SUBMITTED BY Scooby

September 19, 2003 — Variety reports that Amalgamated Dynamics will design and create the creature effects for Alien vs. Predator. The company is headed by Oscar-winning f/x vets Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., who have worked previously on Fox's "Alien" franchise, including Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection.

The company will design and perform the animatronic versions of the "Alien" and "Predator" creatures. The company will also work on makeup and other on-set effects for the film. The film shoots in Prague in October, but a staff of 88 has already been working since July.

Gillis and Woodruff plan to use an enhanced motion control system to improve the movement of the film's animatronic characters, enabling the creatures to be more powerful and move faster than was previously possible and allow for more intricate performances.

"We're going to use a lot of technology and new techniques that haven't been used before," Gillis said. "There will be a new look to these characters." Woodruff added, "Audiences will see the characters in 'AVP' perform in a way they haven't seen before."

The company will also design the creature suits when an actor is needed to perform certain moves.