Starting his career in 1980, Rygiel joined Pacific Electric Pictures, one of the earliest companies to employ computer animation for the advertising and film markets. In 1983, Rygiel's work took him to Digital Productions where he began work on The Last Starfighter (1984), a film notable for its pioneering use of digital imaging in place of models...
One of the things I was tormented over when I got out of art school was losing my æsthetic sense. People don't see that you are being creative if you are not painting or drawing. I don't see that at all. There is an æsthetic sense to this. It's how well you do your job. The best part is when you are completely done with the film and you watch the film with the audience and feel what they are feeling.
2
On 'The Last Starfighter': "In the '80s, you felt like you were crossing the Great Plains in a covered wagon because no one was doing graphics on the computer. There were years you questioned if it would ever get off the ground. It's like anything; if you stick with it, it will improve."
3
I was basically one of those starving-artists stories. My art transformed itself into the visual-effects world, but I still see myself doing art.
4
If you see a show with lots of effects but you don't mention the effects, that's a big compliment to me. That means I did my job well.
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Fact
1
Los Angeles, California [2008]
2
Wellington, New Zealand [2002]
3
Jim holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree(University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and a Master of Fine Arts degree (Otis Parsons School of Design, Los Angeles, Ca.). He also holds an Honorary Doctorate from (Otis Art Institute), as well as an Honorary Doctorate from the (Academy of Art University) in San Francisco California.
Visual Effects
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ben-Hur
2016
visual effects supervisor
Godzilla
2014
visual effects supervisor
The Amazing Spider-Man
2012
visual effects supervisor
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
2010
visual effects consultant
The Day the Earth Stood Still
2008
additional visual effects supervisor
Eagle Eye
2008
senior visual effects supervisor
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
2007
additional visual effects supervisor
Night at the Museum
2006
visual effects supervisor
Click
2006
visual effects designer
After the Sunset
2004
visual effects consultant
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003
visual effects supervisor
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2002
visual effects supervisor
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2001
visual effects supervisor
The Fast and the Furious
2001
digital effects
102 Dalmatians
2000
visual effects supervisor
Anna and the King
1999
visual effects supervisor
Star Trek: Insurrection
1998
visual effects supervisor: Blue Sky/VIFX
The Parent Trap
1998
visual effects supervisor
Desperate Measures
1998
visual effects supervisor: Boss Film Studios
Starship Troopers
1997
visual effects supervisor: Boss Film
Multiplicity
1996
digital effects advisor: Boss Film Studios
Species
1995
visual effects co-supervisor: Boss Film
Outbreak
1995
visual effects supervisor: Boss Film Studios
The Scout
1994
digital effects supervisor: Boss Films
Last Action Hero
1993
computer graphics supervisor: Boss Film Studio
Cliffhanger
1993
digital effects supervisor
The Last of the Mohicans
1992
digital effects supervisor
Batman Returns
1992
digital effects supervisor: Boss Film Studios
Alien³
1992
digital effects supervisor
Solar Crisis
1990
digital effects supervisor - uncredited
Ghost
1990
digital effects supervisor
2010
1984
digital effects supervisor - uncredited
The Last Starfighter
1984
senior technical mananger: Digital Productions
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Night at the Museum
2006
additional second unit director
Click
2006
second unit director - uncredited
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003
second unit director - uncredited
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rock 'n' Roll High School
1979
Guy in Line at Mayan Theater (uncredited)
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Godzilla: Force of Nature
2014
Video documentary short
Himself
Designing Your Future
2007
TV Series
Himself
Cameras in Middle-Earth
2004
Video documentary
Himself
The End of All Things
2004
Video documentary short
Himself
The Passing of an Age
2004
Video documentary short
Himself
Weta Digital
2004
Video documentary short
Himself
Weta Workshop
2004
Video documentary
Himself - Special Effects
The 76th Annual Academy Awards
2004
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects
The Screen Savers
2004
TV Series
Himself
The Taming of Sméagol
2003
Video documentary short
Himself
Weta Digital
2003
Video documentary short
Himself
The 75th Annual Academy Awards
2003
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects
Digital Grading
2002
Video documentary short
Himself
Scale
2002
Video documentary
Himself
Weta Digital
2002
Video documentary short
Himself - VFX Supervisor
The 74th Annual Academy Awards
2002
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Best Visual Effects
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2004
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2004
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2004
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2004
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2004
OFTA Film Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2004
PFCS Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2004
VES Award
Visual Effects Society Awards
Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2003
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2003
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2003
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2003
OFTA Film Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2003
OFCS Award
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2003
PFCS Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2003
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2003
VES Award
Visual Effects Society Awards
Best Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2002
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Effects, Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2002
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2002
AFI Award
AFI Awards, USA
Digital Effects Artist of the Year
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2002
Sierra Award
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2002
OFTA Film Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2002
PFCS Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Visual Effects
Godzilla (2014)
2009
VES Award
Visual Effects Society Awards
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
Eagle Eye (2008)
2004
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2004
VES Award
Visual Effects Society Awards
Best Single Visual Effect of the Year in Any Medium
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
2003
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2002
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Special Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2002
Golden Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Known for movies
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) as Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) as Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) as Visual Effects
$14 Million
