They entertain us while creating whole galaxies, allowing us to see things that were previously impossible to fathom. They claim to be overworked and undervalued at the same time. As a result, many talented people are quitting the profession.
During the pandemic, many new ways to work remotely emerged: zoom meetings, co-working programmes, and more have allowed us to keep working even in a horrific epidemiological environment. Overwork became one of the most significant issues for working from home. But, working overtime, it’s not a new phenomenon for people working in post-production. It was already a big issue before the pandemic for some employees, and when covid hit, unfortunately, it didn’t change it too much.
People working in the visual effects industry have not been spared from this issue. It can take a few months to create visual effects. Think about how many people work extra hours on such projects. Only 38% of workers in New Zealand worked more than 100 hours per week during the peak season.
Moreover, because the visual effects crew and the director/producer are not on the same team, there is a significant disconnect between them: the overtime in the industry is enough of a problem to cause real long-term health problems, not just burnout. So, how do today’s managers deal with such a problem?
Both workers and management should target to put in a regular work week and avoid overtime. This will increase the quality of life and satisfaction, increasing actual productivity and creativity. It is essential to create such an atmosphere when working overtime is possible, but not necessary. Of course, there will always be those who want to work harder, but it is essential to stop the peer pressure on others who choose not to work crazy hours.