In Memoriam of special effects technician Nick Finlayson

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2019-01-21

Nick Finlayson special effects technician

FSWL and the rest of the Bond fan community mourns the passing of British special effects technician Nick Finlayson who worked on 10 James Bond films from 1985 to 2012 and countless of other big-budget film productions over the years. Nick died at home in England in January 2019 and our thoughts now goes to Nick's family and friends.

FSWL supporter and Academy Award winner for special effects in Aliens (1986), John Richardson, who worked with Nick on several films, revealed the sad news and left the following statement for the From Sweden with Love website:

“Nick Finlayson worked with me on many films for over 30 years, he was one of those extremely talented men who you feel very lucky to have as part of the crew. A true Gentleman, he was extremely hard working, very clever with a wide range of skills, and he had a great sense of humour. He was also very patient and helpful to the young technicians coming into the business. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him and worked with him.
My thoughts go out to his family at this difficult time. God bless you Nick and thank you for your friendship.”

The real life Q - or Major Boothroyd as he's called in Ian Fleming's novels

Another legend in the special effects department, and like John an Academy Award winner, Chris Corbould, has also shared his thoughts on Nick with us:

“I worked with Nick Finlayson on over 20 films including ten Bonds, two Batman and two Tomb Raiders.
He was intelligent, funny and inspirational to everyone he worked with. It was a privilege to have worked alongside him.
The real Q will be sorely missed.”

The James Bond films Nick Finlayson worked on from 1985 to 2012

1985: A View to a Kill (special effects technician)
1987: The Living Daylights (special effects technician)
1989: Licence to Kill (special effects technician)
1995: GoldenEye (special effects crew)
1997: Tomorrow Never Dies (special effects crew)
*1999: The World Is Not Enough (workshop supervisor)
*2002: Die Another Day (workshop supervisor)
2006: Casino Royale (senior effects technician)
2008: Quantum of Solace (senior effects technician)
2012: Skyfall (senior effects technician)

*Nick also appeared in the DVD documentaries The Making of The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Shaken and Stirred on Ice (2002).

Inside the special effects studio at Pinewood Studios during the making of GoldenEye in 1995, Nick Finlayson, said:
“We did always try to use British products. But there are so many difficulties in getting the supplies on time.”

Nick Finlayson with Pierce Brosnan and Desmond Llewelyn during the filming of GoldenEye. © 1995 Danjaq LLC. & United Artists Pictures. An MGM Company. All rights reserved.

For a list of Nick Finlayson's special effects work in film industry, visit his IMDB page.

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In Memoriam of special effects technician Nick Finlayson

The real life Q - or Major Boothroyd as he's called in Ian Fleming's novels

The James Bond films Nick Finlayson worked on from 1985 to 2012

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