The company adopted the name Weta in 1994, when it expanded and Taylor and Rodger joined with Jamie Selrick and Peter Jackson. ("Weta" is a Maori word for any member of a family of wingless insects with long spiny legs that are native to New Zealand.) This meant the company was able to provide a one-stop workshop offering all the effects and requirements for the New Zealand film and television industry. Jackson used the workshop for the visual and special effects for HEAVENLY CREATURES (1994) and THE FRIGHTENERS (1996).
Weta Digital produced all the cutting edge computer effects and compositing for the trilogy of THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Weta Workshop took on the design, production and onset operation of all the weapons, armour, creatures and special make-up effects, and the construction of the miniature models. For a company to take on so many departments on a single feature, let alone a trilogy, was almost unheard of.
Taylor's other film credits include KING KONG (special miniature, creature & makeup effects) and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (creative designer & supervisor) (both 2005), BLACK SHEEP (2006, special effects), 30 DAYS OF NIGHT (2007, effects supervisor), EEL GIRL (2008, effects supervisor), and special effects for an as yet untitled Evangelion project (scheduled for release in 2009).
Nominated for Achievement in Costume Design 2001: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (w. Ngila Dickson)
Best Achievement in Makeup 2001: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (w. Peter Owen)
Best Achievement in Visual Effects 2001: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (w. Jim Rygiel, Randall William Cook & Mark Stetson)
Best Achievement in Costume Design 2003: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (w. Ngila Dickson)
Best Achievement in Makeup 2003: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (w. Peter King)
Best Achievement in Visual Effects 2005: KING KONG (w. Brian Van't Hul, Christian Rivers & Joe Letteri)
6 nominations, 5 Awards