Technical Oscar winners include 2 Canadian teams
Scientific and technical Oscars handed out Saturday
The Canadian Press
Posted: Feb 13, 2012 2:02 PM ET
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2012 2:00 PM ET
A screenshot of Toronto-based Side Effects Software's Houdini special effects application, which earned a technical Oscar on Saturday. (Side Effects Software/Canadian Press)
The first Oscars of the year were presented Saturday at the Scientific and Technical Awards, the motion picture academy's annual celebration of the geeks and gizmos that make movie magic.
Among the winners were two Canadian teams — Andrew Clinton and Mark Elendt for their work with Side Effects Software, a Toronto firm that enhances 3D animation, and Raigo Alas, Greg Marsden, Michael Lewis and Michael Vellekoop for the Pictorvision Eclipse camera platform.
Pictorvision Eclipse, a stabilized camera mount used for shooting scenes from helicopters, has been in recent movies such as A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Hangover and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.
Elendt has won two previous Oscars for his work with Side Effects Software. The Canadian-made software helps Hollywood create digital special effects that can be overlayed in post-production.
"Prior to our invention it was really difficult for studios — it wasn't impossible — but it was really difficult to render sandstorms, or puffs of smoke, or clouds. And our invention made this a lot easier for them," explained Elendt.
"When you've got splashing water, falling rain or explosions that are blowing up, those kinds of things are our real forte."
Actress Milla Jovovich hosted the show and handed out the awards at the gala Saturday in Los Angeles.
2001 to Tree of Life
Winners included Douglas Trumbull, the visual-effects master behind such pioneering works as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Blade Runner.
Trumbull, 69, was honoured for his long career of technological contributions to filmmaking, including his latest wizardry in the Brad Pitt-Terrence Malick drama The Tree of Life, which featured grand images of the cosmos and the age of dinosaurs.
He told the black-tie industry audience that his inventive film work continues, including a system of new digital technologies —higher frame-rates, brighter projection, bigger and better screens — to enhance the movie-going experience.
"I want to accept this in the spirit of affirmation of my work, which is on-going, as you know," Trumbull said upon receiving his golden statuette. "I am trying to figure out a way to make a movie that you are in, rather than looking at."
He noted that cinema audiences have fallen by 16 per cent in recent years because of the many ways audiences can watch movies today — from mobile devices to big-screen TVs.
He said it was time Hollywood started making films best viewed in theatres so people will say, "'I want to go out to the movies tonight because it's so cool and it's so big, it's so grand and so spectacular."'
Also receiving an Oscar for technical achievement at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel ceremony was Germany's ARRI camera company for its Arrilaser film recorder used extensively by the industry in the post-production phase of motion pictures and also for restoring old films.
In addition, 25 academy plaques and certificates were presented honouring a variety of other technical achievements in moviemaking, from lenses to camera mounts.
Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards presentations will be included in the Feb. 26 Academy Awards show on ABC.
Share Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Stratford prepares for new director as season opens
- As the Stratford Shakespeare Festival opens its 60th season, high profile artistic director Des McAnuff is preparing to hand to reins to his successor Antoni Cimolino. Deana Sumanac reports. more »
- Quebec actress captures Cannes prize
- Canadian Suzanne Clement has been awarded the Best Actress prize in the Cannes Film Festival's sidebar competition, Un Certain Regard. more »
- Lady Gaga nixes Indonesia show after threats
- Lady Gaga cancelled her sold-out show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the youth. more »
- Sweden defeats Russian grannies in Eurovision song contest
- Sweden's Loreen clinches the top spot at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with her dance hit Euphoria, pushing aside competition from a sextet of Russian grannies and a Serbian balladeer. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Accused in blast that killed Alberta mom handled her funds
- Remains found in bag on Cape Breton river ID'd
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Quebec students, government to resume talks
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- Lip-dub marriage proposal an internet hit
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- B.C. NDP calls for unity in fighting coast guard closure
- Calgary Marathon winner breaks 21-year-old record
