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The pay I would say is competitive for programming jobs in the respective areas as long as you're not comparing to the top tier companies. Even then, base pay i

by dagmx 6y ago

The pay I would say is competitive for programming jobs in the respective areas as long as you're not comparing to the top tier companies. Even then, base pay isn't so far off, but you don't get equity. In Vancouver for example, a programming job in the film industry and outside it will net you 90-150k on the high end, and film pays equally well in that area. In LA, you have a lot of FAANG companies entering the film industry too with FAANG wages. Netflix in particular is bonkers high.

aprdm 6y ago
FWIW I don't think Netflix pays as well for people doing more VFX-y python work in their pipelines. Have been contacted and wasn't impressed. It was also the case with others I know. Maybe it wasn't the right roles but it was, IMO, much lower than a senior software dev in a big studio Vancouver as far as cost of life goes.
- dagmx 6y ago
  Oh that's odd because my friends there in pipeline are making 3x what they were in Vancouver, especially after currency conversion. Maybe they've petered down since but it was a significant amount when I spoke to them
  - aprdm 6y ago
    If it is the people I am thinking about (small industry :P ) then for sure! But I wouldn't say they're doing python pipeline kind of work (like your post).
    - Arelius 6y ago
      Personally I don't know anyone that moved over in pipeline, and not sure they are really doing much in that. But for more R&D style roles I've seen it reflect what the parent was saying. I guess I'm just saying that I agree with this thread.
boulos 6y ago
> base pay isn't so far off, but you don't get equity. This is the best summary of the situation. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any levels.fyi data from any of the studios. Anecdotally, film, like the game industry, has a history of paying less than the overall market rate for software engineering because there are a lot of people who love it. Some of the [animation] studios (e.g., Pixar, PDI) have also historically issued annual bonuses based on how the films performed. Visual Effects, however, isn't like that because the work is done for other studios. For example, MPC did much of the visual effects for both Jungle Book and The Lion King, both of which were produced and distributed by Disney.
- bradknowles 6y ago
  Don’t forget Rhythm and Hues who famously went bankrupt and out of business, in the same year they won an Oscar for Best Special Effects. This is not a business you want to be in, if you care about making money. If you do this kind of thing because this is who you are, what you eat, breathe, drink, and dream, and there is no other thing you are capable of doing on the planet, then you might be able to make enough money to eat ramen for dinner.

by dagmx 6y ago

aprdm 6y ago

FWIW I don't think Netflix pays as well for people doing more VFX-y python work in their pipelines. Have been contacted and wasn't impressed. It was also the case with others I know. Maybe it wasn't the right roles but it was, IMO, much lower than a senior software dev in a big studio Vancouver as far as cost of life goes.

dagmx 6y ago
Oh that's odd because my friends there in pipeline are making 3x what they were in Vancouver, especially after currency conversion. Maybe they've petered down since but it was a significant amount when I spoke to them
- aprdm 6y ago
  If it is the people I am thinking about (small industry :P ) then for sure! But I wouldn't say they're doing python pipeline kind of work (like your post).
  - Arelius 6y ago
    Personally I don't know anyone that moved over in pipeline, and not sure they are really doing much in that. But for more R&D style roles I've seen it reflect what the parent was saying. I guess I'm just saying that I agree with this thread.

boulos 6y ago

> base pay isn't so far off, but you don't get equity. This is the best summary of the situation. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any levels.fyi data from any of the studios. Anecdotally, film, like the game industry, has a history of paying less than the overall market rate for software engineering because there are a lot of people who love it. Some of the [animation] studios (e.g., Pixar, PDI) have also historically issued annual bonuses based on how the films performed. Visual Effects, however, isn't like that because the work is done for other studios. For example, MPC did much of the visual effects for both Jungle Book and The Lion King, both of which were produced and distributed by Disney.

bradknowles 6y ago
Don’t forget Rhythm and Hues who famously went bankrupt and out of business, in the same year they won an Oscar for Best Special Effects. This is not a business you want to be in, if you care about making money. If you do this kind of thing because this is who you are, what you eat, breathe, drink, and dream, and there is no other thing you are capable of doing on the planet, then you might be able to make enough money to eat ramen for dinner.