R2D2

Tony Dyson, my personal memorial tribute.

/ ChantalHarvey / 5 Comments

In memory of Anthony John Dyson (1947 – 2016)
Best known for being R2-D2s ‘Dad’.

BBC Archives (1984) showing THIS

His website is gone, but archived here.
His facebook page.

Tony was honoured at the BAFTA 2017 ceremony.  The British Academy of Film and Television Arts gave credits to the man that created R2D2 for Star Wars, and one of my own photographs was used for this. (with permission, of course!). Aired on BBC television on February 12, 2017. He would have loved this!

In memory of Tony Dyson

tonydyson-©chantalharvey-adieu

Special Effects Designer
13 April 1947 to 3 March 2016

A British special effects designer and expert in robotics, Dyson’s first film job came designing the jetpacks for Moonraker (1979). He was best known for the R2-D2 robots for Star Wars (1977), which included remote control versions, stunt versions, and models that could seat performer Kenny Baker.

I worked with Tony since 2011, we met online in Second Life, and he agreed to be head of jury for the 48 Hour Film Project Machinima. We soon started creating machinima together, which he called ‘real time animation’. In 2013 we met in Malta, and I quit my day-job to work full-time on producing animated shorts and e-books with Tony. We met again in Finland for the Robotics conference, and later in Gozo, Xlendi, where we rented an office together.

Tony was more than a tutor, he was my inspiration and best friend. There are plenty of stories to tell about him, and our projects, but today I will share a personal memory.

Today, March 7th, 2016 – just 6 days before his 69th birthday – his ashes will be spread in Gozo.

To honor Tony, and the bond we had, I am sharing the only photograph that shows both of us together (I took hundreds of photo’s of Tony) and a poem he wrote for me, years ago.

ChantalHarvey-TonyDyson-GOZO-2014

 

Dawn has gone
Dusk is upon us once again
Swallows are resting
Bats are hunting
The Night Angels prepare our spirits for flight

Only our soul knows the true journey ahead
Only our soul knows our deepest desires
So listen to my voice and see my dreams unfold
For I will be heard above life’s din
I am mortal of flesh and bone and will have my time before I die
To see the colors of the rainbow up high

Touch me not with gold so bright,
Touch me not with ebony so dark
Touch me not with marble so cold
Touch me not with hands so eager
But touch my heart with love and truth and I will be yours for ever, Chantal.

AJD

Victoria-tonydyson-chantalharvey©

tonydyson-angrybird-chantalharvey-gozo-xlendi

tonydyson-©chantalharvey-adieu

tonydyson-chantalharvey-victoria

Tony Dyson, the man behind R2-D2

/ ChantalHarvey / Leave a comment

Tony Dyson, the man behind R2-D2, the most lovable little robot in the world, is now casting his magical spell on the world of children’s e-Books by adding advanced animation on every page. Welcome to the world of Bobbekins.

One of the most innovative ideas for children’s e-Books this year, the magical world of Bobbekins is true to the style of storytelling of old, but designed for children of today.

It speaks from the heart and minds of its authors of magical worlds and dreams that can come true, but it never speaks down to your child in any way.

The man behind Star Wars R2-D2. The versatile Emmy nominated Film SFX supervisor is the creative genius at the helm of many of the biggest SCI-FI movies to date. Among them are Superman 2, Moon Raker, Dragon Slayer, and of course, The Empire Strikes Back. “Professor Anthony John Dyson obss”

When it comes to Robot technicians Tony is quite unique, as well as building one of the most famous Robots ever, R2-D2 he has also designed and built Robots for some of the largest electronic companies in the world, for example Sony, Philips and Toshiba.

You can also find examples of his creations on permanent display in one of the most prestige’s museums in the world ‘Smithsonian Institution’ and R2-D2 was one of the very first Robots to be honored in the ‘Carnegie Mellon University’ Robot Hall of Fame and Tony was also Nominated for an ‘Emmy’ for the Sony television commercial.

PAH-FEST in the virtual world of Second Life

/ ChantalHarvey / 1 Comment

The ART of MACHINIMA in SECOND LIFE

Thursday,12 Jul 2012 at 10 AM PAC time/19.00 CET – you can watch this event live:

URL for live video stream

 

Machinima filmmakers from across the globe will be meeting in Second Life to be part of Coppola’s Project Accessible Hollywood Festival,  @ SIM Orange22

Participants for the panel include Tony Dyson, the EMMY nominated man behind the famous R2D2 robot, Chantal Harvey, producer for Scissores, 48HFP and the MMIF.org,  Vincent Lowe creator of the the series “How Far Jafar” and “Be My Guest” ,  Maximillian Merlin, Pooky Amsterdam,  Olaf Barbosa,  Rosco Teardrop.

 

Travelling across the United States and overseas, PAH-FEST is a groundbreaking digital media festival that celebrates the stories and voices of everyday people. Through a variety of FREE contests, local participants are invited to create their own short digital films with pro-sumer cameras and video-enabled mobile phones provided by the Festival. Experienced industry “coaches” help festival participants realize their vision within the allotted timeframe. Winning films are screened in a closing ceremony, and posted online for an international audience.

Do you have a story idea that would make A GREAT SHORT FILM? Do you have a story about something important to you that only you can tell? Do you want to impress your family, friends and neighbors, and compete for cash prizes? Winning teams will gather at PAH-FEST to write, produce, shoot and edit their 6 minute story. PAH-FEST will provide everything needed to make their movies for free: a prosumer camera, an editing system and coaches, plus a one-day crash course to help prepare for production. Movies will be screened at Festival Closing Ceremony, and a cash prize awarded to the winner.

Check Out Past Winners