Features







2007-08 Oscar Calendar



[Monday, December 3, 2007]

Official Screen Credits
Forms Due.


[Wednesday, December 26, 2007]

Nominations ballots mailed.


[Saturday, January 12, 2008]

Nominations polls close
5 p.m. PST.


[Tuesday, January 22, 2008]

Nominations announced
5:30 a.m. PST
Samuel Goldwyn Theater


[Wednesday, January 30, 2008]

Final ballots mailed.


[Monday, February 4, 2008]

Nominees Luncheon


[Saturday, February 9, 2008]

Scientific and Technical
Awards Dinner


[Tuesday, February 19, 2008]

Final polls close 5 p.m. PST.


[Sunday, February 24, 2008]

79th Annual
Academy Awards Presentation
Kodak Theatre

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« Greg P. Russell Responds … | Main | Finally, a response from … »

"Tech Support": The Finale

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As up and down as this season has been, I have to say that I am beyond thrilled with how Gerard Kennedy has handled the "Tech Support" column here at In Contention. Writing with the same amount of passion I tend to exude for the craftsmen and women of this industry, he has kept an even keel all season and struck the right notes along the way. He has extended a healthy helping of respect to the behind the camera individuals we feel don't get the appreciation they deserve and - above all - handled his first stab at being edited and having his ideas challenged with the utmost professionalism.


When I sat down to bring "Tech Support" to a reality, I knew that I couldn't give it the full attention it required and maintain the functions of an entire website at the same time. So bringing Gerard on has helped alleviate the weight on my end, but it has also given the tech environment a clear voice in the film awards season, free of distraction.

Some strides were taken at this year's show, but it still goes without saying even organizations like the AMPAS need a lesson or two in conveying the right appreciation for a group of people that makes up probably 75% of their membership. Folks like art director Lorin Flemming ("Running with Scissors"), who found herself perplexed even at the way the Academy goes about it's awards dishing.


"I do think that it is strange that the award for best Art Direction is awarded to the Production Designer and the Set Decorator," she told me some months back. "I could understand if it was just the Production Designer, who is ultimately responsible for the visual direction of the project. But if you include the Set Decorator then it seems to me an important member of the art department leadership team is left out."


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Given the way many awards-giving bodies handle the technical branches, you'd think their work might even go unappreciated by fellow industry workers. But Flemming disagreed somewhat, saying "We are often congratulated and thanked, but when it comes down to it, I do think that often our co-workers and collaborators in other departments have no idea how much work goes into what they are asking us to do or what they see when they arrive on set. It just kind of magically appears."


Even still, she isn't so naive as to think others don't share her plight.


"I think most other departments would say the same thing about their own work," she mentioned. "I guess after all, it is our job to make it seem that easy."


But it isn't. And that is pretty much the essence of what we sought to convey with "Tech Support."


While Jack Nicholson's maniacal mug on a TV spot might sell tickets to "The Departed," that mug wouldn't be there if it weren't for folks like cinematographer Michael Ballhaus. The title set of "Pan's Labyrinth" couldn't have been brought to life without the efforts of production designer Eugenio Caballero and his art department. And though the now iconic image of Davy Jones in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" looks great on a poster, it takes visual effects artists such as John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson and Allen Hall to bring that character to life on the screen and fulfill the promise hanging on the wall in the theater lobby.


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So yes, I am very proud of our work here this year in getting these artists some much needed attention. I can only hope they feel they have been rightfully represented by myself and Mr. Kennedy, and indeed, I very much look forward to providing one of, if not the only outlet for their efforts' consideration in the world of film awards coverage. God willing, In Contention will not remain alone in that quest for long.


Below you'll find Mr. Kennedy's final column of the season, and I once again extend my greatest thanks for his contribution, a vital part of InContention.com. Thank you for reading, and please enjoy his final ponderings:


What can I add at this stage? The race is over. Allow me a few thoughts before signing off for the year.


Without any doubt, one of the biggest stories of Oscar night was the love for “Pan’s Labyrinth.” The only film to take home multiple crafts awards, it garnered three. Best Art Direction was claimed by Eugenio Caballero for his memorable and haunting sets, with John Myrhe unable to win his third statue in five years for “Dreamgirls.”


CONTINUE READING "TECH SUPPORT"

Comments

Hats off to you both for a job well done. Great coverage all season long!

Until next season! :)

AWESOME JOB GK!!!!!

Indeed, the Tech Support section here has been a real discovery for me! A gem that has helped appreciate much better the work that goes into so many of these films that I enjoy so much! Congratulations for a job well done Gerard!

Am looking forward to next year's delivery!

Well thank you, friends. It's been a pleasure.

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2008 Year in Advance Predictions


UPDATED: 2/25/2008





Main Charts | Tech Charts



[Motion Picture]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Revolutionary Road”

“The Soloist”



[Directing]

David Fincher
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Ron Howard
“Frost/Nixon”

Gus Van Sant
“Milk”

Sam Mendes
“Revolutionary Road”

Joe Wright
“The Soloist”



[Actor in a Leading Role]

Benicio Del Toro
“The Argentine”

Jamie Foxx
“The Soloist”

Frank Langella
“Frost/Nixon”

Sean Penn
“Milk”

Brad Pitt
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”



[Actress in a Leading Role]

Vera Farmiga
“Nothing But the Truth”

Angelina Jolie
“Changeling”

Julianne Moore
“Blindness”

Meryl Streep
“Doubt”

Kate Winslet
“Revolutionary Road”



[Actor in a Supporting Role]

Josh Brolin
“Milk”

Russell Crowe
“Body of Lies”

Robert Downey, Jr.
“The Soloist”

Heath Ledger
“The Dark Knight”

Michael Sheen
“Frost/Nixon”



[Actress in a Supporting Role]

Amy Adams
“Doubt”

Kathy Bates
“Revolutionary Road”

Cate Blanchett
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Catherine Keener
“The Soloist”

Carice van Houten
“Body of Lies”



[Writing, Adapted Screenplay]

“Body of Lies”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Writing, Original Screenplay]

“Changeling”

“Hamlet 2”

“Milk”

“The Soloist”

“WALL·E”



[Art Direction]

“Australia”

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Red Cliff”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Cinematography]

“Australia”

“The Dark Knight”

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Costume Design]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“The Other Boleyn Girl”

“Red Cliff”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Film Editing]

“Body of Lies”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Defiance”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”



[Makeup]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“The Dark Knight”

“Red Cliff”



[Music, Original Score]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“The Soloist”

“Revolutionary Road”

“WALL·E”



[Music, Original Song]

coming soon



[Sound Editing]

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Iron Man”

“Speed Racer”

“WALL·E”



[Sound Mixing]

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Cloverfield”

“The Chronicles of Narnia:
Prince Caspian”

“WALL·E”



[Visual Effects]

“The Chronicles of Narnia:
Prince Caspian”

“The Incredible Hulk”

“Iron Man”



[Animated Feature Film]

“9”

“Kung Fu Panda”

“WALL·E”



[Foreign Language Film]

coming soon



[Documentary, Features]

coming soon



[Documentary, Short Subjects]

coming soon



[Short Film, Animated]

coming soon



[Short Film, Live Action]

coming soon