User:Cinematix/John Decuir, Jr.

John DeCuir, Jr. ... has designed film and entertainment attractions in Italy, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Japan, Canada, and throughout the United States. He began his architectural design studies by apprenticing in the 20th Century Fox Art Department, working on films which included the KING & I and SOUTH PACIFIC. In Rome, Italy he worked on CLEOPATRA (which won an Academy Award for best film design), AGONY AND THE ECSTACY AND TAMING OF THE SHREW. Upon leaving the Coast Guard, he joined WALT DISNEY to work on projects which included façade and graphics design on MAIN STREET DISNEYLAND, interior design on the CONTEMPORARY AND POLYNIESIAN HOTELS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD and master planning and attraction design for EPCOT. Specific shows and films he developed while at Disney were MISSION TO MARS, HALL OF PRESIDENTS, SPACE MOUNTAIN POST SHOW,SPACE SHIP EARTH, 3-D MUPPET MOVIE AND ELLEN’S ENERGY ADVENTURE In the 90’s John’s master planning and architectural skills were called into play by the MITSUBISHI organization to head up a six million dollar design development program for a themed water park in Japan, a project which anticipated TOKYO DISNEY SEA. Another significant commission came from ARPA & SPRINT who asked him to provide concepts for a leading edge communication center. He has taught film design for two years at USC SCHOOL OF CINEMA and three years at the AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE. Films which John designed include TOP GUN, GHOSTBUSTERS, SISTER ACT II, TURNER and HOOCH and many others. He is currently completing his book THE ARCHITECTURE OF ILLUSION.