Hey! So nice to speak with you! Can you tell our readers a little bit more about yourself? Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

My name is Richard Deere. I was born in Brazil and later became a U.S. citizen. I’ve been living in Los Angeles, which has always been a hub of creativity for me. LA gave me the opportunity to merge my love for film, technology, and storytelling—and that ultimately inspired me to launch my own visual effects studio.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

What I love most about Los Angeles is the energy. It’s a city where art, film, and innovation collide every single day. You can be at a coffee shop and overhear people talking about their next movie, startup, or big idea. That creative spark everywhere is contagious and keeps me inspired.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

Eros VFX Studios is a visual effects company I founded to bring cinematic-quality VFX to productions of all sizes. We specialize in creating high-end, immersive visuals for films, music videos, and streaming projects—but we do it with a focus on speed, precision, and affordability. I started Eros VFX because I saw a gap: many productions either couldn’t afford Hollywood-level visuals, or they had to outsource overseas and lose that direct creative collaboration. We solve that by offering competitive pricing and a personal, hands-on approach while keeping the work here in Hollywood. Our clients get not only stunning visuals but also a true creative partner in the process.

If someone wants to start a business, what's advice that will help them?

Don’t wait until you “feel ready.” You’ll never feel 100% ready. Start where you are, use what you have, and build as you go. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision, and don’t be afraid of failure—failure is feedback that sharpens your next move.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won’t forget about?

One client told me, “You made my vision look bigger than my budget.” That stuck with me because it sums up exactly what I want Eros VFX Studios to represent: giving creators the freedom to dream bigger, without limitations. When I first started thinking about a name and slogan, I came up with something like, “From Hollywood to wherever your imagination can take you.” That’s what I want people to understand about this studio—we will make their ideas come true, no matter how big or wild they seem.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I see Eros VFX Studios becoming one of the go-to independent studios for both Hollywood and global productions—recognized not just for our visuals but for our creative partnership. Unlike larger studios that sometimes have to treat projects as “just another job,” we bring a personal touch and focus that makes clients feel heard. That agility is one of our biggest strengths—we can adapt quickly, and every project gets our full attention. In the future, I want to expand into original content, creating films and series under our own banner. I’ve been writing and developing projects of my own, and storytelling has always been a passion. Founding Eros VFX was my way of bridging that gap—making Hollywood-quality visuals accessible to more creators, while also building a studio that reflects my own vision for the future of storytelling. And as the studio grows, I look forward to partnering with the right investors to bring some of those original stories to life on a larger scale.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

That VFX is “just computers” or now “just AI.” People see short clips online and assume machines are doing all the work, but the truth is those videos take enormous effort, resources, and expertise to create. A single cinematic shot can take hours or even days to render, depending on complexity, and that’s after weeks of setup inside specialized software like Houdini, Nuke, or Unreal Engine. It requires massive amounts of storage, high-speed processors, and an entire pipeline that most people don’t realize exists. AI tools are starting to help in small ways—like generating a still background, suggesting code, or speeding up certain tasks in programs like After Effects with auto-roto. But those results are never perfect. They’re just starting points. You still need skilled artists to refine every frame and make it seamless, which is why Hollywood-level VFX is still completely human-driven. I’m actually working on a video to show people what it really takes to produce those so-called “AI” videos, because the reality is eye-opening. Technology is evolving, and it may be headed in that direction someday—but AI is still a million light years away from taking over Hollywood.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of the biggest struggles has been the sheer cost of entering this industry. If it were easy, anyone could do it—but it takes tens of thousands in tuition, years of training, and serious investment in high-end technology just to compete. I studied at Gnomon and Rebelway for two years, and I invested heavily in my own gear to build the foundation of Eros VFX Studios. It was daunting, but I saw it as an investment in my future. I dealt with it by keeping my long-term vision in mind: every dollar I put in was fuel for where I want this company to go.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Avril Lavigne was my favorite artist growing up. Her lyrics helped me deal with so many stages of life—falling in love, falling out of love, and even understanding feelings I couldn’t explain at the time. I still listen to her today, and I’ve even discovered songs I loved from other artists that she actually wrote, which says a lot about how powerful her songwriting is and how much her work has touched me. As for athletes, it has to be Ronaldo, Brazil’s legendary number 9. I actually begged my mom for the same haircut he had when I was a kid, because he was winning so much for our country. Even with the crazy injuries that later took him off the games, he never gave up. That resilience always inspired me.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

Yes—shoutout to the incredible artists and filmmakers who trusted me with their visions early on. And also to my family and friends, who have always believed in me even when the path wasn’t clear. Without that support, I wouldn’t be here.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can learn more at erosvfxstudios.com. I also share behind-the-scenes looks at our work on Instagram (@erosvfxstudios), and I’m always open to connecting with other creatives.