ABSTRACT
The cost of a shot is predominantly dictated by man-hours—the time spent to complete it as well as the number of artists working on it during that time. Thus, two shots that were completed in the same amount of time could potentially vary widely in price, depending on how many artists were involved. Additional costs take only a fraction of the final price in VFX. Come to think of it, there are no materials or special parts to be ordered, no transportation costs or municipal permits. Companies generally charge a certain amount for overhead expenses such as systems maintenance, hardware and software, rent, and management. But this is usually a fixed amount and is not affected by a specific shot's complexity. It's mostly down to man-hours, and in this regard, it's also important to note that there's very little room in VFX for untrained low-pay employment.
