Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Veronica Ramirez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Veronica, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I have worked on multiple projects in my career. El Rey: Vicente Fernandez for Netflix is the most meaningful for me; it was one of the productions I remember the most, and it was one of the turning points of my career. Being trusted to be part of a series like this allowed me to believe in my abilities and the skills I had as a VFX compositor. This series and showing up my talent helped me get new opportunities that allowed me to be in series for HBO, Netflix, VIX, and essential advertising campaigns.

The scale of the project was incredible; there were huge expectations because Vicente was one of the biggest celebrities from Latin America. This meant we had an amazing, diverse team that allowed individuals from all over the world to work together and learn. What made it truly stand out wasn’t just the final product, which I’m deeply proud of, but the sense of unity and commitment the entire team brought to the table. This team pushed me to be better, we helped each other out, and this made an incredible collaboration environment that I believe in the power of unity and commitment.

Seeing the result and how the public received it was amazing. This series was number one in several Latin American Countries and was in the top rankings in the US on Netflix after the premiere, and a Superserie Award in the Premios Produ 2022. The impact it had on the audience was truly rewarding and a testament to our hard work and dedication.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Veronica Ramirez B., and I am a VFX artist focused on compositing. As a VFX artist, the most important thing and what everyone asks is what have you done? To answer this question, I would start from my first job, where I discovered my love for VFX and grew from removing brands from shots into compositing fire into a house. But it was not a simple road. My first shots were cleaning up brands from buildings in city shots from a small series. Everyone starts in the Clean Up or Prep department, but I was able to move into Junior Compositor soon, because my leads saw the talent. As a VFX artist, I was able to participate in multiple series like Mariachis for HBO, The Marked Heart for Netflix, El Rey: Vicente Fernandez for Netflix, Entre Sombras for VIX, Democracia para Dummies para Telecafe, among others. After almost a year and a half, I decided to keep learning and improving as a Visual Effects Artist, and I decided to do my Master’s in Fine Arts at SCAD.

During my Master’s, I did my thesis where I researched how VFX can be used as a tool to show Magical Realism inside film. This project allowed me to work with multiple artists from different disciplines, where I was able to guide the project as a director and VFX supervisor of a short film that helps support my thesis statement. During the MFA process, I also worked with mentors from The Mill and Harbor, two advertising VFX firms that work with NY clients, which allowed me to learn how to mix compositing inside advertising and the relevance of VFX inside this field.

After I graduated, I was fortunate enough to find a job in a company called Caravan, where I work as a VFX artist in a fantastic team of creatives. We have worked on some major ads for notable clients such as W HOTELS, where we made an advertisement called Hotel Tales with Orville Peck, who is an international artist. Some of the other companies we have worked with are: Bonafide and Target campaign, Momma Loves Me (Music Video) for NeedToBreathe and Red Clay Strays, a new small film for Heal The Bay, and some things that are coming soon.

I love working and creating as a Visual Effects artist, and I plan to keep growing and embracing all of the things that I have already done in my career.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is witnessing the transformation of an initial concept into a final product. At the beginning of every project, we see the “perfect” outcome, picturing it in our minds exactly as we want it to end up. However, there are always challenges that come and change that original vision. Whether it’s moving deadlines, creative blocks, feedback, client or team ideas, these are the changes that make our projects better than we imagined.

Looking back and understanding where the journey started, is the best reward, because I can see the ups and downs, what things made the project better, and how my ideas evolved until I presented the project.

I understood that evolution is the most beautiful part of the creative process, this is what makes the road valuable, and why artists should not only measure their products based on the progress, but their entire careers and life, because that is how you see the beauty on how much you have grown, and value yourself and your art.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Visual Effects is a fascinating field that really teaches you about resilience. When I started, I spent countless late nights trying to get the shots just right, attempting to make a fantastic work that could prove I deserve to be there. I was invested in the most minor details, tweaking and modifying all of the nodes, thinking that it was going to be perfect. And sometimes, after all that effort, the VFX supervisor or Quality Control team would tell me that my shot just wasn’t up to par. It was tough to hear, especially after I invested so much time and energy into it. But as time went on, I learned something important: that feedback is not personal; it’s designed to help me become a better artist.

It did hurt at first, but I started taking those comments as constructive criticism. Each thing became a stepping stone that allowed me to grow into the artist I have become today. I never let it discourage me. Later, as I went along in my professional life, I was more critical of myself. I began to hold myself to a higher standard and aimed to be great at anything I did. I also recognized that there is always room to get better, no matter how much expertise you gain.

I pride myself today on presenting my work with a high level of quality, yet still being open to criticism and new ideas. This blend of resilience and a commitment to continuously improve is what really sets me apart in the world of visual effects. I’m excited to continue this journey and see where it takes me next.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://veronicaramirezb.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ver%C3%B3nica-ram%C3%ADrez-6b678024a/

Image Credits

1-3: Original footage from Netflix – comp by Veronica Ramirez

4: Team Carat