Christopher James Walas (born 1955) is an American special effects artist, make-up effects artist, film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on the film The Fly (1986),[1] for which he won an Academy Award and was nominated for two British Academy Film Awards.

Biography

His main body of work is with special effects in a wide variety of films, from science fiction to action-adventure. His work on The Fly led to his directorial debut on The Fly II.[2] He also won an Academy Award for Special Effects Make-up on The Fly and is well known for his creation of the Gremlins. Walas was also partially responsible for creating the famous sequence in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Nazis melt from the intense heat created by the Ark of the Covenant.[3] Walas created false heads for Ronald Lacey, Wolf Kahler, and Paul Freeman.

Filmographies

Special effects

2002 Dark Heaven designer: angels
1991 Curse III: Blood Sacrifice monster design
1991 Naked Lunch special effects and monster design
1990 Arachnophobia creature effects supervisor
1989 The Fly II effects designer and creator: Chris Walas Inc.
1987 House II: The Second Story makeup and creature effects designer
1986 The Fly creature effects
1985 Enemy Mine aliens creator and designer: Chris Walas Inc.
special creature makeup and effects director: Chris Walas Inc.
1984 Gremlins creator: Gremlins
1983 Return of the Jedi creature consultant
1982 E.T. the Extraterrestrial model maker (uncredited)
1981 Dragonslayer close-up dragon: ILM
1980 Airplane! special projects
1980 Humanoids from the Deep special effects (uncredited)
1979 Up from the Depths special effects
1978 Piranha special properties

Makeup effects

1995 Jade special makeup effects
1995 Virtuosity special makeup effects
1989 Tales from the Crypt: "The Switch" special makeup effects
1985 Enemy Mine special makeup effects
1984 Gremlins special makeup effects
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark special makeup effects: ILM
1981 Caveman creator: abominable snowman
1981 Scanners special makeup effects
1980 Galaxina special makeup effects
1979 Something Waits in the Dark (later known as Screamers) special makeup effects, U.S. filmed additions to L'isola degli uomini pesce

Visual effects

2002 Dark Heaven visual effects

Director

1992 The Vagrant
1990 Tales from the Crypt: "'Til Death"
1989 The Fly II

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1985 12th Saturn Awards Best Special Effects Gremlins Won
1986 13th Saturn Awards Best Make-up Enemy Mine Nominated
1987 59th Academy Awards Best Makeup The Fly Won
14th Saturn Awards Best Make-up Won
1988 41st British Academy Film Awards Best Make-up Artist Nominated
Best Special Effects Nominated
1993 2nd Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Makeup Effects Naked Lunch Nominated

References

  1. ^ Staff (2 June 2022). "From The Fly to A History of Violence: our writers pick their favourite Cronenberg movies". The Guardian. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Chris Eggertsen (28 April 2016). "Bring on the Gore: Top Ten Practical Effects in Horror!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Kelso Jacks (29 March 2020). "How Raiders of the Lost Ark's Face Melt Was Filmed (Without CGI)". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Walas
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