I want to work in the film and/or television industry. These two are difficult enough already to start in without even mentioning all of the ethical dilemmas that come with working in them. It is very interesting, but at the same time concerning to explore the fact that an industry originally meant to express art through a visual medium has turned into a grueling, profit driven business. There are many people who do not get the recognition or monetary rewards they deserve for using years of their own experience to create something exceptional that millions of people have and will come to love for years. That being said, the main ethical concerns I will be talking about are pay rate, work hours, and talent concerns.
There are certain film and television production companies that make billions of dollars every year off of what they produce and send out to audiences. Most people who are not involved in these industries have very little knowledge about what really happens during the stages of production. How do these companies decide which studio to work with? How do they divide workload? Who gets paid how much and when? Why do some people get paid more than others? At the end of the day, looking at examples of production disasters can give us a better look into this world. One example that comes to mind is the Rhythms and Hues Life of Pi occurrence. The visual effects studio worked on the 2012 Oscar winning film, but did not receive much financial support from 20th Century Fox and Universal. Hundreds of their employees did not receive paychecks on a regular basis during production of the film and would have the same problem in the near future for other projects.
Even when studios like this one win huge awards, audiences rarely think about the work they put in, and often blame them for things that were the directors fault, like the original live action Sonic design. The vfx artists put in countless hours to make sure what they have made is up to directors standards and visions. Oftentimes they are overworked because of re-shoots, re-designs, and overall poor management in production scheduling by the big studios they are working for. Many of these artists end up quitting or getting laid off because of this. These are just a few examples concerning a specific group in the industry, but the same type of thing happens to other people, such as composers, editing teams, cinematographers, accountants, practical effects teams, set-builders, and many more. Directors, actors, and producers often garner the most amount of public attention and money. People in the credits at the end of films should be paid well and work on well planned out projects. It doesn’t seem like there is much being done about this problem. Although many people have praised certain directors and producers, calling them easy to work with and understanding of their personal situations, the underlying problem still remains. This industry is a business looking to make the most amount of money possible. It does not matter to executives who is struggling and why.
It is near impossible for anyone to solve this issue, but I think there are some ways to keep addressing it. Studios should set very clear standards about working hours and pay rates. They should not have to work with corporations like Disney until they understand that they will have to wait to get the results they want. At the end of the day, these artists and studios are the powerhouses that get these projects done. Nothing happens without them and they should recognize this and use it to their advantage. The executives of these studios and their employees need to come to agreements so they don’t need to leave. This is all a very simplified solution to a major issue, and I realize that. I think in learning more about these industries I can become one of these artists that stands up for themselves and helps others do the same.
Sources
https://variety.com/2013/film/news/rhythm-hues-bankruptcy-reveals-vfx-biz-crisis-1118066108/
