Academy pays tribute to Dick Smith

We have just got word from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, that Weta's very good friend, as well as mentor to many, Dick Smith, will be presented with "A Tribute to Dick Smith: The Godfather of Special Makeup Effects".

We are thrilled on Dick's behalf and would like to join the ranks of well-wishing fans of Dick's work!

Dick Smith has been the inspiration for many a prominent career in makeup effects, including Weta Creative Director Richard Taylor and Weta makeup supremo Gino Acevedo. His work on films like The Godfather, The Exorcist and Amadeus is legendary.

Watch Richard's personal endorsement of Dick Smith's Make-up Training Program: 
High Quality (45 MB) | Standard (7 MB)

Dick visited Weta Workshop last year and spent a few weeks working alongside our humbled crew. You can hear Gino Acevedo talk about Dick's visit in our latest podcast, Episode VIII.

If you are in the Los Angeles area and would like to attend the Tribute event at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on 17 June, tickets go on sale on 26 May from www.oscars.org and at the Academy box office.

The host for the evening is six-time Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker and will feature a panel discussion with Guillermo del Toro, Hal Holbrook, Greg Cannom, Kazuhiro Tsuji, Andrew Clement and others.

It is sure to be an evening to remember.