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Nitrogen Studios (Sausage Party) made animators work unpaid OT, blacklisted others
- Thread starter Branduil
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quackamole
Member
Unfortunately it's the same song and dance everywhere. Artists in vfx and feature film is never treated right.
Dark Ninja
Member
This is really how it is in some places. The best places I have been treated has been big AAA companies. I refuse to work for startups or indy companies just have always had bad experiences with them
BaloneyFraise
Member
Wow, I really enjoyed the film, but as an animator I feel like an ass for giving them any money. I honestly wouldn't have gone and waited for it to be available on the bay.
I know it's common practice in the industry, but this seems even worse? Fuck Nitrogen. Give the animators proper credits at least.
I know it's common practice in the industry, but this seems even worse? Fuck Nitrogen. Give the animators proper credits at least.
agreed. Can't support assholes.
Jesus. I have heard some horror stories from some of my friends & co-workers that have worked at Bardel and Atomic Cartoons. But this is unreal.
In retrospect, I'm glad that I had turned down their offer to storyboard and design for this production, as it would've been a miserable experience.
In retrospect, I'm glad that I had turned down their offer to storyboard and design for this production, as it would've been a miserable experience.
Pai Pai Master
Banned
Well fuck now I wish I didn't already give them my money. That's fucking bullshit
Hopefully this coming out leads to some appreciation and conoensation to the people who worked hard.
If it's true that Seth Rogen wasn't aware of this during production then surely he would say or do something about it
Hopefully this coming out leads to some appreciation and conoensation to the people who worked hard.
If it's true that Seth Rogen wasn't aware of this during production then surely he would say or do something about it
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
It's like one of my Japanese animes!
sue the fuck out of them
Sho_Nuff82
Member
Isn't this against regulations of the SAG or director's guild? Or do animators fall through the cracks for both?
sixteen-bit
Member
That's fucked up. Shame on them.
thehypocrite
Member
Not seeing this movie, hope animators can be properly compensated, hope the film trades, journalist, critics do their job and raise awareness about the issue. Sounds like a cause that merits their attention.
Grimm Fandango
Member
Did anything come for those animators? Were they ever compensated or recognized?
Burger
Member
SAG & DGA are not VFX unions.
This sort of stuff happens everywhere, worldwide. Until VFX artists pull their socks up and unionise, like almost every other aspect of Hollywood, this will continue to happen.
Ever wonder why Catering is listed before VFX on a films credits? Unions.
Huw_Dawson
Member
This happens with video games too, especially with QA.
old
Member
Passion profession. Like teaching and social work. There's millions willing to do it for shit pay because they love doing it. There's an army of animators willing to work for peanuts and accept being treated like shit just so they can say they worked on a Pixar film or the next Disney film.
Gamer @ Heart
Member
I refuse to believe that NONE of what was going on got to Seth and his team. That is too many bitter people that are a tweet away.
JordanN
Banned
I don't think anyone loves missing their paycheck or being mistreated badly as stories like these come out.
Loving your job doesn't mean you have to accept slavery. Why is it all the CEO's and people in power don't have to endure the same stuff the artists do? Until the playing field is made level, there should be a government investigation being made into these industries to crackdown on abuse.
AstroNut325
Member
Was thinking of seeing this. Now I won't.
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
This. Was going to see it but nah. Keep it... Workers do not deserve to be treated that way at all.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Remember when the Life of Pi team had their protest at the Oscars? I guess that didn't matter. 
Junior Mint
Member
They'll just outsource to China for the next movie
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
Unless Seth Rogen knows about this and brings it to light this story is probably gonna get buried. Everyone is more focused on writing about how an adult animated movie was a surprise hit of the summer.
Admiral Woofington
Member
If it wasn't for the threat of losing your job and getting blacklisted, I was about to say that I also don't get paid for overtime and it's practically expected in the construction industry. I regularly work 50-60 hours week but I'm salaried so I don't get paid for any OT. They basically make it the company culture where you regularly stay late to finish shit off as a project manager.
Sucks for the animators though, assuming they are being underpaid then on top of that not getting paid for overtime is an insult.
Sucks for the animators though, assuming they are being underpaid then on top of that not getting paid for overtime is an insult.
I've kinda guessed it based on that reported budget of just 19m. Unfortunately these things probably happen a lot.
Also unpaid OT is pretty common, especially in countries without proper regulation. Still depends on the companies. When I was in Singapore, I worked at one western film company where they actually discourage OT. On my other job at a japanese games company, they expected you to OT. I even heard some people work till late night. I didn't of course lol
Also unpaid OT is pretty common, especially in countries without proper regulation. Still depends on the companies. When I was in Singapore, I worked at one western film company where they actually discourage OT. On my other job at a japanese games company, they expected you to OT. I even heard some people work till late night. I didn't of course lol
Angelus Errare
Banned
In the US very legal, and pretty much a fabric of American work culture.
What did he mean by this?
Member
Another Sony film fuckup?
Admiral Woofington
Member
That's the thing too, company and country culture will dictate the OT culture which sucks. If your company comes from a country in Europe they tend to work till late night then get ready to feel bad and basically shamed when you don't stay late.
Early on in my company my team members would joke around about how early I would leave from the office, which is to say I'd leave at the 8 hours mark. Of course they were just fucking with me, we're all work buddies, but even with jokes you now feel you gotta stay until late.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
Unless Sony knew about it and chose to ignore it, it's not their fuckup.
Calamari41
41 > 38
Wouldn't the incredibly low bill raise some questions? In my industry, this kind of thing would definitely be known by the decision makers in the face of the ultra lowball quote. These guys, including Seth Rogen, know how these studios work and how much certain things generally cost.
AstroNut325
Member
Are there lists of games that underwent similar stuff?
Mixolydian
Member
I recall this issue being brought up at the Oscars a few years back, and while I was under no illusion things would change dramatically, it's sad to read that the status quo remains.
MikeHattsu
Member
ultracal31
You don't get to bring friends.
No kidding right? I've heard stories from other places and I'm surprise about hearing this from nitrogen as I use to work there and my experiences was positive.
This was before the feature film however
Sony only pays the studios that offers them a attractive price. They generally don't interfere the studio's manpower and politics, this is nitrogen own problem.
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