Terry Windell, a seasoned professional with over two and a half decades of experience, has had a diverse and accomplished career spanning live action direction and 3D visual effects animation supervision. His journey began at Lucasfilm's Industrial Light and Magic, where he refined his skills as a visual effects designer/animator on several Academy Award-winning films, including Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, E.T., Poltergeist, and Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan.
Windell's impressive work caught the attention of Oscar-winning Visual Effects Supervisor Richard Edlund, who invited him to join his new company, Boss Film Studios. At Boss, Windell built, staffed, and co-supervised the animation department, contributing to several films earning Academy Award nominations, including Ghostbusters, 2010, and Poltergeist II. Additionally, Windell launched his directing career, winning numerous awards for his commercials, including Clios, The Mobius, an Addie, Caddies, The New York Film Festival, and Billboard Magazine's prestigious "Spot of the Year."
In 1996, Windell was recruited by Quentin Tarantino's A Band Apart, becoming one of the industry's top commercial directors. He has directed, designed, and supervised the visual effects for over 120 commercials for numerous Fortune 500 clients, including United Airlines, Budweiser, Miller Lite, DHL, Chrysler-Jeep, Chevy Trucks, Buick, Toyota Racing, Harley Davidson, Dodge, Nintendo, Sears, HBO, and Ford.
Windell's commercial work attracted the attention of Paramount Pictures executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, who invited him to direct episodes of the television series "Star Trek: Voyager." The two-hour movie special "Dark Frontier" was a highlight of the three seasons Windell spent as a director on "Voyager." He also directed episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise," "Special Unit 2," and "Shipwreckers" for the Discovery Channel.
Windell designed and directed an interactive 3D ride film installed as the featured attraction at the World of Coke theme park in Atlanta, as well as a 3D corporate film for Lockheed Martin. His extensive experience in live action, visual effects, and various film and digital formats provides him with the creative and technical expertise needed to excel in the rapidly evolving world of 3D film.
As a sought-after lecturer, Windell has spoken at universities and film schools such as the American Film Institute, USC School of Cinema, The Art Center College of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, and was the keynote speaker for the 2008 Poppy Jasper Film Festival. He is a member of the Director's Guild of America, the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, and The Visual Effects Society. When his schedule permits, Windell teaches at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
