Gerald Thompson

GERALD THOMPSON
MOTION CONTROL CAMERA ROBOT
Born in New Zealand, Gerald studied cinema and drama at Flinders University in South Australia, and subsequently undertook a traineeship at the Tasmanian Film Corporation. From 1981 to 1994, he was a freelance camera assistant and cinematographer on TV commercials, documentaries and short dramas. He worked for eight years as technical adviser and production consultant at the S.A. Media resource Centre. During this time he directed and produced his first short film titled Despair. He produced and directed the locally and internationally awarded vfx short film The Cuckoo. It featured a wide range of unique cinematic effects developed especially for the film, such as front projection, aerial imaging, animation and miniatures composited with live action.

After this period, Gerald was appointed visual effects and post production co-ordinator on a 70mm documentary Changing Heart (for the Northern Territory Government). He then worked with Digital Arts as Motion Control Operator. Their two rigs (one large crane type and a smaller dolly rig) were used on many commercials and the feature Dark City in 1996-97, then later for Babe ? Pig in the City, and he worked as motion control operator on ?Lord of the Rings?. Gerald also has extensive skills in computer based 3D animation and 2D compositing systems.