Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor is a New Zealand filmmaker born on February 8, 1965 in England. He is the founder, creative director and head of New Zealand film prop and special effects company Wētā Workshop.
Works
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.
Release Date2003-12-17
DepartmentCostume & Make-Up
JobCostume Design
Charactersd Corsair of Umbar (uncredited)
Vote Count26776
Forgotten Silver
The life story of Colin McKenzie, a forgotten pioneer of international cinema who was born in rural New Zealand in 1888.
Release Date1997-10-03
Charactersd First Aviator (uncredited)
Vote Count125
The Fellowship of the Ring: Designing and Building Middle-earth + Weta Workshop + Costume Design
This documentary introduces Wētā Workshop (and its design crew of sculptors and set-designers), renowned artists Alan Lee and John Howe who were brought on to join them in conceptual design, and costume designer Ngila Dickson. Topics covered include the design of Middle-earth cultures portrayed in the film, the making of props and settings for Hobbiton, Rivendell, the Orthanc interior, and Caras Galadhon, and the complexity of prosthetics.
Release Date2002-11-12
Charactersd Self
Passage to Middle-Earth: The Making of 'The Lord of the Rings'
The making of Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's classic work.
Release Date2001-12-09
Charactersd Self, director of WETA Workshop
Vote Count17
The Making of 'The Return of the King'
A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of 2003's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." Created by filmmaker Costa Botes, personally selected by director Peter Jackson, this documentary uses raw footage to reveal the inside story on how the greatest adventure film franchise was born.
Release Date2004-04-01
Charactersd Self
Vote Count10
Quest for the Ring
Release Date2001-11-29
Charactersd Self
Vote Count10
The Making of 'The Fellowship of the Ring'
A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Created by filmmaker Costa Botes, personally selected by director Peter Jackson, this documentary uses raw footage to reveal the inside story on how the greatest adventure film franchise was born.
Release Date2002-04-01
Charactersd Self
Vote Count12
The Fellowship of the Ring: From Book to Script
Recounting of the long process of adapting the text of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring for film, a project that had begun in 1997. This involved countless adjustments of scenes, about a hundred screenplay revisions, and constant reordering of key moments from the story to fit the brevity of a film.
Release Date2002-11-12
Charactersd Self
The Fellowship of the Ring: Cameras in Middle-earth
Documentary directed about the scene rehearsals, set locations, and camera logistics in the production of the Peter Jackson's 2002 film The Fellowship of the Ring.
Release Date2002-11-12
Charactersd Self
The Fellowship of the Ring: The Road Goes Ever On..
Behind-the-scenes documentary of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Release Date2002-11-12
Charactersd Self
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex
The Frankenstein Complex takes a historical as well as a creative perspective, with a mix of fascinating scenes behind the camera, film clips, and dozens of interviews with all the big names in the industry. In addition to the many wonderful anecdotes, the film also offers a wealth of beautiful test material, while along the way showing how the art of filmmaking has changed over the years. An affectionate ode to monster makers throughout history.
Release Date2015-11-18
Charactersd Self
Vote Count30
Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring
A documentary about the influences on Tolkien, covering in brief his childhood and how he detested the onslaught of industry through the idyllic countryside, moving on to describe his fighting experience from WWI, and closing with a look at the Finnish inspiration for the scholar's self-invented languages of Elfish. In between are interviews with the cast of the films and some clips, by far the most from "The Fellowship of the Ring", but a few glimpses of Rohan riders (from "The Two Towers") are provided. Also, there are interviews with a range of the filmmakers.
Release Date2001-12-23
Charactersd Self
Vote Count19
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”
The astonishing story of the genesis, production, worldwide success, and legacy of King Kong (1933), directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, a landmark of cinema, one of the most influential motion pictures in history.
Release Date2008-10-11
DepartmentArt
JobArt Direction
Charactersd Self
Vote Count1
The Making of 'The Frighteners'
Documentary about the making of the 1996 horror-comedy.
Release Date1998-11-24
Charactersd Self
Vote Count10
A Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King'
A documentary about the making of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'.
Release Date2004-12-14
Charactersd Self
Vote Count2
The Fellowship of the Ring: Scale
Behind the scenes documentary of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Release Date2002-11-12
Charactersd Self
The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision
Making of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Release Date2003-12-26
Charactersd Self
Vote Count8
Recreating the Eighth Wonder: The Making of 'King Kong'
Following the immense success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson directs King Kong (2005). This documentary follows him, and the immense project from start to finish. It turns out that this one film may actually be a larger task to complete than all 3 of the Lord of the Rings films together.
Release Date2006-11-14
Charactersd Self
Vote Count3
Sex, Drugs and Soft Toys - The Making of Meet the Feebles
This documentary looks at how the strings were pulled on Peter Jackson's low-budget puppet movie Meet the Feebles. An old Wellington railway shed fizzes with energy and imagination as a team peppered with future Oscar-winners crafts the gleefully subversive Muppets parody.
Release Date1989-12-01
Charactersd Self
No Way to Make a Living: A Look Back at 'The Frighteners'
A retrospective of Peter Jackson's "The Frighteners" featuring new interviews with the cast & crew.
Release Date2022-12-02
Charactersd Self
Vote Count3
The Fellowship of the Ring: Big-atures
Behind-the-scenes documentary of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Release Date2002-11-12
Charactersd Self
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.
Release Date2001-12-18
DepartmentCostume & Make-Up
JobCostume Design
Vote Count27780
Avatar
In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization.
Release Date2009-12-16
DepartmentArt
JobConceptual Design
Vote Count34150
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor. Frodo and Sam are trekking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power while Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn search for the orc-captured Merry and Pippin. All along, nefarious wizard Saruman awaits the Fellowship members at the Orthanc Tower in Isengard.
Release Date2002-12-18
DepartmentCostume & Make-Up
JobCostume Design
Vote Count24070
Dune
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Release Date2021-09-15
DepartmentCrew
JobSpecial Effects
Vote Count15040
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit enjoying his quiet life, is swept into an epic quest by Gandalf the Grey and thirteen dwarves who seek to reclaim their mountain home from Smaug, the dragon.
Release Date2012-12-12
DepartmentVisual Effects
JobCreature Design
Vote Count19737
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Following Smaug's attack on Laketown, Bilbo and the dwarves try to defend Erebor's mountain of treasure from others who claim it: the men of the ruined Laketown and the elves of Mirkwood. Meanwhile an army of Orcs led by Azog the Defiler is marching on Erebor, fueled by the rise of the dark lord Sauron. Dwarves, elves and men must unite, and the hope for Middle-Earth falls into Bilbo's hands.
Release Date2014-12-10
DepartmentCostume & Make-Up
JobCostume Design
Vote Count15457
King Kong
In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with the leading lady.
Release Date2005-12-12
DepartmentVisual Effects
JobCreature Technical Director
Vote Count8550
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
The legendary son of Zeus journeys across the earth fighting monsters and helping people.
Release Date1995-01-29
DepartmentCostume & Make-Up
JobSpecial Effects Key Makeup Artist
Episode Count1
Vote Count595
District 9
Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth. Not to conquer or give aid, but to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.
Release Date2009-08-05
DepartmentVisual Effects
JobEffects Supervisor
Vote Count10409
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.
Release Date2013-12-11
DepartmentCostume & Make-Up
JobCostume Design
Vote Count14290
Daybreakers
In the year 2019, a plague has transformed almost every human into a vampire. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vampires on a way to save humankind.
Release Date2010-01-06
DepartmentCrew
JobMakeup Effects
Vote Count2199
Bitch Slap
Three bad girls - a down-and-out stripper, a drug-running killer, and a corporate powerbroker - arrive at a remote desert hideaway to extort and steal $200 million in diamonds from a ruthless underworld kingpin.
Release Date2009-05-16
DepartmentArt
JobOther
Vote Count312
TAISU PROJECT
An animation anthology film project telling four interlinked tales of animated sci-fi and fantasy by directors from Japan, China and New Zealand that talks about war, life, love and what we are as human.
Release Date2024-08-10
DepartmentDirecting
JobDirector
The WotWots
The WotWots is a New Zealand children's television show which debuted in 2009. The show features a pair of young alien twin siblings who spend their days exploring the environment where their steam-powered spaceship has landed. DottyWot, the smart and responsible ship's captain, spends most of her time riding herd on her more boisterous, fun-loving brother SpottyWot, the ship's mechanic. Episodes are set in the zoo, at the farm, or on the beach and most often tie their discovery of an animal characteristic into their own adventures.
Release Date2009-03-23
DepartmentCreator
JobCreator
Vote Count4
Perfect Strangers
When Melanie goes home from the pub with a handsome stranger, she’s captivated by his charm and attentiveness. He sails her away to his ‘castle’- a rundown shack on a deserted island. But when seduction becomes deception and passion becomes possession, Melanie realizes that she has been kidnapped. Torn between fear and desire, Melanie must escape – but her ardent admirer has other plans.
Release Date2003-10-09
DepartmentCostume & Make-Up
JobMakeup Effects Designer
Vote Count20
The Ugly
A female psychologist wants to understand the minds of a confessed serial killer who spent the last five years in a mental hospital because of his state.
Release Date1997-08-26
DepartmentCostume & Make-Up
JobSpecial Effects Makeup Artist
Vote Count55
Saving Grace
Grace is a homeless teenager. She befriends an unemployed carpenter and he invites her to share his flat. She moves in and to her surprise a delicate relationship develops. He helps her repair her shattered self-esteem and she begins to feel loved and secure. But then she discovers his secret - he tells her he is Jesus Christ.
Release Date1998-10-18
DepartmentCrew
JobSpecial Effects
Vote Count5
Reggie & Thunderbirds: No Strings Attached
In the year of its relaunch Reggie Yates is given exclusive behind the scenes access to one of the most loved British TV series of all time.
Release Date2015-04-02
Vote Count2