A group of dedicated Visual Effects (VFX) employees at Marvel Studios have taken a bold step towards forming the industry’s first-ever VFX union.
Today, more than 50 VFX workers united to file for a union election at the National Labor Relations Board, with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) representing them.
Mark Patch, the VFX Organizer for IATSE, emphasized the significance of this move, stating, “For almost half a century, workers in the visual effects industry have been denied the same protections and benefits their coworkers and crewmates have relied upon since the beginning of the Hollywood film industry. This is a historic first step for VFX workers coming together with a collective voice demanding respect for the work we do.”
VFX workers have been struggling for years, and their plight has been well-documented. Just last month, we highlighted how the strikes plaguing the entertainment industry are severely affecting VFX artists, leaving them with an uncertain future as Hollywood grinds to a halt. Multiple VFX workers in that report lamented the absence of a union.
One former visual effects producer pointed out, “The WGA strike is just a glaring reminder that VFX does not have a union. Watching a collective fight for better pay, support, and hours is a stark reminder that the VFX industry has never been able to band together to get a union started on our own.”
Moreover, specific complaints have been lodged against Marvel’s treatment of VFX workers in recent years. An artist who worked on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania attributed VFX problems to “human greed” on Marvel projects. Additionally, an anonymous VFX worker told IGN last year that Marvel projects tend to stretch until the very end, resulting in long hours and high-pressure working conditions.
“You basically run out of time to work on these things,” shared the VFX artist. “I had a shot that I worked on that I finished at 9 in the morning, and they had a preview in London that evening. The version that I worked on that [day] was the version they were going to see at the premiere. It’s up to the wire. And not to say that every show is like that, but it does happen.”
The timing of this initiative by VFX workers to unionize coincides with a standstill in the entertainment industry. Writers and Hollywood studios met this week for the first time since the strike began in May, but no agreement was reached. To gain a deeper understanding of the broken state of streaming and how the strikes can fix it, be sure to check out our in-depth article.
Logan Plant is a seasoned freelance writer for IGN, specializing in video game and entertainment news. With over seven years of experience in the gaming industry, he has contributed to reputable publications such as IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Stay updated with his latest work on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
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