Fake Studio Not Paying VFX Artists
VARIETY reports that many vfx artists who worked for Montreal's Fake Studio on PIRANHA 3D have not been paid. Payments were due to artists in April, but are still outstanding. Marc Cote, a principal in the firm, told the trade that the company will "reimburse [the artists] as quickly as operations permit."
VFX artist Manny Wong told VARIETY that he had negotiated a pay-in-advance agreement fearing the non-payment trend set by Meteor Studios. However, he passed on the upfront payment because he liked the environment at Fake and felt the management was upfront about the production's difficulties. Eventually, Fake told the artists that it no longer could pay them out of their own pockets, having not been paid by the studio. Dimension told VARIETY that they have now been paid.
Cote has brought in a financial consultant named Louis Turp, who said this situation "won't happen again."
VFX artist Manny Wong told VARIETY that he had negotiated a pay-in-advance agreement fearing the non-payment trend set by Meteor Studios. However, he passed on the upfront payment because he liked the environment at Fake and felt the management was upfront about the production's difficulties. Eventually, Fake told the artists that it no longer could pay them out of their own pockets, having not been paid by the studio. Dimension told VARIETY that they have now been paid.
Cote has brought in a financial consultant named Louis Turp, who said this situation "won't happen again."
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This same company had the nerve to include clips from '300' on their showreel. The company was formed AFTER the movie was released, so naturally I had a bit of an issue with this. It turns out that we used the a Milo from another company in Montreal, on a couple shots that never appeared in the film (due to a focus issue with their camera.) A few people from that company went on to work at Fake, and on that basis they felt it was permissible to claim ownership if shots completed by Animal Logic.
It seems like every time I went to their website they had reposted the 300 stuff, and it was always a big battle to get them to take it down.
I love Montreal like no other city, and I am always thrilled at the opportunity work with the people and facilities in Montreal (and Piedmont, and the rest of Canada, or course)
The crew I worked with on 300 was, without a doubt, one of the best crews I've ever had the pleasure of working with. I'm not just talking about the VFX. Every department was a joy to work with and did their job with spectacular skill. It's unfortunate that a few bad apples can besmirch the reputation of Montreal to the detriment of the many fine people who work there.
See you at Buona Notte :)
cw
----- Mail Original -----
De: "Chris Watts"
À: "Marc Côté"
Envoyé: Lundi 7 Juin 2010 13:43:02
Objet: Re: Reference
As I remember it, the company you used to work for was hired by 300 for one day, to shoot some motion control elements that were never used in the film. The last time I spoke with you, you were defending your new company's right to use Animal Logic's shots on your showreel, despite the fact that not a single frame of your work was used in the film.
If this is the type of reference you are comfortable with, then it's one I am able to confirm.
chris watts
On Jun 7, 2010, at 7:22 AM, Marc Côté wrote:
Hi Chris,
I have forwarded your contact info as a reference for a project we are currently working on in Montreal.
I hope that's ok with you.
Best,
Marc Côté
___________________________
''Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to DANCE in the RAIN!''
___________________________
M A R C C Ô T É , Eng, M.Sc. Robotic
F A K E
PRESIDENT and FOUNDER | VFX SUPERVISOR
+ 1 514 . 846 . 8439 | #225
+ 1 514 . 996 . 7626 CEL
WWW.FAKE-STUDIO.COM
Get real. It's spoken like someone who wants there wages. Simple really.
>"Sucks for the hard working artists that the suits pocket the money and then >claim there's none for the people who actually did the work on the movie."
Spoken like someone who's never run a business. Pocket? I don't see artists offering to give money back when a production doesn't pay. And I don't see artists offering to lower their rates when the studio says they've got a bid from China that you have to match to get the job. And the artist can always just go get another job when the owner is left having to pay rent, utilities, hardware and software costs.
It does suck when a business owner is unscrupulous but it's easy to sit back and judge when you have no responsibilities.
Sounds like XLT (Extra Large Technology) in Hollywood. Tricked all their artists into working for months with no pay and still have not paid them.
So, "Fake Studios"...living up to it's name.
Sucks for the hard working artists that the suits pocket the money and then claim there's none for the people who actually did the work on the movie.
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