Photo Credit: 20th Century Studio (Used with Permission)
Eric Saindon (GHS ’88) is getting ready for another world premiere. On December 19th, the third installment in the James Cameron epic series, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” will be released worldwide. As the VFX (special effects) Supervisor for WetaFX studios based in Wellington, New Zealand, Saindon and his team of approximately 1,200 artists bring the animated and live action 3D film to life. This will definitely be a big screen film.
WetaFX is known for classics in the field of animated films such as the “Lord of the Rings” series, for which Saindon’s team created the unforgettable look of the Gollum character. He was FX supervisor on the original 2016 groundbreaking animated 3D film “Avatar” and its first sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” for which Saindon and his team won the Academy Award for special effects in 2022.
The third film in the Avatar series promises to be another visual masterpiece as the odyssey of the Sully family continues to unfold. Saindon said, “It was an incredible privilege to help bring the world of Pandora back to life again as the VFX Supervisor. Every day on this film was a reminder of why we do what we do—pushing technology, artistry, and imagination further than we ever thought possible.” He and the talented artists at WetaFX create stunning visual effects, including entire new worlds full of imaginary creatures.
In “Fire and Ash,” the Sully family, with returning stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet and others, confront a new villain (Oona Chaplin) and a hostile Na’vi tribe called the Ash People, who are connected to fire and volcanic environments. The film explores Pandora’s unique biomes, introduces tribes like the peaceful Wind Traders, and explores themes of conflict and cultural misunderstanding.
Saindon has been working with Weta since 1999. He said, “My role is to oversee the visual effects from concept through final delivery—guiding the teams, shaping the look and feel of the environments and creatures, and making sure every shot supports the emotional heartbeat of the story. Being part of this journey was nothing short of extraordinary.”
Saindon added, “Working with Jim Cameron is always a masterclass in storytelling and innovation; his relentless curiosity and absolute commitment to world-building challenges everyone around him to elevate their craft.”
Two additional sequels, “Avatar 4” and “Avatar 5,” are in various stages of production with probable release expected in 2029 and 2031, respectively.