Vine FX on Its Work Organization & Hiring Practices

Introduction

Vine FX is a visual effects studio based in Cambridge, UK. Currently, we have a team of 50 people working across various projects on long-form TV shows and asset creation for some technology businesses. It’s a flexible working environment offering remote, hybrid, and studio-based positions. We have a clean studio policy, so pre-pandemic, we had actually invested in Teradici PCoIP to move the majority of our computing power into a machine room. That allowed the studio to adapt and expand during the pandemic – we were one of the first to go fully remote.

The studio's history began when our founder, Michael, was inspired by watching The Gallery, a promo video created by MPC in the 1980s. As a child, he was interested in art and technology and was fascinated by the possibility of manipulating video images to create otherworldly effects.

Eventually, after starting his career working on commercials and feature films, Michael set up his own company to have more creative control over the work. 

Work Organisation at Vine FX

Communication is the key to ensuring the smooth running of operations. We hold studio meetings and huddles using Slack, Google Meet, and Shotgrid. Daily meetings (remote and in-studio) help with communication and inclusivity, which plays an important role for us. They're also an opportunity for team members to be vocal and honest about their work. While being a small company, we ensure everyone's ideas and thoughts are heard. We have people working across production, 2D, 3D, and editorial departments, in the UK and across Europe.

Dailies sessions ensure feedback is given on individual shots to all artists as well. The production department is the gatekeeper for smooth communication. They make sure that tasks, priorities, and information are being distributed to the rest of the team. 

Hiring Practices

We always look for enthusiasm, someone who’s engaged with what we’re trying to achieve and who's passionate about the work. Good communication skills help, but we also understand that not everyone is the most vocal, so we try to create a space where everyone can have their own input in their own way.

Every project brings different challenges. It's important to have team members that can easily adapt, be flexible, proactive, and problem-solve. Teamwork and good communication are valued skills. Although we employ artists for particular disciplines, we love to know if they have an aptitude for other areas as we often need to share the work across the team. So an asset artist, for example, might be given the opportunity to light their creations if that’s something they’re interested in doing. 

Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere

At the end of 2021, we moved to a new studio in central Cambridge. We designed the space to be a welcoming, relaxed, and pleasant environment to work in.

When a new starter joins the team, we provide them with a full introduction – including the employee well-being benefits like the Employee Assistance Programme, mental health support, membership of the Cambridge Botanic Garden, as well as information about the pipeline and tasks. It's important that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. They have access to workflow documents, catch-ups with supervisors, and assistance from the production department.

We put particular effort into including new starters from the moment they join, not only so they can feel confident integrating with the team but happy and satisfied at work as well. Joining a new company can be daunting, so we try to take the edge off that step. Our studio size allows regular communication with supervisors and other artists, which also helps to share knowledge and advice. 

Avoiding Burnouts

Since the first days of Vine FX, Michael has had a focus on supporting staff and not working out of hours. Of course, as with all jobs, it can happen sometimes, but we're conscientious about our team members having a good work/life balance, so we very rarely work additional hours or weekends.

We put a lot of effort into scheduling and planning to avoid burnout at all costs. Tight deadlines impact every department – they drain people, and that means that they won't enjoy the job. If we see that support is needed for a tight deadline, we employ more people so we can help cope with the workload.

It comes back to communication. We're continually talking with the team about their well-being, especially remote artists. This allows us to manage stress levels and spot if a person feels burnout before it's too late. It's a fun place too. We celebrate deliveries of projects, Christmas, Halloween, birthdays, and many more occasions. 

Decision-Making Freedoms

It’s important to have a fine balance between freedom and structure in this working environment, but we encourage everyone to have a voice. The industry is known for its tight deadlines, schedules, and deliveries. We have to make sure the tasks are in-line with agreed client bids and are completed on time. But it’s also a creative industry. It’s important to leave space for artists to do their job. Freedom and play make good art.

We always welcome artists to share their thoughts and suggestions regarding workflow or strategies. There might be an issue related to the task, which can be fixed with a new approach. There’s always an open line of communication with team supervisors, who can make the final call.

Vine FX has a flat management structure that encourages everyone to feel like they can make a valuable contribution to the running of the company and its projects. We encourage our team to make suggestions and ask questions. 

Approach to Education

Training is really important. Without it, we would all just stay where we are, and the work would suffer because of that. So we support team members in attending industry events or courses that would allow them to gain more knowledge. We also have a very experienced senior team who are keen to share their skills, which is great because we can completely tailor a person’s learning to their specific career or needs.

We encourage the opportunity to consult with other team members and supervisors. The system ensures that junior staff are being motivated and trained. What helps a lot with motivation is giving full ownership of a task. We also like to reach out to local schools and colleges to explain what we do and encourage them to join the creative industries.

If you love what you do and are passionate about your work, you’ll have a positive impact on the people around you. After all, working in TV and visual effects is pretty cool! The key is to be kind.

The Vine FX Team

Interview conducted by Arti Burton