24 mexicans who worked on the Spider-Man film nominated for an Oscar

Hair and wardrobe for Miles and other characters, as well as lighting in several scenes, were just some of the aspects that these fellow countrymen worked on together.

By Andrea Rodríguez, José Longino & Asael V - 01/28/2019

Andrea Rodríguez; José Longino and Asael Villanueva | Cuernavaca Campus and National News Desk

Go Spidey sense! Twenty-four Mexicans worked directly together on the movie “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”, which might just win the Oscar for best animated feature this February 24.

At least seven of them are graduates of Tecnológico de Monterrey and three have even given classes at the institution.

CONECTA has interviewed three of them: Cruz Contreras, Guillermo Sánchez and Leonardo Báez, all alumni of the bachelor’s degree in Animation and Digital Art at the Tec.

Cruz and Guillermo worked on the characters’ hair and wardrobe, while Leonardo collaborated on scene lighting.

“I’m really glad that there are so many talented Mexicans who worked on the film (...) There are animators, effect artists, character effects, lighting, riggers... Together there are 24 of us; we could make a movie ourselves,” says Cruz.

“Most (of the Mexicans) know each other, but not all; several of us worked in different areas of the project,” says Leonardo.

The 24 countrymen were part of a team of dozens of people who, distributed across three buildings, worked at the Sony Pictures Animation studios in Vancouver, Canada, under the tutelage of Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman.

Mexicans on the Spider-man movie

THE ART OF SHAPING THE SPIDER-VERSE

The film’s quality has been lauded by many critics and experts and has already won a Golden Globe and the Critics’ Choice Award.

“It wasn’t unusual to hear the directors say that each frame was a painting,” tells Guillermo, who also previously worked on effects for Justice League.

He and Cruz, both graduates of the Cuernavaca Campus no less, worked on Character FX, the simulation of the characters’ hair and wardrobe.

“I fell in love with all of the characters, but my favorite was Miles Morales, because he’s the one I worked on the most,” says Cruz, who has also taught the class on Dynamic Simulation at the Tec.

24 Mexicans on the movie of Spider-Man

“One take that required a lot of work was the one where Miles climbs out the window and walks up the wall. He’s only wearing a tie and pair of pants, and, while he’s doing that, a flock of pigeons flies past and hits him.”

On the other hand, Leonardo, who studied at the Guadalajara Campus of the Tec, was in charge of ensuring that several scenes had proper color and lighting.

“My role as Lighting TD consists of placing the lighting in the scenes in order to give each one the look we were after and then integrate them with color corrections,” he says.

“Although the work is hard and demanding, the satisfaction you feel at seeing the final product makes it an incredible experience,” he adds.

24 mexicans on the movie of Spider-man

MEXICANS FULFILLING THEIR DREAM

“In the end, when you’re sitting in the theater watching what you’ve done, that’s the moment you know that your hard work (the extra hours, all those tears you shed over not knowing how to do the take) becomes worth it.”

“And when you see your name scroll past, you know you’ve done something great,” says Cruz excitedly.

Guillermo, who graduated in 2013, also gives some advice to other Mexican students who want to fulfill their dream.

“Ask yourself if you love what you do; don’t think about money, fame or what other people say. If you love what you do, you strive to do better every day you go to work and everything else fades into the background.”

FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE SPIDER’S WEB

“Enrolling at the Tec was the best decision I ever made. I spent my best years studying for that degree because I got to do everything. The people I met there continue to be my friends,”, confesses Cruz.

“(It’s been) one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life (...) It’s helped me to grow professionally and as a person,” agrees Guillermo.

Asked what he would say to himself, if he could speak to his “student self” back then, Guillermo finishes by saying: “stay on the path; it’s working so far, and stop being late for class...”