At first glance, films “Moonrise Kingdom,” “Gremlins” and “The Terminator” have little in common. Gutsy kids in love, demon fluff balls and, then, there’s the muscular cyborg, Arnold Schwarzenegger. But scrutinize the credits (push that pause) and you’ll find that the same people created the visual effects in all three.
Gene Warren Jr. and Gene Warren III are part of a multi-generational film family: a now-deceased grandfather, son, and grandson dedicated to special effects artistry.
Gene Warren Jr. opened Fantasy II Film Effects, his special effects company, in the early 1980s and has worked on over 100 movies. He and his son, Warren III, currently teach a course at USC School of Cinematic Arts, while continuing to work as visual effects supervisors. Here, they “remove the veil” and show two of their basic in-camera effects.