Joe Viskocil
Birth dateDecember 21, 1952
Death dateAugust 11, 2014 (aged 61)
Death placeLos Angeles, California
OccupationVisual effects artist
Years active1974–2014

Joseph Viskocil (December 21, 1952 – August 11, 2014) was an American special effects artist who had over 80 film credits from 1974 to 2014. He created special effects for some of the most famous movie franchises and was awarded an Academy Award for his work on Independence Day (1996).

Career

In 1977, Viskocil assisted John Dykstra and George Lucas in creating the pyrotechnics for Star Wars, including the explosion of the Death Star at the film's climax.[1] In 1980, he returned to create pyrotechnics for The Empire Strikes Back.[1] For the next three decades, he worked on films from the most famous franchises, including Ghostbusters, Batman and Star Trek.[1]

After serving as pyrotechnics supervisor for the 1996 film Independence Day, Viskocil was awarded the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects alongside Volker Engel, Douglas Smith and Clay Pinney at the 69th Academy Awards.[1] Viskocil and miniature supervisor Mike Joyce were responsible for the creation of a 15-foot-wide, 5-foot-high (4.57 metres by 1.52 metres) miniature of the White House, built for destruction during the film.[2]

Style

In the 1990s, Viskocil opposed using computer-generated imagery in the creation of some special effects:

When it comes to pyro techniques, what was done 50 years ago is still good today. There are a billion chemicals out there now that one can add, subtract or manipulate to create a desired effect.[3]

Following the September 11 attacks, Viskocil expressed guilt over making the explosions in Independence Day appear lifelike, saying "I started thinking maybe I did my job too well, and it might have been the nucleus of an idea for someone to say: ‘Hey, let’s crash a plane into the White House.’"[4]

Personal life

Viskocil died on August 11, 2014, in Los Angeles from complications of liver and heart failure.[1]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1977Star Wars[1]
1980The Empire Strikes Back[1]
1984Ghostbusters[1]
1984The Terminator[1]
1985The Return of the Living Dead[1]
1987Masters of the Universe[1]
1988Killer Klowns From Outer Space[1]
1989The Abyss[1]
1991Barton Fink[1]
1991Terminator 2: Judgment Day[5]
1992Batman Returns[1]
1994True Lies[1]
1995Apollo 13[3]
1995Johnny Mnemonic[1]
1996Independence DayPyrotechnics supervisor[6]
1997Alien Resurrection[1]
1997Volcano[3]
2000Battlefield Earth[1]
2002Panic Room[1]
2002Star Trek: Nemesis[1]
2004Team America: World PolicePyrotechnics supervisor[5]
2011Source Code[1]
2022The Prey: Legend of the KarnoctusPosthumous release[1]

Awards

YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
1996Academy Award for Best Visual EffectsIndependence Day[1]
2017Visual Effects Society Hall of Fame[7]

References

  1. ^ Barnes, Mike (August 12, 2014). "Joe Viskocil, Visual Effects Guru on 'Star Wars' Films, Dies at 63". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (June 24, 2016). "'Independence Day': How Visual Effects Have Dramatically Escalated Since the Original Film's Release". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "Pyromania fires up the industry". Variety. May 8, 1997. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  4. ^ Barber, Nicholas (June 18, 2016). "Why are we hooked on films about mass destruction?". The Guardian. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Horn, John (September 12, 2004). "Launching a small-scale offensive". The Los Angeles Times. p. E14. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "Aliens crush cities (at a theater near you)". The Miami Herald. December 18, 1995. p. 2c. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (October 6, 2017). "'Blade Runner' Alums Syd Mead, Douglas Trumbull Among Visual Effects Hall of Fame Inductees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 5, 2022.