Born in Detroit, MI; brother of visual effects supervisor Robert Skotak. Visual effects director of photography and miniature effects artist who entered American film as a miniature designer and contructor for BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS (1980). Other notable credits include ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981), THE AFTERMATH (1982, also cinematographer), ALIENS (1986), INVASION EARTH: THE ALIENS ARE HERE (1988), THE ABYSS 91989), SYNGENOR (1990), TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991), CAPTAIN RON and BATMAN RETURNS (both 1992), CLIFFORD and NO ESCAPE (both 1994), TANK GIRL (1995), BIO-DOME, THE ARRIVAL and T2 3-D: BATTLE ACROSS TIME (all 1996), TITANIC (1997), HARD RAIN (1998), X2 (2003), and STARSHIP TROOPERS: MARAUDER (scheduled for 2008 release). He is married to screen and television writer D.C. Fontana.  Best Achievement in Visual Effects 1989: THE ABYSS (w. John Bruno, Dennis Muren & Hoyt H. Yeatman, Jr.)  Nominated for Achievement in Visual Effects 1992: BATMAN RETURNS (w. Michael Fink, Craig Barron & John Bruno) 2 nominations, 1 Award