The Briefing Room

Los Angeles, February 11, 2008 – The VES Awards were given out last night during the Visual Effects Society’s (VES) sixth annual gala event at the Kodak Theatre Grand Ballroom in Hollywood. The sold-out event attracted more than a thousand visual effects and animation artists, dozens of nominees and members of the film, television, commercial and video game industries. During the evening, filmmaker Steven Spielberg received the VES Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to the art and science of visual effects.

“The work we celebrated tonight is a testament to the crucial role the talent, knowledge and experience visual effects artists play in the storytelling process. Because visual effects “geeks’ are at the cutting edge of technology, they are also at the cutting edge of entertainment as well,” says Eric Roth, VES Executive Director. “I think it is remarkably appropriate that we awarded our highest honor – the VES Lifetime Achievement Award — to Steven Spielberg, because he is not only one of the greatest storytellers of our time, he is also an honorary techno-geek for us tonight.”

And the winners are:

Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture
“Transformers”
Scott Farrar
Shari Hanson
Russell Earl
Scott Benza

Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture
“Ratatouille”
Michael Fong
Apurva Shah
Christine Waggoner
Michael Fu

Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special
“Battlestar Galactica – Razor”
Mike Gibson
Gary Hutzel
Sean Jackson
Pierre Drolet

Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series
“Fight for Life – Episode 4″
Philip Dobree
Nicola Instone
Marco Iozzi
Matt Chandler

Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
Rome 2 – Episode 6 – “Philippi”
James Madigan
Barrie Hemsley
Duncan Kinnard
Gary Brozenich

Visual Effects in a Commercial
Smirnoff “Sea”
William Bartlett
Scott Griffin
Dan Seddon
David Mellor

Best Single Visual Effect of the Year
“Transformers” (Desert highway sequence)
Scott Farrar
Shari Hanson
Shawn Kelly
Michael Jamieson

Real Time Visuals in a Video Game
Halo 3
Marcus Lehto
Jonty Barnes
Stephen Scott
CJ Cowan

Pre-Rendered Visuals in a Video Game
“World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade”

Jeff Chamberlain
Scott Abeyta

Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
“Sea Monsters”
Sean Phillips
Jack Geist
Robin Aristorenas
Mark Dubeau

Animated Character in a Live Action Motion Picture
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (Davy Jones)
Hal Hickel
Marc Chu
Jakub Pistecky
Maia Kayser

Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture
“Ratatouille” (Colette)
Janeane Garofalo
Jamie Landes
Sonoko Konishi
Paul Aichele

Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial
Chemical Brothers “Salmon Dance”
Nicklas Andersson
Mike Mellor
Sylvain Marc
Florent DeLa Taille

Effects in an Animated Motion Picture
“Ratatouille” (food)
Jon Reisch
Jason Johnston
Eric Froemling
Tolga Goketkin

Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (the Maelstrom)
Frank Losasso Petterson
Paul Sharpe
Joakim Arnesson
David Meny

Created Environment in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial
“Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee”
Phi Tran
Matthew Lee
Martin Hilke
Justin Mitchell

Models or Miniatures in a Motion Picture
“Transformers”
Dave Fogler
Ron Woodall
Alex Jaeger
Brian Gernand

Models or Miniatures in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
“Halo 3/Believe Campaign”
Matthew Gratzner
Alan Scott
Seth Curlin
Greg Boettcher

Compositing in a Motion Picture
“Transformers”
Pat Tubach
Beth D’Amato
Todd Vaziri
Mike Conte

Compositing in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
Nike “Leave Nothing”
James Allen
Rob Trent

Special Effects in a Motion Picture
“Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix”
John Richardson
Stephen Hamilton
Richard Farns
Stephen Hutchinson

Special Effects in a Broadcast Program or Commercial
Lexus Hydrant “Actively Safe”
Dave Peterson
Anthony De La Cruz

About the VES

VES is a professional, honorary society, dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of visual effects and to upholding the highest uniform standards and procedures for the visual effects profession. The VES is the entertainment industry’s only official trade organization representing the extended community of visual effects practitioners including supervisors, artists, producers, technology developers, educators and studio executives.

Its 1,600 global members contribute to all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos, games and new media. The VES strives to enrich and educate its members and the entertainment community at large through many domestic and international events, screenings and programs. Visual effects professionals constitute a vital creative force in content creation and are literally shaping the future of entertainment.