Marvel’s VFX Workers Vote To Unionize
In what can only be described as a tumultuous year for Marvel Studios, the biggest surprise wasn’t a new hero, or the results of one of the MCU’s new releases, it was the stunning firing of Victoria Alonso.
Alonso had originally joined Marvel as a VFX producer during the production of Iron Man in 2006. Eventually, she rose to President of Physical, Post Production, Visual Effects, and Animation. Together with Louis D’Esposito and Kevin Feige, Alonso created a triumphant that brought Marvel to the forefront of popular culture.
As Marvel ramped up its release schedule, however, VFX artists working for the studio began to air their complaints.
In January 2023, Vulture reported that VFX artists were being pushed to the brink by Marvel, and many artists shared that they experienced emotional breakdowns over the stress. Within that report also came the revelation that Alonso kept a blacklist of employees who failed to hit scene quotas or left a project early.
“The main one that everyone’s quite scared of is Victoria Alonso. She is known in the industry as a kingmaker. If she likes you, you are going to get work and move up in the industry. If you have pissed her off in any way, you’re going to get frozen out,” a former Marvel VFX employee said.
Then, in March 2023, the unthinkable happened when Victoria Alonso was fired by Marvel.
Marvel VFX Workers Vote To Unionize
Five months after Alonso’s ouster, VFX artists at Marvel are finally unionizing.
On Monday, more than 50-on-set employees filed a petition for an election to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) with the National Labor Release Board.
The petition marks the first time visual-effects professionals have joined together to demand the same representation that almost every other segment of the entertainment industry has.
“For almost half a century, workers in the visual-effects industry have been denied the same protections and benefits their coworkers and crewmates have relied upon since the beginning of the Hollywood film industry,” VFX organizer for IATSE Mark Patch said in a statement. “This is a historic first step for VFX workers coming together with a collective voice. Demanding respect for what we do.”
Finally Getting Protection
While fellow entertainment divisions such as costumes and wardrobe, hair and make-up, lighting, script supervisors, and props and paint have been represented by the IATSE, VFX professionals have been on their own.
This has left them unable to claim benefits such as paid overtime, and health care, and left them vulnerable to labor shortages and unrealistic deadlines.
“Turnaround times don’t apply to us. Protected hours don’t apply to us. And pay equity doesn’t apply to us,” said VFX coordinator Bella Huffman. “Visual effects must become a sustainable and safe department for everyone who’s suffered far too long and for all newcomers who need to know they won’t be exploited.”
Part of a Larger Plan
The petition by Marvel’s VFX artists comes during a summer that already has seen the WGA and SAG-AFTRA unions go on strike. Additionally, it comes at a time when Marvel has seen increased criticism for the quality of its CGI and special effects.
Starting off the unionization of the VFX industry with Marvel’s on-set VFX specialists is no accident. As Marvel remains the biggest user of VFX artists.
The thinking goes, that if Marvel’s “production-side” professionals can secure union recognition, it will show the viability of an industry-wide unionization push. Eventually, post-production houses would then, in turn, be able to unionize.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented wave of solidarity that’s breaking down old barriers in the industry and proving we’re all in this fight together,” said IATSE International president Matthew D. Loeb.
“That doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Entertainment workers everywhere are sticking up for each other’s rights; that’s what our movement is all about. I congratulate these workers on taking this important step and using their collective voice. I urge Marvel Studios to voluntarily recognize their union immediately.”
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