John Nelson's journey began with his graduation from the University of Michigan in 1976, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in General Studies with high distinction. Following his academic achievements, he pursued a career in filmmaking, producing several award-winning films that showcased his exceptional skills. In 1979, he relocated to California to work for Robert Abel and Associates, initially as a cameraman, then as a technical director, and eventually as a director. Throughout his tenure, he garnered six Clio award nominations, winning twice.
In 1987, John relocated to Germany to assist in setting up Mental Images GMBH, a German company. After his stint in Germany, he returned to the United States and joined Industrial Light & Magic, where he played a crucial role in animating key scenes for the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, notably the scene where the chrome terminator re-seals its shotgunned head.
John's expertise in visual effects continued to flourish as he went on to supervise various projects, including Stay Tuned (1992) for Rhythm & Hues Studios, In the Line of Fire (1993),My Life (1993),The Pelican Brief (1993),Wolf (1994),Johnny Mnemonic (1995),Judge Dredd (1995),The Cable Guy (1996),and City of Angels (1998) for Sony Pictures Imageworks.
In 1998, John left Sony to senior VFX supervise Gladiator (2000),which earned him the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2001. He continued to work on several projects, including K-19: The Widowmaker (2002),the Centropolis sections of The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003),I, Robot (2004),and Iron Man (2008),all of which received Academy Award nominations in the Visual Effects category.
John's dedication to his craft led him to win his second Academy Award for the Special Visual Effects in Blade Runner 2049 (2017) on March 4, 2018. He is an esteemed member of several prestigious organizations, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Visual Effects Society, the International Cinematographers Guild, and the Director's Guild of America.
