Budget Allocation Shifts: VFX, Unions, & AI's Impact on Sound?

Hey everyone,

I'm Erik Lindström, a working Sound Mixer, and I'm really curious about how others are navigating the current landscape. In the last couple of years, it feels like we've seen some pretty significant shifts: rising VFX costs, the new union agreements, and the increasing talk about AI tools across production.

From my end, mostly on mid-range indie features and episodic TV, I've noticed producers scrutinizing every line item much harder, and sometimes creative choices feel impacted by upstream budget crunches I don't fully see. I try to make my sound package as lean and efficient as possible without compromising quality, but I'm wondering if these macro trends are forcing different allocation strategies across departments.

Specifically, how have recent developments like rising VFX costs, new union agreements, and the availability of AI tools changed your approach to budget allocation in the last couple of years?