Rick Carter (born 1952, Los Angeles, California) is an American production designer and art director. He is best known for his collaborations with directors Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, particularly on the films Back to the Future Part II, Back to the Future Part III, Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, The Polar Express, War Horse, and Lincoln. He is also known for his work on James Cameron's Avatar, and for the J. J. Abrams-directed Star Wars films The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker. He is a two-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Production Design for his work on Avatar and Lincoln.

Rick Carter
Born1952 (age 71–72)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Production designer, art director
Years active1976–present
Notable workBack to the Future Part II and III, Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, Avatar, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Early life and education

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Carter's father was publicist, and later, motion picture producer, Dick Carter. His mother, Ruth, was a one-time Life magazine staffer, and later Realtor in Southern California.[1]

Carter's student days at UCSC were spent painting. Participating in a film panel at 2011's "Bridging the Gap" Arts Division event, the former Art major joined then Arts Dean David Yager in revisiting his alma mater and reliving the unique experience of his UCSC days.[2]

Career

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Beginnings

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A conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, he dropped out of the University of California at Berkeley and eventually entered the art department for the first time as an assistant on Hal Ashby’s Bound for Glory (1976) followed by James BridgesThe China Syndrome (1979).[3]

Film

His first credit as art director was with Ashby again on Second-Hand Hearts (1981), but art-directing The Goonies in 1985 was a pivotal job for the designer, as it led to another key meeting for Carter: with that film's writer and producer Steven Spielberg. The two hit it off and began a close working relationship that endures to the present day.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Director Notes
1989 Three Fugitives Francis Veber
Back to the Future Part II Robert Zemeckis
1990 Back to the Future Part III
1992 Death Becomes Her
1993 Jurassic Park Steven Spielberg Also wrote an unused draft of the film
1994 Forrest Gump Robert Zemeckis
1997 The Lost World: Jurassic Park Steven Spielberg
Amistad
2000 What Lies Beneath Robert Zemeckis With William James Teegarden
Cast Away
2001 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Steven Spielberg
2004 The Polar Express Robert Zemeckis With Doug Chiang
2005 War of the Worlds Steven Spielberg
Munich
2009 Avatar James Cameron With Robert Stromberg
2011 Sucker Punch Zack Snyder
War Horse Steven Spielberg
2012 Lincoln
2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens J. J. Abrams With Darren Gilford
2016 The BFG Steven Spielberg With Robert Stromberg
2017 The Post
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker J. J. Abrams With Kevin Jenkins
2022 The Fablemans Steven Spielberg

Accolades

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List of awards and nominations
Ceremony Category Year Film Result Ref.
Academy Awards Best Production Design 1994 Forrest Gump Nominated [4]
2009 Avatar (shared with Robert Stromberg) Won [4]
2011 War Horse Nominated [4]
2012 Lincoln Won [4]
2022 The Fabelmans Nominated
British Academy Film Awards Best Production Design 2010 Avatar (shared with Robert Stromberg) Won [4]
2012 War Horse Nominated [4]
2013 Lincoln Nominated [4]
2016 Star Wars: The Force Awakens Nominated [5]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Production Design 2009 Avatar (shared with Kim Sinclair and Robert Stromberg) Won [6]
2011 War Horse Nominated [7]
2012 Lincoln Nominated [8]
2022 The Fabelmans Nominated [9]
Satellite Awards Best Production Design 1997 Amistad Nominated
2012 Lincoln Won
2022 The Fabelmans Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Production Design 2010 Avatar (shared with Robert Stromberg) Won [10]
2016 Star Wars: The Force Awakens Nominated [11]
2017 The BFG (shared with Robert Stromberg) Won [12]
2021 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Nominated [13]

References

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  1. ^ "Rick Carter Biography". IMDb.
  2. ^ "ARTS ALUM RICK CARTER TAKES OSCAR". University of Santa Cruz.
  3. ^ a b "Rick Carter". Screen Daily. 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Oscar®-Winning Production Designer Rick Carter to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 18th Annual Art Directors Guild Awards on Feb. 8". PR Newswire. 2013-08-05. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  5. ^ "BAFTA Awards: Complete Winners List". Hollywood Reporter. 2016-02-14. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  6. ^ Finke, Nikki (2010-01-16). "Broadcast Film Critics Award 'Hurt Locker'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  7. ^ The Deadline Team (2012-01-12). "'The Artist' Best Pic, George Clooney, Viola Davis Top Actors At Critics Choice Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  8. ^ The Deadline Team (2013-01-13). "Critics' Choice Movie Awards: 'Argo' Best Picture, Director; Daniel Day-Lewis, Jessica Chastain Take Acting Honors". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  9. ^ Panaligan, EJ; Earl, William (January 15, 2023). "Critics' Choice Awards 2023 Full Winners List: 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' 'Abbott Elementary' and 'Better Call Saul' Take Top Honors". Variety. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Saturn Awards: 'Avatar,' James Cameron, and 'Lost' take top honors". Entertainment Weekly. 2010-06-25. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  11. ^ Cohen, David S. (2016-06-23). "'The Force Awakens' Rings Up Eight Saturn Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  12. ^ Montgomery, Daniel (2017-06-29). "Saturn Awards 2017: Full list of winners led by 'Rogue One,' 'Outlander,' 'The Walking Dead'". GoldDerby. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  13. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (2021-10-27). "Saturn Awards Winners: 'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' Leads With Five Prizes – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
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