Shows cancelled
You would think that big entertainment firms working on high profile projects have the production under control, in particular their Administration Department. As part of the Executive Producers' job is to analyze the budget required for the show, allocate it wisely and approve it to start production.
After a show is green lit, Entertainment firms identify and hire the studio(s) capable of doing the job, then the studio with the same departments as the Entertainment firm: Executive Producer, Producers and Coordinators re-allocate the show's budget and hire computer graphics artists: modelers, animators, textures, FX artists, etc. Then, production for the show starts.
-Honey, I got a job!.
When Computer Artists are deep into what promises to be the latest and greatest project of all time, it gets cancelled; it all ended. No further explanation other that *they-need-to-re-visit-the-budget*.
-Computer Artists: Huh? How could a project that its already being produced gets cancelled?, Didn't it go through careful consideration and proper budget revisions already? Isn't the budgeting stage one of the first ones and we are already in the middle of the show?.
-Administration: Well, it went over budget, there is no idea why its so expensive or where the money is going. We are stopping production.
-Honey, I'm home early.
From a Computer Artist perspective this is not good at all, chances are that some will be let go or the entire team will be laid off, fired, Caput, C'est finis, nada. ta-da!. All their life will be shaken mainly because they were counting with that money, whatever plans they had, now the Computer Artists *need-to-re-visit-their-budget*.
As there is no quick cure for these type of situations, here are some ways to cope with them:
-Apply for a Staff position, you will be transferred to a different project.
-Stay in contact with your other potential employers, let them know how lucky they are, now you are free and work for them.
-Remember what your art teachers use to say? Don't fall in love with your art, with your character, drawing, pose, model, shot, acting, etc. In this case, don't fall in love with the show, project, company, movie, show... just move on.
-Keep you sanity -Whatever you do, don't take it personal.
-Use your humor to see the good side of things, after all you are an animator.
Managing shows is not an easy task, being part of the Management team as a Producer, Coordinator, P.A. etc, is one of the most difficult positions to be in, they are trapped between the Entertainment firm and the Production Team, in one hand the Entertainment firm keeps tightening the budget, in the other the artists need to hire more artists or work over time in order to accomplish the demands of the show. Management teams are often seen as bad cops, don't forget to give them a break and assume that they are doing the best they can.
Labels: shows cancelled
I'm sorry to hear that Mario. Best of luck finding another project. That shouldn't be too hard for you, though, with you rninja animation skills!
-Lauren
Posted by
Lauren Wells |
January 15, 2008 5:19 PM