Academy Honoring Visual Effects Supervisor Bill Taylor With Bonner Medal

Visual effects supervisor and director of photography Bill Taylor will be honored with the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony on Feb. 9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

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Taylor is the co-founder of Illusion Arts, where he has worked on the visual effects of more than 200 films. He has been visual effects supervisor on such movies as Lawless, Public Enemies, Milk and Bruce Almighty. Working with Petro Vlahos, he has co-authored chapters on bluescreen and greenscreen compositing in both the American Cinematographer Manual and The VES Handbook of Visual Effects.

Taylor, who joined the Academy in 1972, has served five terms on its board of governors representing the Visual Effects Branch, and he was a founding co-chair with Ray Freeney of the Science and Technology Council. In 1981, he earned a Technical Achievement Award for the concept and specifications for a Two-Format, Rotating Head, Aerial Image Optical Printer.

Named in honor of the late director of special projects at Warner Hollywood Studios, the John A. Bonner Medal is awarded for "outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.