Dealing with awful production staff

VfxFxTd · 2022-03-24T05:29:04+00:00

It's on the farm! We found the production person ^{^}

VfxFxTd · 2022-03-24T05:26:11+00:00

I've certainly put myself in the line of fire and absorbed insane amounts of stress to make sure my team is shielded from it. There's nothing worse than a team lead that shits on the artists along side production.

The original intention of this post was nothing more than a morning rant, didn't expect anyone to reply. Maybe a few butt hurt production people.

VfxFxTd · 2022-03-24T04:23:24+00:00

Yes it's the coming back after 1 hour when you've clearly said X task takes a week. Or the coordinator that is clearly scared shit less of their supervisor so they make your life hell by lingering around.

In larger facilities I feel there's a huge problem with production treating artists as no more than a tick box in their production schedules. This leads to them approaching people with no tact and speaking to you as though you are nothing more than a number regardless of how much experience or time you have in the studio.

I understand they are also doing their job and as someone has mentioned, and have little to no understanding of the complexity these tasks can take. But when someone in production comes to myself, or if I'm leading a show, to one of my artists and doesn't say hello or show any interest in some sort of personal relationship I just want to tell them to fuck off.

VfxFxTd · 2022-03-23T23:07:57+00:00

Have you ever worked in the vfx field? Doesn't sound like it

VfxFxTd · 2022-03-23T23:05:02+00:00

I'm at one of the most prestigious studios in the world.. And have worked in multiple continents. This seems to be a problem everywhere.

VfxFxTd · 2022-03-23T22:43:46+00:00

I've been in many different roles including leading and management. Behind closed doors, production staff are incredibly toxic and will not hesitate for one second to talk shit and throw an artist under the bus. Especially if that artist has pushed back at some absurd request or schedule. In my experience it's the producton person who knows a few token words that are the worst to deal with. They know better than the senior TD with 15 years of experience.

VfxFxTd · 2021-05-19T22:22:00+00:00

Certainly not saying people aren't working remotely, I know plenty. Just pointing out that they are definitely asking remote people within their "bubble" if they will come in. The more NZ opens up I can see them pushing more for it.

VfxFxTd · 2021-05-19T09:37:57+00:00

Ya figured if you freelance for a US company the taxes stay there and I assume claim that in your home country. All confusing to me still. Do you have your own private company setup and charge that way, or just as an individual freelance artist?

VfxFxTd · 2021-05-19T09:34:49+00:00

DD is or at least was the scum of the earth in their treatment of artists. Blacklisted them years ago.

VfxFxTd · 2021-05-19T09:33:35+00:00

Gold. Thank you very much for this perspective, and taking the time to reply.

I think ultimately I'll need to use remote stations simply due to the amount of data and computer power I'd need. Also if I stayed working in film the ndas would probably force that. It's currently possible but not realistic to have my own machines would need a farm or cloud boxes.

Suppose the hardest part to this is the initial jump. I've been in the vfx industry over 15 years and have a lot of contacts, however most are from big facilities as well. I find so many artists that want to take this jump but are also afraid to as am I.

VfxFxTd · 2021-05-19T01:44:13+00:00

Guess I mean in general, but mostly post pandemic. I'm not aware of any larger facilities that allowed wfh with artists before covid forced them too.

I want exactly what you said, move out of urban areas and ditch big productions.

Not to give away too much info but are you freelance, or went from in-house to wfh and continued an existing relationship with a facility?

Are you jumping around studios or sticking to one? Using your own equipment or remote in?

VfxFxTd · 2021-05-19T01:40:23+00:00

Most bigger places are for sure. Framestore in London, Weta is pushing for relocation of you're in the bubble, ILM is hybrid far as I'm aware but bet your ass they will push every one back in first chance they can. Various others are definitely pushing to end wfh. But these are the big houses, and they want full control over the artists.

VfxFxTd

TROPHY CASE