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VFX Soldier has a great piece on some of the recent discoveries in the ongoing Apple/Pixar/Lucasfilm investigation from the Justice Department.  The allegation is that these three studios (and maybe more) had an illegal agreement to not poach each other’s employees in an attempt to drive wages down.  Not only is this illegal, but it’s been a shock to many in the VFX Industry that saw Pixar and Lucasfilm as the ultimate employer in VFX.

Furthermore, consider how remarkable this case has become. Steve Jobs, Pixar, and Lucasfilm. For VFX artists these names are nothing but legends to us and could do no harm. Look at what the Justice Department’s investigation revealed. Behind our backs they colluded to drive wages down.

via Poach-gate Scandal: VFX Idol Steve Jobs Involved « VFX Soldier.

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Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers invaded Panasonic’s booth at CES 2011 and have made the following announcement. Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox will be releasing the complete Star Wars saga, that is all 6 Star Wars films, to BluRay in September 2011. This will be billed as the 35th anniversary collection, since the first film was originally released on May 25, 1977. You might think that the six films will come on six BluRay disks. You would be wrong. Instead it will come on nine disks and feature more than 30 hours of extras. The cost for the entire six films is $139.99. The cost for either the original trilogy or the prequel trilogy is about $70. Right now on Amazon they have the original trilogy on BluRay for $44.99 with the prequel trilogy at the same price. Amazon has the complete saga for $89.99.

Don’t forget, that in 2012 we will also be treated to seeing Star Wars in 3-D at the movie theaters. The first film to be released will be Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

via : The Digital Bits

Press Release after the break:

Read more…

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In the ongoing saga of VFX employees and companies being screwed by major hollywood studios, a new court case is on the horizon where the US is suing two of the biggest names in VFX: Lucasfilm and Pixar.  The charge: Antitrust violations.

Lucasfilm and Pixar agreed to a three-part protocol that restricted recruiting of each other’s employees. First, Lucasfilm and Pixar agreed they would not cold call each other’s employees. [snip] Second, they agreed to notify each other when making an offer to an employee of the other firm. Third, they agreed that, when offering a position to the other company’s employee, neither would counteroffer above the initial offer.

The goal is that the two biggest employers of digital animators agreed to a ‘I saw him first’ philosophy, reducing competition in the workplace and limiting employment opportunities for artists.  It sounds innocent at first, until you realize it’s a great way to keep wages arbitrarily low (eg “Look, I won’t lure your guys away with more money if you agree not to take mine.”).

via Lee Stranahan: Feds Sues Lucasfilm for Undermining VFX Artists.

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