Get to Know | Diego

In this release, we are pleased to introduce Diego Marcel Berrio, our Senior Rigger & Senior Animator in Bogotá, who brings his technical mastery and boundless creativity to every project!

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
I’m a Senior Rigger & Senior Animator. As a Senior Rigger, I design and build the skeletons and control systems that allow 3D models -whether characters, creatures, or mechanical elements- to move, deform, and come to life. It’s like creating an internal structure, similar to the bones and muscles in living beings, that enables the models to be animated efficiently and realistically. As a Senior Animator, I’m directly involved in animating these characters, shaping their movements and expressions, and ensuring they convey emotion and realism on screen. In both roles, I collaborate closely with other departments to make sure the final result meets the highest standards of quality that audiences expect in film or television.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO FOCUS ON A CAREER IN VFX?
The idea that you can create entire worlds with something as accessible as a computer is what inspired me. It’s fascinating to think you can build universes from your desk and share them with the world.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING IN VFX?
What I enjoy the most is the level of challenge each task brings. The many layers of supervision and review push me to always aim for the highest level of quality and perfection. I also truly enjoy working with talented professionals from different areas… you learn something new from each of them. I love working with people from all around the world; sharing knowledge and perspectives with artists from diverse cultures is something I value deeply. And there’s something magical about seeing your work projected on a screen, sharing it with an audience, and feeling proud when your name appears in the credits.

IN WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF YOUR WORK?
I’m especially proud of having worked on the Graveyard Rats in Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. He is a director I deeply admire. It was a highly demanding project and a true honor to be part of it. I’m also very pleased with the recent projects we’ve done here in Bogotá, which have brought fascinating challenges. I’ve had the opportunity to rig and animate creatures like a 12-tentacle giant kraken, a wolf for Julio Verne, moose for 1923, and scorpions for the series Bandidos.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERING A CAREER IN VFX?
My biggest advice is to never settle for what you already know. In this industry, self-learning is essential. You have to be curious, proactive, and always learning. It's also crucial to learn how to work as a team. Big productions are built through collaboration, idea sharing, and mutual support. That’s why sharing what you know and contributing to collective growth is essential. Another very important aspect is learning how to receive and value feedback. Sometimes we fall in love with our work or are convinced our solution is the best one, but that’s not always the case. It’s important to set your ego aside, listen openly to feedback from supervisors and teammates, and be willing to improve. That process is what allows us to grow as artists and achieve excellence. And if you ever dream of leading teams or directing projects, developing soft skills is key. Maturity, emotional control, and the wisdom to understand and guide people with diverse profiles are fundamental. Leading artists requires patience, empathy, and the ability to read each person in order to help them bring out their best.

IF YOU HAD TO NAME A COLLEAGUE WHO INSPIRES YOU, WHO WOULD IT BE?
I deeply admire the women who lead the success of FOLKS Bogotá. Their professionalism and commitment have been key to the studio's growth, and they provide a warm work environment where we feel supported and valued. A special mention goes to my manager, Andrea Espinal, whose courage and vision have been essential to the development of VFX in Latin America. I find her work truly inspiring.

WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?
Beyond my professional career, I’m passionate about cinema and music. I collect vinyl records and have created a personal archive documenting hundreds of films with detailed information about each one. I deeply love my work and the art I dedicate myself to, but if one day I had the chance to explore other paths, I’d love to be a film director or work in the music industry. Another big dream of mine is to dive into stop-motion animation to experience the process of bringing characters to life in a more hands-on way.

IS THERE A FOLKS PROJECT YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYED?
At FOLKS Bogotá, we’ve had the opportunity to work on several creature-based projects, and for me, they’re always an exciting challenge. One of the ones I enjoyed the most was the moose we created for 1923 season 2. It was a project where we worked very closely as a team, and the final result turned out beautifully. These types of challenges really push us to grow and bring our best to every detail.