The Difficult Reality of the VFX Industry.

This 30 minute documentary about the demise of the Oscar winning VFX company Rhythm and Hughes is not only a nice touching tribute to the 254 employees who lost their jobs over night, but it is also an important eye-opener to producers, directors and financiers all over the world to consider very carefully.

What I found particularly shocking was that many director's do not regularly oversee the work that it done. As one employer points out, you wouldn't see a film being shot on set without the director present, why is visual effects work any different?

I'm proud to say I lean more towards James Cameron in this respect as I am a little obsessive or maybe possessive over every detail. If I had it my way I'd have daily progress meetings with the vfx team. Let's hope the film industry learn something from this example and find a more ethical business model for all. 

Screenwriter Chris Terrio on Argo

I found a very interesting interview with Chris Terrio, the writer of the critically acclaimed 2012 thriller Argo.  I was amused to hear he shared similar views on working. He says he would rather get paid to deliver Christmas baskets and explain that 'this is not my real job' than write or direct bad films or TV and have to admit 'this is my real job'. I much prefer to feel humiliated telling people I work as a night porter in a hospital but write and direct when I can, than admit to regularly directing East Enders.