Joe Viskocil | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1952-12-21)December 21, 1952 |
| Died | August 11, 2014(2014-08-11) (aged 61) |
| Occupation | Visual effects artist |
| Years active | 1974–2014 |
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 onIndependence Day (1996).
In 1977, Viskocil assistedJohn Dykstra andGeorge Lucas in creating the pyrotechnics forStar Wars, including the explosion of theDeath Star at the film's climax.[1] In 1980, he returned to create pyrotechnics forThe Empire Strikes Back.[1] For the next three decades, he worked on films from the most famous franchises, includingGhostbusters,Batman andStar Trek.[1]
After serving as pyrotechnics supervisor for the 1996 filmIndependence Day, Viskocil was awarded theAcademy Award for Best Visual Effects alongsideVolker Engel,Douglas Smith andClay Pinney at the69th 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 theWhite House, built for destruction during the film.[2]
In the 1990s, Viskocil opposed usingcomputer-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 theSeptember 11 attacks, Viskocil expressed guilt over making the explosions inIndependence 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]
Viskocil died on August 11, 2014, in Los Angeles from complications of liver and heart failure.[1]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Star Wars | [1] | ||
| 1980 | The Empire Strikes Back | [1] | ||
| 1984 | Ghostbusters | [1] | ||
| 1984 | The Terminator | [1] | ||
| 1985 | The Return of the Living Dead | [1] | ||
| 1987 | Masters of the Universe | [1] | ||
| 1988 | Killer Klowns From Outer Space | [1] | ||
| 1989 | The Abyss | [1] | ||
| 1991 | Barton Fink | [1] | ||
| 1991 | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | [5] | ||
| 1992 | Batman Returns | [1] | ||
| 1994 | True Lies | [1] | ||
| 1995 | Apollo 13 | [3] | ||
| 1995 | Johnny Mnemonic | [1] | ||
| 1996 | Independence Day | Pyrotechnics supervisor | [6] | |
| 1997 | Alien Resurrection | [1] | ||
| 1997 | Volcano | [3] | ||
| 2000 | Battlefield Earth | [1] | ||
| 2002 | Panic Room | [1] | ||
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis | [1] | ||
| 2004 | Team America: World Police | Pyrotechnics supervisor | [5] | |
| 2011 | Source Code | [1] | ||
| 2022 | The Prey: Legend of the Karnoctus | Posthumous release | [1] |
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Academy Award for Best Visual Effects | Independence Day | Won | [1] |
| 2017 | Visual Effects Society Hall of Fame | — | Won | [7] |
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