Garcia the Polar Bear Comes to Life for the Red One World Premiere

On November 11th, 2024, I had the incredible privilege of bringing Garcia, the lovable Polar Bear from the new Christmas film Red One, to life for the red carpet premiere at Alice Tully Hall in New York City. Stepping into character in that environment was pure magic. Garcia is bold, expressive, and full of heart, and holding a straight face in “authoritative mode” was nearly impossible. Every moment made me want to interact with guests, fans, and the entire creative team.

Sharing the experience alongside icons such as Dwayne Johnson, Lucy Liu, and J.K. Simmons was surreal. Seeing audiences react to Garcia up close reminded me why I love practical in camera effects and the power of character work. Nothing compares to seeing people light up when a character feels truly present in the world.

A huge thank you to Asher Entertainment and the team at 15I40 for making this immersive experience possible. Working with partners who share the same passion for cinematic magic is something I value deeply, and this premiere felt like the start of many more adventures ahead.

Matthew Mason
TV Bears International