I've been running back and forth in my head whether I should chime in on this topic or not. When Roy was shoved out of Disney, I felt bad for the old coot and eager to back him and his fight against Eisner. After all, Eisner is the person responsible for the down fall of Disney. Right?
I was really backing the Save Disney (.com) movement. Support the fight! As time went on, I realized that Save Disney turned more into a tabloid then a headquarters in an effort to remove Eisner. Sure, Roy and Stanley were really interested in ousting Eisner for good reasons. But, that website was certainly a waste. It would of served them so much better to just print the news and let us know what they were doing to fight the fight. Unfortunately, the ridicolous polls and lopsided tabloid-like stories only made them look stupid (imo).
It was a great idea, just carelessly implemented. For the most part, I ignored the site and quietly backed Roy. Just last week Roy and Stanley announced they they are basically giving up. They can't do anymore. They accomplished almost nothing. Oh, Eisner will be leaving, but I'm hesitant to say it is because of Roy and Stan.
AnimationNation.com had an interesting thread on this topic, however the moderator decided to close the thread because too many people spoke negatively about Roy and Stan. That is his right, but is disappointing, nonetheless. After all, isn't this supposed to be the voice of animators? One of the posters in that thread unfortunately had his statements used in one of Roy's public letters. Quite a shame, since this Disney employee could receive some backlash that would of never have left Animation Nation if it weren't for the Savedisney webmaster circling like a shark for some tabloid fodder.
This whole topic just irritates me. I guess because I backed Roy and saw little come of it and to see him give up because the stock went up (was that really the purpose of Save Disney)?! Backing this guy in the first place was purely because I dislike Eisner so much. All the while, Roy wasn't exactly a hero in my eyes. The happenings of the past week only strengthen that.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Friday, December 03, 2004
Slow as Mud and Slinging the Mud
I want to apologize for how little I've been updating this blog. Things have gotten overly busy in the last few weeks and I haven't found much time to add to this thing. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time at the moment, nor do I have any stunning revelations.
First things first. Still no word on Disney's search on the director for TS3. It should be happening in the next week or two.
Next... I make a point of reading all comments to this website and didn't miss the suggestion of having a mud flinging on studio politics. This is something that has to be handled carefully. We don't want to put any artists in harms way, nor do we want to out anyone and get them canned.
Studio politics can be quite nasty. Disney is well known for not only the managers and execs trying to claw their way to the top, but artists as well. I've heard all sorts of backstabbing incidents between artists as they try to get more responsibilities and a bigger title. This was especially true on Chicken Little. DreamWorks has the same problem, but I come away with the impression it isn't as bad of an environment. Katz rules with an iron wallet. Surprisingly, I've heard and partially noticed that the worst offender in this area is Sony Imageworks. This is purely rumor of course. But, I hear the non-artist politics are just crazy over there. Pixar... Well, they must be doing something right. Although they have their share of problems as well, the creatives are given the opportunity to be creative. Execs know their place. Sad that places like Disney can't trust the same way, they are on a complete power trip over there (not to mention the execs are so afraid of losing their job... They micromanage things to death trying to make sure it pleases everyone).
Speaking of Sony Imageworks. It seems that the relation between Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation (SPA) is a little different than I expected when SPA began operations. SPA creates the concepts and acts like a production company, they literally hire Imageworks to create the CG for these CG films. Basically, Imageworks is outsourced the SPA projects. This is a logical business move. This protects Imageworks in case SPA fails. They can continue to do their current outsourcing of projects from other clients and still make their own movies (well, sorta their own). An interesting arrangement between Sony and their spinoffs- SPA and Imageworks.
Oh. This also allows SPA to outsource their DTV projects and sequels to other companies. And guess where those projects will be outsourced? Anywhere but North America! The news just gets worse and worse.
First things first. Still no word on Disney's search on the director for TS3. It should be happening in the next week or two.
Next... I make a point of reading all comments to this website and didn't miss the suggestion of having a mud flinging on studio politics. This is something that has to be handled carefully. We don't want to put any artists in harms way, nor do we want to out anyone and get them canned.
Studio politics can be quite nasty. Disney is well known for not only the managers and execs trying to claw their way to the top, but artists as well. I've heard all sorts of backstabbing incidents between artists as they try to get more responsibilities and a bigger title. This was especially true on Chicken Little. DreamWorks has the same problem, but I come away with the impression it isn't as bad of an environment. Katz rules with an iron wallet. Surprisingly, I've heard and partially noticed that the worst offender in this area is Sony Imageworks. This is purely rumor of course. But, I hear the non-artist politics are just crazy over there. Pixar... Well, they must be doing something right. Although they have their share of problems as well, the creatives are given the opportunity to be creative. Execs know their place. Sad that places like Disney can't trust the same way, they are on a complete power trip over there (not to mention the execs are so afraid of losing their job... They micromanage things to death trying to make sure it pleases everyone).
Speaking of Sony Imageworks. It seems that the relation between Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation (SPA) is a little different than I expected when SPA began operations. SPA creates the concepts and acts like a production company, they literally hire Imageworks to create the CG for these CG films. Basically, Imageworks is outsourced the SPA projects. This is a logical business move. This protects Imageworks in case SPA fails. They can continue to do their current outsourcing of projects from other clients and still make their own movies (well, sorta their own). An interesting arrangement between Sony and their spinoffs- SPA and Imageworks.
Oh. This also allows SPA to outsource their DTV projects and sequels to other companies. And guess where those projects will be outsourced? Anywhere but North America! The news just gets worse and worse.
Monday, November 29, 2004
Turkey Day is Over
As you can plainly see, I haven't posted any new blogs in a while. The Holidays snuck up on me, and well, I was thinking about other things.
Some items worth posting have happened during my turkey hangover. First and foremost, DPS-Israel has shut down. Those of you that have read my DPS/IDT ramblings know how I feel about this company. I am trying to get more details about what happened. Let's see what the next few days uncover.
Vanguard in the UK is working on Valiant (as all of you know). It seems that a trailer has been released. So, if you feel like looking at a terrible streaming version of the trailer, you can click here. The quality is pretty low, so it hard to judge anything. The material I've seen previously was much more interesting and didn't look half bad. This trailer certainly does not help their case.
The Incredibles continues to hold at number 2 in the box office and recently went over $200 million. Although it is behind Finding Nemo and Shrek 2, this is certainly a figure anyone should be proud of.
I'm still hung over from the food and travelling that I did. So, I don't have much energy right now to post further. I hope to have more insider information over the coming days, especially concerning Toy Story 3, which should have a director named any minute now. I'm already 99% sure who the director is going to be, but until he officially accepts, I don't want to say anything.
Some items worth posting have happened during my turkey hangover. First and foremost, DPS-Israel has shut down. Those of you that have read my DPS/IDT ramblings know how I feel about this company. I am trying to get more details about what happened. Let's see what the next few days uncover.
Vanguard in the UK is working on Valiant (as all of you know). It seems that a trailer has been released. So, if you feel like looking at a terrible streaming version of the trailer, you can click here. The quality is pretty low, so it hard to judge anything. The material I've seen previously was much more interesting and didn't look half bad. This trailer certainly does not help their case.
The Incredibles continues to hold at number 2 in the box office and recently went over $200 million. Although it is behind Finding Nemo and Shrek 2, this is certainly a figure anyone should be proud of.
I'm still hung over from the food and travelling that I did. So, I don't have much energy right now to post further. I hope to have more insider information over the coming days, especially concerning Toy Story 3, which should have a director named any minute now. I'm already 99% sure who the director is going to be, but until he officially accepts, I don't want to say anything.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Toy Story 3 Confirmed
As I've been saying for months, Toy Story 3 is happening and happening soon. A story has finally been reported elsewhere.
If you go to here, you can see a story on Comingsoon.net about whats going on.
What I can add to this is that they are still hard at work getting a director and producer signed. It will be happening any day now. Stay tuned.
If you go to here, you can see a story on Comingsoon.net about whats going on.
What I can add to this is that they are still hard at work getting a director and producer signed. It will be happening any day now. Stay tuned.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Electronic Arts - Overworked artists
I'm sure most of you have heard about the recent EA hubbub. A spouse of an employee wrote a letter on a blog site about the working conditions that the significant other was enduring. It is a pretty long and well written entry. Filled with passion. Definitely worth ten minutes of your time.
Unfortunately these horrible hours are all too common place in the animation industry. Anytime people are pressured or forced to work more than 40 hours a week, they need to be paid overtime. None of this comptime bullcrap that is such a common practice.
The young-fresh-out-of-school kids have no problem working 80 hours a week doing something they love. However, later in life when they get a family, it becomes more difficult and they realize they can no longer put in those hours. So, they are replaced by a fresh crop of youngins. Those of you working these insane hours without getting adequate compensation are not only doing a disservice to yourself- but for the entire profession. You won't be a young kid forever and you are only screwing yourselves down the line. Stand up.
This problem is compounded when you have producers and managers that have no idea what they are doing and set unrealistic goals. They forget that these skilled individuals are people and expect that they should insane hours for little or no extra compensation. Many times these producers are the first ones to leave and rarely show up on the weekends.
To all of you at EA. Sign rep cards and join the union. I'm not sure if the animation guild extends into games (it probably does), but something needs to be done. You shouldn't put yourselves through this. I'm not exactly fond of unions, but this is a serious problem that needs to be dealt with immediately.
Somehow I don't think all of this bitching will do any good. EA (and companies with similar philosophies) will continue to treat employees the way they do until someone forces them to do otherwise. Whether that is by a lawsuit or the government stepping in. There will always be a fresh crop of eager kids willing to work slave-like uncompensated hours, so I have the sinking suspicion that nothing will change.
Unfortunately these horrible hours are all too common place in the animation industry. Anytime people are pressured or forced to work more than 40 hours a week, they need to be paid overtime. None of this comptime bullcrap that is such a common practice.
The young-fresh-out-of-school kids have no problem working 80 hours a week doing something they love. However, later in life when they get a family, it becomes more difficult and they realize they can no longer put in those hours. So, they are replaced by a fresh crop of youngins. Those of you working these insane hours without getting adequate compensation are not only doing a disservice to yourself- but for the entire profession. You won't be a young kid forever and you are only screwing yourselves down the line. Stand up.
This problem is compounded when you have producers and managers that have no idea what they are doing and set unrealistic goals. They forget that these skilled individuals are people and expect that they should insane hours for little or no extra compensation. Many times these producers are the first ones to leave and rarely show up on the weekends.
To all of you at EA. Sign rep cards and join the union. I'm not sure if the animation guild extends into games (it probably does), but something needs to be done. You shouldn't put yourselves through this. I'm not exactly fond of unions, but this is a serious problem that needs to be dealt with immediately.
Somehow I don't think all of this bitching will do any good. EA (and companies with similar philosophies) will continue to treat employees the way they do until someone forces them to do otherwise. Whether that is by a lawsuit or the government stepping in. There will always be a fresh crop of eager kids willing to work slave-like uncompensated hours, so I have the sinking suspicion that nothing will change.
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