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Tim Ferriss

Richard Taylor and Greg Broadmore, Wētā Workshop — Untapping Creativity, Stories from The Lord of the Rings, The Magic of New Zealand, Four Tenets to Live By, and The Only Sentence of Self-Help You Need (#799)

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“The thing we love to make today is other makers. We’ve had a lovely and amazing career, and we are continuing to do fun and wonderful things every day. But it’s an imperative, and I actually feel that it’s beholden on us to try and introduce as many people as possible, specifically children, into the love of making and creating because it is slipping out of our fingers.”
— Richard Taylor

“What is art about? It is more than just drawing pictures and making stories — it is finding truth.”
— Greg Broadmore

Richard Taylor is the co-founder and creative lead at Wētā Workshop, which he runs with his wife and co-founder Tania Rodger. Wētā Workshop is a concept design studio and manufacturing facility that services the world’s creative and entertainment industries. Their practical and special effects have helped define the visual identities of some of the most recognizable franchises in film and television, including The Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, Superman, Mad Max, Thor, M3gan, and Love, Death, and Robots.

Greg Broadmore is an artist and writer who has been part of the team at Wētā Workshop for more than 20 years. His design and special-effects credits include District 9, King Kong, Godzilla, The Adventures of Tintin, and Avatar, and he is the creator of the satirical, retro-sci-fi world of Dr. Grordbort’s. He is currently working on the graphic novel series One Path, set in a brutal prehistoric world where dinosaurs and cavewomen are locked in a grim battle for supremacy.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Audible, or on your favorite podcast platform. The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

This episode is brought to you by Seed’s DS-01® Daily Synbiotic broad spectrum 24-strain probiotic + prebiotic; Our Place’s Titanium Always Pan® Pro using nonstick technology that’s coating-free and made without PFAS, otherwise known as “Forever Chemicals”; and AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement.

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Richard Taylor and Greg Broadmore, Wētā Workshop — Untapping Creativity, Stories from The Lord of the Rings, The Magic of New Zealand, Four Tenets to Live By, and The Only Sentence of Self-Help You Need

This episode is brought to you by AG1! I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. And right now, when you first subscribe to AG1, you’ll get an AG1 Welcome Kit, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, a Morning Person hat, AND you’ll get to try each new flavor of AG1 and their new sleep supplement, AGZ. That’s $126 in free gifts for new subscribers! Visit DrinkAG1.com/Tim to claim this special offer today

This episode is brought to you by Our Place’s Titanium Always Pan® Pro! Many nonstick pans can release harmful “forever chemicals”—PFAS—into your food, your home, and, ultimately, your body. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to major health issues like gut microbiome disruption, testosterone dysregulation, and more, which have been correlated to chronic disease in the long term. This is why I use the Titanium Always Pan Pro from today’s sponsor, Our Place.  It’s the first nonstick pan with zero coating. This means zero “forever chemicals” and durability that will last a lifetime. Visit FromOurPlace.com/Tim and use code SAVE10TIM at checkout for 10% off your entire order. With a 100-day, risk-free trial, free shipping, and free returns, there’s zero risk in test-driving a great upgrade to your kitchen.

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Want to hear another podcast episode with a prolific artist? Listen to my first conversation with Todd McFarlane, in which we discussed the art of compelling storytelling, meeting deadlines, Todd’s voluminous library of rejection letters, how the industry status quo led to the founding of Image Comic Books, the happy accident that brought Venom to life, spaghetti webbing, competitive bladdering, and much more.

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

  • Connect with Richard Taylor:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

  • Connect with Greg Broadmore:

Website | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Richard Taylor’s Four Tenets

  1. Love of oneself.
  2. Love of what you do.
  3. Love of who you do it with.
  4. Love of who you do it for.
  5. (Unofficial bonus tenet) Don’t be a dickhead.

Institutions, Companies, and Places

Movies and Entertainment Media

Books and Recommended Reading

Relevant Resources

People

SHOW NOTES

  • [00:08:51] Albertosaurus vs. bear.
  • [00:10:10] The Richard Taylor office tour.
  • [00:12:27] How Richard was inspired to begin sculpting.
  • [00:15:42] Being influenced by — and meeting — stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen.
  • [00:18:08] Connecting with Dick Smith, the ‘grandfather’ of makeup effects.
  • [00:19:17] Sculpting in margarine and breaking into the industry.
  • [00:23:57] Tinfoil sculpting and teaching creativity to kids.
  • [00:28:00] Wētā’s evolution from a small team to a 400-person creative hub.
  • [00:35:57] 99 Dodgy Slips and 99 Deadly Sleds.
  • [00:41:43] Greg’s artistic education and unique process.
  • [00:46:11] The art must flow! But how does Greg make it happen?
  • [00:47:54] The Auckland mural: when flow goes too far and Lemmy has to be replaced.
  • [00:48:42] How Greg boarded the Wētā Workshop train after years on the dole.
  • [00:51:59] The David Deutsch influence: curiosity, fun, and learning.
  • [00:53:05] Philosophizing around art and creative problem-solving.
  • [00:54:45] How Wētā’s Gallipoli exhibition makes WWI relevant to modern museumgoers.
  • [00:59:04] The challenges of clothing giants and hitting deadlines.
  • [01:03:33] How Wētā attacked the massive scale of the Lord of the Rings project with a can-do attitude.
  • [01:11:23] Richard’s four tenets (plus one bonus tenet).
  • [01:13:39] The unique advantages of operating in New Zealand.
  • [01:16:42] The unwavering self-belief of Peter Jackson’s leadership style.
  • [01:20:10] Richard’s advice for anyone seeking to cultivate their own creativity.
  • [01:23:03] Artistic immortality: leaving a creative legacy.
  • [01:24:13] Greg explains the retro sci-fi angle behind his Dr. Grordbort’s and ray gun projects.
  • [01:28:55] The metaphysics of creative direction.
  • [01:36:09] How Greg’s new book, One Path, came about.
  • [01:40:02] Tools Greg used for conceptualizing One Path.
  • [01:41:55] Where the curious can see more of Greg’s work.
  • [01:43:18] How many destinations does Greg imagine One Path will reach?
  • [01:45:02] Why working on District 9 was often frustrating, but ultimately rewarding.
  • [01:50:39] How can an artist maintain a healthy detachment from their own work?
  • [01:57:35] Greg’s inspirations.
  • [02:06:20] What’s Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) up to these days?
  • [02:08:53] What is art really about for Greg?
  • [02:10:10] How Aaron Stupple changed Greg’s life.
  • [02:13:13] Bestiaries, folios, and fondly remembered library books.
  • [02:15:39] Parting thoughts.

MORE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW

“I have four very simple tenets that I operate by and four tenets that I try and operate our company by. … Love of oneself, love of what you do, love of who you do it with, and love of who you do it for.”
— Richard Taylor

“The first 300 commercial sculptures I did in the film industry were sculpted in margarine.”
— Richard Taylor

“If you think about who are the true immortals in the world, they’re teachers and parents, people that pass information to others to carry on into the next generation. But I do think about artists and craftspeople as being creatively immortal.”
— Richard Taylor

“The thing we love to make today is other makers. We’ve had a lovely and amazing career, and we are continuing to do fun and wonderful things every day. But it’s an imperative, and I actually feel that it’s beholden on us to try and introduce as many people as possible, specifically children, into the love of making and creating because it is slipping out of our fingers.”
— Richard Taylor

“Grit is an important component in the journey, not the accolades at the end. It’s the task of getting there that is seen as equal in accomplishment as winning baubles.”
— Richard Taylor

“I realized you need to care about the work deeply. It is your baby. You have to care about it. And if you don’t care about it, the work won’t be any good. So you cannot become cynical to the work, you have to love it, and you have to be able to let go of it.”
— Greg Broadmore

“I love learning by doing. It’s the only way. The act of illustrating or being creative, in general, I find most interesting when you don’t actually know where you’re going exactly, and you don’t really know how to do it. You just throw yourself into it and do your best, and I love that process.”
— Greg Broadmore

“Why choose any creative direction? This is a whole big metaphysical thing. There’s actually, I think, two distinct directions in which people create stories and narratives and worlds. One way is directed where you know where you’re going to go, you know the ending. The other way, which I’ve discovered I do, more often than not, is I’m just chasing these ‘why?’ questions.”
— Greg Broadmore

“What is art about? It is more than just drawing pictures and making stories — it is finding truth.”
— Greg Broadmore

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Walter
Walter
9 months ago

I know in these times reasonable and wise Americans like Tim Ferriss and other public figures are being held hostage by fear. I get it; I’m a tad nervous even making this comment. But, from this Canadian’s perspective, the silence from people like Tim is deafening. The people of my country are proud, but America is overwhelmingly more powerful than my country and, we need help.

Sorry for my comment being off target, but I do believe it’s far from a non sequitur.

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domi77
domi77
9 months ago

This was such an inspiring conversation! Richard Taylor and Greg Broadmore’s insights into creativity and world-building were fascinating. The way Wētā Workshop pushes artistic boundaries is truly admirable. I especially loved their thoughts on storytelling—what an incredible reminder of how imagination can shape reality!”

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Holli Bradish-Lane
Holli Bradish-Lane
9 months ago

Subject: A Foreword Opportunity on DNA-Based Health & Metabolic Optimization

Dear Tim,
I’ve been a longtime fan of your work and always look forward to 5-Bullet Friday. Your ability to distill high-impact strategies into actionable insights has shaped how I approach DNA-based health coaching and metabolic optimization.
I recently completed a book that explores DNA-based weight loss, epigenetics, and GLP-1 reduction strategies—helping people understand how to work with their genetics rather than against them. It aligns with the science-backed, high-leverage health interventions you often explore: using precision medicine, behavioral science, and neuroplasticity to create lasting transformation.
It would be an honor if you would consider writing the foreword. Your voice would add immense value to this conversation, reinforcing the power of data-driven, personalized health strategies.
Also, I still haven’t tried AG1 yet—I don’t know what I’m waiting for! It seems like the perfect fit for my Ironman training, so maybe it’s finally time to take the plunge.
I know you’re incredibly busy, so if this resonates, I’d love to send you a copy to review. Either way, thanks for the work you do—it’s already had a major impact on how I approach transformation in my field.
With gratitude, Holli

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Maddie Touran
Maddie Touran
9 months ago

I’ve been absolutely loving the recent artist interviews and have been binging your past ones! Are you familiar with James Jean? I’d love to see you interview him. His insights on art business and his creative process would be fascinating to hear about.

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Mony
Mony
9 months ago

I was hoping you’d do interviews of giants such as Richard Taylor, Steve Wang and the likes for a while now!
So very happy to watch this!

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Aadhya22
Aadhya22
7 months ago

I’ve been absolutely loving the recent artist interviews and have been binging your past ones! Are you familiar with James Jean? I’d love to see you interview him. His insights on art business and his creative process would be fascinating to hear about.

0
Reply

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