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Bill Westenhofer is a visual effects supervisor for Rhythm and Hues Studios , for which he has worked since 1994. His hometown is Brookfield, Connecticut , where he graduated from Brookfield High School in 1986. He then earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from Bucknell University in 1990.[ 1] George Washington University in 1995, where he studied the use of dynamics in physically based animation.[ 2]
In 1994, he joined Rhythm & Hues as a technical director, and Westenhofer’s lighting and effects animation work was featured in Batman Forever Speed 2: Cruise Control Spawn Mouse Hunt Kazaam Waterworld [ 3] Elf The Rundown Stuart Little 2 Men in Black II Cats & Dogs Along Came a Spider Frequency Stuart Little Babe: Pig in the City
In 2005, Westenhofer supervised a team of 400 digital artists on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Oscar for Best Visual Effects . Later he would win both the BAFTA and the Academy Award for the 2007 release The Golden Compass [ 4] Life of Pi [ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
"What I was trying to say up there is that at a time when visual effects movies are dominating the box office, visual effects companies are struggling," Westenhofer told reporters. "And I wanted to point out that we aren't technicians. Visual effects is not just a commodity that's being done by people pushing buttons. We're artists, and if we don't find a way to fix the business model, we start to lose the artistry. If anything, 'Life of Pi' shows that we're artists and not just technicians."
Westenhofer will also work as VFX supervisor for Wonder Woman [ 8]
References
^ Dirk Perrefort (May 14, 2010). "Teacher inspired Brookfield's Oscar winner" . Gloucester Daily Times . Retrieved June 18, 2010 . ^ Alexa Millinger (February 28, 2008). "Alumnus wins Oscar for "The Golden Compass" . The GW Hatchet . Retrieved June 18, 2010 . ^ http://www.rhythm.com/features/vfx-supervisors/bill-westenhofer/ [permanent dead link ^ Rick DeMott (February 10, 2008). "Ratatouille Smells Sweet at BAFTAs" . Animation World Network . Retrieved June 18, 2010 . ^ "The army of Narnia: Bill Westenhofer reveals the magic behind the beasties" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 18, 2010 .^ "Biggest Oscars snub: A shark attack on the VFX industry" . The San Francisco Chronicle .^ "Uninterrupted Statement from "Life of Pi" VFX Winner" .^ "Gersh, CEC, WPA Book Clients" . Variety . August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015 .
External links
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
