| Academy Award for Best Visual Effects | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) |
| First awarded | 1929 |
| Most recent winner | Guillaume Rocheron Greg Butler Dominic Tuohy 1917 (2019) |
The Academy Award for Best Visual Effects is an Academy Award given for the best achievement in visual effects.
History of the award
editThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences first recognized the technical contributions of special effects to movies at its inaugural dinner in 1929, presenting a plaque for "Best Engineering Effects" to the first Best Picture Oscar winner, the World War I flying drama Wings.
Producer David O. Selznick, then production head at RKO Studios, petitioned the Academy Board of Governors to recognize the work of animator Willis O'Brien for his groundbreaking work on 1933's King Kong.
It was not until 1938 when a film was actually recognized for its effects work, when a "Special Achievement Award for Special Effects" was given to the Paramount film Spawn of the North. The following year, "Best Special Effects" became a recognized category, although on occasion the Academy has chosen to honor a single film outright rather than nominate two or more films. From 1939 to 1963, it was an award for a film's visual effects as well as audio effects, so it was often given to two persons, although some years only one or the other type of effect was recognized. In 1964, it was given only for visual effects, and the following year the name of the category was changed to "Best Special Visual Effects".
Honorees for this award have been bestowed several times as a Special Achievement Academy Award. In 1977, the category was given its current name "Best Visual Effects." For decades, shortlisted finalists were selected by a steering committee. They are presently chosen by the visual effects branch executive committee.[1] 1990 was the last year there were no official nominees. Back to the Future Part III, Dick Tracy, Ghost and Total Recall advanced to a second stage of voting, but only Total Recall received a requisite average and it was given a special achievement Oscar.[2]
To date, there have been three wholly animated films nominated in this category: The Nightmare Before Christmas in 1993, Kubo and the Two Strings in 2016, and The Lion King in 2019. There has been one semi-animated film nominated, which also won: Who Framed Roger Rabbit in 1988.[3]
Rules
editUsually, there are three nominated films. In 1979, there were five films nominated. Sometimes, no award is given. Other times, a single film is given the award outright.
In 2007, it was decided that a list of no more than 15 eligible films would be chosen, from which a maximum of seven would be shortlisted for further consideration. A vote would then proceed, with a maximum of three nominees. Since 2010, there are ten shortlisted finalists which, using a form of range voting, produce five nominees.[4][5] No more than four people may be nominated for a single film.[6]
According to the official Academy Award rules, the criteria are:
(a) consideration of the contribution the visual effects make to the overall production and (b) the artistry, skill and fidelity with which the visual illusions are achieved.
Filmmakers
editA number of filmmakers have had their movies honored for their achievements in visual effects; i.e., five films produced by George Pal, five by director/producer George Lucas, five by director James Cameron (who began his career in Hollywood as an effects technician), four by directors Richard Fleischer, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, three by director Robert Zemeckis, and two by directors Christopher Nolan and Ridley Scott.
Stanley Kubrick's only Oscar win was in this category, for 1968's 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film's credits list four effects contributors, including Douglas Trumbull. However, according to the rules of the Academy in effect at the time, only three persons could be nominated for their work on a single film, which would have resulted in the omission of either Trumbull, Tom Howard, Con Pederson or Wally Veevers. Ultimately, it was Kubrick's name that was submitted as a nominee in this category, resulting in his winning the award, which many consider a slight to the four men whose work contributed to the film's success.[7]
Engineering Effects Award
editThe table below display the Oscar nominees for Best Engineering Effects.
1920s
edit| Year | Film | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| 1927-28 (1st) | ||
| Wings | Roy Pomeroy | |
| Ralph Hammeras (photographic) [note 1] | ||
| Nugent Slaughter (photographic) [note 2] | ||
Special Effects Awards
editThe tables below display the Oscar nominees for Best Special Effects including the recipients of the Special Achievement Awards.
1930s
edit| Year | Film | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 (11th) | ||
| Spawn of the North [note 3] | For outstanding achievement in creating Special Photographic and Sound Effects in the Paramount production Spawn of the North. Special Effects by Gordon Jennings, assisted by Jan Domela, Dev Jennings, Irmin Roberts and Art Smith. Transparencies by Farciot Edouart, assisted by Loyal Griggs. Sound Effects by Loren Ryder, assisted by Harry Mills, Louis Mesenkop and Walter Oberst. | |
| 1939 (12th) [note 4] | ||
| The Rains Came | Fred Sersen (photographic); E. H. Hansen (sound) | |
| Gone with the Wind | Jack Cosgrove (photographic); Fred Albin and Arthur Johns (sound) | |
| Only Angels Have Wings | Roy Davidson (photographic); Edwin C. Hahn (sound) | |
| The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex | Byron Haskin (photographic); Nathan Levinson (sound) | |
| Topper Takes a Trip | Roy Seawright (photographic) | |
| Union Pacific | Farciot Edouart and Gordon Jennings (photographic); Loren Ryder (sound) | |
| The Wizard of Oz | A. Arnold Gillespie (photographic); Douglas Shearer (sound) |
1940s
edit1950s
edit1960s
edit| Year | Film | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 (33rd) | ||
| The Time Machine | Gene Warren and Tim Baar (visual) | |
| The Last Voyage | Augie Lohman (visual) | |
| 1961 (34th) | ||
| The Guns of Navarone | Bill Warrington (visual); Vivian C. Greenham (audible) | |
| The Absent-Minded Professor | Robert A. Mattey and Eustace Lycett (visual) | |
| 1962 (35th) | ||
| The Longest Day | Robert MacDonald (visual); Jacques Maumont (audible) | |
| Mutiny on the Bounty | A. Arnold Gillespie (visual); Milo B. Lory (audible) |
Visual Effects Awards
editThe tables below display the Oscar nominees for Best Visual Effects including the recipients of the Special Achievement Awards.
1960s
edit1970s
edit1980s
edit1990s
edit2000s
edit2010s
editShortlisted finalists
editFinalists for Best Visual Effects are selected by the Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee. Beginning with a long list of up to 20 titles, the committee then advances ten films to the shortlist.[11] Prior to the 83rd Academy Awards, only fifteen films were long-listed, and only seven films were shortlisted.[12] The full membership of the Visual Effects Branch is invited to view excerpts and is provided with supporting information at a "bake-off" where balloting determines the five nominees. These are the additional films that presented at the bake-off.
Multiple awards
editMultiple awards
edit
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|
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ The nomination for Ralph Hammeras was not associated with any individual film.
- ^ According to the Academy's in-house records, the nomination for Nugent Slaughter was most often connected with The Jazz Singer. It is not considered an official nomination for that film.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m This was presented as a Special Achievement Award, not as a competitive Academy Award of Merit.
- ^ From 1939 until 1962, visual effects and sound effects artists competed in a combined Best Special Effects category.
- ^ When nominations were announced on February 9, 1942, Dive Bomber was nominated in place of The Sea Wolf. Both were Warner Bros. productions with photographic effects by Byron Haskin and sound effects by Nathan Levinson. By February 19, the Dive Bomber nomination was replaced with The Sea Wolf. The reason for the substitution is unknown.
- ^ In 1957, The Enemy Below won the Best Special Effects Oscar for audible effects by Walter Rossi. It was not cited for its visual effects.
- ^ A tie resulted in eight finalists.
Superlatives
editFor this Academy Award category, the following superlatives emerge:[44]
- Most awards: Dennis Muren – 8 awards (resulting from 15 nominations)
- Most nominations: Dennis Muren – 15 nominations (resulting in 8 awards)
References
edit- ^ "92nd Academy Awards of Merit" (PDF). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- ^ Cohn, Lawrence (February 17, 1991). "Oscar Choices/Omissions Reflect Quirky Voting Rules". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- ^ "How Kubo and the Two Strings Landed a Surprise Visual Effects Oscar Nomination".
- ^ "89TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS OF MERIT" (PDF). oscars.org. 2016. RULE TWENTY-TWO SPECIAL RULES FOR THE VISUAL EFFECTS AWARD.
Five productions shall be selected using reweighted range voting to become the nominations for final voting for the Visual Effects award.
- ^ "RangeVoting.org - Reweighted Range Voting - a PR voting method that feels like range voting". rangevoting.org. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ^ [1] Archived September 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "1969 Winners and Nominees". Oscars.
- ^ "The Official Academy Awards Database". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "Academy Awards 2017: Complete list of Oscar winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. February 26, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 23, 2018). "Oscar Nominations: 'The Shape Of Water' Leads Way With 13". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "93rd Academy Award of Merit Rules" (PDF). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ a b Fleming Jr., Mike (January 5, 2011). "Academy Narrows Visual Effects Oscar Field". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ Turner, George (April 1985). "Academy Visual Effects Nominees". American Cinematographer.
- ^ Mavity, Will (January 22, 2017). "A History of Visual Effects Shortlists & Bake-Offs". Next Best Picture. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Behind the Illusion". Variety. February 12, 1995. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (March 17, 1996). "Movie Answer Man (03/17/1996)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Hindes, Andrew (January 8, 1997). "7 pix set to vie for 3 Oscar f/x noms". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Silicon Graphics' Oscar-winning performance". ITWeb. March 3, 1998. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Olson, Eric J. (February 4, 1999). "Seven pics make the cut in Oscar f/x nominee race". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Graser, Marc (January 12, 2000). "Seven pics make the cut in Oscar f/x nominee race". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Graser, Marc (January 10, 2001). "Acad taps 7 for f/x bake-off". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Graser, Marc (February 27, 2002). "Short list for Oscar f/x gets physical". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Effective Work". Variety. January 20, 2003. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Graser, Marc (January 7, 2004). "Threepeat feat?". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "'Aviator' f/x flying high". Variety. December 19, 2004. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Chang, Justin (December 16, 2005). "Acad avoids 'Sin' as f/x race narrows to 7". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Visual Effects Oscar contenders announced". Variety. December 15, 2006. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Oscar's visual effects list set". Variety. January 4, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (January 7, 2009). "Oscar's VFX shortlist". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (January 6, 2010). "Seven films on Oscar's visual effects shortlist". Reuters. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Chitwood, Adam (January 4, 2012). "Visual Effects Oscar Category Narrowed Down to 10 Choices". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (November 29, 2012). "Oscars: Visual Effects Finalists Named". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "10 Contenders Remain in VFX Oscar Race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 5, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "10 Contenders Remain in VFX Oscar Race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 5, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "10 Contenders Remain in VFX Oscar Race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 21, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "20 Contenders Advance in VFX Oscar Race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ "10 Contenders Remain in VFX Oscar Race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 16, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "20 Contenders Advance in VFX Oscar Race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Erbland, Kate (December 18, 2017). "Oscars 2018: Academy Shortlist Names Contenders for Visual Effects, Including 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' and 'Dunkirk'". IndieWire. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "20 Contenders Advance in VFX Oscar Race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "91st Oscar Shortlists". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ "20 Contenders Advance in VFX Oscar Race". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "92nd Oscar Shortlists". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ Academy Award Statistics Archived 2009-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
