- Jim Rygiel
Jim Rygiel was the visual effects supervisor on "
The Lord of the Rings " movie trilogy.Career
Pacific Electric Pictures
Starting his career in 1980, Jim joined
Pacific Electric Pictures , one of the earliest companies to employ computer animation for the advertising and film markets.Digital Productions
In 1983, Jim's work took him to
Digital Productions where he began work on "The Last Starfighter " (1984), a film notable for its pioneering use of digital imaging in place of models. While at Digital Productions, Jim's commercial work was nominated for numerous awards, winning a prestigious CLIO award for the introduction of theSony Walkman .Pacific Data Images and Metrolight
From 1987 to 1989, Jim supervised numerous projects while at visual effects companies
Pacific Data Images (PDI) and Metrolight.Boss Film Studios
In 1989, Jim was asked to form and head a computer animation department at
Boss Film Studios . This department of one grew to over 75 animators and 100 support staff within a little more than a year, winning several awards, including a CLIO Award for the Geo Prism automobile commercial. While at Boss, Jim supervised many feature films, both as Digital Effects Supervisor and Visual Effects Supervisor.His credits there include "Starship Troopers", "Species", "Outbreak", "Air Force One", "The Scout", "The Last Action Hero", "Cliffhanger", "Batman Returns", "Alien III", and "Ghost".
Post-Boss Films career
After Boss Films closure he went on to supervise "The Parent Trap", "",
Anna and the King , and "102 Dalmatians ".Awards and nominations
In 2002, Jim received the
American Film Institute 's first AFI Digital Effects Artist of the Year award, theAcademy Award and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts award for Best Visual Effects for his work on "". Jim is a member of theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as theAcademy of Television Arts & Sciences , and The British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Education
Rygiel attended St Joseph Catholic high school in Kenosha, Wisonsin. He holds a bachelor of
fine arts from theUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee . In 1980, he received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Otis Parsons School of Design (now calledOtis College of Art and Design ).References
* [http://shashwatdc.blogspot.com Tech Journalist's Blog] There is an interview of Jim Rygiel with a journalist based in India, Shashwat D.C.
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