Ilonggo animator makes it big in Hollywood
He was only over a year old when his family migrated to Canada. His interest for film as an art form started when he was just a toddler. He avidly watched 16mm classic films for children borrowed by his parents from the local public library. His drawings from age four already showed his great promise as an artist, capturing in detail the defined features of his favorite movie characters such as Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs, Captain Hook and his nemesis–the Crocodile, Kingkong, Godzilla, among others.
His skill in drawing did not escape the eyes of his teachers at Toronto Montessori School. They encouraged his parents “to give Oliver a chance by sending him to a proper art school and not just to an old lady teaching art in her basement.”
His name is Oliver Exmundo, the son of Solomon Exmundo and Nilda Lopez-Exmundo who are both UP alumni (BS Mining Eng’g ’65 and BSFS ’65 MPA 69, respectively).
Graduating at the Etobicoke School of Arts in Toronto, Oliver enrolled in the Ontario College of Arts for his Fine Arts degree and got a Diploma in Classical Animation from the Sheridan College in Ontario.
His professional career as an animator started with Foundation Imaging in Los Angeles which produced television series such as Starship Troopers, Max Steel, and Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future. He moved on to join the TV network Nickelodeon which produced Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
In 2001, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the first in the trilogy novels written JRR Tolkien, was adapted into film by New Zealander director Peter Jackson whose name back then did not really ring a bell in Hollywood. The first of the trilogy films captured the imagination of people all over the world. The Fellowship was nominated in 13 categories in the 2002 Academy Awards (Oscars) and won four awards–Best Cinematography, Best Music, Original Score, Best Makeup, and Best Effects, Visual Effects. The last two awards were earned by the creative minds of Weta, a New Zealand-based movie production outfit.
Drawn by the massive talents at Weta, which was becoming noted for encouraging and giving breaks to young animation artists, Oliver left Los Angeles in 2002 to join Weta Digital. It was an opportune move. He got on board the team and took part in the production of the 2nd and the 3rd film in the trilogy, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
The Two Towers had six nominations at the 2003 Academy Awards including Best Picture, and won two for Best Sound Editing and Best Video Visual Effects. But it was in 2004 that the 3rd part of the trilogy, The Return of the King, swept the major awards, nominated in 11 categories and winning them all, including Best Picture and Best Director for Peter Jackson.
“The Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy is considered by critics as the greatest cinematic achievement in movie-making history. By being a part of it, Oliver has established for himself a solid reputation as an animator. He is at present, a Senior Animator at Weta Digital.
His other film credits include the following:I-Robot, King Kong, X-Men: The Last Stand, Eragon, The Water Horse, and, most recently, James Cameron’s Avatar due for release in December 2009.
His being Ilonggo and his parents being graduates of UP have paved the way for Oliver to give generously to the UPV Cinematheque Project that will soon be inaugurated on December 19, 2009 at the UPV Iloilo City campus.
Oliver will be in Iloilo City on December 19, 2009 to be the guest of honor at the inauguration of the UPV Cinematheque. He and his family have been responsible in furnishing the interior of the cinema to include the aircon units, projector, sound systems, chairs, and even bathroom fixtures.
