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They got paid.

I’ve been paid to work on things that succeed and a few things that didn’t pan out/weren’t released. It’s demoralizing when you spend months on something that gets shitcanned - even when it’s the right call.

Note that all the crew and actors involved not only lose the joy of seeing their work on the screen: it’s a gap in their portfolio, too. The FX folks, animators, lower tier actors, all miss out on having a credit and work to show in order to build their careers.

Is that enough to not feel like you’ve wasted your valuable time?

Depends on who you are and what you did with your time.

As a matter of business, yes. Few can rely on celebrity for income, and self-important people aren't generally popular to work with.

Not every product ships or is a commercial success, and not every effort makes the final cut. While it's nice when we have external validation for our contributions, that doesn't diminish the quality, aplomb, or professionalism of the work that went into it. Plus, it still goes on your CV, and you get a story to tell.

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