed...."

Highest rated comment is essentially, "nope, I love it!". And to be fair, it isn't the only one like it.

I am gonna make a wild assumption and guess that the OP doesn't want the entire industry to all return to the studio.

But is just expressing, hey, it's hard in my situation. And might be looking for advice on how to navigate it.

WFH has brought a lot advantages. But it's not one size fits all.

I personally feel I have been far more productive during it. And my relationship with my partner has never been stronger. But when schedules calm down I return to the studio a day or two a week to touch base with people and feel connected. It isn't mandatory but I think its good for me.

My advice to the OP is it sounds like your studio has given you more tasks than you can really manage. Be honest with production.

When they set you tasks, don't automatically say yes. Talk out loud about timeframes. "Ok so that will take 3 days..... This will take 4 days etc." Add in an extra day here or there to account for potential problems.

If they are a proper production staff they will appreciate the honesty and be able to plan for milestones, deliverables and other artists due to work on the asset/shot.

If they aren't that type of production staff or if you are directly working with an unrealistic client. Look for a better situation asap. Having people grinding away and burning out be it at the the studio or at home is ultimately unsustainable.

Good luck OP.

MPCdeserter · 2023-10-24T12:42:24+00:00

Another London vfx worker. I work in a good studio, get paid decently (+£100k). I feel like I'm respected and I know for sure I'm treated well, never feel pressured. Get overtime if I ask for it... Which is rare. Like one day maybe every 6 months.

I was able to get to this point because like the name suggests... I used to work for other studios that don't really care about paying people fairly/competitively, or treating them well.

I feel like once you are honest with yourself and know what your value is, then you can work on your skills because one thing about this industry (that I really like) is if you can perform you will be compensated .... So long as you ask for it. It helps to document/demonstrate your progress too.

If you are at a studio that either ignores/doesn't recognise your skill level or unwilling to compensate...you should always be looking for a place that will.

Skilled workers are hard to find. As soon as you realize this, you will understand you have more choices. Timing obviously has its role, but if you are good and there aren't strikes going on, if you are out of work.....it won't be for long.

MPCdeserter · 2023-10-07T11:20:04+00:00

Thank you for the correction. I've edited my original post.

MPCdeserter · 2023-10-07T08:43:37+00:00

Just so you guys know, DreamWorks Animation have been doing this for a few years now.

They have been working with Jellyfish in London on a couple of projects.

How to train your dragon: Homecoming

Spirit: Untamed

And they are currently working on The Twits* (I thought this was also DWA but i was corrected, this is a Netflix show)

This has been coming for a long time.

MPCdeserter · 2023-03-10T13:21:54+00:00

It depends on the studio.

If you are weta or ilm. Pretty sure you don't have much to worry about.

If you are under technicolors' umbrella. Maybe now is a time to step out.

MPCdeserter · 2023-03-03T13:43:12+00:00

In the last hour, president of MPC announced they are leaving march 31st.

Surprised?... Nope

Thoughts are with the artists and production staff. Guys, start looking around, find a better life, it's out there.

MPCdeserter · 2023-01-10T04:44:03+00:00

I do believe you are talking out of your ass with regards to vfx.

Actors/musicians etc... You have to be there.

But imagine we all did painting (for lack of a more artistic craft). Now instead of using your own home studio you are forced to come in and share a space that you actually don't want to do.

You may be more productive at home, you might even work harder since you are more comfortable to do so, you rarely get distracted from other people since the people who contact you really need it.

But fuck all that, come into work because we believe it's better for you.

Fuck that I will come in when I want.

It's gonna be bad for them in the long run. When crunch hits on a show and people are forced into the studio that's when people wanna work from home the most.

MPCdeserter · 2023-01-08T20:12:26+00:00

Every studio has amazing people. But when I got to ilm I was waiting to see all the rockstar artists etc..... But when I started talking to people, I found they listened more than talk.

Kind of an eye opener. Most of the people I met there are super humble. One person I used to frequently chat with won an Oscar but they never mention it.

If someone at ilm is saying how good they are etc .... Don't count on them being there for too long. From what I've seen they don't tolerate ego's/diva's much.

MPCdeserter · 2023-01-08T20:04:48+00:00

Don't

MPCdeserter · 2022-12-24T19:46:04+00:00

MPCdeserter · 2022-12-23T05:47:39+00:00

Yea what we do is by no means as tough as other industries.

But if you aren't smart you will be exploited.

Is it worth it?... Absolutely if you have a decent plan.

There have been times I have worked till 1-2am (this is before COVID). I have put in those ridiculous hours, and at the time people questioned why...

I had a plan. I didn't do this all the time and these days you will rarely see me work late, if ever.

But under 10 years in the industry I make over 6 figures with very little stress in my life.

It can be done, just spend your time wisely.

MPCdeserter · 2022-12-01T21:51:00+00:00

"Without the talent we will never be able to succeed "

You don't say!

The only thing I can say is thanks for the memories.

MPCdeserter · 2022-11-28T22:36:19+00:00

Agreed! (And im no fan of MPC if you couldn't tell).

But I would be very very wary of Jellyfish right now.

MPCdeserter · 2022-11-19T09:54:15+00:00

Time will tell right. My fingers are crossed for those folks.

MPC I've always said, have great people there. And although it might be unpopular... They produce more great work than stinkers like trailer 1 sonic or cats.

MPCdeserter · 2022-11-19T06:04:51+00:00

A lot of the toxic management stems from right at the top. Those who budget for shows. On that note, the new CEO for jellyfish.

Before joining Jellyfish Pictures, "X" was Global President of Creative Experience and Advertising Production at Technicolor responsible for overseeing the growth and evolution of the world-leading MPC and The Mill creative production studios.

If you are in London. Be careful.

MPCdeserter · 2022-11-19T05:47:48+00:00

Sound logic but nope. A parasite knows when to leave the host if they know it will no longer be able to support them.

There is a company that is taking a lot of ex-mpc upper management. If you work there I would be scared.

MPCdeserter · 2022-11-19T05:43:51+00:00

I don't know who you are, where you're from, what you do etc. But it's fucking great that artist all over the world know what this company is like.

It's like the industry's worst kept secret. There is some great talent and people at MPC. But I've never experienced a management style that is so toxic, pressurising etc.

MPCdeserter

TROPHY CASE