For the footballer, see Jimmy Isaac.
James Isaac
Birth dateJune 5, 1960
Death dateMay 6, 2012 (aged 51)
Years active1983–2012
OccupationFilm director · producer · special effects supervisor

James Isaac (June 5, 1960 – May 6, 2012) was an American film director and visual effects supervisor.

Career

James Isaac was born June 5, 1960.[1]

Isaac began work in film in the early 1980s creating the creatures in films such as Return of the Jedi and Gremlins.[2] He continued his work into the 1980s with Enemy Mine, House II: The Second Story and DeepStar Six.[2] He made his directorial debut on The Horror Show after the original director left the project a week into shooting.[2][3]

He also worked with director David Cronenberg on his films The Fly, Naked Lunch and eXistenz.[2] His other 1990s work included being a special effects supervisor for Chris Wales Inc. on Look Who's Talking Too and Virtuosity.[2] He returned to directing in the 2000s, working on Jason X, Skinwalkers and Pig Hunt.[2]

Isaac died of blood cancer on May 6, 2012.[1]

Select filmography

TitleYearCredited asNotesRef(s)
DirectorSpecial effectsOther
Return of the Jedi1983Credited as Creature tech.[4]
Gremlins1984Credited as part of the Creature crew[5]
House II: The Second Story1987Special effects coordinator[6]
The Kiss1988Make-up crew[7]
Deepstar Six1989Credited as Visual effects supervisor[8]
House III: The Horror Show[9][3]
Arachnophobia1990[10]
Look Who's Talking TooCredited as the Project Supervisor[11]
eXistenZ1999Visual and special effects supervisor[12][13]
Jason X2002Executive producer[14][15][16]
Skinwalkers2006[17]
Pig Hunt2008Co-producer; final film
His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th2009Documentary film, himself[18]
Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th2013Documentary film, himself, posthumous role[19]

References

  1. ^ Lentz III 2013, p. 138.
  2. ^ Lentz III 2013, p. 139.
  3. ^ Stine 2003, p. 152.
  4. ^ "Return of the Jedi (1983)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Gremlins (1984)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  6. ^ "House II: The Second Story (1987)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  7. ^ "The Kiss (1988)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Deepstar Six (1989)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  9. ^ Binion, Cavett. "The Horror Show (1989) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "Arachnophobia (1990)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Look Who's Talking Too (1990)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  12. ^ Stratton, David (February 17, 1999). "eXistenZ". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  13. ^ "eXistenZ". Collections Canada. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  14. ^ "Jason X (2002)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  15. ^ Grove, David (February 2005). Making Friday the 13th: The Legend of Camp Blood. United Kingdom: FAB Press. p. 212. ISBN 1903254310.
  16. ^ "Jason X". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  17. ^ "Skinwalkers (2007)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  18. ^ His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009). Retrieved 2024-07-03. – via www.blu-ray.com.
  19. ^ Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013). Retrieved 2025-03-10. – via www.blu-ray.com.

Bibliography

  • Lentz III, Harris M. (2013). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2012. McFarland. ISBN 9781476603858.
  • Stine, Scott Aaron (2003). The Gorehound's Guide to Splatter Films of the 1980s. McFarland. ISBN 0786415320.