John R. Ellis
Encyclopedia
John Raymond Ellis is an American artist, filmmaker, animator, director, producer, and writer in Los Angeles, California, known particularly for his special effects.
, Ohio
south of Dayton
. He was the youngest of two sons and two daughters of John Leonard MacDonald Ellis (1918–1997) of Clinton County and the former Rachel Jeanette Wilson (1918–1980), a native of neighboring Warren County
. The senior Ellis was Methodist; Mrs. Ellis, Quaker. John R. Ellis is of English, Scottish, and Dutch descent. He was reared on a small farm in Clinton County until 1960, when the family moved to the Lakewood section of Wilmington. As a child, John liked to go to downtown Wilmington to buy comic book
s or go to the movie theater; he often pulled a wagon to collect soft drink bottles to trade for comics. His family encouraged him to develop his artistic and creative talents. At an early age, he developed an interest in aviation and built model planes and rockets.
As a result of his mother's asthma
, in 1966 his parents and John moved to West Palm Beach
, Florida
. His grown siblings had already moved out: Larry Wayne Ellis (born 1943) of Cincinnati, and two sisters, Susan Gayle Ellis (born 1942) of Wilmington, and Doris E. Gossett (1939–2010) of Silver Spring
, Maryland. In 1973, Ellis graduated from both Forest Hill Community High School
and North Technical Educational Center, with credentials in commercial art. At North Technical, Ellis studied under the graphic artist Helen Drake. In the early 1970s, he was tutored by comic book artist C. C. Beck
, the creator of Captain Marvel
.
From 1973 to 1975 Ellis attended Palm Beach State College, then known as Palm Beach Junior College. He studied creative writing under the novelist David Stern, as well as design, philosophy, and psychology. He paid college tuition and fees through his work in free-lance graphics. He sketched comic books in Spanish and published limited edition posters and magazines sought by collectors. Between 1971 and 1981, Ellis hosted more than 40 comic and science fiction media festivals and conventions across the United States, including some of the earliest Star Trek
conclaves.
After I Go Pogo, Ellis joined Consolidated Visual Center, a commercial animation house in Tuxedo
, Maryland, as an animator and director on mostly government, industrial and United States Armed Forces subjects. In 1982, he joined Broadcast Arts, a District of Columbia company that specialized in high profile clay animation and special effects commercials for such networks as MTV, SHOWTIME, HBO, Cinemax
, NBC
, ABC
, and PBS
. As an animator and producer at Broadcast Arts, he built miniatures and drew storyboards.
In 1985, Ellis began working for Taylor Made Images animation company in Hyattsville
, Maryland, where he was an account executive as well as a producer, director, designer, and editor. At Taylor Made Images, Ellis began producing feature length live-action movies. He was still photographer for the special effects unit of the Tom Hanks
HBO miniseries
From the Earth to the Moon, which aired in April 1998. Ellis in 1998 designed spacesuits and props for the 2000 film Supernova. In 1998, he became head of visual effects for Full Moon Pictures
. In late 1999, he became the visual effects coordinator for the Unified Film Organization.
In 2000, Ellis began working free-lance again from his home studio. He created special effects for the 13-segment television series William Shatner’s Full Moon Fright Night for the Science Fiction Channel. He is involved in digital film cleanup and restoration of such films as 8 Mile
and The Cat in the Hat
.
In 2009, Ellis was invited to Dayton, Ohio, to attend the National Aviation Hall of Fame
's second "Reel Stuff Film Festival of Aviation." Ellis is currently employed by the Milton Caniff
estate to restore to DVDs the thirty-four episodes of the 1958–1959 NBC
television adventure series Steve Canyon
, starring Dean Fredericks
in the title role. The series was created by the cartoonist Milton Caniff, a native of Dayton.
The Internet Movie Data Base lists ninety-two productions beginning with Charcoal Black in 1972 and through Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer in 2010–2011 in which Ellis was involved in various kinds of special effects or other production activities.
Since 2006, Ellis has resided in Pacoima in the San Fernando Valley
of Los Angeles County
.
Background
Ellis was born in WilmingtonWilmington, Ohio
Wilmington is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,520 at the 2010 census. At city entrances from state routes, county roads, and U.S. highways, the city slogan of "We Honor Our Champions" is seen, accompanied by signs that highlight various...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
south of Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. He was the youngest of two sons and two daughters of John Leonard MacDonald Ellis (1918–1997) of Clinton County and the former Rachel Jeanette Wilson (1918–1980), a native of neighboring Warren County
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
. The senior Ellis was Methodist; Mrs. Ellis, Quaker. John R. Ellis is of English, Scottish, and Dutch descent. He was reared on a small farm in Clinton County until 1960, when the family moved to the Lakewood section of Wilmington. As a child, John liked to go to downtown Wilmington to buy comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s or go to the movie theater; he often pulled a wagon to collect soft drink bottles to trade for comics. His family encouraged him to develop his artistic and creative talents. At an early age, he developed an interest in aviation and built model planes and rockets.
As a result of his mother's asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, in 1966 his parents and John moved to West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. His grown siblings had already moved out: Larry Wayne Ellis (born 1943) of Cincinnati, and two sisters, Susan Gayle Ellis (born 1942) of Wilmington, and Doris E. Gossett (1939–2010) of Silver Spring
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, Maryland. In 1973, Ellis graduated from both Forest Hill Community High School
Forest Hill Community High School
Forest Hill Community High School also known as Forest Hill or The Hill, is a coeducational public high school in West Palm Beach, Florida with an enrollment of more than 1800 students...
and North Technical Educational Center, with credentials in commercial art. At North Technical, Ellis studied under the graphic artist Helen Drake. In the early 1970s, he was tutored by comic book artist C. C. Beck
C. C. Beck
Charles Clarence Beck was an American cartoonist and comic book artist, best known for his work on Captain Marvel at Fawcett Comics and DC Comics....
, the creator of Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
.
From 1973 to 1975 Ellis attended Palm Beach State College, then known as Palm Beach Junior College. He studied creative writing under the novelist David Stern, as well as design, philosophy, and psychology. He paid college tuition and fees through his work in free-lance graphics. He sketched comic books in Spanish and published limited edition posters and magazines sought by collectors. Between 1971 and 1981, Ellis hosted more than 40 comic and science fiction media festivals and conventions across the United States, including some of the earliest Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
conclaves.
Filmmaker and artist
In 1976, Ellis relocated to the Washington, D.C., area, where he became a free-lance artist and writer for newspapers and magazines, including Science News. He did animation for several government films. In 1979, he was hired to work in the camera department on the animation feature film, I Go Pogo, produced in Arlington, Virginia, and released in 1980. Thereafter, he worked as a director, producer, and animator.After I Go Pogo, Ellis joined Consolidated Visual Center, a commercial animation house in Tuxedo
Tuxedo, Maryland
Tuxedo is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States.-History:Scattered settlement in Tuxedo appeared along the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad by 1886, according to historic maps...
, Maryland, as an animator and director on mostly government, industrial and United States Armed Forces subjects. In 1982, he joined Broadcast Arts, a District of Columbia company that specialized in high profile clay animation and special effects commercials for such networks as MTV, SHOWTIME, HBO, Cinemax
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, and PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
. As an animator and producer at Broadcast Arts, he built miniatures and drew storyboards.
In 1985, Ellis began working for Taylor Made Images animation company in Hyattsville
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
, Maryland, where he was an account executive as well as a producer, director, designer, and editor. At Taylor Made Images, Ellis began producing feature length live-action movies. He was still photographer for the special effects unit of the Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
HBO miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
From the Earth to the Moon, which aired in April 1998. Ellis in 1998 designed spacesuits and props for the 2000 film Supernova. In 1998, he became head of visual effects for Full Moon Pictures
Full Moon Features
Full Moon Features is a motion picture production and distribution company headed by B-movie veteran Charles Band. It is known for the direct-to-video series Puppet Master and Subspecies, as well as the innovative VideoZone featurette at the end of films through 1989 to 2000.-Full Moon...
. In late 1999, he became the visual effects coordinator for the Unified Film Organization.
In 2000, Ellis began working free-lance again from his home studio. He created special effects for the 13-segment television series William Shatner’s Full Moon Fright Night for the Science Fiction Channel. He is involved in digital film cleanup and restoration of such films as 8 Mile
8 Mile (film)
8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, and Kim Basinger....
and The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat (film)
The Cat in the Hat is a 2003 American slapstick comedy film loosely based on the 1957 book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. It was produced by Brian Grazer and directed by Bo Welch, and stars Mike Myers in the title role of the Cat in the Hat, and Dakota Fanning as Sally...
.
In 2009, Ellis was invited to Dayton, Ohio, to attend the National Aviation Hall of Fame
National Aviation Hall of Fame
The American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...
's second "Reel Stuff Film Festival of Aviation." Ellis is currently employed by the Milton Caniff
Milton Caniff
Milton Arthur Paul Caniff was an American cartoonist famous for the Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon comic strips.-Biography:...
estate to restore to DVDs the thirty-four episodes of the 1958–1959 NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television adventure series Steve Canyon
Steve Canyon
Steve Canyon was a long-running American adventure comic strip by writer-artist Milton Caniff. Launched shortly after Caniff retired from his previous strip, Terry and the Pirates, Steve Canyon ran from January 13, 1947 until June 4, 1988, shortly after Caniff's death...
, starring Dean Fredericks
Dean Fredericks
Dean Fredericks was an American actor best known for his portrayal of the comic strip character Steve Canyon in a 34-episode television series of the same name which aired from 1958-1959 on NBC. He was born Frederick Joseph Foote in Los Angeles, California...
in the title role. The series was created by the cartoonist Milton Caniff, a native of Dayton.
The Internet Movie Data Base lists ninety-two productions beginning with Charcoal Black in 1972 and through Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer in 2010–2011 in which Ellis was involved in various kinds of special effects or other production activities.
Personal life
In 1984, Ellis married Cindy Weinstein, and the couple has two children, Sara Rachael Ellis (born 1984) and Julian Alexander Ellis (born 1989). They divorced in 1993.Since 2006, Ellis has resided in Pacoima in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
.