Alec Gillis
San Carlos, California,United States
Find Alec Gillis's Email
Find Alec Gillis’s PhoneAlec Gillis's Overview
Alec Gillis is a highly acclaimed American special effects engineer, creature designer, and co-founder of Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI) alongside Tom Woodruff Jr. With a career beginning in the mid-1980s, Gillis has been instrumental in creating some of cinema's most iconic creatures and practical effects. He started his career working under the legendary Stan Winston, contributing to films like 'Aliens.' In 1988, he and Woodruff established ADI, which quickly became a leading studio for creature design, animatronics, and prosthetic makeup. Gillis's work is characterized by its intricate detail, realism, and dedication to practical artistry, even in an era increasingly dominated by CGI. He has won an Academy Award for his work and has received several other nominations, cementing his legacy in the world of special effects. Gillis has also ventured into directing, with films like 'Harbinger Down,' and is a vocal advocate for the art of practical effects in filmmaking, often sharing behind-the-scenes insights through ADI's online channels.
Professional Summary
Alec Gillis's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:
Notable Achievements
Academy Award Winner - Best Visual Effects
Won an Oscar for 'Death Becomes Her' (1992), shared with Tom Woodruff Jr., Ken Ralston, and Doug Chiang for groundbreaking visual effects that seamlessly blended practical and digital techniques.
Academy Award Nomination - Best Visual Effects
Nominated for an Oscar for 'Alien³' (1991), recognizing the innovative and terrifying creature effects for the Xenomorph.
Academy Award Nomination - Best Visual Effects
Nominated for an Oscar for 'Starship Troopers' (1997) for the memorable and large-scale Arachnid creature effects, shared with Phil Tippett, Scott E. Anderson, and John Richardson.
BAFTA Award Winner - Best Special Visual Effects
Won a BAFTA Award for 'Death Becomes Her' (1992), further acknowledging the film's exceptional visual effects.
Co-founder of Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI)
Co-founded ADI in 1988 with Tom Woodruff Jr., establishing one of the industry's most respected and prolific practical special effects studios, responsible for creature effects in numerous blockbuster films like 'Tremors,' 'Jumanji,' 'Alien vs. Predator,' and 'The Thing' (2011 prequel).
Author and Educator
Authored books on creature design and special effects, and frequently shares knowledge through workshops, online videos (via studioADI YouTube channel), and interviews, inspiring new generations of artists.
Educational Background
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
Portland State University - Year 2003
Dana Hills High School - Year 1993
Buying Intent Signals for Alec Gillis
Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right people at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.
Company Overview
HARVEST BLOOMHarvest Bloom is an agricultural technology (AgTech) company dedicated to revolutionizing farming practices through sustainable innovation. We specialize in developing and implementing advanced solutions for precision agriculture, crop health monitoring, and automated harvesting. Our mission is to empower growers with tools that enhance productivity, reduce environmental impact, and ensure the consistent quality of produce from farm to table. We focus on leveraging AI, IoT, and robotics to address key challenges in modern agriculture, aiming to create a more efficient and resilient food supply chain.
Highperformr's free tools for company research
Find contact info
Get verified emails, phone numbers, and LinkedIn profile details
Find similar contacts
Discover contacts with similar roles, seniority, or companies
Perform deep contact research
Uncover insights like skills, work history, social links, and more
Discover, research and enrich contacts with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster
Explore contacts in-depth — from verified emails and phone numbers to LinkedIn activity, job changes, and more — all in one powerful view.
Highperformr AI helps you surface the right people and enrich your CRM with live, accurate contact insights so your teams can connect faster and close smarter.
- Track signals like job change, promotion, and LinkedIn activity
- Enrich contacts with verified email, phone, and social data instantly
- Automate enrichment and updates with powerful workflows
- Sync enriched contact info directly into your CRM and tools
Thousands of contacts — including decision-makers, influencers, and ICP matches — are just a search away.
Thousands of companies, including, are just a search away.