Quick Post: AVATAR Up For Oscar's Best Picture

Jim here. As we all assumed it would, AVATAR is up for Best Picture for the 82nd annual Academy Awards! Other nominees are THE HURT LOCKER, PRECIOUS, UP IN THE AIR, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, THE BLIND SIDE, DISTRICT 9, AN EDUCATION, A SERIOUS MAN and UP.

This is the first year that there are 10 nominations for Best Picture.

Best Director sees five nominees: James Cameron (AVATAR), Kathryn Bigelow (THE HURT LOCKER), Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS), Quentin Tarantino (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS) and Jason Reitman (UP IN THE AIR).

My wager is on Cameron and AVATAR. I suppose that isn't a surprise though is it? :-)

Watch the awards Sunday, March 7.

"Journey To The Center Of The World" Makes Semi Finals For Oscar's Visual Effects Bakeoff

This is great news for 3D fans everywhere: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH has just made it to the semi-finals of the Academy's visual effects bakeoff!

According to Variety, the Walden, New Line and Warner sci-fi family movie surpassed the efforts of other well known and lucrative blockbusters "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", "Cloverfield" and "Hancock" to be considered for the covented award.

Joining JOURNEY for the Oscar consideration are "Australia," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "Hellboy II," "Iron Man," and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."

Apparently the Academy will have to set up a digital 3D projector in the main Goldwyn Theater as it has not been updated yet.

Variety reports: "At the bakeoff, the seven semi-finalists for the Oscar will present 15-minute reels of visual effects highlights and have a few minutes to answer questions from the Acad's visual effects branch. Immediately afterward the members cast their votes for the three nominees."

If you are interested, the bake off is open to the public and being held Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. - no admission charge.

Two Nights Of 3D Technology: Newly Restored "Hondo" Starring John Wayne In 3D

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is presenting an interesting 3D technology discussion as well as a rare screening of John Wayne's 1953 3D movie "Hondo" based on Louis L'Amour's "The Gift of Cochise" on November 6th and 13th respectively.

Personally, I am very curious as to what Chris Condon has to say being the 3D industry pioneer that he is. The rapid changes that are taking place now are making my head spin - so it will be nice to see the viewpoint from someone who has seen it all.

Participants:

Chris Condon - 3D Consultant and Former StereoVision International President

Peter Anderson - 3D Director of Photography and Visual Effects Supervisor

Eric Brevig - Visual Effects Supervisor

Rob Hummel - AMPAS Science & Technology Council Member

Garrett Smith - VP Digital Mastering Operations @ Paramount

Source: Variety