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About Bob

Photo of Bob ThorneBob Thorne is a senior film Special Effects technician & TV effects designer/supervisor.

His interest in film started at age 12, when his father bought a standard 8mm movie camera. From 13 until well into his 20’s, Bob was making his own films with school friend Digby Milner. After working at Dixons Technical in Soho Square as a 16mm projectionist & video operator in 1974, later as photographic buyer at Wallace Heaton New Bond Street, followed by a few years as a Dixons branch manager.

In 1976, Digby started working for special effects supervisor John Stears. He went on to work for Alan Whibley & Derrick Meddings. During this period Bob would spend his days off, weekends & holidays, helping Digby on major productions, which included:

  • Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back
  • The London Connection (Disney)
  • Dragon Slayer
  • Supergirl
  • Superman II
  • Star Wars - Return of the Jedi
  • The Shining
  • We’ll Meet Again
  • The Martian Chronicles (1 month on location in Malta)
  • The Scarlet Pimpernel
  • Santa Clause

Finally Bob got up the courage to ‘give up his day job’ at the beginning of 1983, working full time as special effects trainee under supervisor Alan Whibley for Handmade films.

In 1989 Bob branched out into animatronics, spending several years at Jim Henson’s creature shop. In 1995 Bob gave up the uncertainty of freelance life & joined Artem full time as special effects supervisor. Bob is an ‘all rounder’, having for the last 10 years branched into models, props & stop frame animation puppets, while continuing to supervise special effects & animatronics. Here are some of the productions he has worked on:

 
TitleDirectorYear
BullshotDick Clements1983
Billy Connelly, Mel Smith, Frances Tomelty
SakharovJack Gold1983
Glenda Jackson, Jason Robards
The Company of WolvesNeil Jordan1984
Angela Lansbury, David Warner, Stephen Rae
InsignificanceNicolas Roeg1984
Tony Curtis, Theresa Russell, Gary Busy
Passage to India (model unit)David Lean1984
Dempsey & MakepeaceLWT1984
Michael Brandon, Glynis Barber
Lady JaneTrevor Nunn1984
Helena Bonham-Carter, Patrick Stewart, Cary Elwes, Sir Michael Hordern
RevolutionHugh Hudson1985
Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland, Natasia Kinski, Annie Lennox
Remington SteeleMary Tyler Moore Prods1985
Pearce Brosnan
If Tomorrow ComesJerry London1986
Liam Neeson, Tom Berenger
Bellman and TrueRichard Loncraine1986
Bernard Hill, Richard Hope, Kieran O’Brien, Frances Tomelty
Lonely Passion of Judith HearneJack Clayton1987
Bob Hoskins, Dame Maggie Smith
Just Ask for DiamondStephen Bayly1988
Saeed Jaffrey, Patricia Hodge, Jimmy Nail, Roy Kinnear, Bill Patterson
The Lair of the White WormKen Russell1988
Amanda Donahoe, Hugh Grant
The WitchesNicholas Roeg1988
Angelica Houston, Rowan Atkinson, Jane Horrocks, Mai Zetterling
The Crystal MazeDavid Croft1988-1994
Richard O’Brien, Ed Tudor-Pole
HardwareRichard Stanley1989
Dylan McDermott, Stacey Travis, Iggy Pop, Lemmy, John Lynch
Monster MakerJim Henson1989
Kieran O’Brien, Harry Dean Stanton, Michael Gambon
Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesSteve Barron1990
Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, David Forman, James Saito
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IIMichael Pressman1991
Paige Turco, David Warner, Kevin Clash, Ernie Reyes Jr.
The FlintstonesBrian Levant1993
John Goodman, Elizabeth Taylor, Rick Moranis, Rosie O’Donnell
Hackers (City of text - model unit)Iain Softley1995
Angelina Jolie
Tess of the D’UrbervillesIan Sharp (LWT)1997
Justine Waddell, Oliver Milburn, Jason Flemyng
Brisk ‘Planet Hollywood’Ken Lidster1998
Bruce Willis (voice)
Brisk ‘Dojo’ (Karate Kid/Bruce Lee)Ken Lidster1999
Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita (voices)
Some VoicesSimon Cellan-Jones1999
Daniel Craig, David Morrissey, Kelly Macdonald
Millennium Dome - Home PlanetNMEC1999
Brisk ‘Elvis - Jailhouse Rock’Ken Lidster2000
James Brown, Willie Nelson (voices)
Brisk ‘Danny DeVitto’Ken Lidster2001
Danny De Vitto (voice)
Code 46 (Hi-tech props)Michael Winterbottom2003
Tim Robbins, Samantha Morton
The Brothers GrimmTerry Gilliam2003
Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Mackenzie Crook, Jonathan Pryce
Batman Begins (Hi-tech props)Christopher Nolan2004
Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman
Exitz (Hi-tech props)Laurens C. Postma2004
Malcolm McDowell, Perizaad Zorabian
Peperami ‘Noodles’Ken Lidster2004
League of Gentlemen’s ApocalypseSteve Bendelack2005
Jeremy Dyson, Mark Gatiss

Silence Is GoldenChris Shepherd2006