The last few years saw the facilities market lurch from an unprecedented high to an almighty downturn, and we’re far from out of that downturn yet. But in amongst the gloom, there are few, very quiet, notes of hope sounding. Jon Creamer reports
In last year’s Facilities 50 survey, we were reporting on an industry that was learning to deal with the lurch from the post-Covid boom to the aftermath of the US strikes, a cost-of-living crisis and a general commissioning slowdown.
That new reality has led to another very tough year for UK post and vfx houses in whatever part of the screen industry they ply their trade.
There have been casualties this past year. Some companies have gone for good; others rose like a phoenix from the flames. Everyone has had one of the hardest years they can remember. In Scotland, Serious Facilities says: “It’s f**king grim, no? In my 26 years in this industry, I have seen nothing like this. UK-wide there is a massive reduction in available work and commissions, freelancers being out of work for months. It’s brutal. Will it continue? I really hope not. 2025 really needs to deliver otherwise I think we will see a lot of indies shutting shop as well as post houses.”
Blazing Griffin echoes the sentiment, saying, “keeping the doors open and remaining operational through such lean times for the industry may count as our biggest achievement this year.”
“It won’t come as a surprise but the whole post and vfx sector has been affected,” says Envy. “This year has been challenging for the whole industry with so many companies going into administration.”
And many out of work. “We’ve never seen a year like this,” says Storm Post. “We have been around for 20 years now and the sheer volume of approaches for employment has been incredible.” Wash too points to the “large amount of people unemployed right now across the industry.”
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Jon Creamer
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