It's the Moving Picture Company
not moving picture's' company.

The open letter has some merit but there are still some glaring issues with the argument. If the film had been terrible BECAUSE of the VFX, Mr Lee would also have borne the brunt of the vitriol. That's the risk he takes as a director, the sword falls on him for everything. If the actors are bad... bad direction. Bad script? Poor choice by the director. And so on. Would we also like to see the VFX artists lambasted with every bad contribution where CG ruins the movie? Should we mention them by name? I see no open letters asking for this? The simple choice is, take the risk and take the praise/scorn as it comes. That is what the Director does every time.
And while we are on it, I have to agree with the 'whinging' post above. If I approached my three year old son as he is creating and playing with Plasticine and asked him if he would like to do that for a living one day. Only he would be paid over a hundred thousand dollars, sit in a nice designer chair, have a private kitchen and make imaginary beings that people would love... I think he'd jump at the chance. The 'god complex' is alive and well in our industry. We aren't going to accidentally cut an artery and lose a life, chaperone a child across a busy road with a lollipop and endanger ourselves or even... dare I say it, lift heavy labour objects around a film set for eighteen hours a day with a back support and get paid 'award' rates for it like every other manual film crew member? So what's the problem. We get to play make-believe, play with plasticine and get rewarded handsomely. As it was suggested above... there are plenty of other jobs out there if we're not happy. But I guess they don't come with fancy designer chairs?

Since we are all happy to be anonymous here.....

Please stop WHINING.

This is not a studio conspiracy. The media reports what people want to read. That is NOT the behind the scenes palaver. It is actors, directors, story and sometimes music. So blame the public.

How about set builders, costumers, animal wranglers, clapper loaders, focus pullers, gaffers, riggers, electricians, carpenters, production assistants, drivers, colorists, editors, editor assistants, audio engineers, foley artists, stunt doubles and all other associated human grist that goes into making a film. All of whom before VFX was even a concept.

And as for salaries, I know one hell of a lot VFX artists under 30 who earn more than all teachers I know, one in particular a kindergarten teacher with 35 years of experience...and they are unionized!

No one is forcing us to do this. If we don't like it, how about going and doing something else like teaching, or paving roads, or emptying trash, or catching fish, or farming, or mining, or moving furniture, or building schools, or being a lawyer, or saving lives, or being an actual artist if you really want to experience poverty, or move to a third world country, or any other of the infinite variety of choices that we whining western cry babies have the opportunity of doing. There is no gun at our heads forcing us to take part in the incredibly vital activity of making mainstream western cinema.

Come to mention it, become a director and chase that credit everybody is so keen for. If that is what motivates, I can see mistake number 1 right there.

I have read so many of these whining posts. Please go and spend energy constructively saving lives or something, or alternatively just get on with life. If its that bad, deny the industry your services in protest.

Just google 'life of pi fxguide' and you'll see how much work the vfx did!

Beautiful work! Can't wait to see the vfx tomorrow night at the cinema.

Well of course! We're behind caterers and assistant to the directors cat. We're damn near the only non-union workers in the business... Of course no-one takes notice.

That will never happen for one very good reason..the studios do not wish the public to appreciate the contribution made by VFX artists. They would rather perpetuate the notion that its all 'done by the computer' and they are glorified button pressers.

Many VFX artists are working for low wages on vfx that you never ever notice in films and TV. The ones you spot can be either due to budget running out, time running out or not enough hours in the day for a often very small team to get a shot out to the required quality. Not all VFX are explosions, big robots or monsters. There is hardly a shot in TV or film these days that is not filled with invisible FX.

I would love to see a director with the guts to release a film when on blue ray with the raw untouched by VFX / CGI side by side with a proper release. While nearly every one has heard of andy serkis, how many know the name of the guy who actually made and animated Gollum outside of film buffs or people within the VFX field? (His name was Bay Raitt by the way and he in many ways is one of the founding fathers of what is seen every day now on tv and in film.)

VFX are not evil...they are not amazing..they are a tool. A good director will know when they are applicable., a bad one will abuse it and fill his film with huge amounts of visual junk.

I don't expect this to ever change as VFX artists have no union unlike every other film and TV profession. They are credited (if at all) usually under the tea boy. Which obviously means the tea boy is more important to modern blockbuster films than the humble teams of VFX artists.

go www. indiegogo. com / EndVfxSubsidies

sorry to burst your bubble, but the only thing VFX did for movies is ruin them.

heaps of trashy movies make millions because of silly 3d effects. I'm sorry, bring back stop motion, and robotics.

it looked way cooler and more realistic.

I thank the visual artist that have worked too long in the "dark" and have designed to speak, out, speak up and stand up. Visual art has been taken for granted too long, but no more. Thank you, Visual Artist.

VFX should be recognized as an equal to the actors.