STAN WINSTON
Special Effects Master

Stan Winston is one of the most famous make-up and creature effects artists in the industry today. His work includes Terminator; Terminator 2: Judgment Day; Aliens (Queen); Predator; Predator 2; Edward Scissorhands; Batman Returns (Penquin); Interview With a Vampire; Pumpkinhead, Galaxy Quest; Small Soldiers; The Relic; The Time Machine (morlocks); and many other films. 

As a child Winston loved puppetry and mask making. At age 13 he began shooting his own monster movies on Super 8. His other interests included painting, sculpting and drawing. Stan Winston took these interests farther attending the University of Virginia, studing Drama and Fine Arts. In 1969 he moved to Hollywood where he was accepted to a highly competitive special effects and make-up apprenticeship program that was run by Walt Disney Studios. He would work under the tutelage of Bob Schiffer, who was head of make-up at the time. 

During this time he had wanted to become an actor, to wear the make-up and bring the characters to life. Working for Disney he discovered this was his true calling. He would set out from Disney and begin sculpting and creating make-up for the TV movie "Gargoyles" in 1972. 

It was while working on Jurassic Park that Stan Winston realized the potential of computer effects and started his own company "Digital Domain" with James Cameron and Scott Ross, who was at one time chief of special effects for Industrial Light and Magic. Digital Domain is one of the leading special effects companies in the entertainment industry today. Winston also has his own make-up and creature facility (The Stan Winston Studios) located in Van Nuys, California. His company employs more than 100 artists and technicians. The studio creates his characters/creatures using animatronics, full body suits, puppetry, special effects make-up and computer CGI. Constantly mixing and matching techniques to create the ultimate monsters on the screen today. 

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