John Dykstra

John Charles Dykstra is recognized as a special-effects supervisor and a trailblazer in pioneering the use of computer technology in the realm of filmmaking.

Biography

After his studies in industrial design, Dykstra began his career by collaborating with Douglas Trumbull on the model effects for Silent Running. When George Lucas sought individuals for the special effects on the original Star Wars film, Trumbull recommended Dykstra. At Industrial Light & Magic, Dykstra spearheaded the development of the Dykstraflex, a computer-controlled motion capture camera system crucial for many of the film's innovative effects. The availability of relatively inexpensive, off-the-shelf microprocessors and secondhand VistaVision cameras made this system possible.

Nevertheless, disagreements arose between Dykstra and Lucas. Lucas later expressed concerns that a significant portion of the special effects budget was allocated to developing the camera systems, and that the effects team did not complete all the shots he envisioned. Despite this, the release of Star Wars solidified Dykstra's standing in the industry, earning him Academy Awards for both best special effects and special technical achievement.

Dykstra received a production credit for the television series Battlestar Galactica and contributed to its effects. However, following Star Wars, these stock shots were somewhat underwhelming. Universal Studios, the production company behind Battlestar Galactica, also engaged in a legal battle with George Lucas. Consequently, Dykstra was not invited to participate when work commenced on The Empire Strikes Back.

Sources

Notes and references

External links

  • John Dykstra on Wikipedia
  • John Dykstra at the Internet Movie Database

Appearances