Low budget visual effects post house a good business model?

[Derkoi]

I've been giving this some thought, a visual effects company specialising in effects for low budget films.

The fx wouldn't be ILM standard, but like everything, you get what you pay for.

At the minute I'm thinking it could work, however maybe undercharging will create all sorts of problems. I think there's a market out there.

What do you guys think? Has it been done?

 

[Postmaster]

I´m doing low budget FX since years and it sucks.

Folks are used to ILM standards.
Everything less will be considered cheesy or amateurish.

Actually you would need a demoreel that says under every scene
"ATENTION: We could do much better, but this client doesn´t have had enough money, we got bad lit green screen, no backplates and we had only 6 hours to do the job" (actually that disclaimer can be much longer).

Low budget FX is one of the most ungrateful jobs out there.

There is a market thou, but don't expect to receive any awards or praise ever for your work.

It´s really frustrating, but pays the rent.

Frank

 

[Derkoi]

Thanks for the reply Postmaster. I can image clients having big expectations with low budget FX.

I suppose something to consider is the pricing. How low is low budget?

 

[Mattykins]

Well, I thought about it a year or so ago, and I couldn't make the numbers align to have a VFX house that catered to indies. Of course, I was looking at it with employees and such, turning out as high quality fx as we could.

I think if you are looking to go into it, you have to do the best you can and charge accordingly. If the client can't afford all the shots they want - well, then they won't get them. If you cut back on quality, it'll look like a joke. Today you can't scrape by with 'eh' effect work.

 

[Derkoi]

Yeah i hear what you're saying. Basically it would be just me. If there was a big enough job i'd perhaps look to hire freelance on a job to job basis.

 

[Postmaster]

Beer pocket - champaign taste. It´s always the same.

Low budget is if you do 3D tracking, sky and background replacement
plus inserting a 3D plane on a 2K resolution shot for 500 Euros. (just a random example)

Frank

 

[Derkoi]

i think it's possible to have a low budget VFX house.

but you have to specify exactly:

1) WHAT you're selling

2) WHO you're selling to

3) HOW MUCH you're going to sell it for.

'visual effects' is a very broad term. if you offer a broad range of VFX services, you'd probably need a lot of employees who can handle that broad range. but if you don't, you'll quickly become swamped in too much work with not enough time and too little pay for the effort/stress.

why not start with one very specific post-processing service?

i'll give you an analogy with something i've seen grow over a few years (pertaining to low budget filmmaking gear)...

Jag35: this guy started with a DIY 35mm adapter. now, after a few years, he's selling all sorts of DSLR gear and low budget filmmaking stuff.

this is just an example to illustrate starting with something VERY specific. i think if you specify, and are good at that specialty... then it's a viable business model which can be expanded over time.

POINT: don't start a VFX company. start a 'specific' post-production service.

(i haven't slept in a while, i hope that made sense).

I see what you're saying but the example of JAG35 was that he made his 35mm adapter (i bought one too ) but at the time, that was only what he had to sell or else he would of sold more, like when i bought my adapter he was selling lenses too.

Seems a bit of a shame if i only sell one area and other processes pass me by. For example, if i just offered compositing and required the client to get the elements for the shot from elsewhere, it's likely the client will let the company who renders the elements composite the shot. Don't you think?

 

[Derkoi]

i'm not sure. if you were to offer something very specific, then make sure it's a stand-alone thing. e.g. don't offer modeling without texturing.

just throwing out ideas.

i don't think a lot of things are impossible, you just have to find the 'perfect' niche.

Yeah that makes sense. Cheers for throwing out ideas.

 

[emretufekci]

Low budget visual effects post house a good business model?

No, considering that even the large FX houses are always having to underbid, working people to death and going out of business left and right.