Richard Taylor (filmmaker)
Sir Richard Leslie Taylor (born 8 February 1965) is the founder, creative director and head of New Zealand film Theatrical property, prop and special effects company Wētā Workshop. Early life Taylor was born in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, Cheadle, Cheshire, England, on 8 February 1965, and emigrated as a child to New Zealand, where his family lived at Te Hihi, and later the Auckland suburb of Patumahoe. He was naturalised as a New Zealand citizen in 1974. Taylor studied at Wesley College, Paerata, and then became a graduate of the former Wellington Polytechnic. Career Peter Jackson, Taylor and his company created all of the Theatrical property, props, costumes, prosthetics, miniatures and weaponry for Jackson's epic The Lord of the Rings (film series), ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy. For his work on the three films, he shared in winning four Academy Awards. This included two for ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' in Academy Award for Best Makeup an ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Cheadle, Greater Manchester
Cheadle () is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in the county of Greater Manchester, England. Within the boundaries of the Historic counties of England, historic county of Cheshire, it borders Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green and Cheadle Heath in Stockport, and Didsbury, East Didsbury in Manchester. , it had a population of 14,698. Etymology The name of the village is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086, in the form ''Cedde''; from the twelfth century onwards it appears in forms such as ''Chedle'', ''Chedlee'', ''Chedlegh'', and ''Chelle''.Clarke, p.3, s.v. ''Cheadle GMan''. The second part of the name is agreed to come from the Old English word ("clearing in woodland". The first part is usually agreed to come from the Common Brittonic word that survives in modern Welsh as ("wood"). However, it is possible that it originated instead in the Old English word ("a bag, a bag-like hollow"). History There has been human occupation in the area that is ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Academy Award For Best Visual Effects
The Academy Award for Best Visual Effects is presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for the best achievement in visual effects. It has been handed to four members of the team directly responsible for creating the film's visual effects since 1980. History The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences first recognized the technical contributions of special effects to movies at its inaugural dinner in 1929, presenting a plaque for "Best Engineering Effects" to the first Best Picture Oscar winner, the World War I flying drama '' Wings''. Producer David O. Selznick, then production head at RKO Studios, petitioned the Academy Board of Governors to recognize the work of animator Willis O'Brien for his groundbreaking work on 1933's '' King Kong''. However, the Academy did not have a category to acknowledge its visual achievements at the time. It was not until 1938 when a film was actually recognized for its effects work, when a "Special Achieve ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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World Of Wearable Art
World of WearableArt (WOW) is an international design competition, attracting entries from more than 40 countries each year. The competition features wearable art entries, which are judged on durability, the safety and comfort of the models, and the impact of the design on the stage. During the three weeks of the competition, around 60,000 people attend the event in Wellington. The Gala show for 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 and was replaced by an exhibit in Wellington. It returned in 2022. History WOW was founded in Nelson in 1987 by Suzie Moncrieff. The first show was attended by 200 people at the William Higgins Gallery. In 1990 the show moved to Trafalgar Centre, and in 2005 it moved to Wellington because the show became too big to hold in Nelson. Moncrieff's sister Heather Palmer was the competition director. In 2022 Moncrieff and Palmer sold WOW to Hideaki Fukutake. In 2019, Sarah Foster-Sproull, was the festival's choreographer. Meg Williams, formerly execu ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Tall Poppy Syndrome
Tall poppy syndrome is a term that originated in Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s that refers to people with notable public success, who excessively promote their own achievements and opinions. Intense scrutiny and criticism of such a person is termed as "cutting down the tall poppy". Etymology The phrase "tall poppies" originates from Livy's account of the tyrannical Roman king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. He is said to have received a messenger from his son Sextus Tarquinius asking what he should do next in Gabii, since he had become all-powerful there. Rather than answering the messenger verbally, Tarquin went into his garden, took a stick and swept it across his garden, thus cutting off the heads of the tallest poppies that were growing there. The messenger returned to Gabii and told Sextus what he had seen. Sextus realised that his father wished him to put to death all of the most eminent people of Gabii, which he then did. Earlier stories with the same theme are fou ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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King Kong (2005 Film)
''King Kong'' is a 2005 epic adventure monster film co-written, produced, and directed by Peter Jackson. It is the ninth entry in the ''King Kong'' franchise and the second remake of the 1933 film of the same title, the first being the 1976 remake. The film stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, and Adrien Brody. Set in 1933, it follows the story of an ambitious filmmaker who coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island. There they encounter various prehistoric creatures and a legendary giant gorilla known as Kong, whom they capture and take to New York City. Development began in early 1995, when Universal Pictures approached Jackson to direct the remake of the original 1933 film. The project stalled in early 1997, as several ape and giant monster-related films were under production at the time and Jackson planned to direct ''The Lord of the Rings'' film series. As the first two films in the ''Rings'' trilogy became commercially successful, Univer ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' is a portal fantasy novel written by British author C. S. Lewis, published by Geoffrey Bles in 1950. It is the first published and best known of seven novels in ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' (1950–1956). Among all the author's books, it is also the most widely held in libraries. It was the first of ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' to be written and published, but is marked as volume two in recent editions that are sequenced according the stories' internal chronology. Like the other ''Chronicles'', it was illustrated by Pauline Baynes, and her work has been retained in many later editions. Most of the novel is set in Narnia, a land of talking animals and mythical creatures that is ruled by the evil White Witch. In the frame story, four English children are relocated to a large, old country house following a wartime evacuation. The youngest, Lucy, visits Narnia three times via the magic of a wardrobe in a spare room. Lucy's three sibling ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Knight Companion Of The New Zealand Order Of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits", to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity. In the New Zealand order of precedence, order of precedence, the New Zealand Order of Merit ranks immediately after the Order of New Zealand. Creation Prior to 1996, New Zealanders received appointments to various British orders, such as the Order of the Bath, the Order of St Michael and St George, the Order of the British Empire, and the Order of the Companions of Honour, as well as the distinction of Knight Bachelor. The change came about afte ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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2010 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)
The 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They were announced on 7 June 2010. The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour. New Zealand Order of Merit Dame Companion (DNZM) * Temuranga Batley-Jackson – of Manukau. For services to Māori. File:June Jackson DNZM (cropped).jpg, Dame June Jackson Knight Companion (KNZM) * Frederick Richard Allen – of Whangaparāoa. For services to rugby. * Graeme Bruce Douglas – of Auckland. For services to philanthropy and athletics. * Peter Charles Leitch – of Manukau. For services to business and philanthropy. * David Raymond Levene – of North Shore City. For services to business and the community. * Richard Lesl ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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New Zealand Gazette
The ''New Zealand Gazette'' (), commonly referred to as ''Gazette'', is the official newspaper of record the New Zealand Government (government gazette), serving as the medium by which decisions of Government are promulgated. Published since 1840, it is the longest-running publication in New Zealand. Since 26 October 2017, it has been published online continuously. Special editions are also published twice a year to cover the New Year Honours and King's Birthday Honours. History The predecessor to the ''New Zealand Gazette'' was the '' New Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette'', published in Kororāreka during 1840. Whist the ''Advertiser'' was a private newspaper, it was used by the colonial government for publishing official notices. When the editor of the ''Advertiser'' started to criticise the government for its land policy, the government responded in a way that effectively closed down the ''Advertiser''. In the first issue of the ''New Zealand Gazette'', it wa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Officer Of The New Zealand Order Of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits", to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity. In the order of precedence, the New Zealand Order of Merit ranks immediately after the Order of New Zealand. Creation Prior to 1996, New Zealanders received appointments to various British orders, such as the Order of the Bath, the Order of St Michael and St George, the Order of the British Empire, and the Order of the Companions of Honour, as well as the distinction of Knight Bachelor. The change came about after the Prime Minister's Honours Advisory Committee (1995) was created "to consider ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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2004 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 2004 were appointments by some of the Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrations at the start of January. The New Year Honours were announced on 31 December 2003 in the United Kingdom,United Kingdom: New Zealand,New Zealand"New Year Honours 2004"(14 January 2004) 4 ''New Zealand Gazette'' 73. Barbados,Barbados: Bahamas,Bahamas: Grenada,Grenada: Papua New Guinea,Papua New Guinea: Solomon Islands,Solomon Islands: Tuvalu,Tuvalu: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Belize,Belize: and Saint Christopher and Nevis,Saint Christopher And Nevis: The recipients of honours are displayed as they were styled before their new honours and arranged by the country (in order of precedence) whose ministers advised The Queen on the appointments, then by honour with grades i.e. Knight/Dame Grand C ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Chronicles Of Narnia (film Series)
''The Chronicles of Narnia'' is a Fantasy film, fantasy film series and media franchise based on ''The Chronicles of Narnia'', a series of novels by C. S. Lewis. The series revolves around the adventures of children in the world of Narnia (world), Narnia, guided by Aslan, a wise and powerful lion that can speak and is the true king of Narnia. The children heavily featured in the films are the Pevensie siblings, and a prominent antagonist is the White Witch (also known as Queen Jadis). The franchise also includes short films, digital series, and video games. From the seven books, three were adapted''The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' (2005), ''The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Prince Caspian'' (2008), and ''The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'' (2010)which collectively grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide (although critical and commercial reception decline ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |