The Judges of NZBAA 2011

Richard Taylor - Weta Workshop (Head judge)

Richard Taylor is the co-founder and Creative Director of the Weta Workshop manufacturing design in Wellington, New Zealand.  Richard and his team have been awarded five Oscars, four BAFTAs and numerous other achievements for Weta's success in the disciplines of make up, costume and visual effects.

By his guidance and leadership Weta workshop has produced major film successes such as Lord of the Rings, District 9 and King Kong and managed to become the leading symbol of the professional film industry in New Zealand.

Gino Acevedo – Weta Workshop

Senior Prosthetics Supervisor and Visual Creature Effects Art Director, Gino Acevedo originally hails from Arizona and has been working for the most part of his professional life in Los Angeles. He is a special effects technician with particular skill in special make-up, prosthetics and airbrushing. Gino has worked on projects such as the Alien series, Godzilla, Men in Black and The Nutty Professor.

David Minifie – Make-Up Artist

Twenty years ago David was a member of a clown group and found it almost impossible to get good theatre make-up for his shows.

After doing courses with international make-up artists, he realised how short changed Kiwis were when it came to having access to affordable, good quality make-up for both beauty and theatrical use, and so Minifies Makeup was born. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Prior to retirement he has supplied makeup for films including Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, The Last Samurai, Once Were Warriors, River Queen and many more.

Elizabeth Osborn - TopMark Products

Elisabeth is the director of TopMark Products. They supply a range of modelmaking Materials and SpecialFX including sculpting materials, moldmaking materials, coatings and finishes. TopMark Products started operating in 1995.

Top Mark Products has offices and a showroom in Auckland, New Zealand, supplying a range of high quality modelmaking products sourced from Australia, Europe and the USA.

Anthony Wilson – Awataha Marae

Anthony Wilson is carving a modern marae on Auckland’s North Shore. Using wood, stones, resin and metals, he and a team of artists are creating a radical new look for the unconventional Awataha Marae.

Michael George - Xfacda Productions

Michael George is a visual image creator, also the owner and creative director of XFACDA Productions. Experienced in a variety of artistry, body art is one of Michael’s favourite pastimes and he is supporting the NZ Body Art Awards for the third time as a sponsor.

Cultural advisors

Lawrence Makoare - Actor

Born on March 20 1968 in Bastion Point, Auckland, New Zealand, Lawrence started his career in the movie Rapa Nui (1994). He had various roles in several popular tv-series like Young Hercules (1998). Lawrence is best known for his various roles in the Lord of the Rings movies, breathing life into characters such as Uruk-hai leader Lurtz, Ork Leader Gothmog and the WitchKing of Angmar.

O'Dell Toi - Wood Carver

O’Dell is a self taught contemporary Maori carver and graphic Artist.
Being a descendant of the tribes Te Roroa, Ngapuhi, Ngati Hine and Te Atiawa, he bought his first chisel and carved a 21st key for his nephew in Australia. His skills have come a long way since then and he has carved a variety of pieces to date, exposed all over the world.

His style is completely dependant on the stories that he receives whilst speaking to those who require works commissioned. All of O’Dell’s carvings are carved from native New Zealand timbers such as Kauri, Swamp Kauri, Totara, Rimu, Rewarewa, Kahikatea & Matai.