Bell steps up as new visual F/X chief

Becomes senior VP in wake of Swallow's exit

By DIANE GARRETT

Bell

Jennifer Bell will head Universal's visual effects production department in the wake of John Swallow's departure at the end of last year.

Bell, previously VP of production technology, has been upped to senior veep of visual effects production. She will oversee all aspects of vfx creation and production for U's motion picture group.

Swallow, who headed the department for five years before his exit, will continue to advise on various productions including "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," "Cirque du Freak" and "Land of the Lost." He worked at U for 11 years, joining the studio as VP of production technology in 1996; he was named exec VP of production technology in 2003.

Bell joined the studio in 2004. She has worked on pictures including "The Bourne Ultimatum," "American Gangster" and "Charlie Wilson's War." She is currently supervising visual effects work on pics including "Wanted," "Death Race" "The Wolf Man" and "The Fast and the Furious 4."

Bell began her career 20 years ago as a freelance vfx technician on James Cameron's "The Abyss." Over the years, she has worked on pics including "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Ghost," "Batman Returns" and "Cliffhanger." Her credits as a visual effects producer include "Batman Forever" and U pics such as "The Mummy," "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" and "Jarhead."