SubscribeFond farewell to Stan Winston: Thanks for the monsters
Sydney Pollack, Tim Russert, now Stan Winston?
The Oscar-winning FX icon, who died Sunday at 62 of multiple myeloma, was one of my heroes, responsible for creating many of the movie monsters that have scared me deliciously to death — and continue to do so.
Winston is best known for "Aliens," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Jurassic Park" and "Edward Scissorhands," and his team had just finished "Iron Man."
I had the opportunity to spend time with Stan in 2001 when I was assigned to write a profile for Cigar Aficionado (he was quite the wine and cigar collector).
I remember his chortling laugh, indefatigable sense of humor and infectious enthusiasm for his work, his family and his monsters. At that time, he was jazzed about his initial involvement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his special-effects studio's just-started collaboration with the Digital Life consortium of MIT's Media Lab.
"They've realized that artificial intelligence requires human interactivity," Winston told me at the time. "A robot learns by interacting with a human, and there's a better chance for that with an appealing organic character rather than something that looks like a machine. So we're sharing our technology of building robots with organic character and movement."
"There's a lot of enthusiasm here about what Stan Winston can do to advance what we do," Alexandra Kahn, MIT's press liaison, told me. "The merger entails sharing our artificial-intelligence technology with his studio and benefiting from their ability to create lifelike creatures."
Imagine Teddy, the talking bear-bot in "A.I.," come to life. According to Winston, it was not only possible, it was inevitable.
"Historically, anything that we can imagine, we make. The creative mind imagines it, and it's the human condition to make it real. That is the essence of humanity. When Jules Verne wrote "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," there were no such things as submarines. When he wrote "From the Earth to the Moon," there were no rocket ships. Steven Spielberg just made 'A.I.' about artificial intelligence, and now we're helping create it."
His good motorcycling pal Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said of his friend: "Stan is an amazing artist, extremely smart, and he has never lost his boyish enthusiasm. He's still a big kid. He loves making his monsters and, like me, he loves all the toys. We go motorcycle riding together, play chess and smoke cigars together. He's great to travel with, because he is so interested in everything and so inquisitive."
Farewell, Stan. And thanks for the monsters. You — and they — will never be forgotten.
What was your favorite Stan Winston creation?
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Photos: Stan Winston at the "Cruel World" premiere in 2005.
WireImage
My late husband, Steve James, who was a martial arts/action-adventure actor was proud to have worked with Stan on “The Wiz.” He played one of the crows that Stan did makeup on & is in the last published book…
Since Steve passed, I have been working at the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research for Dr. James Berenson who was Steve's doctor as well as Stan's. As Sidney Poitier said at Steve’s service, “he (Steve) fought the Good Fight & it was an honor to have known him…” Stan also fought the Good Fight & we will miss him.
I wanted to give back to the cancer community so I have been working for Dr. Berenson for the past 10 years. I met Stan when he came to see Dr. Berenson many years ago & he was kind enough to give us a tour of his studio where all of us were truly impressed - both with all of the blockbuster movies he worked on & the incredible creatures he created.
For anyone who would be interested in either donating for our research in finding a cure for cancer or visiting our website, the address is www.imbcr.org.
My late husband Steve’s website is www.NinjaSteveJames.com.
Posted by: Christine Pan James | June 17, 2008 at 10:43 AM
i was shocked to hear that my cousin karen winstons husband stan had passed away. karen please accept my deepest sympathy to you and your family. sincerly your cousin gail.
Posted by: gail bergman | June 17, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Winston’s Movie Creatures Displayed at International Make-up Artist Trade Show
This weekend, Make-up Artist Magazine, in conjunction with Stan Winston Studios, honors the late Stan Winston with a heartfelt tribute and a massive museum display of his creations. Last Sunday, the world lost Winston, the movie make-up master who brought us Edward Scissorhands’gothic gardener, Jurassic Park’s dinosaurs, Alien’s slimy she-beast and Terminator’s metallic assassin, among many others.
The display will be held at the magazine’s at International Make-up Artist Trade Show, happening this weekend at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. in Pasadena. It will span Winston’s entire career, with everything from the Jurassic Park dinosaurs to the Iron Man suit, and will run all day Saturday-Sunday, June 21-22. The tribute will be held 3 p.m. Saturday with special guest speakers.
For more information, contact Heather Wisner at 626-844-6044.
Posted by: Heather | June 19, 2008 at 12:05 PM