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My name is Bradley Gammel, and I'm an avid gamer and lover of cinema. My academic background features an English degree from Oklahoma State, and I am attending Pittsburgh State University as an MBA student.
In a summer riddled with conversations surrounding AI, two significant entertainment union strikes, and now a new union arises. For years virtual effects (VFX) artists have undergone extreme working conditions requiring small teams to animate our favorite superheroes, bringing them to life on screen. On August 7th, the Marvel Studios VFX team announced that they would create the industry’s first VFX union.
This new union is hosted by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which marks a historical moment for a historically remained non-union. IATSE represents over 168,000 technicians, artisans, and craftspersons working on movies and TV. Traditionally the IATSE has supported those working behind the cameras in roles outlined by IATSE “Production Designers/Art Directors, Camera Operators, Sound, Editors, Hair and Makeup Artists, Costumes / Wardrobe, Script Supervisors, Grips, Lighting, Props, and Paint, among others,” which makes up for a good portion of each set production.
Visual Effects (VFX) crews at Marvel Studios have filed for a unionization election with the National Labor Relations Board, Monday. The move signals a major shift in an industry that has largely remained non-union since VFX was pioneered during production of the first Star Wars films in the 1970s. A supermajority of Marvel’s more than 50-worker crew had signed authorization cards indicating they wished to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
International Alliance of Thearical Stage Employees
The VFX Union Fights to Apply Much-Needed Updates
Historically, VFX artists haven’t received pleasant working conditions when it comes to working overtime, and turnaround time, which has steered many away from such positions within the industry. Bella Huffman, VFX Coordinator, stated in a public IATSE statement:
Turnaround times don’t apply to us, protected hours don’t apply to us, and pay equity doesn’t apply to us. Visual Effects must become a sustainable and safe department for everyone who’s suffered far too long and for all newcomers who need to know they won’t be exploited.
Bella Huffman via IATSE
A great example is the infamous Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) trailer released to general backlash online. The film was initially set to star a nightmarish-looking Sonic featuring human teeth. However, this received heavy backlash to the point that Paramount Studios pushed the release window from November 2019 to February 2020. Although the movie and studio were praised for Sonic’s redesign, the decision still caused several issues. Wired has a fantastic article outlining the film’s production and how the VFX teams behind the redesign went about the job.
Paramount fixed the character design flaw, but Disney returned the original design and placed him in the 2022 film Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. They were giving the then-internet meme a character redemption arc of sorts. Ultimately, the studio made the right call to redesign Sonic with a more accurate video game appearance. The film became one of the best film adaptations of a video game and launched a film franchise (currently with a third installment on the way). While on Disney, another issue that VFX artists will end up fighting against is artificial intelligence (AI).
The Ongoing Battle Against AI and the AMPTP
Recently, Marvel Studios released yet another superhero series, Secret Invasion, on the ever-growing Disney+ platform. Controversy hit this series sooner rather than later when it was revealed that their series-opening title screen was generated by AI instead of using artists. One could use AI as a metaphor for the series and how the Skrulls blended into society, breaching what we know is reality and giving a skewed perception. However, not hiring VFX artists took away jobs from humans.
AI plays a central role in the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Both unions have hit the streets this summer to fight for better pay and, better yet, to stand against attempts by significant studios to incorporate AI. Many background actors have reported being sent to trailers to have body scans of themselves. These scans are reportedly for the use of AI in creating scenes without the actors’ permission on future projects. NPR sat down with Alexandria Rubalcaba, who outlined the scanning process.
A union negotiator explained the process and stated that studios pay background actors, otherwise, non-principal cast, for one-day delivery. Then their likeness would be used until the end of Hollywood. The IATSE President made the below statement:
We are witnessing an unprecedented wave of solidarity that’s breaking down old barriers in the industry and proving we’re all in this fight together. That doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Entertainment workers everywhere are sticking up for each other’s rights, that’s what our movement is all about. I congratulate these workers on taking this important step and using their collective voice.
Matthew D. Loeb, IATSE International President
In the end, only time will tell how the new union will format itself, but by teaming up with an established organization, perhaps Marvel Studios VFX teams will have more say in what they accomplish. For fifteen years, the studio has created visual spectacles and launched careers of artists, actors, and writers. Those working on the movies and shows that we love must have safe and respectful working conditions that we all strive to obtain in our work lives.
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Source: IATSE
My name is Bradley Gammel, and I'm an avid gamer and lover of cinema. My academic background features an English degree from Oklahoma State, and I am attending Pittsburgh State University as an MBA student.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.