The Crisis Ignored: Why VFX Professionals Are More Than Just Workers

Over the past few days, my feed has been flooded with news about the layoffs at Pixar Studios, but these headlines fail to capture the real crisis we’ve been living with for years. Why does it take a layoff at a major studio for the world to pay attention to the VFX industry? The truth is, these problems have existed long before the recent headlines. From India to the West, the struggles faced by VFX professionals—and yes, I say professionals, not mere “workers”—have been ignored for far too long.

These artists and production staff are far more than workers. They are creators, innovators, and visionaries, contributing to some of the most stunning cinematic experiences. Yet, the way they are treated is nothing short of exploitation. Working hours that extend up to 18 hours a day, staring at screens for countless hours without breaks, and spending years away from their families in the name of deadlines—this is not just unethical, it's inhumane.

Let’s be clear: these are not factory workers assembling widgets on a line. These are the people who bring magic to the screen, who craft the emotional highs and lows of the world’s most beloved stories. Yet, they are often treated with less dignity and respect than is afforded to any other professional industry. Artists and production staff should not be seen as just “workers”; they are the heart and soul of the VFX world, and without them, there would be no magic at all.

Financial instability is another weight dragging the industry down. It’s painful to see how underpaid, underappreciated and mistreated these individuals are. Let me give you a specific example: a company—over 100 years old and one of the pioneers of animation and film technology—promised its employees a "retention bonus" to keep them loyal. These professionals worked tirelessly for a year, only to be laid off 30 days before they were eligible to receive their bonus. But this wasn’t part of a mass layoff affecting hundreds. No, it was a targeted layoff of just two to four people, stripping away their financial stability. How is this justified? These are not mere numbers on a spreadsheet—these are lives and careers being destroyed.?

The VFX industry has long been a ticking time bomb. Artists and staff are left to fend for themselves in a world where they are only as valuable as the next project’s deadline. In a recent survey by UNI Global Union, workers reported consistently clocking 11 to 13-hour workdays, with some pushing upwards of 60 hours a week. When health breaks, time with family, and holidays are seen as luxuries rather than rights, the human toll is enormous. According to CG Spectrum, sitting for such extended periods without breaks, not to mention staring at screens for hours, can cause severe health issues like eye strain, back problems, and mental burnout. But this isn’t just about the immediate health risks—this is about the very future of these professionals.

The cycle is vicious: many of those in management once went through this same grind and now perpetuate it with the excuse of "I suffered, so you should too." Promised incentives are taken away, or worse, used as tools to trap employees. The example of the "retention bonus" I mentioned earlier is a glaring one. You work hard and put your heart into the job, and when it’s time for the company to fulfill its promise, you’re cut off. The bonus lost, the career disrupted, and all during a global recession where finding a new job is nearly impossible.

These practices are not sustainable. If this continues, the entire VFX industry will crumble. It’s not just the physical health of the artists and production staff that is at stake, but their mental well-being, financial security, and ultimately, their passion for the craft. The current state of affairs is pushing them to the brink, and many are simply burning out.

What’s worse is the lack of global attention to this crisis. Only when big studios like Pixar face layoffs do the issues suddenly seem relevant, but these problems have been prevalent for years across smaller companies, especially in regions like India. This isn’t a localized problem—it’s an industry-wide catastrophe in the making.

This article is not just a rant; it is a desperate cry for help. We need intervention from senior-level management, global leaders, philanthropists, and industry influencers who have the power to make real change. Those who can read this, who can give it serious thought, and, most importantly, those who can implement and monitor solutions until real change happens.

Without action, we will lose the very people who breathe life into the world of VFX. Their lives are at risk, their financial stability hanging by a thread, and their futures uncertain. The time to act is now before the VFX industry loses its best and brightest and is flushed down the drain due to neglect, exploitation, and greed. Lives, livelihoods, and the future of cinema are at stake.

The magic of cinema, the awe-inspiring worlds that these artists create, will only survive if we fight for the people behind the magic. Now is the time to save them before it’s too late.