Visual Effects Veterans Set to Speak at UTSA
Exciting News! Join Us for a Special Visual Effects Event on Campus
We are thrilled to announce an incredible opportunity for film and media enthusiasts! This week, two distinguished guests from the world of visual effects will join us on campus to offer their valuable industry insights.
Organized by the UTSA Film and Media Program, as part of the course Movie Magic: The Art of Visual Effects, this special event will feature fellow VFX Society members Judy Elkins and Colin Campbell. They will share their expertise and career experiences with students, giving an insider’s look into the fascinating world of visual effects.
Meet the Speakers:
Judy Elkins, a celebrated Visual and Special Effects artist, spent years at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), contributing her talents to iconic films such as Star Trek, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, and Poltergeist.
Colin Campbell, a seasoned visual effects compositor, has worked with top studios like Tippett Studios, Laika, Lucasfilm, and Sony Pictures. His impressive portfolio includes films like Starship Troopers, Anaconda, Godzilla, The Mummy Returns, Planet of the Apes, Transformers, Avengers, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many more.
This is a rare chance to hear directly from industry veterans who have worked on some of the most beloved films in cinema history.
The event is open to the public and will take place on Thursday, October 3rd, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the UTSA Main Campus, in the Mckiney Humanities Building 3.01.28.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn from the best in the business! Grab your spot and join us for an evening of inspiration and insight.
White Rhino VFX Founder Joins the University of Texas San Antonio
White Rhino Founder Daniel Saldivar to Teach the First Visual Effects Course at UTSA
White Rhino VFX founder Daniel Saldivar is entering the world of academics and joining the University of Texas at San Antonio to teach the first-ever Visual Effects course for the Film and Media Program.
Marking the beginning of a new chapter of his multifaceted career, Daniel will be fostering the first visual effects course at the University of San Antonio titled “Movie Magic, The Art of Visual Effects.” As a self-taught artist and entrepreneur with two post-production companies and over a decade of experience, the position was introduced to him by the Film & Media Studies Program Director, Dr. Paul Ardoin.
“ We're very excited to have Daniel Saldivar bring his extensive experience with VFX to students in our large and growing Film/Media Program at UTSA. He's working at the forefront of technological and artistic innovation in numerous media spaces (and with leading films, music videos, commercials, and companies), so he's well-positioned to help our emerging Texas storytellers across Film/Media, Digital Communication, and the arts. It is a thrill to have him join our faculty and to bring along his experience from White Rhino and Hush. ” -Program Director, Dr. Paul Ardoin.
Developed for the community by the community, UTSA is recognized for its commitment to advancing education & leadership for Mexican-Americans, as 57% of its undergraduate population is Hispanic. Outside UTSA, only two other schools in the country offer film programs to their Hispanic-led institutions, and while the university is in the top three for the country, it is ranked One of One for the Lone Star State.
To highlight the nature of the program, Texas is rich in cinema history and an influential entity for filmmaking dating back to the nineteen hundreds (1900s). This program, which is about two years old, has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from 20 students to over 240. Seeking to share Texas film history, the university program also aims to promote filmmaking within the state.
Through collaboration and advocacy, the State Legislature passed a 400% budget increase giving the Texas Film Commission a 200 million dollar budget. The new tax incentive allows eligible productions to receive up to a 30% tax rebate for filming in the state. In addition to the budget boost, The San Antonio Film Commission also offers the Supplemental San Antonio Film Incentive Program (SSAI) so productions can receive an additional 7.5% tax rebate for filming in Alamo City.
The newly added course is already at max capacity, causing students to wait for entry. Expressing his enthusiasm, He says, “San Antonio has a very active and passionate film community. I am very excited to be joining this new program at the university. Since founding our company twelve years ago, continued education has been an integral part of our core values. Throughout the semester, I plan to teach both the technical & historical side of visual effects.”
Thrilled to take on the challenge of developing young adults within the community, Daniel will also host open lectures with special guest speakers within the industry to shine a light on the art of visual effects. The first class will be held on August 29th at 6:00 PM on the UTSA Campus. Join the team in congratulating him on this next journey, and follow @whiterhinovfx or @hush_vfx to stay connected.
White Rhino VFX Founder Daniel Saldivar
Setting the Tone for Digital Beauty: Hush Beauty VFX
White Rhino VFX’s sister company, Hush Beauty VFX is setting the tone for Digital Beauty Retouching.
WHO IS HUSH?
In the ever-changing world of visual effects, one name is making a mark: Hush Beauty VFX. As the sister company of White Rhino VFX, Hush Beauty VFX is setting the tone for digital beauty retouching. Developed specifically for men and women in the entertainment industry, Hush Beauty strives to elevate the confidence of talent in feature films, advertising, and music industries.
THE BIRTH
The inception of Hush Beauty VFX stemmed from years of experience and insight gained at White Rhino VFX. The team recognized a growing demand for specialized digital beauty as clients sought methods to enhance their on-screen appearance subtly yet effectively. This realization led to the critical question: how can we transform a traditionally taboo topic into a transparent, positive service that addresses everyday sensitivities?
THE JOURNEY
Taking this leap of faith, Hush Beauty VFX launched in 2021 as a women-led business. True to its roots, the company has been committed to its core motto: “You Deserve to Look Your Best,” along with its guiding principle, “Keep it hush.” Their discretion and proficiency have driven Hush Beauty VFX to expand its reach and refine its offerings as the brand aims to create a safe space for all. Their dedication to excellence has paid off, as they have received an influx of requests showcasing their talent in delivering flawless retouched visuals.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS & LOOKING AHEAD
As of late, Hush Beauty VFX has had the privilege of collaborating with renowned artists such as Victoria Monet, Muni Long, Glorilla, Lisa, and Amaarae. These deliverables underscore the value and impact of Hush Beauty VFX, solidifying its reputation in the industry. Proud of these achievements, White Rhino VFX wants to shine a light on the sister company, celebrating its successes and anticipating groundbreaking innovations in the coming months.
GET IN TOUCH
For those seeking digital beauty retouching for any project, Visit www.hush.beauty or email a request at info@hushvfx.com to get started. You, too, can look your best with Hush Beauty VFX!
Celebrating 12 Years of White Rhino
Celebrating 12 Years of Post-Production Magic with White Rhino VFX
White Rhino VFX is proud to celebrate 12 years of success in creating visual effects for motion pictures! Our company has been delivering movie magic to the big screen, showcasing the power of visual storytelling in feature films, advertising, and music for over a DECADE!
Founded out of a love for film, White Rhino VFX was started by Daniel Saldivar, an ambitious filmmaker and VFX artist looking to turn his passion into a career. Since its inception, our company has grown tremendously, completing over 400 projects and becoming a trusted partner for many notable clients, including brands such as Nissan, Lululemon, Instagram Meta, and Cheetos, as well as artists like Nick Jonas, Victoria Monet, and Chole Bailey.
Built around culture, community, and hospitality, White Rhino VFX is very grateful for all the support and long-lasting connections made along the way. We take great pride in being the problem solvers within the industry and cherish the trust clients place in us when adversities arise. Service is an essential core value of ours. As a company, we put that at the forefront of everything we do, as it creates a lasting impact on those around us.
As White Rhino VFX celebrates this milestone, we want to express our gratitude to all who have helped us on this journey. Although proven challenging, we are proud of the team and our accomplishments over the last decade, but White Rhino VFX isn't just about honoring the past. We are DEDICATED to the future.
Here's to 12 years and many more to come!
Reigniting Cinema In Texas
How the Texas Film Commission Tax Incentives are Reigniting Film Production in Texas.
Established to help build the economy through motion pictures, the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIP) has received a 400% budget increase from the Texas Legislative to reignite the film industry in Texas.
Home to rich cinema history, Texas has been an influential entity in film since the early 1900's. Thanks to the state legislature and the Texas Film Commission, the 200 million dollar budget allows eligible productions to receive up to a 30% tax rebate for filming in the Lone Star State. Through TMIIP, those in visual effects, film, television, commercials, animation, video games, extended reality, and other moving image productions may receive cash grants upon qualification.
In addition to the budget boost, The San Antonio Film Commission also offers the Supplemental San Antonio Film Incentive Program (SSAI) to help draw in production locally. Through the SSAI Program, producers can receive an additional 7.5% tax rebate for filming in Alamo City.
Being a visual effects and post-production company located in San Antonio, White Rhino VFX is very hopeful for the future of film in Texas. Founder Daniel Saldivar says, "We are excited to see exponential growth within the Texas film industry. Studios, Directors, and crews are all setting up shop in the state. As production resumes from the writer's strike, White Rhino VFX is ready to serve clients as they bring productions into our community."
To learn more about the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIP) or the Supplemental San Antonio Film Incentive Program (SSAI), click the links or email us at contact@whietrhinofx.com.
Article Resources:https://texasarchive.org/starring-the-lone-star-statehttps://www.kxan.com/news/texas-legislature-passes-several-bills-to-increase-film-production-in-the-state/https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/texas-now-has-200-million-in-incentives-to-attract-tv-and-film-productions-17071652https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/film-industry
White Rhino VFX Creates Animated Logo for San Antonio Film Commission
Seeking to convey a powerful message about culture, spirit, and film, the San Antonio Film Commission tasked White Rhino VFX with animating their rebranded logo to help instill brand recognition amongst the community.
The city of San Antonio is a diverse community rich with history, filled with culture, unique in architecture, and deep in the heart of Texas. Approached by San Antonio Film Commissioner Kimberly Leblanc, White Rhino VFX was offered the challenging task of animating the film commission's newly redesigned logo to help instill instant brand recognition within the community.
As an avid student of history, Founder and VFX Artist Daniel Saldivar accepted the project without hesitation. "San Antonio was home to the first movie studio west of the Mississippi before Hollywood developed. The first movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards was filmed in San Antonio. I felt it was important for the team to take on this project because not only do we embrace the legacy past, but we are always dedicated to the future. As filmmakers, producers, and creatives, we believe San Antonio is THE place to create films."
With new leadership, strong vision, and fresh logos, White Rhino VFX conceived various concepts over several months to construct the official animated film commission logo. Through this partnership, White Rhino VFX helped San Antonio position themselves as a top competitor for best filmmaking cities within the U.S.
Animation & Motion Design: White Rhino VFX
Creative Director: Daniel Saldivar
Executive Producer: Jocelyn Saldivar
Producer: Brandii Requejo
Production Lead: Olivia Uhler
Music & Sound: Richard Jemal
Texas Public Radio Principles of Filmmaking.
White Rhino VFX attends Texas Public Radio’s Principles of Filmmaking forum to discuss industry logistics.
White Rhino VFX attends Texas Pubic Radio’s Principles of Filmmaking discussion forum.
The San Antonio Film Commission invites Founder, Filmmaker, and VFX Artist Daniel Saldivar of White Rhino and Hush VFX to speak at the Texas Public Radio Film Forum on Tuesday, February 26th, 2024.
Led by San Antonio Film Commissioner Kimberly Lablanc, guest panelists Rosenann Garcia, Chantel Gallegos Nasits, and Daniel Saldivar discussed the logistics of filmmaking and post-production with filmmakers and students from the community amongst the audience. Starting with their testimonies, the panelists shared their journeys into the industry and how making connections within the film community was vital to landing their next job. Marketer and Agency Producer Chantel Gallegos Nasits discussed the proper legal precautions, permits, and forms to consider when creating films, while in contrast, Producer and Production Supervisor Rosenann Garcia talked about the nature of the industry and how being a filmmaker requires you to adapt to the fly. Moving into post-production, Daniel Saldivar, shared what it is like to work with production companies and how visual effects work requires the knowledge and skills of pre-production. Reiterating the importance of community, the guest speakers spoke about how building connections and taking advantage of the city's resources can benefit young filmmakers searching to make their mark.
Thank You to Texas Public Radio, The San Antonio Film Commission, and The San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture for having this event and allowing local filmmakers to learn about the industry from their peers while creating new connections through the event's evening mixer and discussion forum.
Netflix Now Streaming “Re-Education of Molly Singer”
Streaming Now on Netflix 🎥🍿
Released in 2023, White Rhino VFX designed and produced the visual effects for the comedic feature distributed by Lionsgate. The Re-Education of Molly Singer is our 6th collaboration with Director Andy Palmer. This funny and light-hearted production required set extensions, clean-up, and compositing elements throughout the motion picture.
The Re-Education of Molly Singer marks White Rhino’s 45th completed Feature Film. Stream it today! 📲
Directed by Andy Palmer, the film stars Jamie Pressly, Ty Simpkins, Britt Robertson, Wendie Malick, Nico Santos, and Carlos Alazraqui. The film will be released on February 5th for streaming in North America by Lionsgate.
Visual Effects Society Announces 16th and Newest Section in Texas
Texas receives its own VES Chapter
Visual Effects Society Announces 16th and Newest Section in Texas!
The Visual Effects Society is proud to announce the establishment of its newest regional Section in the State of Texas. The VES Board of Directors formally authorized the Section’s creation at its January 2024 Board meeting. The VES Texas Section joins the dynamic worldwide community, which has Sections in Australia, San Francisco’s Bay Area, France, Georgia (U.S.), Germany, India, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, New Zealand, Oregon, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington state. Now in its 27th year, the Society is thriving with almost 5,000 members in more than 45 countries worldwide.
Read the full news announcement here:
San Antonio - Best Places to Live and Work as a MovieMaker, 2023
San Antonio named “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker 2023 for fifth year in a row
SAN ANTONIO (January 18, 2023) – The City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture and its Film Commission today announced that San Antonio has, for the fifth year in a row, been named one of MovieMaker’s Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker. Featuring 25 big U.S. cities, San Antonio joins four other Texas cities on the list (Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston and Austin) and is highlighted among other film industry heavy hitters such as New Orleans, Atlanta and Vancouver.
"San Antonio has a rich film history, and besides being plugged-in, friendly, and affordable, it's almost astoundingly photogenic,” said Tim Molloy, Editor of MovieMaker Magazine. “San Antonio's experienced, economical crews can and do handle every type of production, from indie films to commercials to unscripted shows and docs. It's a great place to get regular work while saving money to make your own films, drawing on the impressive talent all around."
Read the full article below
https://www.moviemaker.com/best-places-to-live-and-work-as-a-moviemaker-2023/
𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐕𝐅𝐗 featured on The Joe Rogan Experience
White Rhino VFX Featured on the Joe Rogan experience with Trae the Truth
White Rhino VFX was featured on the Joe Rogan Experience with 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡.
Thanks for shouting us out on the Joe Rogan Podcast. Much love @traeabn! Stay tuned for the drop of the new music video, “First Class.”
Click the link in our bio to check out work or email us at:
𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩@𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙛𝙭.𝙘𝙤𝙢 for future collabs! 📲
'The Re-Education of Molly Singer' (Exclusive) People - Trailer
Lionsgate has released the latest trailer for its upcoming comedy, The Re-Education of Molly Singer. The film, which is directed by Andy Palmer and stars Jamie Pressly, Ty Simpkins, Britt Robertson, Wendie Malick, Nico Santos, and Carlos Alazraqui, will be released on September 29th.
White Rhino VFX Produced and designed the visual effects for the film
Read more below:
White Rhino Wins GOLD at Tellys
GOLD WINNER: GENERAL — IMMERSIVE, INTERACTIVE, & MIXED
White Rhino WINS GOLD at The TELLY Awards for Virtual Reality experience for the “Fortnite - Tones and I Sound Wave Series” by Epic Games. Watch The Project here
The Tellys: “This year, we honor the innovative, inclusive, and disruptive work that Breaks Through The Static of overwhelming content delivery and consumption. In a time when the ubiquity of screens brings more clutter than quality into our lives, we are truly thrilled to honor you this year as a standard bearer of video and television excellence!”
”This is an incredible achievement! With a decade-high record number of exceptional entries submitted, this year’s winners truly represented the most innovative stories being told across all screens. As a Telly Winner, you are truly a standard bearer of excellence in our industry.”
"We are proud of the work White Rhino VFX continues to release to the world, from every artist, designer, PA, and coordinator, it really is a group effort to make exceptional work. We remain fiercely dedicated to the future and know our greatest work is still ahead of us."
- Daniel Saldivar | Creative Director and Founder
White Rhino Wins ADDY Award
White Rhino WINS GOLD at The Addy Awards for Virtual Reality experience for Fortnite - Tones and I Sound Wave Series by Epic Games.
A Gold ADDY is a recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category.
Watch The Project here
Myriad Pictures kicks off EFM sales on ‘The Re-Education Of Molly Singer
Read article here
Synopsis: To save her job, a young lawyer must go undercover, enrolling as a freshman at her old alma mater, in order to resuscitate the well-being of her Boss' 's terribly awkward teenage son.
White Rhino VFX provided the visual effects for this latest Comedy The Re-Education of Molly Singer, starring Britt Robertson, Nico Santos, Jaime Pressley, and Holland Roden. This feature film marks the seventh collaboration with Director Andy Palmer. We cant wait to see it this fall.
Hush Beauty VFX
White Rhino is pleased to announce Hush Beauty @hush_vfx. Combining the creative vision, expertise, and leadership from White Rhinos executive team, this is an exciting next step in our transformation and will leverage our core strength and passion for post-production work.
Specializing in digital beauty work and retouching for commercials, music videos, television, and feature films. Hush Beauty is a company whose final product is elegant, sophisticated, and prestigious.
Our focus is offering our creative services to clients seeking to elevate their confidence, image, and desirable aesthetics. We look forward to working with you.
Wicked City Season 1
A group of urban witches push their powers to new heights and uncover dark secrets that attract dangerous enemies their way.
A group of urban witches push their powers to new heights and uncover dark secrets that attract dangerous enemies their way.
White Rhino VFX joins Post-Production on Wicked City Season 1, a supernatural show based in Atlanta Georgia, produced by MegaMind and distributed by AllBlk or streaming on Amazon.
Read more below
DEADLINE
https://deadline.com/2022/06/allblk-wicked-city-vanessa-bell-calloway-1235040218/
LALIFF INCLUSION FELLOWSHIP SPONSORED BY NETFLIX
It all begins with an idea.
https://laliff.org/fellowship/2022/fellows/
Hollywood, Ca / San Antonio, Tx
White Rhino VFX is proud to have collaborated and utilized our visual effects skills for the Los Angeles International Film Festival Inclusion Fellowship. This year, we were thrilled to have been a part of not just one but TWO female-directed films.
White Rhino VFX worked alongside the post-production teams of Directors, Kristi Uribes for “The Record” and Nicole Mejía for “Mancha”. We value inclusion and strive to support female voices in film and storytelling. Within both films, each director had a unique vision and direction. We were happy to see their vision come to life on the big screen and are now ready for the world to view and experience it themselves.
“LALIFF’s Inclusion Fellowship Series, sponsored by NETFLIX, is an ongoing program focused on building a more inclusive and equitable industry for all members of the Latino community.”
MANCHA
Directed by Nicole Mejia
United States | 13:18 | 2022
Cursed by generations of La Mancha, Cory must fight this dark presence to protect her daughter from the same fate.
Centered around a family of Latin women who own a restaurant in Alaska. Mancha, follows Cory, the matriarch who starts to have premonitions of a curse that has set its eyes on her daughter, Lucy.
THE RECORD
Directed by Kristi Uribes
United States | 18:35 | 2022
A fairytale set in the 1930’s, when his brother Pete’s mysterious illness returns, Zack must battle sleep and his brother’s demons, armed only with the magic of a phonograph.
The Record is a fairytale based on a true story, set in 1930’s rural California. Two Indigenous Latino brothers visit their mother’s grave and each struggle in their own way with dealing with her loss. Zack, the younger brother, seeks out a way to connect to his late mother by placing paper flowers on her grave while Pete’s grief manifests as a mysterious illness. When Pete’s illness returns with the discovery of a dead snake, Zack is tasked with keeping the phonograph playing throughout the night as it is the only thing that comforts Pete. As the night progresses, Zack struggles to stay awake and keep the music playing. He finally gives into sleep, only to be jolted awake as chaos engulfs the brothers. Zack is forced to make a difficult decision in order to save his brother from his cycle of grief.
WHITE RHINO VFX STUDIO GOING BACK TO ROOTS
White Rhino Sets up in San Antonio
read the full article below
https://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/Megan-Thee-Stallion-VFX-White-Rhino-16978362.php
HOLLYWOOD SETS UP IN SAN ANTONIO
It all begins with an idea.
SAN ANTONIO, TX, February – White Rhino VFX, a visual effects company, is pleased to announce its recent move to 500 SIXTH, where it currently houses its creative team. White Rhino VFX delivers high-end visual effects to clients worldwide in post-production for feature films, commercials, and music videos. White Rhino has service productions in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami and seeks to expand its Texas footprint.
According to MovieMaker, San Antonio ranked in “The Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2022”. White Rhino VFX is leading the initiative in moving visual effects and film studios to Texas.
“We believe that Texas is a great place to cultivate talent. San Antonio has a rich film history dating back to the 1920s. Working in different metropolitan markets, you really get to see the attitudes of crews and people you work with. Texas just has one of those things where you know you’re in good hands, and it’s going to be done right. No ego, no fluff, just hardworking/ high-quality, talented people,” says Daniel Saldivar.
Daniel Saldivar, White Rhino Founder, and Creative Director is a San Antonio native who has managed a visual effects (VFX) company for ten years. His recent works are Fortnite 3D Concert Event Tones and I Soundwave Series, Megan thee Stallion, “The Hottie Commandments” as Glamour Magazines 2021 Woman of the Year, and Santana, Rob Thomas, American Authors – Move (Official Music Video). Other notable projects are Lil Uzi Vert – Futsal Shuffle music video and KYGO & Kim Petra’s Broken Glass.
White Rhino VFX is a member of the Texas Production Directory (TDP) and is identified by the San Antonio Film Commission as an industry leader within visual effects and film production. He values bringing film knowledge and cultivating skills within the community and youth, such as networking with Best Buy Teen Tech Center, a non-profit whose mission is developing video and film talents at local high schools.
For more information contact Audrey Hasslocher marketing@whiterhinofx.com
Photos by http://www.ismaelphoto.com/
