American special effects artist
Joe Viskocil
Born (1952-12-21 ) December 21, 1952Died August 11, 2014(2014-08-11) (aged 61) Occupation Visual effects artist Years active 1974–2014
Joseph Viskocil (December 21, 1952 – August 11, 2014) was an American special effects artist who had over 80 film credits from 1974 to 2014. He created special effects for some of the most famous movie franchises and was awarded an Academy Award for his work on Independence Day
In 1977, Viskocil assisted John Dykstra and George Lucas in creating the pyrotechnics for Star Wars Death Star at the film's climax.[ 1] The Empire Strikes Back [ 1] Ghostbusters Batman Star Trek [ 1]
After serving as pyrotechnics supervisor for the 1996 film Independence Day Academy Award for Best Visual Effects alongside Volker Engel , Douglas Smith and Clay Pinney at the 69th Academy Awards .[ 1] White House , built for destruction during the film.[ 2]
In the 1990s, Viskocil opposed using computer-generated imagery in the creation of some special effects:
When it comes to pyro techniques, what was done 50 years ago is still good today. There are a billion chemicals out there now that one can add, subtract or manipulate to create a desired effect.[ 3]
Following the September 11 attacks , Viskocil expressed guilt over making the explosions in Independence Day appear lifelike, saying "I started thinking maybe I did my job too well, and it might have been the nucleus of an idea for someone to say: ‘Hey, let’s crash a plane into the White House.’"[ 4]
Viskocil died on August 11, 2014, in Los Angeles from complications of liver and heart failure.[ 1]
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Barnes, Mike (August 12, 2014). "Joe Viskocil, Visual Effects Guru on 'Star Wars' Films, Dies at 63" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 5, 2022 . ^ Giardina, Carolyn (June 24, 2016). " . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 5, 2022 . ^ a b c "Pyromania fires up the industry" . Variety . May 8, 1997. Retrieved January 5, 2022 .^ Barber, Nicholas (June 18, 2016). "Why are we hooked on films about mass destruction?" . The Guardian . Retrieved January 5, 2022 . ^ a b Horn, John (September 12, 2004). "Launching a small-scale offensive" . The Los Angeles Times . p. E14. Retrieved January 5, 2022 . ^ "Aliens crush cities (at a theater near you)" . The Miami Herald . December 18, 1995. p. 2c. Retrieved January 5, 2022 .^ Giardina, Carolyn (October 6, 2017). " . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 5, 2022 .
1963–1980
Emil Kosa Jr. – Cleopatra Peter Ellenshaw , Eustace Lycett , and Hamilton Luske – Mary Poppins John Stears – Thunderball Art Cruickshank – Fantastic Voyage L. B. Abbott – Doctor Dolittle Stanley Kubrick – 2001: A Space Odyssey Robie Robertson – Marooned A. D. Flowers and L. B. Abbott – Tora! Tora! Tora! Alan Maley , Eustace Lycett , and Danny Lee – Bedknobs and Broomsticks L. B. Abbott and A. D. Flowers – The Poseidon Adventure Frank Brendel , Glen Robinson , and Albert Whitlock – Earthquake Albert Whitlock and Glen Robinson – The Hindenburg Carlo Rambaldi , Glen Robinson , and Frank Van der Veer – King Kong John Stears , John Dykstra , Richard Edlund , Grant McCune , and Robert Blalack – Star Wars Les Bowie , Colin Chilvers , Denys Coop , Roy Field , Derek Meddings , and Zoran Perisic – Superman H. R. Giger , Carlo Rambaldi , Brian Johnson , Nick Allder , and Dennis Ayling – Alien Brian Johnson , Richard Edlund , Dennis Muren , and Bruce Nicholson – The Empire Strikes Back 1981–2000
Richard Edlund , Kit West , Bruce Nicholson , and Joe Johnston – Raiders of the Lost Ark Carlo Rambaldi , Dennis Muren , and Kenneth F. Smith – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Richard Edlund , Dennis Muren , Ken Ralston , and Phil Tippett – Return of the Jedi Dennis Muren , Michael J. McAlister , Lorne Peterson , and George Gibbs – Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Ken Ralston , Ralph McQuarrie , Scott Farrar , and David Berry – Cocoon Robert Skotak , Stan Winston , John Richardson , and Suzanne M. Benson – Aliens Dennis Muren , Bill George , Harley Jessup , and Kenneth F. Smith - Innerspace Ken Ralston , Richard Williams , Edward Jones , and George Gibbs – Who Framed Roger Rabbit John Bruno , Dennis Muren , Hoyt Yeatman , and Dennis Skotak – The Abyss Eric Brevig , Rob Bottin , Tim McGovern , and Alex Funke – Total Recall Dennis Muren , Stan Winston , Gene Warren Jr. , and Robert Skotak – Terminator 2: Judgment Day Ken Ralston , Doug Chiang , Douglas Smythe , and Tom Woodruff Jr. – Death Becomes Her Dennis Muren , Stan Winston , Phil Tippett , and Michael Lantieri – Jurassic Park Ken Ralston , George Murphy , Stephen Rosenbaum , and Allen Hall – Forrest Gump Scott E. Anderson , Charles Gibson , Neal Scanlan , and John Cox – Babe Volker Engel , Douglas Smith , Clay Pinney , and Joe Viskocil – Independence Day Robert Legato , Mark Lasoff , Thomas L. Fisher , and Michael Kanfer – Titanic Joel Hynek , Nicholas Brooks , Stuart Robertson , and Kevin Mack – What Dreams May Come John Gaeta , Janek Sirrs , Steve Courtley , and Jon Thum – The Matrix John Nelson , Neil Corbould , Tim Burke , and Rob Harvey – Gladiator 2001–2020
Jim Rygiel , Randall William Cook , Richard Taylor , and Mark Stetson – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Jim Rygiel , Joe Letteri , Randall William Cook , and Alex Funke – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Jim Rygiel , Joe Letteri , Randall William Cook , and Alex Funke – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King John Dykstra , Scott Stokdyk , Anthony LaMolinara , and John Frazier – Spider-Man 2 Joe Letteri , Brian Van't Hul , Christian Rivers , and Richard Taylor – King Kong John Knoll , Hal Hickel , Charles Gibson , and Allen Hall – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Michael L. Fink , Bill Westenhofer , Ben Morris , and Trevor Wood – The Golden Compass Eric Barba , Steve Preeg , Burt Dalton , and Craig Barron – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Joe Letteri , Stephen Rosenbaum , Richard Baneham , and Andrew R. Jones – Avatar Paul Franklin , Chris Corbould , Andrew Lockley , and Peter Bebb – Inception Robert Legato , Joss Williams , Ben Grossmann , and Alex Henning – Hugo Bill Westenhofer , Guillaume Rocheron , Erik-Jan de Boer , and Donald R. Elliott – Life of Pi Tim Webber , Chris Lawrence , Dave Shirk , and Neil Corbould – Gravity Paul Franklin , Andrew Lockley , Ian Hunter , and Scott R. Fisher – Interstellar Mark Williams Ardington , Sara Bennett , Paul Norris , and Andrew Whitehurst – Ex Machina Robert Legato , Adam Valdez , Andrew R. Jones , and Dan Lemmon – The Jungle Book John Nelson , Gerd Nefzer , Paul Lambert , and Richard R. Hoover – Blade Runner 2049 Paul Lambert , Ian Hunter , Tristan Myles , and J. D. Schwalm – First Man Guillaume Rocheron , Greg Butler , and Dominic Tuohy – 1917 Andrew Jackson , David Lee , Andrew Lockley , and Scott R. Fisher – Tenet 2021–present
1970s 1980s 1990s
Stan Winston (1991)Ken Ralston , Tom Woodruff Jr., and Alec Gillis (1992)Dennis Muren , Stan Winston , Phil Tippett , and Michael Lantieri (1993)John Bruno (1994)Stan Parks (1995)Volker Engel , Clay Pinney , Douglas Smith , and Joe Viskocil (1996)Phil Tippett , Scott E. Anderson , Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr., John Richardson (1997)Volker Engel , Patrick Tatopoulos , Karen E. Goulekas , and Clay Pinney (1998)Rob Coleman , John Knoll , Dennis Muren , and Scott Squires (1999) 2000s
Scott E. Anderson , Craig Hayes , Scott Stokdyk , and Stan Parks (2000)Dennis Muren , Scott Farrar , Stan Winston , Michael Lantieri (2001)Rob Coleman , Pablo Helman , John Knoll , and Ben Snow (2002)Jim Rygiel , Joe Letteri , Randall William Cook , and Alex Funke (2003)John Dykstra , Scott Stokdyk , Anthony LaMolinara , and John Frazier (2004)Joe Letteri , Richard Taylor , Christian Rivers , and Brian Van't Hul (2005)John Knoll , Hal T. Hickel , Charles Gibson , and Allen Hall (2006)Scott Farrar , Scott Benza , Russell Earl , and John Frazier (2007)Nick Davis , Chris Corbould , Timothy Webber , and Paul J. Franklin (2008)Joe Letteri , Stephen Rosenbaum , Richard Baneham , and Andrew R. Jones (2009) 2010s
Chris Corbould , Andrew Lockley , Paul J. Franklin , and Peter Bebb (2010)Dan Lemmon , Joe Letteri , R. Christopher White , and Daniel Barrett (2011)Janek Sirrs , Jeff White , Guy Williams , and Dan Sudick (2012)Tim Webber , Chris Lawrence , Dave Shirk , and Neil Corbould (2013)Paul J. Franklin , Andrew Lockley , Ian Hunter , and Scott R. Fisher (2014)Roger Guyett , Patrick Tubach , Neal Scanlan , and Chris Corbould (2015)John Knoll , Mohen Leo , Hal Hickel , and Neil Corbould (2016)Christopher Townsend , Guy Williams , Jonathan Fawkner , and Dan Sudick (2017)Dan DeLeeuw , Matt Aitken , Russell Earl , and Dan Sudick (2018/19)Roger Guyett , Neal Scanlan , Patrick Tubach , and Dominic Tuohy (2019/20) 2020s Note: The years are listed as per convention, usually the year of film release; the ceremonies are usually held the next year.
