The Visual Effects Society has released its list of nominees for the 6th Annual VES Awards, set to take place on Feb. 10 at the Kodak Theatre Grand Ballroom in Hollywood. After winning a number of top awards at last year’s event, the ILM crew behind Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean films may be looking at another sweep. At World’s End leads the pack with seven nods, followed closely by fellow ILM effort Transformers with five. Transformers exec producer Steven Speilberg will accept the VES Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of the impact his vast body of work, as both a director and producer, has had on the art and science of visual effects.
Two sequences in Ratatouille are up for Outstanding Effects in an Animated Motion Picture. The shots are up against eye-popping scenes from Beowulf, Shrek the Third and Surf’s Up.
Sony Pictures Animation’s Surf’s Up has two characters’Cody and Chicken Joe’in the running for Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture. The surfing birds are up against King Harold from DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek the Third, Beowulf from Paramount’s Beowulf, and Colette from Disney/Pxar’s Ratatouille. Meanwhile, the race for Outstanding Animated Character in a Live-Action Motion Picture will be run by Sandman from Sony/Columbia’s Spider-Man 3, Crusoe from Sony’s The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, Davy Jones from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Pip from Disney’s Enchanted, Optimus Prime from DreamWorks/Paramount’s Transformers and the infected leader from Warner Bros.’ I Am Legend.
Animated films managed to break into other categories as well this year. Surf’s Up scored quite a coup by getting a sequence dubbed ‘riding the visual effects tube’ nominated for Best Single Visual Effect of the year. The other nominees in the category are Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, 300 and Spider-Man 3. In addition, Ratatouille is up for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects,
The complete list of 2007 VES Awards Nominees follows. For more information, go to www.vesawards.com.
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture
I Am Legend
Janek Sirrs, Mike Chambers, Jim Berney, Crys Forsyth-Smith
Transformers
Scott Farar, Shari Hanson, Russel Earl, Scott Benza
The Golden Compass
Michael Fink, Susan MacLeod, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
John Knoll, Jill Brooks, Hal Hickel, Charlie Gibson
Spider-Man 3
Scott Stokdyk, Terry Clotiaux, Peter Nofz, Spencer Cook
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture
Ratatouille
Michael Fong, Apurva Shah, Christine Waggoner, Michael Fu
Zodiac
Eric Barba, Craig Barron, Janelle Croshaw, Chris Evans
We Own the Night
Kelly Port, Julian Levi, Brad Parker, Olivier Sarda
The Kite Runner
David Ebner, Les Jones, Todd Perry, Leif Einarsson
Blades of Glory
Mark Breakspear, Randy Starr, Shauna Bryan, Kody Sabourin
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special
Battlestar Galactica – Razor
Mike Gibson, Gary Hutzel, Sean Jackson, Pierre Drolet
Race to Mars – Getting to Mars
Manon Barriault, Jacques Levesque, Olivier Goulet, Benoit Girard
Doctor Who Christmas Special 2007 – Voyage of the Damned
David Houghton, Will Cohen
Ben 10: Race Against Time – VFX Compilation
Dina Benadon, Evan Jacobs, Brent Young, Chris Christman
Tin Man – Night One
Lee Wilson, Lisa Sepp-Wilson, Sebastien Bergeron
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series
Heroes – Episode 208 – ‘Four Months Ago’
Eric Grenaudier, Mark Spatny, Diego Galtieri, Mike Enriquez
Doctor Who ‘The Last of the Time Lords’ – Series 3, Episode 13
David Houghton, Will Cohen
Stargate Atlantis ‘ ‘Adrift’
Mark Savela, Shannon Gurney, Erica Henderson, Jamie Yukio Kawano
Fight for Life – Episode 4
Philip Dobree, Nicola Instone, Marco Iozzi, Matt Chandler
Battlestar Galactica – Episode 316 – ‘Maelstrom’
Mike Gibson, Gary Hutzel, Michael J. Davidson, Kyle Toucher
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
Grey’s Anatomy ‘ ‘Walk On Water’ – Ferryboat Crash
Sam Nicholson, Scott Ramsey, Valeri Pfahning, Mike Enriquez
Marie-Antoinette – Miniseries
Richard Martin, Pierre Raymond, Sebastien Rioux, Nadine Homier
Drive Episode 101 ‘The Starting Line’ – Driving Sequence
Raoul Yorke Bolognini, Loni Peristere, Steve Meyer, Chris Jones
Rome – ‘Philippi’
James Madigan, Barrie Hemsley, Duncan Kinnard, Gary Broznich
Pushing Daisies – pilot episode
Craig Weiss, Toni Pace Carstensen, Brian Vogt, Jimmy Berndt
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
Bacardi ‘ ‘Bacardi Sun’
Vittorio Giannini, Franck Lambertz, Robin Carlisle, Nico Cotta
Zune ‘ ‘The Ballad of Tina Pink’
Luisa Murray, Laurent Ledru, Katrina Salicrup, Miles Essmiller
BMW ‘ ‘Hydrogen’
Simon Maddison, Dave Kelly, Mike Bain, Sam Cole
BMW ‘ ‘Road’
Chris Fieldhouse, Jay Barton, Ron Herbst, Dave Stern
Smirnoff ‘ ‘Sea’
William Bartlett, Scott Griffin, Dan Seddon, David Mellor
Best Single Visual Effect of the Year
Transformers – Desert Highway Sequence
Scott Farrar, Shari Hanson, Shawn Kelly, Michael Jamieson
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End – Jack and Davy Duel
John Knoll, Jill Brooks, Francois Lambert, Philippe Rebours
300 – Crazy Horse Sequence
Chris Watts, Gayle Busby, Kirsty Millar
Surf’s Up – Riding the Visual Effects Tube
Rob Bredow, Lydia Bottegoni, Daniel Kramer, Matt Hausman
Spider-Man 3 – The Birth of Sandman
Scott Stokdyk, Terry Clotiaux, Spencer Cook, Doug Bloom
Outstanding Real Time Visuals in a Video Game
Need For Speed Pro Street – ProStreet
Michael Mann, Wilson Tang, Eduardo Agostini, Carl Jarrett
Crysis – Realtime Visuals
Michael Endres, Michael Khaimzon
Team Fortress 2
Jason Mitchell, Moby Franke, Chris Green, Dhabih Eng
Halo 3 – Halo 3 Footage
Marcus Lehto, Jonty Barnes, Stephen Scott, CJ Cowan
Mass Effect – Game Sequence
Derek Watts, Casey Hudson
Outstanding Pre-Rendered Visuals in a Video Game
Command And Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars – GDI, NOD & scrin scenes
Richard Taylor, Matt Britton, Ben Hopkins, Tang Katai
Hellgate: London
Tim Miller, Jerome Denjean, Al Shier
World Of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade – cinematic intro
Jeff Chamberlain, Scott Abeyta
The Witcher Cinematic – intro
Tomek Baginski, Marcin Kobylecki, Grzegorz Kukus, Maciek Jackiewicz
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
Dinosaurs-Giants of Patagonia
Mario Couturier, Vincent Roberge, Richard Bergeron, Martin L’Heureux
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – show edit
Roger Gould, Liz Gazzano, Joe Garlington, Dan Colajacomo
Sea Monsters
Sean Phillips, Jack Geist, Robin Aristorenas, Mark Dubeau
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Motion Picture
Spider-Man 3 – Sandman
Chris Yang, Bernd Anger, Dominick Cecere, Remington Scott
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep – Crusoe
Richard Frances-Moore, Martin Hill, Marco Revelant, Daniel Barrett
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – Davy Jones
Hal Hickel, Marc Chu, Jakub Pistecky, Maia Kayser
Enchanted – Pip
Tom Gibbons, James W. Brown, David Richard Nelson, John Koester
Transformers – Optimus Prime
Rick O’Connor , Doug Sutton, Keiji Yamaguchi, Jeff White
I Am Legend – the infected leader
David Schaub, Marco Marenghi, Josh Beveridge
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture
Surf’s Up – Chicken Joe
David Schaub, Moon Jun Kang, Brian Casper, Andreas Procopiou
Shrek the Third – King Harold
John Cleese, Guillaume Aretos, Tim Cheung, Sean Mahoney
Beowulf – Beowulf
Keith Smith, Scott Holmes, Pericles Michielin, Kenn McDonald
Surf’s Up – Cody
David Schaub, Pete Nash, James Crossley, Shia LaBeouf
Ratatouille – Colette
Janeane Garofalo, Jaime Landes, Sonoko Konishi , Paul Aichele
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial
Doctor Who – ‘The Last of the Time Lords’
Nicolas Hernandez, Adam Burnett, Neil Roche
Chemical Brothers ‘ ‘Salmon Dance’ – Fatlip shots
Nicklas Andersson, Mike Mellor, Sylvain Marc, Florent DeLa Taille
Primeval – Episode 6 – Predator Animation
Mathieu Vig, Antoine Birot, Simon Thistlethwaite, Kevin O’Sullivan
AMP – Paper
Fred Raimondi, Chris De Santis, Angie Jones, Narbeh Mardirossian
Ben 10: Race Against Time – Grey Matter Sequence
Brent Young, Michael Smith
Propel – Stress Monster
Mitch Drain, Sean Faden, Matt Hackett, Denis Gauthier
Outstanding Effects in an Animated Motion Picture
Beowulf – Dragon Chase
Theo Vandernoot, Vincent Serritella, Rob Engle, Pericles Michielin
Shrek the Third – Effects
Matt Baer, Greg Hart, Krzysztof Rost, Anthony Field
Ratatouille – Food
Jon Reisch, Jason Johnston, Eric Froemling, Tolga Goktekin
Surf’s Up – Riding Wave – CG Style
Rob Bredow, Daniel Kramer, Matt Hausman, Danny Dimian
Ratatouille – Rapids
Darwyn Peachey, Chen Shen
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture
Sweeney Todd – The Old Bailey
Raf Morant, Julian Gnass, Nakia McGlynn, Christine Wong
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – The Maelstrom
Frank Losasso Petterson , Paul Sharpe , Joakim Arnesson , David Meny
Zodiac – Washington and Cherry
Wei Zheng, Greg Szafranski, Janelle Croshaw, Karl Denham
Harry Potter And the Order of the Phoenix – The Hall of Prophecy
David Vickery, Philippe LePrince, Trina Roy, Jolene McCaffrey
Rush Hour 3
Barry Williams, Robert Weaver , Jay Cooper , Masahiko Tani
I Am Legend – Times Square Hunt
Daniel Eaton, Blaine Kennison, Ron Gress, Daveed Shwartz
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Broadcast Program or
Commercial
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Phi Tran, Matthew Lee, Martin Hilke, Andrew Roberts
Tin Man – night one
Les Quinn, Ken Less, Andrew Domachowski, Jonah West
Ugly Betty ‘ ‘A League of Their Own’
Chris Martin, Michael Cook, Cedric Tomacruz
Smallville – Metropolis City
Kaz Yoshida, Jack Matsumoto, Andrea Shear, Eli Jarra
Subaru ‘ ‘Peel Out’
Graham Fyffe, Chris Nichols, Chris Bankoff, Daniel Buck
Outstanding Models or Miniatures in a Motion Picture
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – Practical and Digital Ships
Ken Bailey, Bruce Holcomb, Carl Miller, Geoff Heron
Live Free or Die Hard – Freeway Sequence – F35 Miniature and Effects
Ian Hunter, Scott Schneider, Scott Beverly, John Cazin
Transformers
Dave Fogler , Ron Woodall , Alex Jaeger, Brian Gernand
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix – Hogwarts School
Jose Granell, Nigel Stone
Spider-Man 3 – building/crane destruction miniature and effects
Ian Hunter, Scott Beverly, Forest Fischer, Raymond Moore
Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture
Transformers
Pat Tubach , Beth D’Amato , Todd Vaziri , Mike Conte
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End – death of Beckett
Lou Pecora, Joel Behrens, Ted Andre, Kevin Lingenfelser
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Eddie Pasquarello , Katrin Klaiber, Jen Howard, Shawn Hillier
I Am Legend – seaport evacuation
Darren Lurie, John Sasaki, Rita Kunzler, Fish Essenfeld
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep – Crusoe
Areito Echevarria, Gareth Dinneen, Norman Cates, Caterina Schiffers
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Hall of Prophecy and comp shots
Jolene McCaffrey, Jelena Stojanovic, Victor Wade, Adam Pashke
Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
Smallville, Season 6 – Episode 11, ‘Justice’
Rob Reinhart, Jack Matsumoto, Takashi Takeoka, Christina Spring
Tin Man – Night One
Todd Liddiard, Philippe Thibault, Lionel Lim, Annabelle Kent
NIKE ‘ ‘Leave Nothing’
James Allen, Rob Trent
Smallville ‘ ‘Bizarro Flood’
David Alexander, Kaz Yoshida, Geeta Basantani, Tony White
Levis ‘ ‘Change’
Tim Davies, Jason Schugardt, Yuichiro Yamashito
Outstanding Special Effects in a Motion Picture
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
John Richardson, Stephen Hamilton, Richard Farns, Stephen Hutchinson
Outstanding Special Effects in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
Actively Safe ‘ ‘Lexus Hydrant’
Dave Peterson, Anthony De La Cruz
