Creature effects expert and Academy Award-winner John Cox is one of four new Smart State Ambassadors chosen by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

Under the Smart State program, a number of high-profile community leaders – across the scientific and creative fields – help spread the word about Queensland as they travel nationally and overseas for their work.

With his appointment, John becomes one of eight high-profile Queenslanders who actively champion the State.

John has a Creature’s Workshop on the Gold Coast. He is internationally acclaimed as a leader in design and manufacture of fantasy creatures, putting Queensland on the map for international filmmakers.

John’s recent success includes creating fantasy creatures and realistic animals for feature films Love Story 2050, Rogue, Host, Siegfried and Racing Stripes.

John and his company won an Academy Award in 1995 for Visual effects on the movie, Babe.

An exhibition of his work, How to Make a Monster, the art and technology of animatronics, has travelled widely around Australia. It looks at what goes on behind the scenes and the skills and processes involved in bringing a creature from an idea to the big screen.

Go to www.johncox.net for more information about John’s Creature workshop and the How to Make Monster exhibition.

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