Elemental (Pixar - June 2023)

[Magenta Panther]

That's some first-rate cope there. A Pixar film will barely scrape out of the red. How the mighty have fallen.

And just how much merchandising money will this movie make? It's a pretty good bet that, merch-wise, it's no Toy Story.

Elemental might be a good movie, but Disney's PR screw-ups made it stumble out of the gate. Not much to celebrate here.

 

[Disney Irish]

The exec salary’s was something I wanted to bring up in another thread and never did. I was wondering how that played into budgets for these films. Especially since the majority of the exec teams are credited as “story” or “studio leadership”

So all these people screaming "Lower the budgets!" in these threads are really promoting for off-shoring the production and getting rid of creative executives. Something a lot claim they don't want.....

 

[Disstevefan1]

So all these people screaming "Lower the budgets!" in these threads are really promoting for off-shoring the production and getting rid of creative executives. Something a lot claim they don't want.....

Are we saying these days, its not possible to both lower the budgets and keep the work in the US?

If that is the case, it will be rare that movies will break even on the box office alone going forward.

 

[Andrew C]

Are we saying these days, its not possible to both lower the budgets and keep the work in the US?

Move animation to Georgia?

 

[Disney Irish]

Are we saying these days, its not possible to both lower the budgets and keep the work in the US?

If that is the case, it will be rare that movies will break even on the box office alone going forward.

Labor costs in the US are traditionally more expensive than other parts of the world due to our predominantly higher cost of living.

Shift that work to those overseas and you can save on labor costs, hence lower the budget.

I don't have the hard numbers, but I'm sure animators and creative executives in California working for Pixar or WDAS makes more than animators and creative executives working in France for Illumination.

 

[Disney Irish]

Move animation to Georgia?

The primary reason studios move production to Georgia is the tax breaks, not lower labor costs.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Labor costs in the US are traditionally more expensive than other parts of the world due to our predominantly higher cost of living.

Shift that work to those overseas and you can save on labor costs, hence lower the budget.

I don't have the hard numbers, but I'm sure animators and creative executives in California working for Pixar or WDAS makes more than animators and creative executives working in France for Illumination.

So to answer my question:
Are we saying these days, its not possible to both lower the budgets and keep the work in the US?

The answer is No.

The ironic thing is, they will send the work off shore, still have bloated budgets and still not be able to break even at the box office alone.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Move animation to Georgia?

Some of the Marvel animators are already there and can welcome the move of Pixar to Atlanta!!!

Disney/Marvel VFX Artists Looking to Unionize

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvel-studios-vfx-workers-union-1235558210/

forums.wdwmagic.com

 

[Disney Irish]

So to answer my question:
Are we saying these days, its not possible to both lower the budgets and keep the work in the US?

The answer is No.

The ironic thing is, they will send the work off shore, still have bloated budgets and still not be able to break even at the box office alone.

I don't believe they will send the work off-shore, I never got any indication of that happening in anything being reported. So not sure where you get that idea.

 

[Disney Irish]

Some of the Marvel animators are already there and can welcome the move of Pixar to Atlanta!!!

Disney/Marvel VFX Artists Looking to Unionize

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvel-studios-vfx-workers-union-1235558210/

forums.wdwmagic.com

And it'll still be more expensive than some animator sitting in France, lol.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I don't believe they will send the work off-shore, I never got any indication of that happening in anything being reported. So not sure where you get that idea.

The closest off shore they are getting is the Disney studios here in Vancouver, which I doubt saves them that much money.


Also with talks of animators / VFX artists wanting to unionize…

 

[Disstevefan1]

I don't believe they will send the work off-shore, I never got any indication of that happening in anything being reported. So not sure where you get that idea.

I think I was reading one of your posts that folks are screaming about lowering budgets and that could lead to moving work off shore and I simply asked if it was possible today to both lower budgets and keep work in the US?

There was never a clear answer to that so that is probably a no.

I don't like to see work go off shore but it looks like they are doing that anyway for example the future box office smash Snow White 2024.

Its sad that in the case of Snow White 2024 they will both have moved some work off shore AND will lose big money on this one too.

 

[Disney Irish]

I think I was reading one of your posts that folks are screaming about lowering budgets and that could lead to moving work off shore and I simply asked if it was possible today to both lower budgets and keep work in the US?

There was never a clear answer to that so that is probably a no.

I don't like to see work go off shore but it looks like they are doing that anyway for example the future box office smash Snow White 2024.

Its sad that in the case of Snow White 2024 they will both have moved some work off shore AND will lose big money on this one too.

There is a difference between talking about animation, which this thread is about, and live action movie production.

Live action movies get filmed around the world, they are already "off-shore" such as being filmed in the UK which is the case for the live action Snow White.

Animation however is done by the animation studios for the most part where ever they are located. For Pixar that is in Emeryville and for WDAS that is in Burbank. For Illumination their animators are located in Paris.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I think I was reading one of your posts that folks are screaming about lowering budgets and that could lead to moving work off shore and I simply asked if it was possible today to both lower budgets and keep work in the US?

There was never a clear answer to that so that is probably a no.

I don't like to see work go off shore but it looks like they are doing that anyway for example the future box office smash Snow White 2024.

Its sad that in the case of Snow White 2024 they will both have moved some work off shore AND will lose big money on this one too.

On-Camera is very different than animation.

Many films can have locales globally, but still be under a US union agreement for the main cast and crew, plus local agreements for local talent and crews.

 

[Communicora]

And it'll still be more expensive than some animator sitting in France, lol.

France? Yes, but via Vietnam.

 

[Disney Irish]

France? Yes, but via Vietnam.

I've never heard of Illumination using animators from Vietnam. Do you have a source on this information? I'd be curious to learn if its true.

 

[Disstevefan1]

There is a difference between talking about animation, which this thread is about, and live action movie production.

Live action movies get filmed around the world, they are already "off-shore" such as being filmed in the UK which is the case for the live action Snow White.

Animation however is done by the animation studios for the most part where ever they are located. For Pixar that is in Emeryville and for WDAS that is in Burbank. For Illumination their animators are located in Paris.

Got it. Animation is going to cost what it costs.

The only solution is to create stories that will get folks to buy tickets and go to the theater.

 

[Disney Irish]

Got it. Animation is going to cost what it costs.

The only solution is to create stories that will get folks to buy tickets and go to the theater.

That is not at all what I said. I'm not sure if you're intentionally not reading or what.

There are certainly ways to trim costs to lower budgets for an animation film, and according to the Pixar executive they are looking for ways to trim costs. But what was also said is their budget has more added in, such as Creative Executive pay, than other animation studios.

And with some exception Disney Animation and Pixar are still both creating stories that folks want to see. As noted by the legs that Elemental has seen. Remember that the audience is still being retrained to see Disney Animation and Pixar movies in theaters instead of waiting for them to appear on D+.

 

[Disstevefan1]

That is not at all what I said. I'm not sure if you're intentionally not reading or what.

There are certainly ways to trim costs to lower budgets for an animation film, and according to the Pixar executive they are looking for ways to trim costs. But what was also said is their budget has more added in, such as Creative Executive pay, than other animation studios.

And with some exception Disney Animation and Pixar are still both creating stories that folks want to see. As noted by the legs that Elemental has seen. Remember that the audience is still being retrained to see Disney Animation and Pixar movies in theaters instead of waiting for them to appear on D+.

Thanks for explaining. I am sure Elemental will beak even or make money eventually.

I am looking forward to seeing it on streaming, either purchase the digital copy or wait for it to get on D+ depending on what my family wants.

 

[Disney Irish]

Thanks for explaining. I am sure Elemental will beak even or make money eventually.

Based on what Pixar President Jim Morris says, it'll be profitable during its theatrical run.

You can find his comments here -

Pixar President on ‘Elemental’s’ Unlikely Box Office Rebound: ‘This Will Certainly Be a Profitable Film’

Pixar's president Jim Morris talks "Elemental," which is enjoying a box office rebound after stumbling in its debut.

variety.com

Don't just read the headline, actually read the article.

I am looking forward to seeing it on streaming, either purchase the digital copy or wait for it to get on D+ depending on what my family wants.

You should see it in theaters.