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
