Victoria Alonso
{{Short description|Argentine film producer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Victoria Alonso
| image = Victoria Alonso.png
| caption = Alonso in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|12|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = La Plata, Argentina
| occupation = {{hlist|Film producer|studio executive}}
| years_active = 1996–present
| employer =
| notable_works = Marvel Cinematic Universe
| spouse = Imelda Corcoran
| children = 1
}}
Victoria Alonso (born 22 December 1965) is an Argentine film producer who formerly served as the president of physical and post-production, visual effects, and animation at Marvel Studios.
Early life and education
Victoria Alonso was born on 22 December 1965{{Cite web |last=Ibáñez |first=Leo |date=27 April 2019 |title=Victoria Alonso: "Llegué a donde estoy porque entré a lugares a los que no me invitaban" |trans-title=Victoria Alonso: "I got to where I am because in entered placed I wasn't invited" |url=https://www.infobae.com/gente/personajes/2019/04/27/victoria-alonso-llegue-a-donde-estoy-porque-entre-a-lugares-a-los-que-no-me-invitaban/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428130037/https://www.infobae.com/gente/personajes/2019/04/27/victoria-alonso-llegue-a-donde-estoy-porque-entre-a-lugares-a-los-que-no-me-invitaban/ |archive-date=28 April 2019 |website=Infobae |language=es}} in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
Career
Alonso moved to Seattle at the age of 19 to pursue an acting career. She relocated again to Los Angeles, where she began working in the visual effects industry,{{Cite web |last=Mann |first=Keith |date=7 July 2019 |title=Victoria Alonso: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/marvel/2019/07/victoria-alonso/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524010421/https://heavy.com/entertainment/marvel/2019/07/victoria-alonso/ |archive-date=24 May 2021 |access-date=13 June 2021 |website=Heavy}} including at Digital Domain as a visual effects producer for four years,{{Cite press release |date=10 April 2019 |title=SIGGRAPH 2019 is Ready: Marvel Studios' Victoria Alonso to Keynote |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190410005885/en/SIGGRAPH-2019-is-Ready-Marvel-Studios%E2%80%99-Victoria-Alonso-to-Keynote |url-status=live |location=Chicago |publisher=SIGGRAPH |agency=Business Wire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613050855/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190410005885/en/SIGGRAPH-2019-is-Ready-Marvel-Studios%E2%80%99-Victoria-Alonso-to-Keynote |archive-date=13 June 2021 |access-date=13 June 2021}} working on films such as Big Fish (2003), which was nominated for Best Special Visual Effects at the 57th British Academy Film Awards.
Alonso joined Marvel Studios in 2005 as executive vice president of visual effects and post-production,{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Umberto |date=10 October 2019 |title=MPSE to Honor Marvel's Victoria Alonso with Filmmaker Award |url=https://www.thewrap.com/marvel-studios-victoria-alonoso-motion-picture-sound-editors-filmmaker-award/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524010421/https://www.thewrap.com/marvel-studios-victoria-alonoso-motion-picture-sound-editors-filmmaker-award/ |archive-date=24 May 2021 |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=TheWrap}} working as a co-producer on Marvel Cinematic Universe films Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2010), and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011),{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Iain |date=7 February 2017 |title=Visual Effects Society Honors Victoria Alonso and Ken Ralston |url=https://variety.com/2017/artisans/awards/visual-effects-society-honors-victoria-alonso-and-ken-ralston-1201980628/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613065412/https://variety.com/2017/artisans/awards/visual-effects-society-honors-victoria-alonso-and-ken-ralston-1201980628/ |archive-date=13 June 2021 |access-date=13 June 2021 |website=Variety }} and serving as executive producer on every Marvel Studios production since The Avengers (2012), including television shows.{{Cite web |last=Scholz |first=Pablo |date=12 November 2020 |title=Entrevista exclusiva: quién es la argentina vicepresidenta de Marvel, la mujer más poderosa de Hollywood |trans-title=Exclusive interview: who is the Argentinian vice president of Marvel, the most powerful woman in Hollywood |url=https://www.clarin.com/espectaculos/cine/mujer-poderosa-hollywood-argentina_0_EbtcpA0vr.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605132927/https://www.clarin.com/espectaculos/cine/mujer-poderosa-hollywood-argentina_0_EbtcpA0vr.html |archive-date=5 June 2021 |access-date=13 June 2021 |website=Clarín |language=es}} She was promoted to executive vice president of production in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=26 May 2021 |title=Women In Animation Unveils Program For Virtual World Summit, Spotlighting "The Business Case For Diversity" |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/women-in-animation-2021-world-summit-annecy-international-animation-festival-program-1234764031/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613042837/https://deadline.com/2021/05/women-in-animation-2021-world-summit-annecy-international-animation-festival-program-1234764031/ |archive-date=13 June 2021 |access-date=13 June 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood }}{{Cite web |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |date=10 October 2019 |title=Sound Editors to Honor Marvel's Victoria Alonso |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvels-victoria-alonso-be-honored-by-sound-editors-1246816/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613035833/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvels-victoria-alonso-be-honored-by-sound-editors-1246816/ |archive-date=13 June 2021 |access-date=13 June 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} In 2021, Alonso was promoted to president of physical and post-production, visual effects, and animation at Marvel Studios.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=20 September 2021 |title=Marvel Studios Promotes Victoria Alonso To President Of Physical, Post Production, VFX And Animation |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/marvel-studios-victoria-alonso-president-physical-post-production-vfx-animination-1234840651/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920200732/https://deadline.com/2021/09/marvel-studios-victoria-alonso-president-physical-post-production-vfx-animination-1234840651/ |archive-date=20 September 2021 |access-date=20 September 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
In 2016, Alonso became the first woman to win the Advanced Imaging Society's Harold Lloyd Award for her achievements in visual effects.{{cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160120005551/en/The-Advanced-Imaging-Society-to-Honor-Marvel%E2%80%99s-Victoria-Alonso-with-2016-Harold-Lloyd-Award-for-Filmmaking |title=The Advanced Imaging Society to Honor Marvel's Victoria Alonso with 2016 Harold Lloyd Award for Filmmaking |publisher=Advanced Imaging Society |agency=Business Wire |date=20 January 2016 |access-date=31 October 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923150127/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160120005551/en/The-Advanced-Imaging-Society-to-Honor-Marvel%E2%80%99s-Victoria-Alonso-with-2016-Harold-Lloyd-Award-for-Filmmaking |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/victoria-alonso-promoted-marvel-studios-president-production-1235069207/ |title=Marvel Studios' Victoria Alonso Upped to President of Physical and Post Production, VFX and Animation |first=Matt |last=Donnelly |work=Variety |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=31 October 2021 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928012647/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/victoria-alonso-promoted-marvel-studios-president-production-1235069207/ |url-status=live }} In January 2020, she was awarded the Filmmaker Award by the Motion Picture Sound Editors at the 67th Golden Reel Awards. In October 2021, it was announced that Alonso would be the top honoree at Outfest's Visionary Award at the November ceremony at LA's Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.{{cite news |url=https://www.out.com/film/2021/10/27/outfest-honoring-queer-woman-leading-marvel-studios-new-era |title=Outfest Honoring the Queer Woman Leading Marvel Studios Into a New Era |first=Mey |last=Rude |work=Out.com |date=27 October 2021 |access-date=31 October 2021 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928124039/https://www.out.com/film/2021/10/27/outfest-honoring-queer-woman-leading-marvel-studios-new-era |url-status=live }}
In December 2022, she was named on The Hollywood Reporter{{'}}s "Women in Entertainment Power 100".{{Cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Mikey |date=7 December 2022 |title=The Hollywood Reporter's 2022 Women in Entertainment Power 100 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/the-hollywood-reporters-2022-women-in-entertainment-power-100/ |access-date=7 December 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209183814/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/the-hollywood-reporters-2022-women-in-entertainment-power-100/ |url-status=live }}
= Firing from Marvel Studios =
In 2023, Alonso was fired from her role at Marvel Studios for breach of contract after violating her noncompete clause by serving as a producer on the Amazon Studios film Argentina, 1985,{{Cite news |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=24 March 2023 |title=Inside the Firing of Victoria Alonso: Her Oscar-Nominated Movie 'Argentina, 1985' at Center of Exit (Exclusive) |website=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvels-victoria-alonso-fired-argentina-1985-1235360231/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324210720/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvels-victoria-alonso-fired-argentina-1985-1235360231/ |archive-date=24 March 2023}}{{Cite news |last1=Donnelly |first1=Matt |last2=Vary |first2=Adam B. |date=22 March 2023 |title=Inside Victoria Alonso's Shocking Exit From Marvel Studios |website=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/victoria-alonso-marvel-exit-kevin-feige-1235561995/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323042551/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/victoria-alonso-marvel-exit-kevin-feige-1235561995/ |archive-date=23 March 2023}} despite having failed to seek permission to work on the film, and continuing to promote it after being ordered by Disney to cease her involvement with the project.
At the time of her firing, criticism from VFX workers were noted, who had raised complaints of Marvel's "demanding post-production schedules". Alonso was described by some{{who|date=August 2024}} as a "kingmaker",{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Chris |date=13 January 2023 |title=Inside the VFX Union Brewing in Hollywood |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/01/inside-the-vfx-union-brewing-in-hollywood.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125155224/https://www.vulture.com/2023/01/inside-the-vfx-union-brewing-in-hollywood.html |archive-date=25 January 2023 |access-date=1 February 2023 |website=Vulture |quote=Alonso heads up Marvel's dedicated "mini-studio," Marvel Studios Animation, which is behind such shows as What If ...? [...] and the summer 2022 series of Vin Diesel–voiced original shorts, I Am Groot.}} with Chris Lee at Vulture reporting that Alonso was "singularly responsible for Marvel's toxic work environment."{{Cite web |last=Freitag |first=Lee |date=21 March 2023 |title=REPORT: MCU Co-Founder Created Marvel's Toxic VFX Work Environment |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-victoria-alonso-toxic-vfx-work-environment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322050434/https://www.cbr.com/marvel-victoria-alonso-toxic-vfx-work-environment/ |archive-date=22 March 2023 |access-date=23 March 2023 |website=Comic Book Resources}} However, Alonso was also described as the "epitome of professional" and supportive on set, with Joanna Robinson of The Ringer describing the reports as a "gross mischaracterization" and the opposite of Alonso's work.{{Cite web |last=Karthik Prasad |first=R.A |date=21 March 2023 |title='Making Victoria Alonso the fall guy'- Marvel fans react to former post-production president being blamed for MCU's toxic treatment of VFX workers |url=https://pursuenews.com/making-victoria-alonso-the-fall-guy-marvel-fans-react-to-former-post-production-president-being-blamed-for-mcus-toxic-treatment-of-vfx-workers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321044728/https://pursuenews.com/making-victoria-alonso-the-fall-guy-marvel-fans-react-to-former-post-production-president-being-blamed-for-mcus-toxic-treatment-of-vfx-workers/ |archive-date=21 March 2023 |access-date=23 March 2023 |website=Pursue News}} Alonso said that the real reason for her firing was her outspoken opposition to LGBTQ+ erasure at the company.{{cite web | last=Riedel | first=Samantha | title=After Objecting to LGBTQ+ Censorship, a Gay Marvel Studio Leader Was Fired by Disney | website=Them | date=29 March 2023 | url=https://www.them.us/story/victoria-alonso-marvel-studios-disney-fired | access-date=12 August 2024 | archive-date=16 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816031652/https://www.them.us/story/victoria-alonso-marvel-studios-disney-fired | url-status=live }} Disney and Alonso reached a multi-million dollar compensation settlement in April.{{Cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |last2=Patten |first2=Dominic |date=20 April 2023 |title=Disney Settles With Former Marvel Exec Victoria Alonso Over Sudden Firing |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/disney-marvel-victoria-alonso-settlement-1235333060/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420214424/https://deadline.com/2023/04/disney-marvel-victoria-alonso-settlement-1235333060/ |archive-date=20 April 2023 |access-date=20 April 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
Personal life
Alonso is openly gay and is married to Australian actress Imelda Corcoran. The couple has one adopted daughter.
Filmography
=Feature films=
= Television =
Accolades
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0022285}}
{{Marvel Cinematic Universe|Studios}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alonso, Victoria}}
Category:2023 controversies in the United States
Category:21st-century Argentine LGBTQ people
Category:American film studio executives
Category:American women film producers
Category:Argentine emigrants to the United States
Category:Argentine LGBTQ entertainers