Gunn's Approach to Visual Effects Reveals Insights
Fresh Take:
Jim Gunn, the main man at DC Films and boss of the upcoming Superman, recently weighed in on visual effects, and his answer suggests a rather stark contrast not just to the industry, but perhaps even his past workplace, Marvel Studios.
A fan fired a question at Gunn on Threads, asking about the treatment of overworked and underpaid VFX artists in big-budget movies, especially in light of Gunn's upcoming DC projects. Here's what Gunn had to say:
"Listen, buddy, if you bother to do a bit of homework, you'll see my films have always stuck to a unique approach. I've given my VFX crew the time and respect they need to do a stellar job, and the results show—just look at the quality of VFX in my flicks! A big part of that is thanks to the incredible talent of my peeps at Weta, Framestore, ILM, and more."
Gunn didn't stop there. He continued by explaining that Superman was wrapped up a year before its release, and the VFX crew had been hard at work on various shots for months prior. He also mentioned that they started editing the film during the shoot and only worked with finished screenplays. Gunn mentioned that Supergirl, which he wasn't directing, was getting the same treatment.
"I can't sing the praises of the VFX artists who help create magic with us enough." Gunn concluded.
At first glance, it seems like a straightforward answer, showing a slew of respect and preparation that goes into making movies of that scale. But let's break it down a bit. Superman is set to hit theaters July 11, 2025, and it started shooting in late February of this year, wrapping up in late July/early August. That means the VFX team has about a year to work on the film.
Two weeks after Gunn's flick hits theaters, the new Marvel movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled for release. That film started shooting almost concurrently with Gunn wrapping Superman, around four weeks ago.
Many are doubtful that Fantastic Four will meet that release date—and maybe they're right. But consider the subtext here. The VFX industry has been up in arms about Marvel Studios lately, with mountains of articles detailing the company pushing VFX artists to their limits to finish films on time. This led to VFX workers unionizing late last year.
So when Gunn brings up his July 2025 superhero movie being done a year in advance while another big July 2025 superhero movie, from the company under fire, didn't start filming until a year out, it's bound to raise some eyebrows.
Gunn might not have come out and said anything directly, but he's definitely making it clear that things will be different between DC and Marvel when it comes to taking care of their VFX crews.
Speaking of the future, here's what you need to know about the latest developments in the DC Universe, Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. Stay tuned!
Insights:
- ** creative involvement:** Gunn's direct involvement in the creative process of DC films may lead to a more focused approach to visual effects compared to Marvel's centralized oversight model.
- production process: Gunn's approach to production, including finishing a screenplay before shooting and starting the editing process during filming, might result in more efficient use of visual effects resources and a higher-quality final product.
- industry standards: While specific details on the treatment of VFX artists are not provided, it is worth noting that personal experiences can depend on specific projects and management. Industry practices and labor guilds that dictate compensation and working conditions for VFX artists might not significantly vary between studios.
- Regarding the future of visual effects in movies, it seems Jim Gunn, head of DC Films, is supportive of a approach that offers time and respect to VFX artists, as demonstrated in his previous works and with the current production of Superman.
- Jim Gunn, in his recent statements, highlighted Framestore as one of the talented teams contributing to the VFX in his films, a testament to the collaborative effort in creating visually stunning movies.
- In comparison to the rumors of overworked VFX artists in big-budget movies, particularly at Marvel Studios, it appears that DC Films, under Gunn's leadership, might be setting a different standard for treatment of VFX teams in the movie industry's future.
- In light of the ongoing debates on the treatment of VFX artists and the unionization efforts in the industry, fans and critics alike will undoubtedly pay close attention to the visual effects quality in upcoming DC films, such as Superman, as an indication of the new standards set by Gunn and the DC Universe.
