Special Effects: How They Are Done In Hollywood - Paperback

by Lillian W. Kump (Illustrator), Victoria Willard (Illustrator), Robert G. Willard (Author)

This work is an educational and resourceful book about making Hollywood style special effects. These are tips on real-time and pyrotechnical special effects. Professionals, hobbyists and students will find working knowledge about creating real-time effects. The books includes many charts, diagrams and photos depicting the craft of special effects. Technical procedures are based on the author's thirty-four years of experience on major motion pictures, as well as knowledge acquired from other masters. Content subjects include discussions on rigging, atmospheric effects, break-a-way gags, pyrotechnics, fire, chemicals and motion picture terminology.

Author Biography

Robert G Willard has spent the past 34 years in the "Motion Picture" industry. The vast majority of those years were spent as a Special Effects Technician and a Special Effects Coordinator. Bob has worked on over 100 Feature Film, Commercial, and Rock Video productions. Some of the high profile motion pictures he worked on include: "The Last Samurai", "Top Gun", "Popeye", "Clear and Present Danger", and "Underdog". The most watched Television project is the reality series "Wipeout", where he designed and built many of the challenges. The most famous "Rock Video", was "Thriller" with Michael Jackson. Bob has been a producer or a production manager, and has directed Special Effects sequences in several projects. Bob worked in the "Theme Park" arena, building parks in Tama, and Oita Japan, Orlando Florida, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He worked on the iconic "Ghostbusters" and "E. T." attractions in Orlando, and Universal Studios. Bob often lectured at several institutions of higher education as well as many civic organizations, including ones in other countries. He has been a regular guest lecturer at Dixie State College for the past twenty years He was educated at The University of Utah, and did Post Graduate work at Brigham Young University, where he taught classes as a Graduate Assistant. Bob served as a judge for the Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences in the area of the Technical Awards. As part of his service in the "Motion Picture" industry, he developed and taught a "Special Effects" class in behalf of the "Producers Guild" and in conjunction with the union (The International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees, Local 44). He taught with one of his mentors, Joe Lombardi. The class purpose was to help advance Local members from the craft of "Prop Shop", to the craft of "Special Effects". Bob retired from active participation in the "Motion Picture" industry. He is currently an adjunct Professor in the Digital Film department at Dixie State University. He developed curriculum for "Below the Line" crafts for the film industry. He teaches classes in "Special Effects", "Lighting and Grip", "Production Design", and "Art Direction and Set Construction". He also is part of the production company, "The Center for Media Innovation", at the University where he works as a Production Manager. He also participates as a judge for DOCUTAH an up and coming Film Festival centered at Dixie State University.