Episode 6: HR Department

Welcome to Behind the Pixels, an exclusive interview series that takes you on a captivating journey into the world of visual effects through the perspectives of our talented individuals. This week, we are delighted to interview Anaelle Hart, a HR manager at UFX.

What led you to work in the sector of VFX as a HR manager?

Before graduating, I needed to do an end-of-study internship and I wanted to go abroad, outside of France. I discovered the UFX Studios while searching and joined the company as an intern. After working in the band industry for some time, I decided to join UFX as a HR manager, as I wanted to explore other sectors and other ways of recruiting. Hiring talents in the world of VFX is more enjoyable and always changing, as we work with images. We need to get to know the personality of artists while checking the reels, which is very exciting.

How does your role differ from HR roles in other industries?

An HR manager usually recruits permanent people and work on following them, manage payroll and so on. However, the VFX industry is highly competitive and challenging, as we are mainly working with freelancer on project-based contract. From one week to the next, we need to be able to recruit several artists for very specific positions. Each project is different, so there are always several conditions to take in account, and we have to be able to find the right people in a very short space of time.

What strategies do you use to attract talents in the UFX Studios?

When I discuss with the artists, I really like to talk about life in the studio. We often work on big projects on a European scale, but we‘re very keen to maintain a good balance between life and work, and above all an atmosphere that is conducive to creativity.
Another positive thing is that we are part of the Umedia Group. We also formed a partnership with the studies Digital District. The network the UFX studio thrive to develop, we can guarantee a constant flow of work.
 
What trends do you see shaping the future of HR in the VFX industry?

We are now facing a crisis all over the world in the VFX industry. I think we should focus on some main points such as wellness in the studio. Of course, wellness includes several actions that can be settled, such as remote/hybrid models, stress management, and so on. It would also be very interesting to develop training programs and continuous learning opportunities to allow everyone to evolve in the studio and make them feel they are in the right place.