In the late 1960s, Danforth assisted fellow film maker Dennis Muren (later head of George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) special effects facility, and winner of several Oscars of his own) with the making of a 16 mm short film titled "The Equinox... A Journey into the Supernatural". The film was later expanded by producer Jack H. Harris as the feature film "Equinox" (1970), which was later released on VHS as "The Beast".) Danforth appeared as several 'extras' in the film and assisted in animating cells, painting mattes, and constructing sets and equipment, but did none of the film's stop-motion animation (which was done by Dave Allen and Dennis Muren). (Photo of Jim Danforth and matte painting from "Equinox" copyright 1965, 2006 Susan Turner)