The Creative Journey of 'Lord of the Rings'

Richard Taylor is the co-founder and creative lead at Wētā Workshop, which he runs with his wife and co-founder Tania Rodger. Wētā Workshop is a concept design studio and manufacturing facility that services the world’s creative and entertainment industries. Their practical and special effects have helped define the visual identities of some of the most recognizable franchises in film and television, including The Lord of the Rings; Planet of the Apes; Superman; Mad Max; Thor; M3gan; and Love, Death, and Robots.

Greg Broadmore is an artist and writer who has been part of the team at Wētā Workshop for more than 20 years. His design and special-effects credits include District 9, King Kong, Godzilla, The Adventures of Tintin, and Avatar, and he is the creator of the satirical, retro-sci-fi world of Dr. Grordbort’s. He is currently working on the graphic novel series One Path, set in a brutal prehistoric world where dinosaurs and cavewomen are locked in a grim battle for supremacy.

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TIMESTAMPS:

• [00:00:00] Start
• [00:08:51] Albertosaurus vs. bear.
• [00:10:10] The Richard Taylor office tour.
• [00:12:27] How Richard was inspired to begin sculpting.
• [00:15:42] Being influenced by — and meeting — stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen.
• [00:18:08] Connecting with Dick Smith, the ‘grandfather’ of makeup effects.
• [00:19:17] Sculpting in margarine and breaking into the industry.
• [00:23:57] Tinfoil sculpting and teaching creativity to kids.
• [00:28:00] Wētā’s evolution from a small team to a 400-person creative hub.
• [00:35:57] 99 Dodgy Slips and 99 Deadly Sleds.
• [00:41:43] Greg’s artistic education and unique process.
• [00:46:11] The art must flow! But how does Greg make it happen?
• [00:47:54] The Auckland mural: when flow goes too far and Lemmy has to be replaced.
• [00:48:42] How Greg boarded the Wētā Workshop train after years on the dole.
• [00:51:59] The David Deutsch influence: curiosity, fun, and learning.
• [00:53:05] Philosophizing around art and creative problem-solving.
• [00:54:45] How Wētā’s Gallipoli exhibition makes WWI relevant to modern museumgoers.
• [00:59:04] The challenges of clothing giants and hitting deadlines.
• [01:03:33] How Wētā attacked the massive scale of the Lord of the Rings project with a can-do attitude.
• [01:11:23] Richard’s four tenets (plus one bonus tenet).
• [01:13:39] The unique advantages of operating in New Zealand.
• [01:16:42] The unwavering self-belief of Peter Jackson’s leadership style.
• [01:20:10] Richard’s advice for anyone seeking to cultivate their own creativity.
• [01:23:03] Artistic immortality: leaving a creative legacy.
• [01:24:13] Greg explains the retro sci-fi angle behind his Dr. Grordbort’s and ray gun projects.
• [01:28:55] The metaphysics of creative direction.
• [01:36:09] How Greg’s new book, One Path, came about.
• [01:40:02] Tools Greg used for conceptualizing One Path.
• [01:41:55] Where the curious can see more of Greg’s work.
• [01:43:18] How many destinations does Greg imagine One Path will reach?
• [01:45:02] Why working on District 9 was often frustrating, but ultimately rewarding.
• [01:50:39] How can an artist maintain a healthy detachment from their own work?
• [01:57:35] Greg’s inspirations.
• [02:06:20] What’s Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) up to these days?
• [02:08:53] What is art really about for Greg?
• [02:10:10] How Aaron Stupple changed Greg’s life.
• [02:13:13] Bestiaries, folios, and fondly remembered library books.
• [02:15:39] Parting thoughts.

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