James Ortiz

Want the full story? Head over to our YouTube channel to catch James’ anecdote, and more details of bringing Rocky to life in Project Hail Mary 🎧 #stagespodcast #stephaniejblock #maryleefairbanks #jamesortiz #projecthailmary

It’s true, faces are overrated 🪨 Discover the process behind crafting Rocky’s design in #ProjectHailMary.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE! 🤯🤯🤯 Part 2 of how James Ortiz and incredible CG artists brought Rocky to life in PROJECT HAIL MARY. If you missed Part 1, go to my page to see the video where James goes into detail about how the puppetry worked on the set and how he lead a group of puppeteers, the Rocketeers, to perform all the scenes with Ryan Gosling. It’s such an incredible process that reminds me of the first time I started learning about Performance Capture. Everything said in this video is a great example of the technical servicing the emotional. Every choice enhances audience immersion in the story. Clip from my “On Film…With Kevin McCarthy” podcast. Links in bio for Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. #projecthailmary #rocky #jamesortiz #filmmaking #cgi

Delightful bits and delicious bobs

It’s all go, day three is the finale of our evening talks and it’s a blockbuster. ⭐️ SCENE CHANGERS brings us to the world of film from practical effects, iconic poster art to scene-stealing puppetry. We’re welcoming the very best to the Giant Screen with Barrie and Sarah Gower, Akiko Stehrenberger and James Ortiz. What a season finale for BDF 2026! ⚓️ @barriegower , Prosthetic Makeup Designer & Creative Director of BGFX and Sarah Gower, Co-Director of BGFX Barrie Gower and Sarah Gower are the husband and wife team behind BGFX, an award-winning special effects makeup studio. Celebrated for their photorealistic prosthetics for film and TV including Vecna in Stranger Things, the Night King in Game of Thrones and the infected in The Last of Us. Prepare to be in awe…and a little scared. ⚓️ Akiko Stehrenberger, Artist and Designer @doyrivative Looking for a 34-time CLIO award winner? We got you. Akiko Stehrenberger is an art director, illustrator and designer specialising in movie posters. She creates bold and often surreal posters and has the uncanny ability to capture the essence of each film in her work – we can’t wait to hear all about them! ⚓️ James Ortiz, Director & Puppet Designer @jortface When it comes to James Ortiz, we’re talking award-winning puppets. For more than 15 years, Ortiz has created innovative puppets for theatre. His most recent project saw him make the move from Broadway to Hollywood, where he voiced and operated ‘Rocky’ in ‘Project Hail Mary’, taking a starring role opposite Ryan Gosling. Grab your popcorn, this is going to be good. 📆 Friday 12th June 📍 The Giant Screen at @millenniumpoint 🎟️ Tickets from £15 👉 BDF.EVENTS

Why is it that queer people often relate to the villains? 🤭 Listen to James Ortiz’s brilliant take on this….

Perhaps the most remarkable character traits of ROCKY from Project Hail Mary come from his softness, delicacy, and the beautifully nuanced energy that came from his puppeteers (or Rocketeers shall we say!). Huge shout out to @jortface and the Rocketeers for the beautiful work and energy they brought to the Hollywood’s newest breakout star, ROCKY! 🪨: itsaderek @claireroiharvey @scarletwilderink @freddavis1701 @darcyecollins @miketaibi78 @tomkwilton mohsen.nouri.26 @mattplyons72 @brian_hezza @arinalauraii @mikequinnstudios @obviouslycookies @nickjtyrrell @mollypippop @natalie_pettigrew @samijohnson123 @mantisrobot paulszebesta and SO MANY MORE! DM for credits if we missed you!

From the blockbuster film Project Hail Mary, “Rocky” puppeteer and voice actor James Ortiz joins Into the Mud for a dynamite episode on what it means to feel like an alien in your own life… and what happens when the thing that made you feel “othered” ultimately becomes your superpower. New episode drops tomorrow, Saturday, May 9 on Apple, Spotify and YouTube! You don’t want to miss this one! #projecthailmary #rocky #rockyprojecthailmary #jamesortiz #ryangosling

A special guest appearance from Milky White was not on our bingo card 🥹🐄 Our new episode with Project Hail Mary’s James Ortiz is available for streaming now! Click the link in our bio to watch the full video interview on our YouTube channel 🎧🩷🧡🎭 #stagespodcast #stephaniejblock #maryleefairbanks #jamesortiz #milkywhite

Have you seen Project Hail Mary? Did you fall in love with Rocky or did you FALL in love with Rocky? We’re proud to announce our final honoree of the 2026 Impact Awards: @jortface . The lead Rockyteer behind the team of puppeteers that brought the alien to life. #NHMCImpact

@projecthailmary is the talk of the town and @jortface brings the lovable Rocky to life with his puppetry and his voice!

Like pretty much everyone, I can’t get over how much I absolutely loved @projecthailmary . Especially Rocky. I’m such a sucker for an adorable space alien. I painted a tiny version of him a few weeks ago, but wanted to paint a bigger version of him. Of course, I had the unhinged idea of painting Rocky with his amazing puppeteer/voice actor’s INCREDIBLE hair. @jortface , thank you for bringing Rocky to life, and if you have any volumizing tips, please share 😅