The title of this spot.com.mentary column is also the title of an imaginative adidas spot from 2005 in which the centerpieces are beautifully crafted, life-like models of NBA players Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and Tim Duncan.
Directed by Rupert Sanders (now with MJZ) for agency TBWAChiatDay, San Francisco, the memorable spot featured visual effects by Method, Santa Monica, and the Stan Winston Studio in Van Nuys, Calif. Stan Winston passed away last month at the age of 62 due to complications from multiple myeloma.
“Made To Perfection” is aptly titled when it comes to describing the makeup, creature creation and visual effects work of Winston who is best known for his feature film accomplishments, perhaps most notably on Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Jurassic Park which collectively earned him four Academy Awards.
Winston’s talent was reflected in such other films as Batman Returns, Lost World and Edward Scissorhands. For the latter, Winston and his studio colleagues designed and created the makeup, the scissors and blade appendages for the lead character.
Among team Winston’s latest endeavors were creating the crystal skeletons for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the character suits for Iron Man and the Iron Monger in the movie Iron Man.
Winston’s makeup also garnered a pair of Emmys, including one for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman for which actress Cicely Tyson was aged into a 110-year-old woman.
Yet somewhat overshadowed–and not all that well known in the general public–were Winston’s artistic contributions to assorted commercials over the years. In fact last month the two Film Grand Prix winners at the Cannes International Advertising Festival–Cadbury’s “Gorilla” and the Xbox Halo 3 fare–had the indelible imprint of Winston Studio artistry.
Also graced by the Winston touch were such SHOOT Top Spots over the years as Altoids’ “Half-Deer Edward,” Orkin’s “Pizza Delivery,” the FedEx Super Bowl commercial “Stick” and Hummer H3’s “Monsters.” Add to that ad menu such creations as the Aflac duck, Burger King’s king and the Budweiser frogs and lizards.
At next month’s SIGGRAPH conference, as part of the Computer Animation Festival proceedings, three studios are slated to make evening presentations. One of them, Sony Pictures Imageworks, decided to change the focus and theme of its session upon learning of Winston’s death. The effects studio will present a tribute to Winston and his work.
During a SIGGRAPH press preview event, Don Levy of Sony related, “We took a right turn from what we originally planned to this tribute recognizing Stan, who was an industry changing influence on how we approach filmmaking and visual effects.”
Winston is survived by son, Matt; wife, Karen; daughter, Debbie; brother, Ronnie; and four grandchildren.
In Stan Winston’s memory, his family requests that instead of flowers, donations be made to the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research in West Hollywood, Free Arts For Abused Children in Los Angeles or the United States Fund for UNICEF in New York.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Reach Divorce Settlement After 8 Years
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a divorce settlement, ending one of the longest and most contentious divorces in Hollywood history but not every legal issue between the two.
Jolie and Pitt signed off on a default declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, saying they have entered into a written agreement on their marital and property rights. The settlement was first reported by People magazine.
"More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt," Jolie's attorney, James Simon, said in a statement. "She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over."
The filing says they give up the right to any future spousal financial support, but gives no other details. A judge will need to sign off on the agreement. An email late Monday night to Pitt's attorney seeking comment was not immediately answered.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, were among Hollywood's most prominent pairings for 12 years, two of them as a married couple. The Oscar winners have six children together.
Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, after a private jet flight from Europe during which she said Pitt physically abused her and their children. The FBI and child services officials investigated Pitt's actions on the flight. Two months later, the FBI released a statement saying it would not investigate further, and the U.S. attorney did not bring charges.
A heavily redacted FBI report obtained by The Associated Press in 2022 said that an agent provided a probable cause... Read More