Bill George joined Industrial Light & Magic in 1981. Since then, he has worked as model shop supervisor, art director, matte painter, commercial director, and visual effects supervisor.
Some highlights of his career include miniature construction and design on Blade Runner, art direction and design for five of the Star Trek films, directing over 30 commercials at ILM and overseeing model construction on Ghostbusters 2 and Alive. In 1988, he received an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for his work on Innerspace. In 2002, director Steven Spielberg entrusted George to update the beloved character E.T. using digital character animation for the 20th Anniversary Edition of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.
George has gone on to earn nominations by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the British Academy and the Visual Effects Society for work on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, as well as an additional VES nomination for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
ILM CREDITS
Feature Films
2011 I AM NUMBER FOUR – Visual Effects Supervisor
2011 STAR TOURS II – Visual Effects Supervisor
2008 TWILIGHT – Visual Effects Supervisor
2007 EVAN ALMIGHTY – Visual Effects Supervisor
2006 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST – Additional Visual Effects Supervisor
Academy Award – Best Visual Effects
British Academy Award – Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Visual Effects Society Award – Best Single Visual Effects of the Year
2004 HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN – Visual Effects Supervisor
Academy Award Nomination – Best Visual Effects
British Academy Award Nomination – Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Visual Effects Society Award Nomination – Best Single Visual Effects of the Year
2003 STUCK ON YOU – Visual Effects Supervisor
2002 HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Visual Effects Supervisor
British Academy Award Nomination – Best Achievement in Visual Effects
2002 E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 20th Anniversary Edition - Visual Effects Supervisor
2001 PLANET OF THE APES - Visual Effects Supervisor
1999 GALAXY QUEST - Visual Effects Supervisor
1999 STAR WARS: EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace - Matte Painter
1998 DEEP IMPACT - Co-Visual Effects Supervisor
1994 STAR TREK: GENERATIONS - Art Director
1992 ALIVE - Art Director/Landscape Model Construction
1991 STAR TREK VI - Spacecraft/Prop Design & Construction
1990 JOE VS. THE VOLCANO - Large Scale Miniature Boats & Realistic Set Pieces
1989 ALWAYS - Miniatures, Flying Rig, & Practical Effects
1989 GHOSTBUSTERS II - Models & Effects
1989 THE 'BURBS (Opening Sequence)- Combined Motion Control, Matte Paintings & Models
1988 CADDYSHACK II (Gopher Puppet Sequence) - Art Direction & Design
1987 INNERSPACE - Design & Construction of Miniature Submarines & Interior Body Sets
Recipient of Academy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects
1987 STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (Television Series) - Model Construction
“Journey to Farpoint” Episode
1985 EWOKS: THE BATTLE FOR ENDOR (Two Hour TV Movie) - Production Art Direction
Recipient of Emmy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects
1984 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK - Spacecraft/Prop Design & Construction
1984 THE EWOK ADVENTURE (Two Hour TV Movie)- Production Art Direction
Recipient of Emmy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects
1983 RETURN OF THE JEDI - Spacecraft Design & Construction
Commercials
1997 BERGER BANK “Smiley Face,””Irish Ball” - Director
1997 DORITOS “Thrilling” - Director
1996 NORTHROP “Shadows II” - Director
1996 BERGER BANK “Ball” - Director
1996 US WEST “Fireworks,” “Stars” - Director
1995 VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRLINES “Nose” - Director
1995 PETER PAN PEANUT BUTTER "Evolution" - Director
1995 SOUTHERN BELL “Man in Chair,” “Woman in Chair” - Director
1995 INTEL “Mobile” - Director
1995 HEWLETT PACKARD “Small Business” - Director
1995 INTEL “Samba” - Director
1995 HUNT-WESSON JUICY GELS “Cartoons” - Director
1994 INTEL “I Want,” “Warp Power” - Director
1993 CARVEL ICE CREAM “Ice Creamation” - Director
1993 PEPSI “Chorus,” “International,” “Gliding Bottle” - Director
1993 INTEL “Windows” - Art Director
1992 TIMEX “Firefly,” “Crickets,” “Lightbulb” - Director
1992 AIR MILES “Fliers” - Director
1991 LIQUID IVORY SOAP “Stork” - Director
1991 KELLOGG'S “Double Dip Crunch” - Director
1991 HEINZ “Catapult” - Art Director
1990 CALIF. MILK ADVISORY BOARD “Real Cheese” - Director
1990 NEC “Turbografx” (Tag) - Director
1990 MATTEL - CORPORATE IMAGE “Echoes” - Director
1990 CEDAR POINT (Amusement Park) “Disaster Teaser” - Visual Effects Supervisor
OTHER CREDITS
1990 CONTROL “Trixie & Alice” - Visual Effects Director
1990 CHANNEL 4 NEWS (KRON-TV/SF) “Bring it Home” - Model Director
1986 ATARI GAMES “Rasteroids” - Game Designer
1981 BLADERUNNER - Model Design & Construction
1981 ONE FROM THE HEART - Miniature Neon Signs & Street Set
