Dying for movies
November 5, 2020 1:56 PM Subscribe
Suicide highlights labour issues in Canada's visual effects sector. Efforts to unionize have so far only produced a single success, though that success did come with a 98% to 2% vote in favour of unionization.
This is about immigration policy as well as unionization.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 1:35 AM on November 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 1:35 AM on November 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
I've been a dedicated MetaFilter reader for many years, but have never posted. Just joined now because Malcolm, who is discussed in the article, was my friend and coworker. He was a beautiful, cheerful, vibrant person and I can't begin to understand how he was ground so low. I'm also a longtime veteran of the film industry, as is my wife, and we work too much.
posted by blackencino at 2:14 AM on November 6, 2020 [18 favorites]
posted by blackencino at 2:14 AM on November 6, 2020 [18 favorites]
I'm so sorry for your loss, blackencino. I've seen the light taken out of the eyes of a lot of people by this industry, especially the VFX side of the industry.
posted by clawsoon at 4:10 AM on November 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 4:10 AM on November 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
It's appalling that's legal.
I'm 99% sure that it's not, and that if it would've ever ended up in a Canadian court the judge would've laughed and thrown it out. But when your brain is fucked up by working 80 hours a week and being verbally abused every day, and you're convinced you'll be fired and deported and blacklisted, and your ability to actually defend yourself in court after you've been deported is minimal, the idea that you might have rights and be able to assert them doesn't even cross your mind.
I've seen some success at abusive studios when lots of employees all report their employer to the Ministry of Labour, at least here in Ontario. It is much better than reporting to HR, as Technicolor laughably suggested he should've done, since the Ministry keeps the complaints anonymous.
posted by clawsoon at 4:24 AM on November 6, 2020 [4 favorites]
I'm 99% sure that it's not, and that if it would've ever ended up in a Canadian court the judge would've laughed and thrown it out. But when your brain is fucked up by working 80 hours a week and being verbally abused every day, and you're convinced you'll be fired and deported and blacklisted, and your ability to actually defend yourself in court after you've been deported is minimal, the idea that you might have rights and be able to assert them doesn't even cross your mind.
I've seen some success at abusive studios when lots of employees all report their employer to the Ministry of Labour, at least here in Ontario. It is much better than reporting to HR, as Technicolor laughably suggested he should've done, since the Ministry keeps the complaints anonymous.
posted by clawsoon at 4:24 AM on November 6, 2020 [4 favorites]
I had worked for more than three decades in the VFX/Animation industry and, although it is brutal and often filled with real rats for execs, I certainly think it wouldn't have gotten as bad as it is now if the film/production industry didn't make it nearly impossible for a VFX company to make any money.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/revealing-rhythm-hues-life-pi-682526
posted by bz at 2:08 PM on November 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/revealing-rhythm-hues-life-pi-682526
posted by bz at 2:08 PM on November 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
I hesitated saying anything because I'm still in VFX and live in New Zealand. I'm afraid of getting blacklisted. Malcolm was a sweet fellow -- not a friend but someone who was beloved by many I respect. He someone who I bumped into in my early years when I took the gig and was always kind to me. I worked frightening long hours on some of our largest shows. My partner is an old-timer and still works ferocious hours.
The victim blaming in the statement from Technicolor is appalling: Malcolm didn't file a "formal complaint", coworkers didn't either, we have long-standing policies against bullying, etc. Did Malcolm perhaps file an informal complaint? Did they fail to act on it? Is that why they are speaking in such a lawyerly way? If their policies were so robust, why were the managers and co-workers allowed to keep on behaving so abusively? Why weren't they terminated? I realise these are rhetorical questions: they kept these assholes because they think VFX can only be made this way and because it made them a profit. More work, no resources, no paid time-off, no overtime, no time in lieu.
I wish we were on-staff and unionised.
posted by lemon_icing at 6:08 PM on November 8, 2020 [3 favorites]
The victim blaming in the statement from Technicolor is appalling: Malcolm didn't file a "formal complaint", coworkers didn't either, we have long-standing policies against bullying, etc. Did Malcolm perhaps file an informal complaint? Did they fail to act on it? Is that why they are speaking in such a lawyerly way? If their policies were so robust, why were the managers and co-workers allowed to keep on behaving so abusively? Why weren't they terminated? I realise these are rhetorical questions: they kept these assholes because they think VFX can only be made this way and because it made them a profit. More work, no resources, no paid time-off, no overtime, no time in lieu.
I wish we were on-staff and unionised.
posted by lemon_icing at 6:08 PM on November 8, 2020 [3 favorites]
The victim blaming in the statement from Technicolor is appalling
Yep, that statement was total bullshit. Deep, deep bullshit. If they actually cared, they would say that they're appalled at the conditions being reported and promise to investigate fully and change them. But we all know that they don't care, and they know they don't care. Driving a beautiful, cheerful, vibrant person to suicide is just a replacement hiring expenses line item for them.
The fact that you're afraid to say something on this obscure web forum under a pseudonym goes to show how deeply they've fucked up people's minds.
posted by clawsoon at 8:30 AM on November 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
Yep, that statement was total bullshit. Deep, deep bullshit. If they actually cared, they would say that they're appalled at the conditions being reported and promise to investigate fully and change them. But we all know that they don't care, and they know they don't care. Driving a beautiful, cheerful, vibrant person to suicide is just a replacement hiring expenses line item for them.
The fact that you're afraid to say something on this obscure web forum under a pseudonym goes to show how deeply they've fucked up people's minds.
posted by clawsoon at 8:30 AM on November 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
« Older The Faces of Americans Living in Debt | Let’s talk about how words sound Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
It's appalling that's legal.
posted by Sulk at 6:50 PM on November 5, 2020