On a viral Reddit thread, VFX artists are blasting Marvel as a ‘horrible’ client, citing unrealistic deadlines, low pay, and undue stress.

We’ve all had those moments. We’re getting ready to leave work on a Friday, when our boss/client decides to lop on some feedback on a project they swore was approved up and down. Or, you’re in a briefing meeting about a huge project with multiple variables, but it needs to be done by EOD. Turns out, working for Marvel Studios is kind of like that. 

In a Reddit thread on r/VFX quickly catching fire, multiple VFX artists have come forward and called out Marvel for unrealistic demands and deadlines, low pay, and multiple brief changes that create undue stress in the workplace.

The bragging rights, apparently, are not worth it – some claimed that working on a Marvel show forced them to leave the industry altogether. Others claimed they actively avoid working with Marvel. 

“Marvel has probably the worst methodology of production and VFX management out there,” said the original post, made by user Independent-Ad419. 

“They can never fix the look for the show before more than half the allocated time for the show is over. The artists working on Marvel shows are definitely not paid equivalent to the amount of work they put in. The charm for working on a Marvel movie is way overrated now and I would rather be happy working on a TV series after decades and decades of this.” 

Another user who claimed they hadn’t worked on a Marvel project since 2012 highlighted an exploitative model at the giant’s end. 

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“Marvel VFX knowing they can exploit the vendors for “just one more version” and (likely) inexperienced production people trying to please the Big Important Client, is always a recipe for disaster…” they said. 

While a lot of posters called out the industry at large for its gruelling hours, unrealistic demands, and crunched deadlines, Marvel seemed to take the cake. 

“On Thor they ask for a complete mini sequence 2 or 3 weeks before deadline [sic] by that I mean from scratch model texture animate light and fix that shit in comp.” said a comment.

This, according to another user, is done to show to ‘some some bigwig who is apparently incapable of understanding the concept of unfinished work and will run crying in terror at at a grey model.’ 

Another comment called out Marvel for being approval hell. 

“Marvel: ‘Approved.’ Also Marvel: ‘We are going to redesign the approved costume. Please un-final any shots with it, and all other shots are on hold. We know the trailer deadline is next Monday so we will try to get you a new approved design by this Friday.’” said the comment. 

Others added jokingly that sequences in the movies were not considered final until they were in the cinema, with one claiming: “They had us redo an entire sequence like 3 weeks before delivery.” 

In another post made on the same subreddit three months ago, a user expressed ‘remorse’ about never having worked on a Marvel project. The replies, however, assure them that the remorse was backwards – it actually comes from working on the projects. 

“I really thought this is a joke thread and got really confused when it dawned on me that it’s real and why someone would want to work on soul crushingly boring, badly managed and stressful Marvel projects.” says the top comment on the post. 

“I am on my third Marvel project in a row and literally just woke up at 5.30 am on a Saturday with stress going ‘I don’t want to do this anymore’. I don’t give a shit if the Marvel fanboys eat it up and make Marvel billions (we don’t see any of that anyway). All you get from Marvel movies is stress and nothing else.” It continued.

The sentiment was reiterated throughout the thread and even on Twitter, where designers showed solidarity with their colleagues and the original posters. 

https://twitter.com/dhruvgovil/status/1546177539692904448?s=21&t=zemDbfmMpzuyy6xH_zj-iQ

“Working on #Marvel shows is what pushed me to leave the VFX industry. They’re a horrible client, and I’ve seen way too many colleagues break down after being overworked, while Marvel tightens the purse strings.” said software engineer Dhruv Govil, who worked on the Spiderman and Guardians of The Galaxy movies. 

Govil’s thread, quickly catching traction, has others weighing in. 

“Working VFX for Marvel is absolute dogshit. They’re a beast of a client and they’re all too eager to throw their weight around.” a user said. 

Writer and producer Adam Lance Garcia also claimed that this was somewhat of an open secret throughout the industry. 

“Marvel is notorious for constantly changing their minds, running VFX houses into the ground because they want to radically revise a film weeks before release,” he said.

For more on this topic, follow the Film & TV Observer.

Check out more tweets by VFX artists putting Marvel on blast:

https://twitter.com/blxxdbvrn/status/1546470806418558976

https://twitter.com/anu_of_alderaan/status/1546298946347220992

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