About Bob

Bob 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: