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Watch: Rhythm & Hues' Full 30-Min Doc 'Life After Pi' on VFX Industry

by Alex Billington
February 26, 2014
Source: Deadline

"It jelled the entire VFX community into being horrifically pissed off at how they were being treated." The full online short has debuted for a documentary on visual effects company Rhythm & Hues, which became the center of attention in 2013 when their work on Life of Pi won the Oscar, despite employees protesting on the streets just outside, still waiting for their paycheck. The doc is called Life After Pi and is made by the employees of the VFX firm, discussing the events that occurred, the troubles in the industry regarding VFX work, and hopefully the outcome of their plight and the next big steps in the industry. See the full doc now.

Update: So, only a few weeks after the trailer first debuted, the full 30-minute short film has arrived online in its place. The YouTube has now been updated and below you can watch the full doc Life After Pi, which they state "is only the first chapter of an upcoming feature-length documentary that delves into the larger, complex challenges facing the US Film Industry and the many professionals working within it, whose fates and livelihood are intertwined." Watch this short doc now and visit the website for updates on that feature.

Here's the full 30-minute documentary from Rhythm & Hues - Life After Pi, uploaded direct to YouTube:

Change starts now. Stay connected. For more on the doc and industry visit hollywoodendingmovie.com

"It's a catalyst for the change in this industry that's going to put in the right direction - the rebirth for visual effects." Thanks to Deadline for the early information on the doc. Life After Pi is short documentary filmed on location at Rhythm & Hues Studios - the Los Angeles based visual effects company that won an Academy Award in 2013 for its groundbreaking work on Ang Lee's Life of Pi - during the weeks that followed a devastating bankruptcy. The documentary was made by R&H employees who picked up cameras as the meltdown ensued and is part of a larger documentary titled Hollywood Ending - more info on that here. We have updated this post with the full 30 minute short above - here's the original trailer. Thanks for watching.

Find more posts: Documentaries, Feat, Short Film, To Watch

6 Comments

The VFX for Life of Pi is unbelievable. They should go work for WETA or ILM.

Tey on Feb 14, 2014

Some probably are, it's just not as stable as what they had at R&H. Weta hires NZ citizens first, then foreigners. These foreign workers would have contracts of 8 months or so. To take advantage of tax subsidies and gain competitive edge, ILM has an office in Vancouver. But R&H did the same to try to keep afloat as well and then what happened? ILM plans to open an office in London also. ILM is still headquartered in SF but I do not see as much artist openings as I see in their Vancouver office. Not everyone is keen on moving out of the country or leading a VFX gypsy lifestyle. Keep in mind, the field is now flooded with qualified VFX artists. Getting a job in California is getting harder and harder.

Miko on Feb 26, 2014

ILM will be safe for decades as it is owned by Disney...god I hate this industry...and when I realize that I wanted to work in VFX a couple of years back, makes me even more sad.

dawko on Feb 27, 2014

True. But the studios they have in Vancouver is most likely temporary. Pixar had a studio in BC that shut down just last year and they're also owned by Disney.

Miko on Feb 27, 2014

It was a true shame what hapened to R&H.

DAVIDPD on Feb 26, 2014

Sadly it isn't just VFX that isn't a stable working environment. What a depressing documentary that was. But amazing work that was being made. Also thought it was pretty horrible the way the actors and directors were laughing them off stage.

Carpola on Feb 27, 2014

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