John C. Kilkenny
Encyclopedia
John Kilkenny is an Executive Vice President at 20th Century Fox
, heading the studio's visual effects department. His division budgets, produces and oversees all the visual effects on feature films made by the studio's production units, 20th Century Fox
, Fox 2000 Pictures and Fox Searchlight Pictures
.
Most notably, Kilkenny is credited with overseeing the Academy Award-winning effects on Avatar
which was written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron (Titanic) and earned a record breaking $2.8 billion worldwide at the box office..
Kilkenny oversaw the effects on such recent blockbuster films as Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: First Class
, Mr. Popper's Penguins
and Black Swan
in which Natalie Portman earned the Academy Award for Best Actress. Kilkenny also oversaw the effects for such loved films as Night at the Museum
, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
and the Alvin and the Chipmunks
franchise. Other 20th Century Fox
blockbuster films that drew success under Kilkenny's watch include X-Men: The Last Stand
, Live Free or Die Hard
and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
,.
Previously, Kilkenny was an associate producer/visual effects producer on I, Robot
, which earned an Academy Award nomination for best achievement in visual effects. Before that, he was a freelance visual effects producer on the films Dr. Dolittle 2
, Daredevil
, Gone in 60 Seconds and Star Trek: Insurrection
.
Kilkenny began his career in motion picture visual effects at the renowned effects house Digital Domain
, where he became head producer in the company’s commercial division. He has also worked as a freelance commercials producer (for clients Budweiser
, Toyota, Chevrolet
, and many others) and is even known for his work as a sportscaster at the NBC
affiliate in El Paso, Texas
.
As a student at the University of Arizona
, Kilkenny studied Radio/Television, interned at the NBC affiliate in Tucson, and was a sports producer at the local ABC
station. In addition, he headed the Association of Students concert division, booking concerts headlined by superstars like Huey Lewis and the News, Barry Manilow, Kenny Rogers, and Hall and Oats.
The University has recognized Kilkenny for his achievements in the film industry by awarding him an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during the Spring of 2009 Graduation Ceremony.
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, heading the studio's visual effects department. His division budgets, produces and oversees all the visual effects on feature films made by the studio's production units, 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, Fox 2000 Pictures and Fox Searchlight Pictures
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Fox Searchlight Pictures, established in 1998, is a film division of Fox Filmed Entertainment alongside the larger Fox studio 20th Century Fox...
.
Most notably, Kilkenny is credited with overseeing the Academy Award-winning effects on Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
which was written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron (Titanic) and earned a record breaking $2.8 billion worldwide at the box office..
Kilkenny oversaw the effects on such recent blockbuster films as Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics starring the X-Men.-Publication history:The original series was an eight-issue limited series. It began in September 2006 and ended in April 2007. It was written by Jeff Parker and penciled by Roger Cruz...
, Mr. Popper's Penguins
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Mr. Popper's Penguins is a children's book written by Richard and Florence Atwater, originally published in 1938. It tells the story of a poor house painter named Mr. Popper and his family, who live in the small town of Stillwater in the 1930s...
and Black Swan
Black Swan
The Black Swan is a large waterbird, a species of swan, which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. The species was hunted to extinction in New Zealand, but later reintroduced. Within Australia they are nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent upon climatic...
in which Natalie Portman earned the Academy Award for Best Actress. Kilkenny also oversaw the effects for such loved films as Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum is a 2006 fantasy adventure-comedy film based on the 1993 children's book The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc. It follows a divorced father trying to settle down, impress his son, and find his destiny...
, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is an American adventure comedy film directed by Shawn Levy, and starring Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, and Steve Coogan. The film is a sequel to Night at the Museum...
and the Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
franchise. Other 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
blockbuster films that drew success under Kilkenny's watch include X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand is a 2006 superhero film and the third in the X-Men series. It was directed by Brett Ratner and stars an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Vinnie Jones,...
, Live Free or Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard , is a 2007 American action film, and the fourth installment in the Die Hard series. The film was directed by Len Wiseman and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane. The name was adapted from the state motto of New Hampshire, "Live Free or Die"...
and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is a 2007 American superhero film, and the sequel to the 2005 film Fantastic Four. Both films are based on the Fantastic Four comic book and were directed by Tim Story...
,.
Previously, Kilkenny was an associate producer/visual effects producer on I, Robot
I, Robot (film)
I, Robot is a 2004 science-fiction action film directed by Alex Proyas. The screenplay was written by Jeff Vintar, Akiva Goldsman and Hillary Seitz, and is very loosely based on Isaac Asimov's short-story collection of the same name. Will Smith stars in the lead role of the film as Detective Del...
, which earned an Academy Award nomination for best achievement in visual effects. Before that, he was a freelance visual effects producer on the films Dr. Dolittle 2
Dr. Dolittle 2
Dr. Dolittle 2 is a 2001 American comedy film, and the theatrical sequel to the 1998 film Dr. Dolittle. The continuing tale of the doctor who can talk to the animals—this time, it's Dolittle versus Darwin when the animals launch a labor strike to protect their forest from unscrupulous human...
, Daredevil
Daredevil (film)
Daredevil is a 2003 American superhero film written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, the film stars Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who fights for justice in the courtroom and out of the courtroom as the masked vigilante Daredevil...
, Gone in 60 Seconds and Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection is a 1998 American science fiction film directed by Jonathan Frakes, written by Michael Piller , and with music composed by Jerry Goldsmith. It is the ninth film in the Star Trek franchise, and the third to feature the cast from the television series Star Trek: The Next...
.
Kilkenny began his career in motion picture visual effects at the renowned effects house Digital Domain
Digital Domain
Digital Domain is a visual effects and animation company founded by film director James Cameron, Stan Winston and Scott Ross. It is based in Venice, Los Angeles, California...
, where he became head producer in the company’s commercial division. He has also worked as a freelance commercials producer (for clients Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
, Toyota, Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
, and many others) and is even known for his work as a sportscaster at the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
.
As a student at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, Kilkenny studied Radio/Television, interned at the NBC affiliate in Tucson, and was a sports producer at the local ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
station. In addition, he headed the Association of Students concert division, booking concerts headlined by superstars like Huey Lewis and the News, Barry Manilow, Kenny Rogers, and Hall and Oats.
The University has recognized Kilkenny for his achievements in the film industry by awarding him an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during the Spring of 2009 Graduation Ceremony.