Bies, Don

Don Bies

Special thanks to Derek Maki and CoolWatersProds.com for the photograph of Barquin D'an.

Don Bies was born on April 7, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois, US.  Don Bies' first foray into the film world was with Chris Walas, Inc for The Fly.  It was shortly after that he was hired at Lucasfilm.  And he's been there ever since.

Don Bies lives in Petaluma, California with his wife, Anna, and their son, Ben.

Film Actor
Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters~2015 (V doc) - Himself
Backyard Blockbusters~2012 (doc) - Himself
The PhanDom Menace~2002 (V doc) - Himself
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones~2002 - cameo in the Night Club
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome~2001 (V) (uncredited) - Himself
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace~1999 - cameo (barely) in Pod racing garage (mechanic)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 (special edition) (uncredited) - Barquin D'an (Cantina 
Band member - Kloo Horn)/Boba Fett

Film Crew
Flubber~1997 (puppeteer)
Fire in the Sky~1993 (operating room effects)
Fly II, The~1989 (creature effects)
Kiss, The~1988 (creature effects)
Fly, The~1986 (creature effects: C.W.I.)

Film Effects
Black Point~2015 (visual effects supervisor)
Evan Almighty~2007 (model/miniature maker: Kerner Optical)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest~2006 (senior model maker)
Mission: Impossible III~2006 (senior model maker)
The Island~2005 (senior model maker)
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith~2005 (R2-D2 operator/droid unit supervisor)
War of the Worlds~2005 (senior model maker: ILM)
Peter Pan~2003 (model maker: ILM)
Pirates of the Caribbean~2003 (model maker: ILM)
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones~2002 (senior model maker)
Artificial Intelligence: AI~2001 (model maker: ILM) (uncredited)
Pearl Harbor~2001 (model maker: ILM)
Galaxy Quest~1999 (chief model maker: ILM)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) (model maker: ILM) (puppeteer: R2D2) (uncredited)
Starship Troopers~1997 (chief model maker: ILM)
Congo~1995 (model maker: ILM)
Radioland Murders~1994 (model maker: ILM)
Fire in the Sky~1993 (creature technician: alien sequence)
Ghostbusters II~1989 (creature effects) (uncredited)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade~1989 (puppet engineer: ILM)
Witches of Eastwick~1987 - (puppeteer)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 (model and creature maker: ILM)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 (model and creature maker: special edition)

Film Director
Every 15 Minutes~2007 (V short)
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome~2001 (V) (special sequences)

Film Editor
Every 15 Minutes~2007 (V short)

Film Producer
Every 15 Minutes~2007 (V short)

Film Writer
Every 15 Minutes~2007 (V short)
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome~2001 (V) 

Commercials
Panasonic (series - Japan) - R2-D2 operator (his first time operating R2)

Video Games
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II~1997 (prop constructor)

Social Media
Official Site:
White Room Artifacts
Facebook:
don.bies

Awards, Honors, and Nominations
Visual Effects Society Awards:
Nom 2004 Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Motion Picture for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (shared)

Miscellany
"The definition of special effects is: Who cares if it's real, as long as it looks cool?" ~ Don Bies.

Special Thanks to Derek Maki and CoolWatersProds.com for the generous contributions they made to the SWAD!  Please, visit Cool Waters Productions: