SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio film community is mourning the loss of a pillar of their community.
Kerry Valderrama, a multi-faceted filmmaker, actor and founder of Alamo City Studios, kicked the bucket Tuesday night time, the Alamo City Studios Facebook web page mentioned Wednesday.
He was once 43. The main points surrounding Valderrama loss of life are unconfirmed right now.
A former airborne infantryman who frolicked in Afghanistan all through Operation Enduring Freedom, Valderrama based and served as CEO of Alamo City Studios, a multi-purpose manufacturing hub at the East Side.
Valderrama became to the leisure trade whilst operating on a grasp’s stage on the University of Texas at San Antonio.
His first characteristic film, “Garrison,” was once launched national via Phase 4 Films. The film was once dispensed in over 20 international locations all over the world.
A 2d film, “Sanitarium,” starred a number of top-billed actors, similar to Robert Englund and Lou Diamond Phillips. Valderrama tailored the film into a chain of comedian books.
Remembrance messages and reminiscences had been shared on social media after news of Valderrama’s loss of life.
“You always made sure to leave a door open at Alamo City Studios for us local artists,” one Facebook person mentioned.
Users briefly known Valderrama’s toughen of expansion and fairness within the San Antonio film scene.
“Saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Kerry Valderrama, founder of Alamo City Studios,” every other Facebook post mentioned. “Kerry did so much to help develop and grow the film industry in San Antonio and was always a kind and encouraging champion of filmmakers.”
This previous summer season, Alamo City Studios hosted a unfastened summer season media arts program for junior and senior highschool scholars.
The UTSA Film/Media program jointly echo the sentiment of remembering Valderrama’s advocacy for filmmakers.
“Faculty and students of UTSA’s Film/Media Program mourn the passing of Kerry Valderrama—a dogged, dedicated, and instrumental force in San Antonio and Texas film culture and business,” they mentioned in an emailed commentary. “Kerry was a persistent advocate for film production and education, including for UTSA students who had the opportunity to work at Alamo City Studios and with the Eastside Youth Content Creators Program and gained much from the experience. His absence will be felt for years to come.”
Sam Lerma, an area filmmaker and buddy, recalled Valderrama’s magnetic character.
“He was all about building up our film industry from the bottom up,” Lerma mentioned. “He opened up Alamo City Studios because he really wanted to help others succeed by providing the space for people to learn and grow as filmmakers. All of us in the San Antonio film community are connected in some way through Kerry. We will all miss him and his magnetic personality.”
Danny Owen-Kohutek, the founder of DEKO 37, recollects Valderrama’s dedication to bringing extra motion pictures to San Antonio and Texas.
“He would lobby the state legislature for film incentives, travel around Texas to speak at film festivals and always lended a helping hand to those that needed advice about filming,” Owen-Kohutek mentioned.
Noah Reyes interned with Alamo City Studios previous this yr. The alternative introduced Reyes into close-knit circles with native artists and probabilities to even host his personal screening.
“My internship at ACS influenced many core aspects of my life,” Reyes mentioned.
Reyes is remembering a person whose intensity of love for the town and its artists will at all times survive.
“I hope the community here in San Antonio, in and outside of film, know[s] that one person, directly or indirectly, can have an irreplaceable impact on so many people’s lives. That last[s] forever,” Reyes mentioned.
A birthday party of existence will happen at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at Leon Springs First Baptist Church.
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