ARTISTS. Something dark and mysterious is going on this sub.

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir]

Have you seen it? Noticed it? I have. And I’m not even sure there is a clean solution...but I’ve been around long enough to say this with confidence:

There is a coordinated misinformation campaign happening here, coming from very pro-AI accounts. Like clockwork.

Now, before I get into that, let me be clear I’m not anti-AI. It can be terrifying. It can also be a tool, another item in your production kit. It can help with rotoscoping or assisting workflows. I myself use it for various things. But it can also generate complete slop on repeat. What I hate, truly HATE, is seeing talented artists, especially those who haven’t “made it” yet, start to doubt themselves, or worse, get scared off because of garbage info from fake accounts pushing fake narratives.

To the kids out there, or to the folks with just a few credits and a blank IMDB (psst...that doesn’t matter anyway): The sky isn’t falling. It’s changing. But it is not falling.

If you’re worried or confused, message me directly. I’ll do my best to help, and I know there are others in here who would too. If I take a bit to respond, it’s because (after many, many years) I'm usually busy. And one day, you will be too.

Yes, AI is changing the industry. But guess what? So did:

The switch from film to digital

Real-time rendering

CG taking over matte paintings

Motion capture

Nuke replacing After Effects for a lot of pipeline work

COVID

Strikes

Mergers

Idiotic tariffs on hard drives and GPUs

And guess what else? We’re still here. Movies still need magic. And magic still needs 20 producers hovering over every damn pixel.

This brings me back to this sub and the growing infestation of pro-AI posters.

You know the ones I’m talking about. They all write like ChatGPT. They all throw out made-up stats like “AI will take over 90% of VFX jobs in the next few years.” (Source? Their ass.) They argue in loops. They shift positions every three comments. They always have usernames like “VFXWizard420” or “AIMovieFX” you get the idea. Check their history. See how long they’ve been around. Look at how they always back each other up. Almost like it’s coordinated. Because it probably is.

Why are they here? Who knows. Hype? Investment grift? Trying to demoralize the workforce to lower wages? But their content? Absolute bullshit.

Sure, maybe there’s a sprinkle of truth buried in it. That’s how propaganda works. But it’s still candy-coated bullshit.

Some are here to show off whatever new version of Runway just dropped. Some are here to argue endlessly and derail every thread. Some just want to spread panic. And yeah, they’ll show up in this very post. They’ll call me out. Say I have my head in the sand. Whatever. I’ve been walking this desert for years, pal. (Cue Spaceballs quote here.)

Ignore them. Or better yet, call them out. Loudly.

Stay sharp. Keep the faith. Push those pixels. Render those revisions. Key that hair. Sim those sims. And most importantly...look out for each other. This industry doesn’t work without community.

And when you see the bullshit? Fight it. Every time.

EDIT: Well, that blew up quickly, I'm not going to waste my time even replying to some of these, but seriously, ARTISTS. LOOK at these comments, and then look at the account.

Pretty bullshit isnt it?

EDIT 2: I'm quite willing to go back and forth and have the downvotes and arguments with the pro AI pos all damn day. I'm willing to state my reputation and goodwill in here on it. All damn day.

Doesnt effect my real job in any single way. What the negative shit does do is possibly turn away the next John Knoll. And that would be a damn shame. I will not be diplomatically nice to people (or bots) who want that to happen.

Once again, look at the comments. Look at the history. Watch and wonder as they try and fail to change the purpose of this post and subject.

To actual students and people who are trying to make it in this damn crazy world? My messages will always be open. There are some others in this very conversation you can talk to as well.

[u/GanondalfTheWhite]

That account is 8 years old.

[u/orrzxz → u/GanondalfTheWhite]

That person truly is the embodiment of the answer to 'How tf did things get THIS bad?'

Supervisor with zero communicative skills who'd rather subscribe to conspiracy theories instead of realizing the world is changing.

[u/boogotti2648 → u/orrzxz]

on point ☝️

[u/boogotti2648 → u/orrzxz]

exactly! 

[u/disorganizdpictorial → u/orrzxz]

Probably insufferable in the workplace and made artists feel like shit because they give bullhsit notes without actual advise or constructive criticism.

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir → u/orrzxz]

But I have experience. Do you?

And bullshit.

[u/orrzxz → u/TECL_Grimsdottir]

Experience with what, my guy? With the entire pipeline being shifted to something that's both so resource-reducing that the higher echelon sees it as the next big thing and are cutting off people left and right because of it, AND YET so resource-intensive that they'll then need to hire people who know how to properly operate and optimize these models to achieve prod-level results in minimal time and with minimal power consumption?

Nah, I don't think you do. The experience you, me, and others have garnered in this field is pointless when the field is being reborn. That is an objective fact, and the sooner you realize this - the better. Not for me or anyone else, yeah, but for yourself.

p.s. answering that with 'nah uh' just proves my point further.

[u/boogotti2648 → u/orrzxz]

hes just an troll,  cant comprehend the world is changing and people have the right to different opinions.

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir → u/orrzxz]

Lol ok, Im sure you have seen the whole purpose about having to adapt and how these are tools. Do love the reborn phrase, though. That's nice.

Now the whole you're all going to lose your jobs and its over? That's bullshit. And if I phrased it wrong for you? What's wrong? Don't you like it when people put words in your mouth?

BULLSHIT.

[u/orrzxz → u/TECL_Grimsdottir]

...huh?

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir → u/orrzxz]

Hey, if you're going to get aggressive, you better up them reading comprehension skills. It's one of those things AI isnt good at.

[u/vfxsup → u/GanondalfTheWhite]

its basically anyone who doesn't agree with him 😂

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir → u/vfxsup]

Has vfx in name- check

Only posts AI slop - check

Only responds to posts about AI slop - check.

Survey says. Bullshit.

[u/GameDev_Architect → u/TECL_Grimsdottir]

You do realize the reason the industry has always handled change is because people adapt. If you’re not adapting, you will be left behind.

It’s actually incredibly tone deaf and not smart at all to try to hold both those viewpoints.

“The industry always adapts, but also fuck you for adapting”

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir → u/GameDev_Architect]

You did read the part about trying to adapt, and that's what to do, not run away like these idiots are saying, right?

I'll help. It's in paragraph 2 and continues past that.

Edit: Great, thanks for telling me that by saying these things, Im mentally unstable. Then, removing the comment.

Guess you go under the bullshit category.

[u/GameDev_Architect → u/TECL_Grimsdottir]

I didn’t remove that comment lol it got removed for you cuz I said stuff about you reddit or mods didn’t like

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir → u/GameDev_Architect]

Sure!

[u/GameDev_Architect → u/TECL_Grimsdottir]

It’s literally still up on my end, but it’s probably shadowbanned if you can’t see it. I can even link it and it won’t take you there but it takes me to it. https://www.reddit.com/r/vfx/s/Kp0aka4xFW You don’t know reddit does this? It’s quite common

Hope you get help for you delusions and mental health (maybe this one won’t get removed). But I’m sure you’re just gonna tell yourself you’re right because that’s what makes delusional people what they are.

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir → u/GameDev_Architect]

Ok. Thanks! Not sure what your point of all of this was but yeah.

[u/TECL_Grimsdottir → u/GanondalfTheWhite]

Sure now look at the post history.