Hey, I’m Ronald, a creative from and based in Singapore. I’m sharing my thoughts on the closure of ILM Singapore and its implications for the Singapore Animation Industry. My aim is to reassure graduating students and provide guidance for senior animators considering starting their own businesses, essentially illustrating career options for Singapore VFX artists.
Early Excitement
Almost two decades ago, I joined an animation programme as the world was gearing up for a huge demand for animation and VFX work. This brought Lucasfilm to Singapore, and as a teenager, I was super stoked. However, it didn’t take long to notice that the majority of local entertainment projects weren’t panning out, and eventually, companies left after they had enjoyed the incentives from the Singapore government. ILM Singapore stayed. #respect
Symbolic Presence
ILM Singapore has been an anchor for Singapore’s VFX scene, though not in a practical sense since they largely froze hiring for a significant duration of their stay here. It served well as a symbolic representation of Singapore’s attempt to stay relevant in the entertainment and movie-making world.
ILM Singapore Shuts Down. Now what?
The Impact of Closure
The closure of Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) studio in Singapore after 20 years raised significant concerns about the future of Singapore’s animators and VFX artists, and overall job stability. This event, which resulted in about 300 layoffs, highlighted the volatility in the VFX and animation sectors. The closure was attributed to economic factors and industry consolidation, emphasizing the need for creative professionals to be adaptable and ready to transition to other roles or locations as necessary.
I had a wonderful internship there in 2009, and although I was never a hardcore Star Wars fan nor a Lucasfilm employee, I still feel a deep sense of sadness. This feeling is largely due to my experience during the internship, where I witnessed the professionalism and enthusiasm of everyone around me. It’s also because ILM served as a symbolic anchor for the hopes and dreams of polytechnic and university students aspiring to enter the movie business.
Can we turn lemons into lemonade?
Out of Adversity comes Opportunity.
The studio’s closure means a lot of talent is now floating around. They might start their businesses, spreading CGI and compositing talent throughout Singapore and the region. Senior artists who have started families and other financial commitments may resist moving to wherever the tax breaks go. It appears to be an endless pursuit; isn’t it odd how the entire VFX industry relies on government tax breaks?
Isn’t it odd how the entire VFX industry relies on government tax breaks?
People aren’t willing to pay for the entertainment value they get. It’s crazy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no exception, spoiled by affordable streaming. So, the industry needs to fix itself, but it won’t happen in Singapore; we don’t have a huge industry here anyway. (oh dear)
Potential for Freelance Ventures
Meanwhile, Singapore senior VFX artists can start their freelance businesses or companies, and they’ll need help with business skills. Highly skilled artists in MNCs are often shielded from the business side of things. Hence, they haven’t had much opportunity to practice business skills such as lead generation, marketing, sales, pricing etc. However, it’s not all that difficult to pick up with good resources on the Internet nowadays. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I’m excited about the future as these highly skilled artists start their ventures.
Realities of the Local Industry
This doesn’t mean it’s going to be a bed of roses. The entertainment industry isn’t well-established here. We’re not known for being kind to our homegrown talent or creatives, nor do we have the entertainment infrastructure of writers, directors, cinematographers, and colorists to pull off a quality TV show, let alone a remarkable movie. Movie-making is risky business, almost like a leap of faith. Investors in Singapore often look for quick returns, making film production a tough sell.
Challenges in Securing Funding
A local film director friend shared his experience raising funds for his feature film. The few investors he approached didn’t understand the creative or intellectual property aspects and insisted on the film being pre-sold before providing funds. But without the necessary funds, how could he produce any material for a pre-sale? While there are ways to squeeze something out or even try crowdfunding, the point is that it’s a harsh environment for the entertainment business. Therefore, VFX as a creative service in Singapore, for the entertainment industry must be in orders of magnitude better, cheaper*, or faster than the global competition to be competitive.
*cheaper is going to be challenging due to Singapore’s high cost of living.
Looking Forward
So, there’s work to do! I believe we’ll see something promising emerge from this. Even if it doesn’t grow into a huge industry, we can still provide premium work to a very small niche and solve meaningful problems. It doesn’t always have to make the headlines; any business that profits sustainably, big or small, is respectable.
Stay positive in the midst of all this. Consider teaching at tertiary institutions to supplement your income while you’re building your animation or VFX company. And if you need a fellow entrepreneur to speak to, you know where to find me. Cheers!
