We all know the Oscars celebrate the best in Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. What you may not know is that the Academy runs a dedicated awards ceremony two weeks before the main event, dedicated to ‘the science bit‘!
Hosts Miles Teller and Margot Robbie during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards on February 7, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California.
The Scientific and Technical Awards Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that 20 scientific and technical achievements, involving 11 distinct investigations, have been selected for further consideration for 2015 Academy Awards.
The list is made public to allow individuals and companies with similar devices or claims of prior art the opportunity to submit achievements for review. The deadline to submit additional entries is Tuesday, September 1, at 5 p.m. PT.
The committee has selected the following technologies for further consideration:
- A remote-controlled lens attachment that enables highly adjustable in-camera
distortion effects
Prompted by Squishy Lens (Clairmont Camera)
- A remote-controlled lens attachment that allows viewable, easily manipulated, real-time image movement without displacing the camera
Prompted by Image Shaker (Clairmont Camera)
- Portable, inflatable panels for on-location motion picture production
Prompted by Inflatable Airwall (Aircover Inflatables)
- Displays that provide P3 color space for image review in motion picture workflows
Prompted by Dolby Laboratories model PRM-4200 Professional Reference Color Monitor (Dolby Laboratories)
- Tools that are used for the creation and quality control of DCI compliant digital cinema packages for the motion picture industry
Prompted by easyDCP Software Suite (Fraunhofer IIS)
- Rig-based solvers for tracking and animating deforming objects from image sequences
Prompted by Geometry Tracker (ILM) and FACETS – Directable Facial Motion Capture (Weta Digital)
- Integrated computer solutions for collaborative, iterative review of cinema resolution shots and sequences within the visual effects and animation studio environment
Prompted by RV Media Player (Tweak Software), Clip – A Comprehensive Playback, Editing and Review Suite (Double Negative), DreamWorks Animation Media Review Ecosystem (DreamWorks Animation), FrameCycler (IRIDAS), Global DDR (Rhythm & Hues), HiDef – Media Review System (Weta Digital), Itview Collaborative Review System (Sony Pictures Imageworks), WDAS Collaborative Enhanceable Image Playback and Review Systems (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
- Large-scale, massively parallel, distributed, multi-physics simulation systems
Prompted by Odin: A massively parallel simulation environment (Weta Digital)
- Image compression coding and parameters that adhere to the specifications for the theatrical release of motion pictures
Prompted by JPEG 2000 Digital Cinema and IMF Profiles (Fraunhofer IIS)
- 3D texture paint systems capable of dealing with large texture sets for production assets
Prompted by MARI (The Foundry)
- Rule-based frameworks for the art-directable creation of computer-generated structures and urban environments
Prompted by CityEngine (Esri R&D Center Zurich)
After thorough investigations are conducted in each of the technology categories, the committee will meet in early December to vote on recommendations to the Academy’s Board of Governors, which will make the final awards decisions.
The 2015 Scientific and Technical Awards will be presented on Saturday, February 13, 2016. The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
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About the Author: Conn Ó Muíneacháin
