Industrial Light & Magic Artist Reviews

Pros

Working on the biggest/best projects in the entertainment industry, all of the time.

Cons

Chose to leave after seeing layoffs, at the same time we were hearing we'd made record earnings on films. All of the work is being outsourced.

Advice to Management

Fairer pay for Jr artists that live in the area, keep work in the Bay, otherwise management is pretty awesome.

Pros

good benefits for employees, used to be better pre disney

Cons

Managers who truly have no idea what the persons they manage actually do. if you not buddy buddy with them you won't go anywhere and will have actively thrown hurdles in your way.

Advice to Management

get managers to actually take interest in the day to day work.

Pros

Not one besides the fact it's got this big name and good benefits.

Cons

If you are not friends with the right group of people you are out. You might say that's any company out there but I've been at almost all of the big companies in the industry. Nothing even comes close the how ILM works.

Advice to Management

Stop giving out any kind of work related special treatment to your friends. It's so painfully obvious. Stop treating your drinking buddies in the departments like employees first class and the rest like disposable attachments. Stop giving them the best work unconditionally and the rest who doesn't suck up to the gods of the departments are neglected. Stop giving long contracts and staff to only your drinking buddy sweat...

Pros

Incredibly talented workforce, some of the best people in the industry. Nice location

Cons

Upper management treats their employees like expendable cattle and are completely out of touch with the struggles and difficulties of the everyday worker. Little to no job security with petty politics. Individuals who get promoted tend to be those who enjoy belittling and dominating others. Current hierarchy structure fails to recognize structural issues as the only opinion that counts is upper management, they completely...

Advice to Management

Figure out a business model that doesn't depend on churning through talent like they're expendable garbage. Stop promoting those who thrive at the expense of others. Adopt a performance metric that isn't reliant on filtered feedback from self serving managers while ignoring the opinions and grievances of those who actually do the work. I passionately worked hours for free at this company only to be sidelined, belittled...

Pros

Good tech and pipe. Work colleagues are nice

Cons

The moaniest place ever worked. No loyalty to employees. If someone is cheaper than you expect the shove out at earliest opportunity. Incessant emails telling company how well it's doing while letting employees go. No reward for trying harder or giving your all. Awful office more like a cold call center. Badly run departments and expect to work pressured overtime for nothing. It's ILM in name only, more exciting shows...

Advice to Management

Nothing. You promise change just to keep people passive or not to be like other vfx houses yet low and behold exactly same. No advice because you don't listen.

Pros

Although the wages are low the work environment is great. The experience gained is worth it in my opinion. Good luck!

Cons

Low wages. It's not the best place to work if you need an income over 100 k. Still a great place.

Pros

Great city. Relaxing setting. Nice staff. Beautiful company. Nice projects to work on.

Cons

Parking is bad. Living near the company is high in price. Food is high. People are in a hurry. Traffic is always in a hurry.

Pros

Nice deck to eat lunch on.

Cons

Really poor management, lacking professionalism, poor organizational systems, work permits forgotten about resulting in artists having to leave, terrible benefits, terrible overtime food. Seems to be run by a bunch kids that don't know anything about the visual effects industry.

Advice to Management

Hire managers and producers with experience that your artists can look up to and respect.