Uli Beck-Schneider

Senior Model Maker

I was born and grew up in Munich - Germany. I did an apprenticeship in architectural drafting and another on in industrial model / pattern making. In 2000 I made my way to New Zealand knowing I would love to work in the film industry. Still it took me 4 years to muster up the courage to knock on Wetas doors. When I finally got here it was a dream come true.

To pick one particular iconic prop is really difficult but I would say the "Venture" of King Kong. I t was great to work with an awesome crew of people and to have an opportunity to combine traditional model making with new exiciting technology and machines. The digital highlight would have been working in z-brush to create highly detailed props or using our 3D-Scanner to fo out scanning whatever we needed to and being able to recreate it in the physical world after playing with it in the digital realm.

The best thing about working here is being surrounded by this bunch of incredible, creative people. I have made some great friends here who I get to work with every day!

Find something you really love doing. Work hard and never lose sight of what it is that you want in your life. Even if it takes you a while to get there. Keep an open mind for the world and people around you. And keep following your dreams.