James Cameron looks back on his career and the fabulous choice he made to get involved with a flipped out
special effects creator, teaming up with award winner Stan Winston Studios.
"I can count on the fingers of one hand the people who have really made a difference to me in my life as a
film-maker. These are the ones who, in addition to becoming lifelong friends, have also inspired, mentored,
partnered and challenged. Stan Winston is one of these."
"I met Stan in 1983 when I was looking for someone to realise the effects and makeup for The Terminator. I
was a young punk who wanted to set the world on fire, with a folio full of sketches and a lot of ideas for
how to do effects on the cheap. Stan had been recommended by another makeup artist, who warned me that Stan
was "a little crazy". At our first meeting this proved to be correct. Stan was crazy in exactly the way I
love. He was passionate about his work, larger than life, funny in a way that challenges you to step up
and play, full of frenzied energy like a mad scientist."
"He liked my drawings, despite the fact that he could have easily designed the character himself, and we
immediately started brainstorming how we might accomplish something that had never been done before: to
create the ultimate robotic character. Not a guy in a robot suit, but a highly credible "endoskeleton"
powered by servos and hydraulics. It was the holy grail of movie robot characters, and in an age before
CGI seemed almost impossible to pull off, especially on a low budget. But Stan was game. Not daunted, but
excited by the possibilities."
"Stan and his team did an amazing job on a pinched budget, and created one of film's iconic fantasy characters.
What I didn't expect, and what I came to admire more than the artistry and technical wizardry, was Stan's most
amazing gift: the ability to lead a team. Running a team of young artists is like herding cats. Stan is somehow
able to inspire people to do the best work of their lives, while still maintaining a firm grip on command."
"Stan is a gifted artist and sculptor himself, but artistic ego can often make a team leader ineffective by
blunting the creativity of those under him. While nobody could accuse Stan of lacking an ego, he manages to lead
by example without eclipsing his guys."
"In fact he has always honoured and celebrated them, letting each shine in their own way, while still serving the
greater cause of the movie and Stan Winston Studio."
"I worked with Stan and his team again on Aliens in 1985-86, then again on Terminator 2: Judgment Day and later on
T2-3D. They are working with me as I write, designing characters for my new film Avatar, 23 years later. Aliens
brought Stan a well-deserved Oscar, and he got another one for Terminator 2. There is nothing more satisfying than
collaborating with friends, and having that collaboration lead to success for them. Stan and I are still best friends.
We ride motorcycles on Sunday mornings, and talk about new ideas for cool creatures and characters. Stan retains the
same twinkle in his eye that I was so struck by when I first met him."
"He's busy these days not only, as always, creating the most amazing fantasy characters for movies, but also designing
his own line of toys and comic books. He's a kid who never grew up, and he inspires me every day in something which I
believe is critical for anyone plying their trade in the worlds of fantasy or science fiction - staying in touch with
your inner adolescent."
Stan Winstons new book 'The Winston Effect: The Art and History of Stan Winston Studio' (Titan Books) is going to
published on November 24, 2006. Go grab yourself one, while they last.
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