Universal Pictures has promoted John Swallow to evp of production technology. He will continue to report to presidents of production Mary Parent and Scott Stuber. Swallow was named svp of production technology for Universal in January 1998, having first joined the studio in Nov. 1996 as vp of production technology. Over the years, he has been responsible for supervising the production technology for such films as THE GRINCH, THE MUMMY, THE MUMMY RETURNS, THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS and OCTOBER SKY.
Parent and Stuber said, "Over the years, John has proven to be an increasingly valuable and valued member of our team, just as technology has proven to be as important to the production of seemingly low-tech movies as A BEAUTIFUL MIND and SEABISCUIT as it is to effects-driven films like THE HULK and 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS. His expertise is unparalleled in the field, and we're very happy to announce this well-deserved promotion."
Before joining the studio in an official capacity, he worked for two years as effects producer on DRAGONHEART. Prior to that, he was exec producer for Pacific Data Images, creating effects for such films as HEART AND SOULS, CARLITO'S WAY and THE RIVER WILD, as well as the EARTHQUAKE attraction and Hitchcock Pavilion at Universal Studios Florida. From 1983 to 1992, he was vp of production for Apogee Prods., a company responsible for some of the visual effects work on such films as GHOSTBUSTERS II, DIE HARD 2 and COMING TO AMERICA.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
