The Visual Effects Society (VES) announced the nominees for the 5th Annual VES Awards recognizing outstanding visual effects, with Disneys PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST leading the pack for Industrial Light & Magic with six nominations, including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture and Best Visual Effect of the Year.
There are a total of 21 categories of film, television, commercials, music videos and games. Nominees were chosen on Saturday, Jan. 6, by a panel of more 80 visual effects professionals, all VES members, who viewed hundreds of entry submissions at the screening facilities of FotoKem in Burbank. Said Eric Roth, VES exec director, "This year we had 30% more submissions than last year, and from seven different countries. Along with this growth, we've also seen our awards show grow in industry stature. It's very gratifying to know that companies all over the world want to get one of our trophies. Clearly, they see the value in getting VES recognition."
The nominations are:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture
CHARLOTTE'S WEBKarin Joy, John Berton, Blair Clark, John Dietz
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHESTJohn Knoll, Jill Brooks, Hal Hickel, Charlie Gibson
THE FOUNTAINJeremy Dawson, Dan Schrecker, Mark Soper, Peter Parks
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture
BLOOD DIAMONDJeffrey Okun, Thomas Boland, Tim Crosbie, Neil Greenberg
CHILDREN OF MENLucy Killick, Frazer Churchill, Timothy Webber, Paul Corbould
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERSMichael Owens, Matthew Butler, Bryan Grill, Julian Levi
THE DA VINCI CODEBarrie Hemsley, Angus Bickerton, Gary Brozenich, Paul Riddle
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special
FIGHT SCIENCEMat Beck, Kymber Lim, Manny Wong, Jack Matsumomto
NIGHTMARES AND DREAMSCAPES - BATTLEGOUNDEric Grenaudier, Sam Nicholson, Mark Spatny, Adalberto Lopez
THE HOGFATHER - EPISODE 1Oliver Money, Simon Thomas, Kim Stevenson, Stephen Jolley
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - EPISODE 303B "Exodus"Gary Hutzel, Michael Gibson, Alec McClymont, Brenda Campbell
PREHISTORIC PARK - EPISODE 4George Roper, Matt Fox, Laurent Hugueniot, Kevin Spruce
SMALLVILLE - SEASON 6, EPISODE 1 "Zod"Mat Beck, Brian Harding, Trent Smith, John Wash
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
ALIAS - REPRISAL/ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLDKevin Blank, Jay Worth, Steve Fong, Kevin Kutchaver
COMMANDER IN CHIEF - EP 112 "The Wind Beneath Her Wings"Mark Kolpack, Adam Ealovega, Mark Spatny, Mike Enriquez
ER - SCOOP AND RUNSam Nicholson, Scott Ramsey, Adam Ealovega, Anthony Ocampo
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
REXONA - GO WILDAndy Boyd, Stephane Allender, Dan Seddon, Abby Orchard
SEARS TOOLS - ARBORETUMRich Rama, Cedric Nicolas, Laurent Ledru
TRAVELERS - SNOWBALLDan Lemmon, Eileen Moran, R. Christopher White, Paul Story
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Music Video
Killers - BONESChas Jarrett, Dave Child, Paul O'Shea, Andrew Bell
U2 and Green Day - THE SAINTS ARE COMINGMatt Winkel, Mark Glaser, Wayne England, Graham Fyffe
Best Single Visual Effect of the Year
CHILDREN OF MEN - Birth SequenceTim Webber, Lucy Killick, Andy Kind, Craig Bardsley
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHESTJohn Knoll, Ned Gorman, Jakub Pistecky, Tom Fejes
POSEIDONBoyd Shermis, Rhonda Gunner, Kim Libreri, Philippe Rebours
X-MEN: THE LAST STANDEric Saindon, Cyndi Ochs, GG Heitmann, Roger Shortt
Outstanding Real Time Visuals in a Video Game
ASSASSIN'S CREED X06 TrailerJade Raymond, Nicolas Cantin, Raphael Lacoste, Christophe Martin
FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 3 for PS3Sjoholm Christopher, Kat Kelly Hayduk, Hilson Rob, Jepson Celia
Outstanding Pre-Rendered Visuals in a Video Game
ASSASSIN'S CREED E3 TrailerJade Raymond, Thomas Giroux, Raphael Lacoste, Anne Mai Le Bouyonnec
HELLGATE: LONDON 2006 - E3 TrailerTim Miller, Jerome Denjean
WARHAMMER FANTASYTim Miller, Jerome Denjean
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
FIELDS OF FREEDOMSam Nicholson, Scott Ramsey, Adam Ealovega, Jon Craig
GREECE, SECRETS OF THE PASTCraig Barron, Ken Rogerson, Glenn Cotter, Chri Evans
ROVING MARSAlan Markowitz, Dan Maas, Jeremy Nicolaides, Johnathan Banta
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Motion Picture
CHARLOTTE'S WEB - TempletonTodd Labonte, Jason Armstrong, Sven Jensen, David Richard Nelson
CHARLOTTE'S WEB - WilburGrant Adam, Daniel Fotheringham, Avi Goodman, Paul Buckley
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST - Davy JonesSteve Walton, Jung-Seung Hong, Marc Chu, James Tooley
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture
CARS - MaterLarry The Cable Guy, Mike Krummhoefener, Tom Sanocki, Nancy Kato
MONSTER HOUSE - HouseUmberto Lazzari, Mike Kimmel, Kui Han Lee, Owen Demers
HAPPY FEET - Mumble's BanishmentDamien Grey, Tim Gibson, Carl Prud'Homme
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program, Commercial or Music Video
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - EPISODE 217 "Downloaded"Ryan Cronin, Louie Hinayo, Andy Asperin, Trevor Adams
DR. WHO - EPISODE 2, SERIES 2Nocolas Hernandez, Jean Claude Deguara, Neil Roche, Jean Yves Adouard
GEICO - CHATDavid Hulin, Seth Gollub, Andy Walker, Jenny Bichsel
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IIIRussell Earl, Richard Bluff, Giles Hancock, Dennis Martin
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHESTChris Stoski, Susumu Yukuhiro, Jack Mongovan, Greg Salter
POSEIDONMohen Leo, Daniel Pearson, Willi Geiger, Matt Brumit
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Broadcast Program, Commercial or Music Video
Coke - THE GREATEST GIFTDavid Hulin, Nathan Hughes, Jenny Bichsel, Andy Walker
ELISABETH - EPISODE 1Dave Bowman, Jimmy Kiddell, Russell Horth, Gurel Mehmet
ESPN - MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL REMOTE OPENLuke McDonald, Danny Braet, Minory Sasaki, Josh McGuire
Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Motion Picture
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHESTBruce Holcomb, Ron Woodall, Charlie Bailey, Carl Miller
THE GOOD SHEPHERDMatthew Gratzner, Forest Fischer, Enrico Altmann, Leigh-Alexandra Jacob
V FOR VENDETTAJose Granell, Nigel Stone
Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Broadcast Program
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SEASON 2, EPISODE 218 "Resurrection Ship, Part 2"Steve Graves, Jose Perez, Mark Shimer, Chris Zapara
COMMANDER IN CHIEF - EP 112 "Air Force One"Mike Enriquez
Dodge - FAIRYMatthew Gratzner, Forest Fischer, Jon Warren, Scott Schneider
Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHESTEddie Pasquarello, Francois Lambert, Jeff Sutherland, Tory Mercer
POSEIDONPat Brennan, Mark Hopkins, Nelson Sepulveda, Mark Nettleton
THE DAVINCI CODE - Saint Sulpice SequenceMathew Krentz, Jordan Benwick, Enrico Perei, Rafal Kaniewski
Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program, Commercial or Music Video
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SEASON 2, EPISODE 218 "Resurrection Ship, Part 2"Lane Jolly, Don Kim, Matt Smith, Chris Zapara
Coke - THE GREATEST GIFTMurray Butler, MaryAnne Lauric, Nathan Hughes, Pedro Sabrosa
SPORTS HEAVENGeoff McAuliffe, Yafei Wu, Robert Sethi, Jimi Simmons
TRAVELERS - SNOWBALLLaure Lacroix, Lyse Beck, Steve McGillen, Matt Holland
Outstanding Special Effects in a Motion Picture
CASINO ROYALEChris Corbould, Peter Notley, Ian Lowe, Roy Quinn
SUPERMAN RETURNSNeil Corbould, David Brighton, David Young, Robert Higgie
On Jan. 13, the VES holds its heralded annual event, the VES Show and Tell Event 2007, which will afford an opportunity for VES nominees to demonstrate the making of secrets behind the visual effects that earned each artist a place for this year's awards. "The sophistication of the work increases constantly," added Jeff Okun, VES Awards Committee chair. "We're now at the point where even the industry professionals can't tell what's real and what's a visual effect. Our Show and Tell gives the artists a chance to show their colleagues and the public what the current state of the art is. I know I always learn something new at this event and that's what makes it vital to the concept of competing for awards. Our voters are educated."
The Show and Tell Event 2007 is free to VES members and is also open to the public at $20 per ticket. Tickets to the event, which will be held at the Skirball Cultural Center, are available by calling the VES office at (310) 822-9181 or may also be purchased at the door. Final voting for all categories will take place via an online view and vote between Jan. 22 and Feb. 6.
Winners will be announced at the 5th Annual VES Awards gala on Feb. 11 at the Kodak Grand Ballroom in Hollywood. Academy Award-winning visual effects pioneer Dennis Muren will receive the VES Lifetime Achievement Award. To buy tickets for the Awards show or to become an event sponsor, visit www.visualeffectssociety.com.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
