Derek Meddings was the miniature model and special effects team leader several James Bond films from the 1970s to the 1990s. He previously worked on the hugely successful Gerry Anderson puppet shows e.g. Thunderbirds, as well as the 1989 Batman film, the James Bond parody Spies Like Us (in which he also had a cameo as Dr. Stinson) and the 1991 remake of Cape Fear.
In total, Meddings worked on the special effects for Live and Let Die, The Man With The Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only and GoldenEye. Over the course of his work on these films, he was responsible for the creation of a number of miniature environments and models, including Scaramanga's towering fortress, scale replicas of various vehicles from the Lotus Espirit to the Soviet train and titular satellite of GoldenEye and even the snowy tundra of Severnaya.
Among many other well-deserved awards, Meddings co-won a Special Achievement Academy Award for his work on the 1978 film Superman. He was also nominated for an Oscar for his work on Moonraker.
Unfortunately, Meddings was stricken with cancer while working on the post-production of GoldenEye. He passed away before the film was completed, and it was dedicated to his memory.
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.jpg "Derek Meddings, Siberian landscape, Goldeneye (1995).jpg (202 KB)")
.jpg "Atlantis model on location (3).jpg (36 KB)")
.jpg "Derek Meddings (1931 - 1995).jpg (80 KB)")
