Pay per footage at Disney

[jeremyhopkins]

An interesting video by the late Jack Dunham about how he suggested a pay per footage system at Disney.
DosxZaT8XFE
http://xsheetvideos.blogspot.com/2010/08/jack-dunhams-thoughts-on-motivation.html
This is pretty much the way television animation works in Canada. Animators are paid per approved footage either in seconds or minutes.. usually not in footage anymore. It is efficient and after working in this system, an animator will know how to produce work quickly. It can also be incredibly difficult for animators who side more with the artistic aspect of animation. Some weeks, due to a difficult scene or a stop in production, you won't see much pay which isn't great for an industry where saving half your income for the down time is important. It also puts more strain on supervising animators if they're on salary and those individuals can end up working many, many hours fixing shoddy work done quickly by others to get a paycheck. Though as Jack mentions in the video, you will be at your desk working rather than playing golf and if you can't work efficiently, you won't have a job long. Interesting bit of history and thought I'd pass it along to everyone here.

Something slightly different is an insight into the creation of the 3 caballeros:
iyhdpIs1UVk

[C. Siemens]

I get paid that way and it works, although some would call my current lifestyle 'frugal'. I call it 'efficient' but who am I kiddin'? :D At least I didn't have to move around all the time during the last three years.

[Solium]

Sounds like a sweat shop mentality to me. I cannot say I support that idea at all. Sure your expected to "produce" when you work, but set reasonable standards and put everyone on salary. Other wise its feast or famine.

And how does that create a happy work environment? Its all about volume not quality. I think that would stifle many artists creatively.

[akkushisu]

I agree with Solium on this 100%. It's basically sink or swim and seems to stress quantity over quality. Honestly, who would feel more creative or inspired in those kinds of conditions?

[C. Siemens]

Sounds like a sweat shop mentality to me. I cannot say I support that idea at all. Sure your expected to "produce" when you work, but set reasonable standards and put everyone on salary. Other wise its feast or famine.

Well, at "our" place all the animators are freelancers and most have smaller or bigger "side gigs" going. Usually there's not an overwhelming amount of pressure. If I need to leave early or take a day off, I can, and if I feel like throwing in an extra Saturday or Sunday will get me more footage done, I will.
Our team is small and our product is limited TV - but we produce quality. I've seen worse stuff come from bigger studios. And by that I mean bad.
Our project budgets come from broadcasters and once the animators' work begins usually big pitch and contract battles have already been fought by our in-house management. The sad reality of the business is that those budgets are shrinking. Still, it's either that or no animation work and I'm in the game for the prize and the playing.

All of this isn't to defend the system!
If I could get a full-time contract with a fixed salary I'd jump at that offer in a heartbeat. I'm also pretty sure that if management could offer that kind of employment they would. However, I've done salary-based work before, not in animation, and it was an exploitation of work force at minimum pay. Many non-animation places I know let technically under-qualified interns fill positions that would require trained workers. In short, things being as they are, you wanna get screwed over, pick a job, any job.
I want to grow into bigger animation challenges (and bigger pays) but for the moment I'm also happy to actually be loving what I do.

[Solium]

C. Siemens I certainly understand where you are coming from and I totally understand you have to do what you have to do to survive in this field, much less any field. You are also correct Its not just the animation business, many businesses are making people work harder for far less. And rewarding many with pinks slips after years of dedication.

I also make a distinction with willful freelance work. I think there is a place for freelance work in the business world and many not only prefer that kinda of arrangement but do very well in it.

Truth is no one is secure, either salary employees or freelancers in this day in time.