The Marvel VFX controversy has been brewing for some time now. With the recent decline in the quality of Marvel’s output, several fans and even members of the movie crew have been pointing fingers at the VFX department, accusing them of letting down the franchise. However, VFX artists are starting to come forward, accusing the studio of overworking and underpaying them.
Former Marvel VFX artist Dhruv Govil, who worked on Guardians of the Galaxy, earlier revealed that Marvel was a horrible workplace where his colleagues were constantly stressed due to excessive workloads and tight deadlines. Now, another veteran VFX supervisor has also voiced his issues with the studio.
Marvel VFX Supervisor Accuses The Studio Of Coming Up With Lousy Scripts
Stephane Ceretti worked on eight Marvel projects including the recent movies like Eternals and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. Ceretti openly criticizes the studio for coming up with below-par scripts and then placing the burden on VFX artists to save the projects. The VFX supervisor was responding to a comment by comedian Adam Conover, who allegedly blamed today’s VFX industry for the backlash faced by MCU’s latest projects. Ceretti retaliated:
“Hey Adam Conover the hundreds of artists that work on movies and TV shows would like to have a word with you about the lousy scripts we spend our time fixing in post instead of doing the cool stuff. Thank you. My god we can’t get any respite these days can we?”
Ceretti instead blamed the studio executives, who keep pushing the VFX team for faster and cheaper output. He also took a dig at the poor writing seen in the franchise’s recent films of phases 4 and 5. However, Conover apologized clarifying that his criticism was aimed at the studio bosses who employ VFX tools to cut costs. Ceretti also later responded positively, suggesting that they should talk more about the “complicated subject”.
Marvel Has Also Faced Several Allegations In Recent Times
Stephen Ceretti pointed out that VFX artists are becoming increasingly annoyed about all the blame being directed at CGI, and that it undermines the passionate work they put in. Marvel has earlier faced allegations of poor treatment of its workers. The studio allegedly hires a single VFX artist when three are required and pays them 20% lower than the standard industry rate.
The Studio has also been accused of keeping a VFX company blacklist, which they use to blackmail artists into overworking to meet deadlines. Earlier, Sony, who shares the Spider-Man movies with Marvel, was called out by VFX artists working on their animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse for overworking them to meet release dates.
Ceretti is involved in VFX work on DC’s project Superman: Legacy under his Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. The issue at hand, as Ceretti terms it, is a complicated subject that requires better planning on the studio’s part and possible unionization of VFX artists.
Marvel should have more creative control over their projects and ensure better treatment for their employees including improved working conditions and fair compensation.
Source: Twitter
