Jim Danforth
Jim Danforth ( born 1940 in Ohio, USA) is an American trick technician who was known through the use of stop-motion.
Life
Jim Danforth took an early interest for trick technique in the film. At Art Clokey he learned the basics of the profession know. Characteristic of his later career was to be recruited by the Project Unlimited, for which he worked 1960-1964. The company was responsible for the special effects of the films of George Pal. With the stop-motion technique, he worked at the MGM production The Time Machine, Atlantis - The Lost Continent, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and The Mysterious Dr. Lao. For the last film he received an Oscar nomination.
Indirectly Danforth came with the work of stop -motion pioneer Willis O'Brien in touch when he was obliged by Linwood G. Dunn for a totally, totally crazy world, to continue the work of the deceased O'Brien.
Several times he followed in the footsteps of the trick technician Ray Harryhausen. With the Project Unlimited, he worked on the special effects of The ruler of Cornwall who was based heavily on Harryhausen's 7th Voyage of Sinbad movie. As a replacement for Harryhausen the Hammer Films for the continuation of One Million Years pledged him before our time. The special effects for When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth were honored with an Oscar nomination. With his model Harryhausen he finally was able to work in Clash of the Titans.
Jim Danforth worked since Robur - The Lord of the seven continents as a miniature and model makers in various film productions. Since the stop-motion process was shunned more and more because of the high costs, since he joined Ruled the Earth mainly as matte painters in appearance as dinosaurs. Several times he worked with director John Carpenter.