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Pinoy Abroad

Bicolano Ryan Rubi heads ‘Spiderman’ visual effects team


Camarines Sur native Ryan Rubi headed the the team responsible for the jaw-dropping visual effects in "Spiderman: Homecoming", which is presently shown in theaters nationwide.

As lead technical animator, Rubi conceptualized the creation of Peter Parker's "web wings", along with other technologies in the latest spidey suit.

But, as Peter Parker's Uncle Ben said, "With great power comes great responsibility."

"'Yung role ko dito sa 'Spiderman' ay mas malaki kaysa dati. So mas challenging talaga siya," Ryan told GMA News TV program "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" on Monday.

Rubi admitted that it wasn't easy holding a high-ranking position in an animation team as a Filipino.

"Hindi madaling mag-manage ng team, eh. Lalo na kung napakadami, tapos pati yung mga supervisor, 'yung mga meetings, clients, lahat 'yun na-tackle ko na," he said.

Filipino potential

Although he has made a lot of inroads in the, he plans to take his success in the visual effects field back to the Philippines by starting his own company.

"Ang goal ko, siguro, dalhin ang mga projects sa Pilipinas. Or baka may ma-meet ako na willing na mag-put-up ng business sa Philippines para mapatuloy 'yung visual effects industry sa Pilipinas," Rubi explained.

He believed that the "animation visual effects industry" was making a comeback and that Filipinos had great potential, despite some fiscal drawbacks.

"Maraming potential pero feeling ko po tax breaks po siguro," Rubi said. "Kasi more na international market kasi siya eh. Kaya feeling ko gusto niyang mas maraming audience, gagawa kayo ng international characters, hindi 'yung local."

In this way, he dreams for a Philippines that can reach into the global market of visual effects.

"Yung Philippines kasi ngayon focused lang sa local production... kung mag-try silang kumuha ng mga clients outside..."

Credits

Rubi finished a digital animation course at the Ateneo de Naga University before he spent seven years in Singapore working for "Lucasfilm".

He then scored the top technical animation job at the award-winning international visual effects group "Method Studios" in Vancouver. One of its biggest clients is "Marvel Studios" and its successful "Avengers" franchise.

At 30 years-old, Rubi has been in the credits of more than 20 Box Office hits, such as "Transformers: Age of Extinction", "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and Jurassic World.

His latest Marvel film, Spiderman: Homecoming, reeled in $117 million on its opening week. The movie, which stars Tom Holland, was also Sony Pictures' second-highest-earning production. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News