I have been thinking about all the great work vfx artists have been turning out the year. When I say "artists" I mean just that. I'm not talking about the companies or supervisors. I'm talking about the artist now. It's fine that supers might have the last word but it's the artist that have to make that happen. It's all well and good that the sky needs to be purple but if us artist can't make it work it's for nothing.
This coming year lets show we are the movies. Lets step up and defend each others great work. Let us vote for each others work. Lets make them stand up and notice that Hollywood can't make any movie without us. Comedies need great looking car comps. Huge tent pole movies need Zombies. Non of this is shot practically. It's us match moving, adjusting color and timing. It's us that remove camera rigs and camera cars. It's us that help develop characters and animate them.
Visual effects as a whole needs to vote together. Studios are taking advantage of us being split on what to do. Some want a union. Some just want better pay. Some just want to see there families. We all want to do amazing work. Let's do that.
Roto and paint is just as important to the movies as huge stars that are on the screen.
Teach the juniors that are asking questions. Share. Do your work like your hair is on fire. I'm here because a group of artists showed me ropes and how this is done.
I love my job.
Happy New Year.
A hat tip to all of you who work weekends and stay late to make great stories come to life.