EXCLUSIVE: Production is underway on Monster Maker, a documentary about Stan Winston, the legendary special effects artist behind some of the most memorable and terrifying creatures ever put on screen.

Dogwoof and Strange Bird are joining forces with Kennedy/Marshall, Whisper, and Haviland Digital on the feature, with Barney Douglas (McEnroe) directing. Winston’s extraordinary gallery of creations ranges from The Terminator’s unstoppable exoskeleton to the matriarchal xenomorph in Aliens, icky-mandibled Predator, and voracious velociraptors of Jurassic Park. Not all his designs struck terror; he snipped heartstrings with Edward Scissorhands. Winston won four Oscars for his work.

Principle photography is underway in London, with Jurassic Park star Jeff Goldblum sharing his memories of contending with Winston’s cantankerous Tyrannosaurus Rex. The documentary will also feature new interviews with The Terminator and Aliens director James Cameron, producer Frank Marshall, and former LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy.

“Monster Maker explores a transformative era in Hollywood when blockbuster action films and groundbreaking horror franchises redefined popular culture,” notes a release. “At the center of it all was Winston, an imaginative outsider whose artistry and innovation helped shape generations of moviegoers’ dreams… and nightmares.

“From the Terminator emerging from flames, to the Predator removing its mask and the groundbreaking dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, many of cinema’s most iconic characters and creature effects were created by Stan Winston and his team. Through never-before-seen archive material, behind the scenes footage of iconic Hollywood movies, and interviews with family, friends and collaborators including James Cameron, Monster Maker tells the story of the visionary artist whose work helped define modern blockbuster filmmaking.”

The release continues, “[While] celebrating the innovations that transformed the industry, Monster Maker explores the man behind the creations. Intimate family films reveal a dedicated father, collaborator and mentor whose legacy continues to shape filmmakers and audiences around the world.”

Winston died in 2008 at the age of 62 after battling multiple myeloma. In a statement, his family said, “We miss him every day and this documentary is sure to be an exciting and emotional journey for us all as Stan’s life of imagination, innovation, and movie magic are finally shared with the world on the big screen… We are so thrilled that Barney Douglas – along with producers Tamzin Merchant, Paddy Kelly, Dogwoof, The Kennedy/Marshall Company and Whisper – are coming together to tell Stan’s story with Monster Maker.”

James Cameron commented, “One of my great pleasures in life was my close collaboration with Stan Winston… the man, the artist, and the ringleader of so many other talented artists, on films such as The Terminator and Aliens. Stan was a true pioneer who created creatures and characters both wondrous and terrifying, but always memorable.”

Monster Maker is produced by Frank Marshall (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic World, The Bourne Identity, Seabiscuit). The documentary is directed and produced by Barney Douglas, with Tamzin Merchant, Paddy Kelly and Steve Williams producing for Strange Bird. Drew Masters and Chris Grubb executive produce for Whisper. Dogwoof co-produces, with Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle, and Will Kane serving as executive producers. Keith Haviland executive produces for Haviland Digital.

In a 1994 interview, Winston said, “What I do is make all these monsters and these characters so that I don’t have to ever grow up… I love creating characters for film. I love doing it in any way that someone will allow me to do it.”

In that interview, he added, “I like to create things that you’re not aware of the technique. It’s a little bit more magical to me for you to accept a character that we create and walk out of the film going, ‘It’s real.’”

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