Rhythm and Hues

Renowned in the visual effects industry as a pioneer with a commanding grasp of both the highly technical and artistic aspects his craft, Richard Hollander serves as senior visual effects supervisor for Rhythm & Hues Studios. A trusted collaborator with filmmakers and studio executives, Richard’s credits include such seminal VFX works as “Blade Runner,” “The Abyss” and “Titanic.” He worked closely with the late Roy E. Disney on “Fantasia 2000,” and helped to launch the Harry Potter series with “The Sorcerer’s Stone.”

From 1999 to 2006, Richard served as president of the R&H Film division. He went to Pixar in 2006, where he produced “Presto,” which was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Animated Short. He also supervised the shooting of the live action elements for “Wall-E,” and was involved with other projects in development there.

Richard returned to Rhythm & Hues in 2010 to focus on the creative and technical challenges of the studio’s feature film production work. He recently completed supervising visual effects for the Fox Studios production of “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” starring Jim Carrey.

Early in his career, after attending California Institute of the Arts’ School of Design, and later earning a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from The University of California, Berkeley, Richard pursued his fascination with technology. He developed a computerized payroll system for the American Stock Exchange, and created radar systems with integrated digital software and hardware for Technology Services Corporation.

Richard found his true calling in visual effects and animation, which combined his youthful passion for art and technology. In his first motion picture, “The China Syndrome,” Richard designed the innovative lighting control system which simulated the control room of a nuclear power plant. At the pioneering motion graphics firm Robert Abel & Associates, Richard engineered computerized motion control camera systems for several television commercials, winning a Clio Award for the 3D Panasonic “Glider” spot, which he also produced.

Moving to the Entertainment Effects Group, Richard and Greg McMurry designed and built a comprehensive motion control camera system, called COMPSY (Computerized Multi-Plane Optical System), which Richard operated on “Blade Runner,” “Brainstorm” and “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”

In 1988, with three partners, Richard founded VIFX, which, over the course of eleven years, became a leading innovator in motion graphics and visual effects before merging with Rhythm & Hues Studios in 1999.

Richard is a highly regarded industry consultant for the development and creation of computer graphics software. He received a Scientific and Technical Academy Award for his contributions to the industry as co-developer of the Wavefront Advanced Visualizer software (which later merged to form Alias|Wavefront). A member the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Richard served on the AMPAS Digital Imaging Technology Subcommittee, which recommends scientific and technical achievements in film to the Academy. He is also a member of the Visual Effects Society.

Richard recently co-authored a chapter on Visual Effects in The Oxford Handbook of Film & Media Studies with Rhythm & Hues Film Division President Lee Berger.