Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a division of Lucasfilm, has brought BAFTA-winning visual effects supervisor David Vickery aboard its expanding London studio. In addition to supervising effects work, Vickery will also provide creative oversight on the studio’s other projects, while studio creative director Ben Morris takes on Star Wars Episode VIII as production visual effects supervisor.
Vickery will work closely with Sue Lyster, ILM London’s executive in charge and Morris.
Vickery joins ILM having spent the past 13 years at London effects house Double Negative where he worked his way up from CG artist to lead 3D artist, then CG supervisor on such films as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Bourne Ultimatum, Cloverfield and The Dark Knight. Most recently Vickery served as the production visual effects supervisor on Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, which opened July 31. He is well known for his work as a VFX supervisor on films such as Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2, Fast & Furious 6 and Jupiter Ascending. His work has been recognized with an Academy Award nomination and the 2012 BAFTA Award for Special Visual Effects forHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in addition to numerous Visual Effects Society Award nominations and wins.
“We’ve all grown up being inspired by the fantastic effects created by Industrial Light & Magic,” explained Vickery, “but to be able to work alongside the people that create those visions is such an honour and an exciting prospect for me. Oh, and my first-born son’s middle name is Indiana. I need say no more.”
Having strong ties to the visual effects community in London, Vickery formerly sat as co-chair on the UK board of the Visual Effects Society and is a member of BAFTA.
ILM London recently wrapped production on Ridley Scott’s The Martian, Sam Mendes’ Spectre and is currently completing work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens for J.J. Abrams.
Lucasfilm is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
