We did a podcast in July of 2008 with Dave Rand about a group of artists that were left unpaid for work they did for the film Journey to the Center of the Earth. Dave posted an update today over on CGTalk that the Discovery Channel has offered them back wages of 45% without overtime or interest and gave them one week to decide to accept or not. You can read his post at this link to the forum at cgsociety.org or click here for the whole thread.
9 thoughts on “Unpaid Artists update”
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Good for you guys, 45% is a joke. You are deserving of your full pay and people who do this deserve to be penalized with interest and everything to the full extent of the law. This is not a joke, ask them to do work and wait months or years before getting paid only 45%. No way they would do that, they would be appalled just as much as we are at the matter.
I am a Canadian artist who has worked on both end of the Country. I have seen at least 1 studio like this in each province and now know better to steer clear of them. I have just left a place because myself and several others refused to work free overtime. They were lying saying we were part of a Hi-Tech industry and we had to legally work free overtime. This has got to stop, and Im will to do what it takes to help others in this industry. David Rand thank you for standing up for the artist out there that feel so alone. If we could get a union set up I would be first in line to sign up. If help is needed to get this done and get people organized I would be 100% willing to help all i can.
All the best in your pursuit for everyone’s pay which is rightfully theirs. We are all wishing the best for you guys.
Rob
Thanks for letting us know about the update, Jeff. Been wondering for a while what has happened with the artists from Meteor studios and if they finally got paid. Just went to the cgsociety thread and read the whole post.
Good luck to them! Hope they will get their full payment.
As a fellow Canadian who works in post you’ve got my full support. Don’t back down. Imagine you’d only given them 45% of the work and took all the money. They’d sue you till the end of time. People like this need to be sent a message that you don’t treat other people like this. Read this inspiring piece on the writer’s strike to get you in a resisting mood.
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/archives/2007/11/guest_blogger_r.shtml
History shows us that the proverbial “pendulum” swings both directions. The studios are building a policy of not paying overtime. It’s take it or leave it buddy. We all give and take on our shows. But to have an up-front policy of not paying overtime is abusive. Studios (and post houses) are getting away with it due to the current economy. This growing “policy” is a slap in the face to the artists that literally slave themselves to meet nearly impossible moving-target deadlines. At the end of the day, studios are posting record profits. Try telling Tom Cruise to accept 45% of his “points” or up-front money. The other point to bring up, is that in many of the current crop of features, the cg artists are CREATING the stars of the show! Without them and the other artists, there is no animated feature.
That is just nuts for them to even think offering 45% is acceptable. The Canadian government should be doing more for these artists. I am glad the artists have stood together to continue the fight.
Actually, the Quebec Normes du Travail are doing a pretty good job at handling our case.
The government didn’t drop the ball on this one.
— X
Interesting comments on the topic on The Animation Guild Blog
http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/where-is-hulett.html
Jeff
More reporting on the story today – Motionographer:
http://motionographer.com/2009/06/04/meteor-studios-unpaid-artists-update/
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