Phantom Digital Effects Limited

Hi All!

This is going to be my first post on this platform. Not a finance guy and my understanding of the same is limited. I am only commenting because I work in the industry that Phantom services i.e. I presently write screenplays for the shows and movies (in India) that vfx firms work on and thus might have some insight into the working of Phantom. Plus, I used to be an advertising writer from 2000 to 2017, another industry that Phantom services.
My understanding is that from 2000 to 2015s, if the vfx/animation job was uncomplicated and the makers could provide ample reference to copy from, the makers would go for Indian firms. Else for any job that required actual creative thinking and execution, we used to prefer VFX firms in Poland, UK and even US if the budgets permitted.
Things have changed considerably since then. A lot of Directors and Production Houses trust Indian VFX firms for creative jobs. Almost all of non-Netflix-non-Amazon shows get their VFX done by Indian firms. I believe Phantom has signed a preferred vendor status with Netflix India that would give them a decent work flow from Netflix as well.
Another point to note is that the relationship that the VFX guy has with the Director/Show Runner/Producer is almost similar to that the Director has with the Cameraman or the Editor. It is based on extreme trust and comfort (almost like a husband-wife). Once the Director is comfortable with a certain VFX firm, he/she will fight tooth and nail to ensure that the VFX firm gets the job for his film/show. I believe Phantom has a similar relationship with the makers of Bahubali, Vikram and a lot of south based production houses that gives the company a solid footing in that market.
In Mumbai, things might be different where Pixion Prime Focus and a host of other smaller outfits hold sway. But if Phantom manages to build relationships in Mumbai basis their work folio, things might look up for them. It is not going to be easy. (Although Prime Focus is not really seen as a creative shop in the industry and is not trusted with high end jobs.)
I do not have a lot of information about how International Production Houses operate. But one thing is certain, budgets are under pressure everywhere. And SOHO, MILL and Poland based VFX houses might be priced out by Indian firms in the long run only if they can convince the makers in LA that they are not mere copy-paste guys but can actually visualise and execute the jobs.

Not Invested. Considering.