Suzanne M. Benson facts for kids

Suzanne M. Benson is a talented visual effects producer. She was born in 1958 and studied visual effects at the University of Arizona. She is famous for her work on movies like Creature, Aliens, Spy Hard, and Street Fighter.

In 1987, Suzanne made history. She became the first woman to win an Oscar for special effects. This award was for her amazing work on the 1986 movie Aliens. That film also won a BAFTA and a Saturn Award for its special effects.

Suzanne Benson's Movie Work

Suzanne Benson started her career in movies in 1982. Her first job was as a production secretary for the film Slapstick of Another Kind. In 1984, she became an associate visual producer for City Limits.

Her next big project was Creature, released in 1985. At the same time, she was also busy working on Aliens. This movie was the exciting sequel to the 1979 hit film, Alien. When Aliens came out in 1986, people loved its acting and directing. But they especially noticed the incredible special effects.

For her work on Aliens, Suzanne Benson won an Academy Award in 1987. After Aliens, she worked on Street Fighter (1994) and Spy Hard (1996). She then retired from the movie industry in 1997.

Working with L.A. Effects Group

For most of her career, Suzanne Benson worked with a company called the L.A. Effects Group. This group was started in 1983 by several top visual effects experts in Hollywood. Many of Suzanne's most famous projects happened while she was with this group.

She joined the L.A. Effects Group between 1983 and 1984. She worked as a visual effects producer on their first film, Creature. After Creature, the group was hired to create the special effects for the 1986 movie Aliens. On Aliens, Suzanne worked as a visual effects producer alongside other talented people like Robert Skotak, Stan Winston, and John Richardson.

Amazing Effects in Aliens

Suzanne Benson is most famous for her work on the 1986 film Aliens. Critics praised the movie's use of puppets and props. They said these effects were some of the most detailed and advanced they had ever seen in movies. This helped the film get excellent reviews overall.

The special effects team also used small models and miniatures. They made scenes look much bigger on screen by using clever tricks. These included rear projection, mirrors, beam splitters, and camera splits. These advanced effects were seen as very creative and new for that time.

The team also made alien suits that were more flexible and looked more real than the ones in the first Alien movie. They even used Mannequins when human actors couldn't do certain movements. These mannequins could be bent into positions that actors couldn't manage. They could also be made to look like they were shot, which was very realistic for an alien creature. In 1986, when Aliens was released, these effects were considered the most advanced special effects ever made.

Awards and Recognition

Suzanne Benson received several important awards for her work, especially for Aliens.

• 1987: Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Aliens
• 1987: BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects for Aliens