#799: Richard Taylor and Greg Broadmore, Wētā Workshop — Untapping Creativity, Stories from The Lord of the Rings, The Magic of New Zealand, Four Tenets to Live By, and The Only Sentence of Self-Help You Need

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