
John Dykstra
Visual effects · b. 1947 · Long Beach, California, USA
John Charles Dykstra, A.S.C. (/ˈdaɪkstrə/; born June 3, 1947) is an American special effects artist, a pioneer in developing computers in filmmaking and a recipient of three Academy Awards, among many other awards and prizes. He was one of the original employees of Industrial Light & Magic, the special effects and computer graphics division of Lucasfilm. He is well known as the special effects lead on the original Star Wars, helping bring the original visuals for lightsabers, space battles between X-wings and TIE fighters, and Force powers to the screen. He also led special effects on many other movies, including Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Stuart Little, X-Men: First Class, Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Dykstra, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movies14
Movie8.0DocumentaryAn eight-part behind-the-scenes featurette, charting the film from pre-production through post-production, including visual effects techniques and cataloguing “X-Men” transformations through prosthetic make up and costume design
Children of the Atom - Filming X-Men: First Class
2011 · 4 votes
Movie7.0DocumentaryTV MovieHow a new director and cast created a new version of Gotham's classic good and bad guys.
Riddle Me This: Why Is Batman Forever?
1995 · 18 votes
Movie6.2DocumentaryStanley Kubrick's groundbreaking 2001: A Space Odyssey opened the door to all the films and filmmakers who followed it. Through interviews with directors such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Sydney Pollack - as well as special effects professionals and cultural historians - this documentary examines the legacy of Kubrick's masterpiece and its influence on science fiction films, special effects and world cinema.
Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001
2007 · 8 votes
Movie6.7DocumentaryScience FictionA nostalgic journey through ’80s Sci-Fi-films, exploring their impact and relevance today, told by the artists who made them and by those who were inspired to turn their visions into reality.
In Search of Tomorrow
2022 · 33 votes
Movie6.7DocumentaryTV MovieLeslie Iwerks' documentary takes audiences behind the scenes at ILM with in depth interviews with some of the company's top talent and showcases never before seen footage highlighting many of their pioneering milestones. From creating the first ever computer generated character in a feature film to the latest advancements in visual effects for film franchises like Transformers and Iron Man, ILM has created some of the most memorable movie moments in recent history.
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
2010 · 33 votes
Movie5.8DocumentaryDocumentary on the making of 'Spider-Man.'
Behind the Ultimate Spin: The Making of 'Spider-Man'
2002 · 9 votes
Movie4.7DocumentaryScience FictionA documentary about the making of, and legacy of, the Forbidden Planet movie.
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
2006 · 3 votes
MovieDocumentaryAn "Ock-umentary" exploring the character of Doc Ock and the way he as well as his tentacles were brought to life on the silver screen.
Movie5.3Documentary"The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz" - a featurette narrated by Sydney Pollack.
The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
2005 · 3 votes
Movie7.0DocumentaryDocumentary shot during the production of Firefox.
Clint Eastwood: Director
1982 · 1 votes
Movie10.0DocumentaryA documentary about the making of director Rob Minkoff's feature film, "Stuart Little" that first aired on HBO.
Stuart Little: Making It Big
1999 · 1 votes
- MovieDocumentary
A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the sci-fi classic Lifeforce, directed by Tobe Hooper, and special effects created by Oscar award winning John Dykstra.
Movie6.0DocumentaryThis documentary about "2001: A Space Odyssey" looks at some of the things that seemed fanciful in 1968, which don't seem quite as much anymore.
Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001
2007 · 4 votes
Movie7.0DocumentaryA short documentary about Robby the Robot.
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
2006 · 1 votes
Series4
TV7.0An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially the Academy Award of Merit, that is better known by its nickname Oscar.
The Oscars
1953 · 84 votes
TV7.1DocumentaryIn honor of the sci-fi franchise’s 55th anniversary this year and produced by The Nacelle Company, the project will feature interviews with cast, crew and experts as it explores pivotal moments in the franchise’s history, from its inception at Lucille Ball’s production company Desilu to recent film and television adaptations.
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
2021 · 17 votes
TV7.9DocumentaryWhen George Lucas set out to make Star Wars, little did he know he would end up revolutionizing an industry. This is the story of a team of creative geniuses who put the magic in the movies we love.
LIGHT & MAGIC
2022 · 62 votes
TV8.5NewsVH1 Goes Inside
2003 · 2 votes