Good culture, but not much else
Pros
The company fosters an excellent culture where you genuinely feel valued and included as a vital part of the team. There are ample opportunities for personal and professional growth within the organization. Every Wednesday, the company provides a complimentary lunch (albeit smaller and smaller portions), and the front office staff consistently strives to incorporate enjoyable activities and surprises each week, adding to the overall positive atmosphere. The Supervising TDs are exceptional in their approachability and willingness to address any inquiries you may have. They genuinely care about your well-being and are committed to advocating for you when necessary.
Cons
The 840 building has a remarkably dim atmosphere, reminiscent of a dungeon. AL aspires to be a top-tier studio comparable to prominent VFX and animation studios in Vancouver. However, it falls significantly short in terms of salary and benefits. Even after being informed about the substantial gap, AL fails to adequately compensate its employees. The Production Technology department experiences consistent staff turnover. Rather than addressing potential issues and working towards improvement, the current talent management team portrays departing employees as not fitting into the company culture, ignoring concerns related to employee retention and inadequate compensation and benefits. AL's onboarding process is severely lacking and disorganized, much like the overall state of the company. New employees are often thrust into challenging situations without sufficient support, although there is some understanding regarding the difficulties of learning AL's proprietary technology.
