The rise of visual effects technology and creative suites has made it increasingly easy to imagine absurd superhero movies filled with the effects demanded by their stories. From transparent mesh and wires draped over watercolor paintings to complex networks of harnesses and green and blue screens to bring superheroes to life, visual effects are now a key component of Marvel and DC productions . And after so many years of poor working conditions, at least Marvel's visual effects teams will finally have a union in the United States.
As we discussed in the article about the Hollywood writers' and actors' strike, a union has significant power to secure minimum wages and working conditions. This lack of unionization has led to increasingly poor visual effects in films and series from giants like Marvel, as well as generally poor working conditions.
Marvel's special effects departments unite to demand better working conditions
According to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees ( IATSE ), Marvel Visual Effects workers have begun the process of forming a union for their sector . Their application has already been submitted to the NLRB, and pending a final vote, they will be officially recognized as a union.
One of the reasons that studios of all sizes have gone the route of using green screens, mocaps, and more, is because until now they were union-free, and all work was outsourced and hired by freelancers. This meant that the departments had to compete by lowering prices for their services. This is a huge oversimplification, but below is a video from the Royal Ocean Film Society explaining the current issues facing VFX crews.
With the creation of the union, a key sector of workers who have made a fading comic book brand one of the biggest commercial brands in history will now have bargaining power to demand better working conditions. It must be said that not everything is money that they ask for. They will be able to ask among their conditions that they have better working hours, and that they give them more margins to polish the visual effects of the films.
This would mean that if you've ever thought the visual effects in Marvel movies and series have declined in quality, you're not alone, because even the artists themselves believe so. If the union ends up demanding longer deadlines for the creation of visual effects , Marvel movies and series could end up looking much better.
