Hollywood Visual Effects Come From Around the World

From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.

Not everything you see in Hollywood movies is real. Some of the beautiful, strange, scary images might have been produced on a computer. They are called visual effects. They once were produced only in Hollywood. But that has changed. New technology makes it possible for one film to include visual effects created in different countries.

Venkatesh Roddam is the chief executive officer of Reliance MediaWorks in India. He says there has been a huge rise in the amount of content processed in different parts of the world. He says India, China, Taiwan and Korea are among the countries with companies that produce visual effects. But Dave Rand says this hurts U.S. companies.

Mr. Rand is a co-founder of the Association of Digital Artists, Professionals, & Technicians. He says he has worked for several companies that were driven out of business because of overseas competition. Daniel Lay is the association’s other founder. He believes U.S. federal courts should get involved in Hollywood’s use of visual effects made by foreign companies.

Mr. Lay says there should be a tax ordered on work produced outside the U.S. Venkatesh Roddam of Reliance MediaWorks disagrees. He says working with Hollywood improves the quality of visual effects done worldwide. He says it is important for visual effects companies to have a presence in the U.S. He says the industry will continue to develop. And he adds those who want to stay in the business will have to continue to change with it.