“I watched Avatar in the army in Afghanistan and thought, “I want to do that!” »
Meet Marlon Rivas, a talented visual effects artist and visualization generalist and proud graduate of the Los Angeles Film School.
From immigrant to veteran to renowned visual effects artist, Marlon Rivas’ journey has been one of passion, perseverance, and incredible achievements.
Marlon Rivas earned an associate’s degree in 2015 and a bachelor’s degree in computer animation in 2018. And with over nine years of experience in the visual effects industry, he has worked on a remarkable list of projects.
That’s why, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the LA Film School, we are thrilled to highlight Marlon’s incredible talent and determination at our 5th Annual Spotlight Awards. His journey from LA Film School student to industry professional shows exactly what our graduates can accomplish.
How did Marlon achieve success in the industry?
Marlon’s path to success began in the army. After serving five years in the U.S. Army, including two tours in Afghanistan, Marlon found his true calling during a movie night.
He watched Avatar and knew that was what he wanted to do with his life.
As an immigrant from El Salvador, Marlon faced many challenges but never gave up on his dreams. Reflecting on his younger years, he shares his early love of storytelling, influenced by Disney films and playing with action figures.
“I grew up with the entire VHS collection of Disney films, watching them one after the other. I loved creating my own little stories with figurines.
After leaving the military, Marlon saw the opportunity to pursue his passion.
Thus began his long-standing relationship with the LA Film School, where he earned two degrees that laid the foundation for his career in visual effects.
The connection with the LA Film School
After leaving the army, Marlon wanted to take on another challenge.
With financial support from the GI Bill (which funds veterans), Marlon seized the opportunity to pursue his goal of making his mark in the visual effects industry.
The solid foundation he gained at LA Film School was exactly what he needed to get started – and he gives a lot of credit to his mentors.
Hands-on training, a collaborative environment and gaining in-depth industry knowledge have played a crucial role in its development.
Marlon remembers one of his instructors, Joffrey Black.
“Joffrey Black worked diligently with me and always gave me the best advice. When I landed one of my best loans before AvatarI called him to thank him for kicking me in the butt and pushing me to excel.
He also mentions Brian Bossin for teaching him 3D, as well as Daniel Fiske, his character animation and rigging teacher.
“All [Daniel] taught saved my butt. For example, when I went up Stranger Things 3 and needed to rig the Demogorgon, I rewatched old class videos with Daniel and realized how invaluable his skills were.
Marlon’s projects
Today, Marlon has more than 29 credits to his name.
One of the highlights of Marlon’s career so far is working on Avatar: The Way of Water.
“I’m working on the second Avatar was surreal. Being part of a James Cameron production was incredible, especially as a fan of Titanic.”
Marlon’s portfolio also includes important projects like Aquaman, Zombieland: double tapand that of Netflix Rebel Moon (Parts 1 and 2).
“Right before I graduated, I got my first gig on Aquaman, which grossed a billion dollars. Recently I worked on Rebel Moon 1 and 2which was a rewarding experience thanks to the great team and supervisors.
Marlon’s advice to budding creatives
Marlon Rivas is passionate about helping aspiring visual effects artists navigate the industry. Here are his tips:
- “Keep your demo simple. Start with basic tasks like compositing or removing background elements. As you work harder, you will learn more. Keep your skills diverse and always keep learning.
- “Network, network, network. Get out. Community involvement will take you much further than the slickest resume or coolest demo.
- “Don’t try to be the best at just one thing; to be polyvalent. It’s always a learning curve.
Welcoming Marlon to Spotlight Academy
Get ready to celebrate the 5th edition of the Spotlight Awards from September 9 to 12! Join us in honoring the heart, creativity and dedication of LA Film School alumni. Follow Marlon’s journey and watch him be inducted into the Spotlight Academy.