Bill Taylor William " Bill " Taylor is a special and visual effects artist specialized in matte paintings . In 1983 he formed with Syd Dutton the effects company Illusion Arts , Inc . , located in Van Nuys , California , which provided matte paintings to several " Star Trek " projects . The company was closed in 2009 . As part of Illusion Arts , Inc . , Taylor worked on several episodes of , , , and , and five " Star Trek " films . During his time on " Star Trek " Taylor earned two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Special Visual Effects : In 1985 , Taylor won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for the television mini - series " A . D . " , shared with Syd Dutton and Albert Whitlock . In 1976 he received the Golden Scroll for Best Special Effects from the Academy of Science Fiction , Fantasy & Horror Films for his work on the science fiction thriller " Dark Star " , shared with Douglas Knapp . In 1992 he received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Special Effects for his work on the horror film " Frankenstein Unbound " , shared with Syd Dutton . Prior to this , Taylor won a Technical Achievement Award at the 1982 Academy Award s for the concept and specifications for a Two Format , Rotating Head , Aerial Image Optical Printer . Since 2006 , Taylor is a member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( Visual Effects Branch ) . Prior to the founding of Illusion Arts , Inc . , Taylor worked as matte photographer on projects such as the drama " The Hindenburg " ( 1975 ) , the action drama " Airport ' 77 " ( 1977 ) , the comedy " The Prisoner of Zenda " ( 1979 ) , the music comedy " The Blues Brothers " ( 1980 ) , the television mini series " Masada " ( 1981 ) , the comedy " History of the World : Part I " ( 1981 ) , the horror film " Cat People " ( 1982 ) , and the science fiction film " The Thing " ( 1982 ) . Together with Dutton and the staff of Illusion Arts , Inc . , he worked as special visual effects supervisor , artist , and matte painter , photographer and camera operator on projects such as the drama " The River " ( 1984 ) , the comedy " Maxie " ( 1985 ) , the horror sequel " Psycho III " ( 1986 ) , the family movie " The Karate Kid , Part II " ( 1986 ) , the science fiction comedy " Spaceballs " ( 1987 ) , the science fiction thriller " The Running Man " ( 1987 ) , the fantasy adventure " The Neverending Story II : The Next Chapter " ( 1990 ) , the comedy sequel " Mannequin : On the Move " ( 1991 ) , the fantasy comedy " The Addams Family " ( 1991 ) , the comedy " Robin Hood : Men in Tights " ( 1993 ) , the comedy sequel " Naked Gun 33 1 / 3 : The Final Insult " ( 1994 ) , the action comedy " Beverly Hills Cop III " ( 1994 ) , the comic adaptations " The Shadow " ( 1994 ) and " Batman Forever " ( 1995 ) , the fantasy film " DragonHeart " ( 1996 ) , the adventure " The Mask of Zorro " ( 1998 ) , the remake " Psycho " ( 1998 ) , the family adventure " Muppets from Space " ( 1999 , with Wyatt Weed ) , the war drama " U - 571 " ( 2000 ) , the drama " The Gift " ( 2000 ) , the horror film " From Hell " ( 2001 ) , the action thriller " The Fast and the Furious " ( 2001 ) , the science fiction remake " The Time Machine " ( 2001 ) , the action thriller " The Bourne Identity " ( 2002 ) , the comedy " Bruce Almighty " ( 2003 ) , the mystery thriller " The Village " ( 2004 ) , the science fiction film " Serenity " ( 2005 ) , the fantasy adventure " The Chronicles of Narnia : The Lion , the Witch and the Wardrobe " ( 2005 ) , the action sequel " The Fast and the Furious : Tokyo Drift " ( 2006 ) , the remake " Miami Vice " ( 2006 ) , the final cut edition of the 1982 science fiction thriller " Blade Runner " ( 2007 ) , and the fantasy sequel " The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor " ( 2008 ) . Following the abandonment of his company , Taylor worked as visual effects supervisor on the action film " Black Jacques " ( 2011 ) and the crime drama " The Wettest County in the World " ( 2012 , with Mark Stetson ) .