The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the Oscar shortlists today and the Visual Effects and Sound categories saw some surprises. While films such as “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “NOPE” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” were expected in Visual Effects, “Thirteen Lives” was not. Moreover, the Sound category inexplicably snubbed “Nope.”

READ MORE: “Avatar: The Way of Water” is ready to dive into the Oscar race

One film that made the Sound category, but didn’t make the VFX cut was “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” “RRR,” the Best Picture nominee hopeful that landed an Original Song placement, did not get recognized in either Visual Effects or, more shockingly, Sound.

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Judging by the haughty press release sent out this afternoon from the Visual Effects Society (VES), someone seems pressed. Or perhaps they got their tail stepped on. Or maybe they didn’t get their back scratched. Whatever the case, the organization was not happy about the comedy bit presenters James Corden and Rebel Wilson performed while announcing the Visual Effects Academy Award at the 2020 Oscars.

In a statement, the VES remarked:

“The Visual Effects Society is focused on recognizing, advancing and honoring visual effects as an art form – and ensuring that the men and women working in VFX are properly valued.

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For most of the members of the Oscar-nominated “Avengers: Endgame” visual effects team, this hasn’t just been a two-film adventure. In fact, most of the artists also worked on “Captain America: Civil War,” “Captain America: Winter Soldier” or “Iron Man 3.” So, imagine spending close to an entire decade working on these iconic characters. When it finally came to the climactic scene where a legion of heroes arrives to help take out the villainous Thanos, they knew it had to be something special.

Continue reading ‘Avengers: Endgame’ VFX Team On Smart Hulk & That Money Shot [Oscars] at The Playlist.

It’s one thing to remake “The Jungle Book” into a digital wonder, but another to transform a certified animated classic such as “The Lion King” into a “live-action” CG blockbuster. That’s what the now Oscar-nominated team for Jon Favreau’s adaptation had to consider before they segued to the new production. Basically, how do you tackle something this big when the people closest to you are telling you not to screw it up?

Continue reading ‘Lion King’ Visual Effects Team’s Toughest Job Was Actually What Audiences Never Saw [Oscars] at The Playlist.

There should be enough goodwill from the Academy to give “Avengers: Infinity War” the Oscar, but the last time the membership voted for something so broad was “Avatar” in 2010. Since then the winner has consistently gone toward more artistic efforts. That could mean a win for “First Man” which means this category is much closer than it seems.  [Updated Feb. 12]

Predictions
1. “Avengers: Infinity War” – Dan DeLeeuw, Kelly Port, Russell Earl and Dan Sudick
2.

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