By ALESHA CAPONE
NOT long ago, in a studio not very far away, Justin Dix helped to create iconic characters from a famous film series.
The Williamstown resident was hired to bring the beloved robot duo R2-D2 and C3PO to life on the Sydney set of the Star Wars prequels when they were filmed at Fox Studios.
Nowadays at his Wicked Of Oz special effects studio in Williamstown, Mr Dix and his team create prosthetic make-up pieces, props and characters for films and other show-biz projects.
Among the artworks inside his studio are fake Tasmanian devils, horror movie corpses and science-fiction robots.
Mr Dix said he was mainly self-taught in the art of special effects, after growing up creating Halloween make-up for family and friends.
He graduated to helping out with pieces for friend’s short films before getting a call from Don Bies, a special effects artist who worked Star Wars.
“He called up and said, ‘How would you like to be the first Australian R2-D2 operator?’” Mr Dix said.
“My first official job was Star Wars, which wasn’t a bad apprenticeship.
“It was a dream come true, really.
“A lot of my career has been moments of dreams come true, such as standing on set and talking to George Lucas about how he wants the robots to look and he’s asking me for my opinion.”
After Star Wars, the multi-talented Mr Dix recently achieved another career milestone.
His first feature film Crawlspace will open in the United States on 4 January.
Mr Dix was wrote, directed and produced the movie which follows elite soldiers sent to infiltrate an Australian secret underground military compound, after it comes under attack from unknown forces.
Wicked of Oz studios at 25 Aitken St, Williamstown will have an open day on Sunday 16 December 10.30am-4pm. See: www.wickedofoz.com.au
