VFX and the Uncertainty of our Future.

The recent closure of The Mill, one of the most iconic names in visual effects, hit the industry like a thunderclap. For many of us in film and television, it’s more than just a news item—it’s a signal. The VFX landscape is shifting under our feet, fast.

What’s happening isn’t a collapse. It’s a correction.

The demand for visual effects is higher than ever. Streaming series, feature films, indie projects. VFX is woven into everything now. But the business model? Broken. Long hours, underpaid talent, last-minute changes, and razor-thin margins have hollowed out many of the very companies that built this art form. The artists are burnt out. The studios are bleeding. And the middle, the boutique shops, the mid-size houses, is disappearing.

And yet, VFX work is still being done. Every day. By freelancers, collectives, remote teams, and a rising tide of artist-run micro-studios that are rethinking how this industry can operate. The tools are more accessible. The talent is global. And the hunger for change is real.

This moment, chaotic as it is, is also an opportunity.

We have a chance to rebuild this industry with respect at its core. To design workflows that value artists' time, mental health, and creativity. To align budgets with reality instead of fantasy. To return to a model that honors the craft and the artists,

while still delivering jaw-dropping work audiences deserve.

VFX is not some magic button. It’s a labor-intensive, collaborative art. And if we’re smart, we’ll use this shakeup not to retreat, but to reform. For all the uncertainty ahead, one thing is clear: the future of visual effects will be shaped by the people who care enough to fix it.

Let’s be those people.