Filmmaker Richard Taylor, winner of five Oscars and creator of multiple cinematic universes through visual effects, spoke about his professional career and the creative process on Wednesday, April 12, at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona) as part of University’s 25th year celebration.
From 11 to 13 April, Taylor, along with his wife and business partner, Tania Rodger, were at UIC Barcelona transmitting their enthusiasm for what they do: “In this world, you have to be passionate, enthusiastic and tenacious,” Taylor said. “It’s a matter of keeping the love for what you do and the desire to share it with others.”
Their company, Wētā Workshop, has given life to such epic films as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, Avatar or The Chronicles of Narnia. Taylor has won five Academy Awards in three categories: costume design, makeup and hairstyling and visual effects. He has also received four BAFTA Awards, two THEA Awards and more than 30 national and international awards for his work in the creative industries.
But, judging by Taylor’s own words, the awards are not everything: “We don’t judge success by the number of Oscars won. You don’t start a project dreaming about winning a prize, but for doing a good job, which can involve receiving more awards or less awards. For us, success is the stability that our team has found in the family we’ve created, having a stable and dynamic life.”
Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger are the brains of Wētā Workshop. Through their minds march the fantastic creatures, experiential spaces, weapons and equipment for armies for all kinds of films, miniature cities, worlds, etc., all this while being true to oneself. “Creativity,” Rodger said, “for me is keeping your imagination and having your heart, and making sure that these two things are always connected in everything you see around you and in everything you feel.”
In other words: let your imagination fly, but always keep your feet on the ground. In this sense, Taylor explained, “In our home, except for two specific things (a plane and a dragon from a couple of movies that I really like) there is nothing of any of the worlds we are working on. Because we want our children to grow up in a normal environment.”
What is clear is that they both have been dreaming and making other dream for nearly forty years: “We never thought we would dedicated ourselves to cinema.” And so it is: The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Avatar, Thor: Ragnarok, Blade Ranner 2049, Mulan, Ghost in the Shell, Black Panther… They started their business in the small back room of their apartment in 1987, and today they run a company of more than 300 people, from their workshop in Wellington, New Zealand.
For three days, both creative entrepreneurs shared their expertise at the University. Beyond the main session on 12 April, they gave workshops on creativity, entrepreneurship and sculpture to students of Architecture, Communication, Business Administration and Management (ADE) and Bioengineering, among others.
This visit was one of the main events on the schedule of events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the University.
