Sony Pictures Imageworks piqued the interest of many in B.C.'s film industry – and sparked uproar in California – when it announced late last month it was relocating head offices from the Golden State to Vancouver effective immediately.
It wasn't a surprising move – the visual effects (VFX) house had already begun shifting senior staff up north in January. Imageworks was simply joining the growing number of U.S.-based post-production studios expanding operations in Vancouver.
VFX job boards are filled with hundreds of postings for local gigs at Industrial Light & Magic, Zoic Studios and Digital Domain, all of which are headquartered in California.
“It feels like everybody's going to be in town here,” said Rory Armes, founder and CEO of Vancouver-based Gener8.
His post-production operation, which specializes in converting 2D films into 3D, started with a half-dozen employees three years ago. Today, about 225 people have their eyes locked on computer monitors inside Gener8's Mount Pleasant office.
But homegrown companies like Gener8 face an escalating battle for the local talent pool – especially when it comes to senior-level positions. Imageworks had 80 artists working out of its Yaletown offices in 2010. Last year, 350 employees were roaming through its halls and as many as 700 staff members are expected to occupy its new office at Pacific Centre.
But buried in Imageworks' announcement it was moving head offices came the revelation it had hired Mark Breakspear as a visual effects supervisor and Shauna Bryan as vice-president of new business. The pair both held similar positions at Vancouver's Method Studios.
Smaller companies may have to become more aggressive when attracting and retaining talent as larger companies expand in Vancouver, according to Armes.
“For all us homegrown companies, we're going to have to get our boxing gloves on and get into street fighting, I guess, but we're used to it,” he said, adding there has been a reluctance in the industry to invest resources in training junior staff who may take off for another company within a few months.
Armes believes post-production houses have to focus on retaining people by offering new projects and the chance to grow within the company. “[Vancouver] became world-famous in gaming, post-production … tech startups. This is a digital media city, and it just shows with companies like [Sony] coming.”
But the huge growth of tech-related industries in Vancouver doesn't necessarily mean companies will have to claw at each other for talent.
Vancouver-based Broadband TV CEO Shahrzad Rafati said the expansion of major tech-related companies such as Sony and Microsoft, which plans to double its local workforce and set up new offices directly above Imageworks, could actually keep the labour pool brimming.
She told Business in Vancouver in an email that such expansion makes it easier for the city to retain its current workforce while drawing more talent in.
“The larger companies coming in will help to create a healthy ecosystem,” she said, adding post-secondary institutions must help cultivate the growth.
Vancouver Film School (VFS)has doubled enrolment, opened a high-tech 106,000-square-foot campus in Gastown and developed its post-production programs over the past decade.
VFS managing director Marty Hasselbach said Imageworks' expansion is a sign Vancouver has developed a deep talent pool that major companies have faith in.
“What we've managed to do is get the combination of soft skills, the technical skills and the artist skills correctly balanced for what the industry needs now,” he said.
“Sony Imageworks is looking for hundreds of people, but that's only one of all of the companies that are continuing to grow and continuing to add talent.”
