Special effects wizard burnt at stake

An up-and-coming Hollywood special effects wizard has been burnt at the stake, it was revealed last night.

Quentin James had recently burst onto the scene with his revolutionary technique for taking a tree, and then using his special effects wizardry, making it appear on screen to be a completely different tree.

“What Quen was doing with special effects would have revolutionised the way we think about trees within the industry,” said a colleague, “he’s going to be an enormous loss.”

Mr James was researching trees in a remote part of Western England when the tragedy occurred.

“As far as we understand the situation, locals got wind of the fact the Mr James was a special effects wizard and summarily burnt him at the stake,” explained a police representative.

Dorothy Grace is from the West of England.

“Don’t know about this situation. What happened and that. But what I can tell you is that folks round here don’t hold with wizardry. Never have done. Not in our nature.

“Personally, if I heard some wizard, special effects or not, were just going round here doing wizard things, well, I don’t know if I’d burn them at the stake, but I wouldn’t be happy, and I’d certainly report them to the authorities and then hopefully the authorities would burn them at the stake.”

The film industry has reacted to the events by resolving not to refer to any new, talented special effects technicians as ‘special effects wizards’ so to avoid any future tragedies like this.

“We’re not sure. But ‘special effects heroes’ or ‘special effects boffins’ could work, and anything that would result in less burnings at the stake is to be encouraged.

Mr James burnt body was found dumped next to his cauldron. His robes and pointy hat have been returned to his family.