Tom Woodruff Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | |
Alma mater | Lycoming College |
Occupations | |
Years active | 1984–present |
Spouse | Tami Spitler (m. 1983) |
Children | 3 |
Tom Woodruff Jr. (born January 21, 1959) is an American actor, director, producer and special effects supervisor. He won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects for his work on the 1992 dark fantasy film Death Becomes Her ; that same year he was also nominated for the same award for Alien 3 .
Some of his most notable works include: Starship Troopers (1997), Cast Away (2000), It (2017) and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018). [1]
Woodruff was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on January 21, 1959. He grew up in nearby Loyalsock Township, Pennsylvania and attended Loyalsock Township High School and graduated in 1977. Upon graduating high school, he enrolled at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania where he earned a dual degree in business administration and theater. [2] Woodruff grew up a fan of films with monsters and creatures and created an interest in doing similar effects, working around the lack of materials in his city – in his own words, the only theatrical makeup supplies to be found was greasepaint at the back of a local pharmacy - such as using art class to create masks based on Planet of the Apes out of plaster bandages. [3]
After graduating college, Woodruff moved to Los Angeles with his wife in 1982, pursuing his dream of working with special effects. [2] He worked in a camera store while using his free time to visit studios seeking a job, and after six months he managed to become a make-up artist in the 1983 movie Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn . After production wrapped one of his co-workers would bring Woodruff as a make-up assistant in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , [4] with that film's lead make-up artist Tom Burman bringing Woodruff along to The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension . Once Woodruff worked in 1984's The Terminator as an assistant special effects supervisor, [5] he would join Stan Winston Studios, working with the effects crew on the 1986 films The Vindicator and Aliens , in the latter also making his debut on screen playing a Salvager. [6] [7] This would soon be followed by Woodruff playing many creatures in the movie he did effects for, such as Gill-man in the 1987 comedy-action film The Monster Squad , the eponymous demon from Pumpkinhead , and the Alien.
In 1988, as Stan Winston prepared to direct A Gnome Named Gnorm and scale back on big effects work, Woodruff and fellow Stan Winston Studios effects supervisor Alec Gillis left his company and founded effects studio Amalgamated Dynamics in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. The company soon became highly requested in Hollywood, with movies such as Alien 3, Death Becomes Her (both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, won by the latter), Demolition Man, Wolf and Starship Troopers . [8] To date the company has worked on over 150 film and television projects, growing in size and scope, starting from just the duo working in three to four movies at once to a team of 95 people in 2004's Alien vs. Predator . [4] In the 2010s, Woodruff has continued to do practical effects in films such as Grown Ups 2 , Ender's Game , Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 , Harbinger Down , Unnatural , It , Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Godzilla: King of the Monsters . [9]
In 1993 his alma mater Lycoming College awarded Woodruff the Dr. James E. Douthat Outstanding Achievement Award for alumni.
In early 2017 Woodruff and his company Amalgamated Dynamics announced they would be creating and designing the cosmetics for Pennywise in the Andy Muschietti directed horror film It. In addition to Pennywise Woodruff and business partner Alec Gillis designed and built the dead bodies for the corridors for the film. [10] Woodruff in particular designed and made the teeth for Pennywise with a great deal of comfort needed for actor Bill Skarsgård portraying Pennywise to be able to speak clearly and smile in a way needed for the film. His contributions in this area were recognized by Muschietti after the film's release when he said "... without all the hard work from Tom, Alec and all the guys Pennywise wouldn't have had such a big impact on the audience that it did. [11]
Woodruff and his team received praise for their work on It. They were nominated for Best Makeup by Hawaii Film Critics Society and again at the 44th Saturn Awards. [12] [13]
Woodruff and Amalgamated Dynamics were the designers and builders of the life like dinosaurs in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom . [14]
In 2019 Woodruff served as the lead creature character designer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Also in 2019 he served as an executive producer for the short film Playtime which was released on March 9, 2019. [15] He played Burke in the horror film The Mortuary Collection . In 2019 it was revealed Woodruff and his company would be used during the filming of Godzilla vs. Kong . [16] The film completed filming in early 2020 and Woodruff was credited as miniature effects supervisor. In late 2019 it was announced Woodruff would serve as the creature designer for the upcoming Guest House film. Director Benjamin L. Brown confirmed Woodruff would have a role in his upcoming horror film Severed Road. Woodruff is also the executive producer in the upcoming science fiction film Wellwood . [17] [18] In 2022, Woodruff worked in both Smile and Prey . [3]
In 1983 Woodruff married fellow Loyalsock and Lycoming grad Tami Spitler. [19] The couple have three children named David, Taylor and Connor. In 2013 Woodruff delivered the commencement speech at his alma mater Lycoming College. [20] In 2019 Woodruff and his wife moved back home to Pennsylvania, settling back in their home-town of Loyalsock Township. [4] Woodruff's son, David T. Woodruff, works in special effects and costumed acting like his father today. [21]
Year | Series | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Monsters | Herbert | |
1990 | Tales from the Crypt | Utility Monster | |
1998 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Kirby the Gorilla | |
1999 | Chicago Hope | Stevie | |
1999 | Seven Days | Kiki the Gorilla | |
2011 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Bernie the Gorilla | |
2012 | Harry's Law | Gorilla | |
2013 | Blood and Guts with Scott Ian | Himself | |
Horror Halku | Demon Rufus | ||
2016 | Zoo | Gorilla Suit Performer | |
2019 | Room 104 | Elmer |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Film | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Saturn Awards | Best Special Effects | Tremors | Nominated | Nomination shared with
|
1992 | Academy Awards | Best Visual Effects | Death Becomes Her | Won | Win shared with
|
Alien 3 | Nominated | Nomination shared with
| |||
British Academy Film Awards | Best Special Effects | Death Becomes Her | Won | Win shared with
| |
Alien 3 | Nominated | Nomination shared with
| |||
1993 | Awards Circuit Community | Best Special Effects | Death Becomes Her | Won | Win shared with
|
Alien 3 | Nominated | Nomination shared with
| |||
Saturn Awards | Best Special Effects | Death Becomes Her | Won | Win shared with
| |
Alien 3 | Nominated | Nomination shared with
| |||
1995 | Saturn Awards | Best Make-Up | The Santa Clause | Nominated | Nomination shared with
|
1998 | Saturn Awards | Best Special Effects | Starship Troopers | Won | Win shared with
|
Alien Resurrection | Nominated | Nomination shared with
| |||
1999 | Saturn Awards | Best Make-Up | The X-Files | Nominated | Nomination shared with
|
2001 | Saturn Awards | The 6th Day | Nominated | Nomination shared with
| |
2012 | Rondo Hatton Awards | Best Short Film | Joe Comes to Life | Nominated | — |
Saturn Awards | Best Make-Up | The Thing | Nominated | Nomination shared with
| |
2017 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best Makeup & SFX | The Monster | Won | Win shared with
|
2018 | Hawaii Film Critics Society | Best Makeup | It | Nominated | Nomination shared with
|
44th Saturn Awards | Best Makeup | It | Nominated | Nomination shared with
| |
2023 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards [22] | Best Creature FX | Prey | Won | Nomination shared with
|
Godzilla is a fictional monster, or kaiju, that debuted in the eponymous 1954 film, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda. The character has since become an international pop culture icon, appearing in various media: 33 Japanese films produced by Toho Co., Ltd., five American films, and numerous video games, novels, comic books, and television shows. Godzilla has been dubbed the King of the Monsters, an epithet first used in Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956), the American localization of the 1954 film.
Kaiju is a Japanese term that is commonly associated with media involving giant monsters. The kaiju film genre is credited to tokusatsu director Eiji Tsuburaya and filmmaker Ishirō Honda, who popularized it by creating the Godzilla franchise and its spin-offs. The term can also refer to the monsters themselves, which are usually depicted attacking major cities and battling either the military or other creatures.
Alien vs. Predator is a science fiction action-horror media franchise created by comic book writers Randy Stradley and Chris Warner. The series is a crossover between, and part of, the larger Alien and Predator franchises, depicting the two species — Xenomorph (Alien) and Yautja (Predator) — as being in conflict with one another.
Alien vs. Predator is a 2004 science fiction action horror film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, and starring Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen, Ewen Bremner, Colin Salmon, and Tommy Flanagan. It is the first film installment of the Alien vs. Predator franchise, the fifth film in the Alien franchise and third film of the Predator franchise, adapting a crossover bringing together the eponymous creatures of the Alien and Predator series, a concept which originated in a 1989 comic book written by Randy Stradley and Chris Warner. Anderson wrote the story, with the creators of the Alien franchise, Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett receiving additional story credit due to the incorporation of elements from the Alien series, and Anderson and Shane Salerno adapted the story into a screenplay. Their writing was influenced by Aztec mythology, the comic book series, and the writings of Erich von Däniken. In the film, scientists are caught in the crossfire of an ancient battle between Aliens and Predators as they attempt to escape a bygone pyramid.
Godzilla is a 1998 American monster film directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich. Produced by TriStar Pictures, Centropolis Entertainment, Fried Films, and Independent Pictures, and distributed by TriStar, it is a reboot of Toho Co., Ltd.'s Godzilla franchise. It is also the 23rd film in the franchise and the first Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. The film stars Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Kevin Dunn, Michael Lerner, and Harry Shearer. The film is dedicated to Tomoyuki Tanaka, the co-creator and producer of various Godzilla films, who died in April 1997. In the film, authorities investigate and battle a giant monster who migrates to New York City to nest its young.
Gigan is a kaiju from Toho's Godzilla franchise who first appeared in the 1972 film, Godzilla vs. Gigan. Gigan is a giant extraterrestrial space monster, resembling a species of reptile, who was turned into a cyborg by the alien race known as the Nebulans. Gigan sports a huge buzzsaw in its frontal abdominal region, large metallic hooks for hands, and a birdlike beak. Gigan is considered one of Godzilla's most brutal and violent opponents, and the first kaiju in the Toho sci-fi series to make him noticeably bleed. Complex listed the character as No. 2 on its "The 15 Most Badass Kaiju Monsters of All Time" list.
Godzilla is a Japanese monster, or kaiju, that has been featured in films, television series, novels, comic books, video games, and other merchandise. The films series are centered on the fictional kaiju Godzilla, a prehistoric reptilian monster awakened and powered by nuclear radiation. The films series are recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "longest continuously running film series", having been in ongoing production since 1954, with several hiatuses of varying lengths. There are 38 Godzilla films: 33 Japanese films produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., and five American films; one by TriStar Pictures and four films by Legendary Pictures.
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem is a 2007 American science fiction horror action film starring Steven Pasquale, Reiko Aylesworth, John Ortiz, Johnny Lewis and Ariel Gade. The directorial debut of The Brothers Strause, the film was written by Shane Salerno and is a direct sequel to Alien vs. Predator (2004) as well as the second and latest installment in the Alien vs. Predator franchise, the sixth film in the Alien franchise and the fourth film in the Predator franchise, continuing the crossover between the Alien and Predator franchises.
A monster movie, monster film, creature feature or giant monster film is a film that focuses on one or more characters struggling to survive attacks by one or more antagonistic monsters, often abnormally large ones. The film may also fall under the horror, comedy, fantasy, or science fiction genres. Monster movies originated with adaptations of horror folklore and literature.
Loyalsock Township High School is a medium-sized, suburban high school located in Loyalsock Township, Pennsylvania. As of the 2016–2017 school year, the school reported an enrollment of 597 pupils in grades 9th through 12th.
The Thing is a 2011 science fiction horror film directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., written by Eric Heisserer, and starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Eric Christian Olsen. It is a direct prequel to the 1982 film of the same name by John Carpenter, which was an adaptation of the 1938 novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell. It tells the story of a team of scientists on a Norwegian Antarctic research station who discover a parasitic alien buried deep in the ice, realizing too late that it is still alive.
Gareth James Edwards is a British film director and screenwriter. He gained recognition for Monsters (2010), an independent film in which he served as writer, director, cinematographer, and visual effects artist. He subsequently directed the big-budget adventure film Godzilla (2014) and the science fiction films Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), The Creator (2023), and the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth (2025).
Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI) is an American visual effects company specializing in animatronics and prosthetic make-up, headquartered in Chatsworth, California. It was founded in 1988 by Stan Winston alumni Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis, who hails from Phoenix, Arizona. Notable work includes Death Becomes Her, for which they won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Starship Troopers, which was also nominated for an Academy Award, and the practical creature effects seen in the Alien franchise from Alien 3 onward. Woodruff also portrays creatures in the films ADI works on, such as the Alien.
Harbinger Down is a 2015 American independent science-fiction monster horror film written and directed by Alec Gillis and produced by Tom Woodruff Jr., the founders of the special effects company StudioADI, and starring Lance Henriksen.
George Gibbs was a British special effects artist who is best known for his work in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Creature suits are realistic costumes used to disguise a performer as an animal, monster, or other being. They are used in film, television, or as costumed characters in live events. Unlike mascots, they are often made with a high degree of realism. In contrast with prosthetic makeup, which is applied to an actor's skin, the wearer is not normally visible outside their movements controlling the costume, although in some cases, part of the wearer's body is still visible.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a 2019 American monster film directed and co-written by Michael Dougherty. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a sequel to Godzilla (2014) and the third film in the Monsterverse. It is also the 35th film in the Godzilla franchise, and the third Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. The film stars Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O'Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe, and Zhang Ziyi. In the film, eco-terrorists release King Ghidorah, who awakens other monsters known as "Titans" across the world, forcing Godzilla and Mothra to surface and engage Ghidorah and Rodan in a decisive battle.
Wellwood is a 2018 science fiction film directed by Eliza Hooper.